Atar-sh, the purifying medium of communication to the Creator Ahura Mazda

In the Gathas, the inner flame of spiritual intelligence (Ush-trem), that directs our senses; brought forth from the Earth of our material nature is called Athra. 

This conscious and forceful spark is the immortal guest in our mortality[1], a divinely pure (Spenta) priest (Rt-ush) and worker, the mediator between earth and heaven. It carries our devotional invocations as an offering to Ahura Mazda and brings back in return, their mind illuminating message of light (of knowledge) of the mechanics behind the achievement of the joy/prosperity/success  in life.

This spiritual flame is mimicked at the physical/earthly level by the concecrated Atash of the temple. Just like the holy fire of the Atash Behram is continuously fed (Boi); man is enjoined to consistently (like a ritual) feed the athraa of his soul with deeds of righteousness.

Atar-sh  is identified as the priest : Zotr/Hotr (of Ys33.6), and the inner flame Rtvij(Rtu + vij ) which guides our actions along the path of Asha (Truth and Justice).

Asha/Rta being the regulator of nature, such as the unvarying course of the Sun,  planets and seasons etc., on a material level, this is represented by the 5 times a day ritual of  the  Atash being ceremoniously being fed (Boi) in the Atash-Behraam/Atash Adaryan/Atash Kadeh

This holy consecrated fire, “Atar-sh” is referred to in Atash Niyaish as “puthra” , meaning that which purifies all creations and that purifying medium of communication with Ahura Mazda.  

This term “Pu-thra” is derived from the root “Pu” meaning to purify; and thraa = intersection, focal point, convergence, concentration of.  Cognate terms include pa-vitra and pa-vana

  

Athra, therefore, can be said to purify Ahura Mazda’s creations, and is the path/medium of communication, between man and Ahura Mazda. He is therefore mankinds’ intorculator to Divinity. He is the medium by which we get to interact or communion  (Daresma/Darshana) with Ahura Mazda.

Just as in telecommunications, our words and images are converted (purified) into digital electronic signals in order to be transmitted, so too, Atash, takes our devotional thoughts and words, purifies (converts) them into messages that reach Ahura Mazda.

As such Atarsh is our communicating tool to Ahura Mazda.

From the Atar-sh Neyash:

Athro Ahurahe Mazdao puthraa,

Aathraa the purifying messenger (communicator) to thee O Ahura Mazda

Tava Atarsh Puthra Ahurahe Mazdao,

Thy Purifying, communing  Fire, O Ahura Mazda,

Athro Ahurahe Mazdao Puthraa,

Aathraa the purifying messenger (communicator) to Ahura Mazda

Khvarenangho Savangho Mazda-dhatahe

That Royal, radiant, Purifying force instituted by Mazda.

Airyanaam khvareno Mazda dhatanam,

The ethical radiance of the Aryans, whose actions exemplify Mazdas’ Postulates

Kavaheyaa-cha  khvarenangho Mazda-dhatahe,

That knowledgeable radiance of the Great wise Kavas (Philosopher-Kings), who follow Mazdas’ postulates

Athro Ahurahe Mazdao Puthraa,

Aathraa thee purifying messenger (communicator) to Ahura Mazda

A consonance is found in the Vedas[2] which describes Agni as characteristically a messenger (Data'/dutá) appointed by gods and by men to be an 'oblation-bearer'; taking the offerings of men to the gods and bringing the gods to the sacrifice. He is also a divine bird; the eagle of the sky, and he takes possession of the wood just as a bird perches on a tree. Wood is his food (Prize), melted butter or ghee, and Hoama (Soma) his beverage. The Vedics nourished him three times a day as opposed to 5 times by Zarathushtis.

In the Avesta, Wood (Aesmo and Baresmo), Ghee/butter (Gao) and hoama[3] (Havano) are offered. 

This can be seen from the declaration in the Atarsh Neyash:
“Aesmo Zasto, Baresmo Zasto, Gao zasto, Havano Zasto”.

