Ava - Water in Zoroastrian Life

Zoroastrian religious philosophy & practice foregrounds environmental consciousness.

Yasna - the daily prayer ritual honouring all Creation begins by drawing water from the Agiary or the Fire Temple well.

The Gathas recording the wisdom of Zarathushtra mention the rights of plants, animal, mineral & waters, of reverence and nurturing of all Spenta (Bounteous) Creation as Asha - the Divine Law.

Alat includes mortar & pestle, plates & cups, crescent shaped moon stands, twigs or metal wires, Varas ni Viti - the ring entwined with the hair of the sacred bull, and the knife kept in the water vessel.

The Haoma Ceremony is the core of the Yasna when using mortar and pestle, Haoma or ephedera with its strengthening power is prepared.

Water is the sacred enabling element in this preparation.

In despair and anger, she threw the maple stick at the mountain and water is believed to have miraculously started to drip out, quenching her thirst giving the name Chak Chak to this site. Pir-e-Sabz is its other name as the sacred water is believed to have made the area green with the maple tree still standing.

This Fish Gara, in auspicious red, was probably an engagement Sari, made to order in China by Parsi merchants from Western India dealing with opium, tea, textiles and other trade.

Ava Yazad, Angel of Water is depicted in this Parsi Jhabla or Tunic with the Water Lily, her representative flower.

These bracelets called 'Tir-O-Baad' or rainbow bands are named after Tir or Tishtra, Yazata of Rain and Govad, Yazata of Wind. Worn for ten days from the Tirgan or Water Festival in Iran, they are then let loose into the blowing wind with this little verse -

'Tir! You go away! Let the wind come!
Sorrow, go away! Happiness, come in!
Suffering, leave! Sustenance, come!'

Wells across the ancient Zoroastrian lands and in Parsi-Gujarat are believed to have Waters of Healing. It is considered improper to disturb water at night. Water bodies are to be respected especially on 'Ava Parab'.

Tanka Water on scientific analysis by WHO standards, has been proved to be purer than bottled water.

Left : Bharuch, Gulshan Tanka

Pipes leading to the Boiya or Copper Colander at the vertical mouth of the well from which water is drawn. The Tanka is placed horizontally so that no sunlight can enter and therefore without bacterial growth, the water stays pure.