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 / Mazdaism Ahura Mazda Zarathustra (Zoroaster) |
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Overview of the Angels Amesha Spentas · Yazatas Ahuras · Daevas Angra Mainyu |
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Avesta · Gathas The Ahuna Vairya Invocation Fire Temples |
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Dēnkard Book of Arda Viraf Qissa-i Sanjan |
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Medes · Achaemenids Sassanids The "Zurvan Heresy" Calendar · Eschatology |
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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
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.
See also
- Yazatas and Amesha Spentas
Bibliography
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