Daityo Aesme Buyaoo                              

I invoke that righteous Law, propelling (running) the Universe as fuel for clarity of thought & illumination of the mind

Daityo Baodhi Buyao,                     

That like a sweet perfume stimulates Soul Consciousness,

Daityo Pithwi Buyao,                               

Like  butter, (quick ignition) energizes the soul

Daityo Upa-sayane Buyao,                

Like (slow burning) wood, fuels sustenance/persistence

Prenaa-yush hare-thraa Buyao        

  Blazing high, like the divine majestic mountain (Mt. Hare-thraa)

                                                                         

Dahmayush Hare-thraa Buyaoo,                 

 Vanquishing evil, in our homes & growing in  purity

Atarsh puthra Ahurahe Mazdao            

Atash, thou purifying communication medium to  Ahura Mazda.

One may note that no animal sacrifices are offered. True sacrifice comes from the self and not from torturing an animal. 

This outer sacrifice reflects an inner sacrifice of Aeshma (the negative emotions/mentalities of: envy, greed, malice, anger, sloth, and ego) to the flame of cosmic consciousness, with "Gao" or Ghee (butter made from cow milk) being the highest form representing self sacrifice.

  

Symbolising the clear Light of Knowledge, the word “Gau” (meaning Cow, following the Avestic imagery of combining spiritual and material aspects) here, applies to a product of the Cow, namely clarified butter. The term “pithwi” used in Atash neyash, meaning to fatten/butter, supports this contention. As  Yasna 32.8 comes out very strongly against animal sacrifices, there is no scope of this term Gao having any other meaning.   Gau also refers to mother earth and the moon, which according to our ancients was once part of the earth. Its spiritual meaning therefore represents the highest sacrifice: self-sacrifice.

According to David Frawley, The term “Ghr-ta”, for clarified Ghee, the symbol of clear light, is cognate with the Greek word “Christos” the anointed one. 

Hoama[4], means truth, prosperity, light. “Concealed in the growths of earth, in the divine waters of existence (Zao-thro-byo: the divine waters) ; even here in our physical being,  this  immortalizing ambrosia  has to be pressed out and offered to the Almighty”. The squeezing of the juices out of the Ephedra stems therefore mimics the requirement of regular, conscientious(Sev[5]-ishta) effort to conquer physical limitations.

David Frawley[6] further states that, “Euchrist, the Christian Greek for the holy sacrament is derived from  Vedic Su-haritas. Thus when Christ says at the last communion that “this is my body”, the actual Greek term for body being “Soma”, (Avestic Hoama) the vedic God of Immortal wine & nectar. Frawley therefore considers the last communion into be the Christian modification of the soma sacrifice, & the medieval search for the holy grail, reflecting the search for the ancient soma challis, the vessel in which the immortal soma was held & from which it could be partaken of, to achieve immortality.”

  Without Atash, the sacrificial flame (of selflessness) cannot burn on the altar of the soul.  Athra therefore represents Power-Kshathra (Will), a Force of the Great Wise Dispenser, Mazda: perceptive power through knowledge (education, not instruction) …that ability, from experience, to successfully handle all of life’s situations.

Atash is said to burn and dispel evil and hence the famous “Fire Test” for proof of Pure intentions of the devotee (agni parikshaa).

Yasna 51.9:

The reward which thou bestow on both the true and the false,

Through thy blazing fire (athra) O Mazda, that discriminating test that lays bare their inner souls,

That the untruthful will end up frustrated and the truthful shall reap blessings of Light.

From the Atarsh Neyash:

Ksh-nao-thraa Ahura-he Maz-daao, Naamase-te Atar-sh Maz-daao Ahura-he hu-dhaao Maz-ishta Yaz-ata.

I invoke thy Strength and Power, O Ahura Mazda. I invoke thy enlightening light (Atarsh) for guidance; that entity ordained by Thee, worthy of the highest invocation.

Owing to the force required to kindle Agni, we find him, in the Vedas being often called 'son of strength' (sáhasah sunúh).

This is the genesis of Atar-sh being also addressed as “Son of Ahura Mazda”.

and the term Pu-thraa also taking on the complementary meaning of “Son”.

One may note, however, that the Avesta term for son is “Hanu”; as opposed to the vedic “Sanu”; and the name of the Ramayana hero “Hanu-man” (Son of Man/Creation of Man) harks back to a time when avestan and vedic terms were used interchangeably.

