Atar

Encyclopedia : A : AT : ATA : Atar

For the city in Africa, see Atar, Mauritania. For the month of the Hebrew calendar, see Adar.

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Zoroastrianism

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Zoroastrianism / Mazdaism
Ahura Mazda
Zarathustra (Zoroaster)

Angels and Demons

Overview of the Angels
Amesha Spentas · Yazatas
Ahuras · Daevas
Angra Mainyu

Scripture and Worship

Avesta · Gathas
The Ahuna Vairya Invocation
Fire Temples

Accounts and Legends

Dēnkard
Book of Arda Viraf
Qissa-i Sanjan

History and Culture

Medes · Achaemenids
Sassanids
The "Zurvan Heresy"
Calendar · Eschatology

Adherents

Parsis · Iranis
Zoroastrians in Iran

See Also

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Adur or adar, nominative ataksh, are the middle Persian equivalents of the Avestan atar, "fire", which is a central symbol in Zoroastrianism, and one of the six principal creations in ancient Iranian cosmogony.

Contents

1 Terminology
2 As a religious concept
3 As a divinity
4 In mythology and tradition
5 See also
6 Bibliography

Terminology

In a mythological and religious context, Avestan atar has an equivalent in the Vedic Sanskrit agni, which, though the terms are not cognates, suggests a common proto-Indo-Iranian origin.

The modern Persian word atash derives from the middle Persian nominative singular form ataksh and appears in arabicized form as azur.

As a religious concept

In Zoroastrianism, adar is of both physiological and psychological importance, the source of both heat and light seen as the fundamental requirements of life, and as a means to keep the daevas at bay. For the Zoroastrian religious use of fire, see Fire temple.

As a divinity

During the late Achaemenid era, adar was incorporated as the quintessence of the Yazata Adar in the Zoroastrian hierarchy of angels. In that position, Adar is a helper of Asha Vahishta (Avestan, middle Persian: Ardvahisht), the Amesha Spenta responsible for the luminaries.

In mythology and tradition

The importance of the divinity Adar is also evident from a dedication to the entity in the Zoroastrian calendar and in the modern Iranian calendar: Adar one of only five lower-ranking divinities that have a month-name dedication. Additionally, Adar is the name of the ninth day of the month in the Zoroastrian religious calendar.

In Persian mythology, Adar battles Aži Dahāka, the great dragon of the sky.

Bibliography