This complementary terms of “messenger” to Ahura Mazda and “son of” Ahura Mazda are found co-existing in the definition of Jesus as “Son of God” in Christianity and the thesis that no one can reach God except through his Son. In the Middle East, Jesus is often referred to as Isa/Isu, which happens to be an avestic term for the gifting/obstacle overcoming attribute of Ahura Mazda.

                                          

Atash, the Pu-thra (purifying communicator) to Ahura Mazda, after all is referred to in Atash Neyash as Kshathro Nafedro (the reservoir of power and knowledge, of Ahura Mazda), who acts as spiritual Counselor to humans (Nairyo-Sanghahe).

Yasna 46.8: Zarathushtras' prayer for overcoming life’s Agni pariskshas:

Yey  Va  Moee  yaao  Gae-thaa-o  dajde  a-ae-anghe

Whoever, with malicious orientation, plans evil actions, to harm me in this world

Noit  aah-yaa  maa  aathr-ish shyothanaish  fro-syaat

Let not the bellowing  flame of  their wrathful actions, affect me.

Paityo-get   taa   aah-mai  jaso-it  Dvae-shangha

Let it, instead,  invigorate me and recoil on this coven of the hateful. 

Tanvem  aa yaa  im  Hu-jyotish  paayat 

Always heeding the Call for Protection from  the enlightened faithful

Noit  du-jyotish  kachit  Mazda dvae-shangha

But, Never affording protection or perception of enlightened judgment to the antagonistic evil grouping.

Word Break-up:

Yey (whoever)

 Va (carry)

 Moee (me)

 yaao (that)

 Gae-thaa-o (universe that flows/living world)

 dajde (oriented)

 a-ae-n-ghe (malicious intent)

Noit (not)

aah-yaa (their)

 maa (bellow)

aathr-ish (flame-- of wrath)

shyothanaish (actions)

fro-syaat (touch/affect, burn)

Paityo-get (invigorate, instead)

 taa (it)

aah-mai (us/them)

 jaso-it (recoil/exhaust)

 Dvae-shangha (coven of the hateful un-enlightened)

Tanvem (my body/myself)

 aa(far)

 yaa (which)

 im (this)

 Hu-jyotish (Hu= call, Jyotish=enlightened, pure soul)

paayat (protect)

Noit (not/never)

 du-jyotish (dark, deceitful soul)

 kachit (in a Perceptive way)

 Mazda (enlightened judgment)

 dvae-shangha (evil grouping)

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[1] Yasna 17.11 and, centuries later, the Bundahishn, aver that everything has a metaphoric fire in it – men, animals, trees, plants, the clouds and the world itself. 

[2] The Avesta-Vedic commonality of the fire ritual is well known. Less known is the purification ritual of the nine-nights (Barashnom i Nau-shab) which is identical to the Indian (Bhagwad Geeta) ritual of the same name (Nava-ratri) which does homage to Mata or mother earth (our Aara-maiti). 

[3] According to researchers the Hoama/Soma priests can be described accurately as "Millers & Smiths". Ephedra shrubs, on being burnt, produce a reducing atmosphere (better than regular wood charcoal), suitable for smelting metals such as gold & copper from their ores (which was what Balkh was famous for). I believe this is the genesis of our temples using silver strands of wire instead of bound stems of an actual creeper plant in the Bareshma ceremonies.

[4]  http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/haoma/index.htm

[5]  The term   Sev-ishta  in the Gathas and its cognate Sav-angha  seen in the Havan Geh invocation, both referring to Hoama, and its liturgy involving squeezing  the juice out of its stems are derived from the root ‘Sav/Sev”,  meaning that which enables one to be in communion with the lord, that which binds (through love),  that which is contrived (method/procedure). This is mysticism, Holy Communion. It is in these different senses that the word has been used in the Gathas, and on the physical plane of wearing & tying our kusti. Cognate words such as Ut-sav (festivity), Aa-sav (elixir) or Sav-n (pressing of soma/homa leaves for juice) all of which are associated with delight and ecstasy.

[6] Gods, Sages and Kings, Vedic Secrets of ancient Civilization. David Frawley.

Without Atash, the Pure (Spenta) sacrificial flame (of selflessness) cannot burn on the altar of the soul.  Athra therefore represents pure intentioned, willful  use of  Power (Kshathra), through knowledge (education, not instruction) …that ability, from experience, to successfully handle all of life’s situations.