The mountain of Light

In the Atash Nyaa-ish, we have a reference to a Mountain of Light : “Rae-van-tahey Garo-ish” whose divine snows (Zao-thro-byo[1]) melt  & collect in a Lake addressed as : “Chaechistahey- Varoish”; the receptacle of knowledge. 

 This “Mountain of Light” is also referred to in the Avan Yasht  as the Hukar/hukairya mountain  which feeds  into Vouru-Kashem (Root:kash): meaning wide shored, sea like lake.  

This ancient & paradoxical association of fire with water has been scientifically confirmed by the discovery that the greater the amount of ice crystals in a cloud, greater is its ability to discharge lightening.  Similarly Ice crystal concentrations have also been known to reflect sunlight during sunrise to form a pilar of light.

This imagery of “mountain of light” was also reflected in ancient temples having a pillar type structure, called Minar located outside the temple premises where lamps were lit.

A “minar” is a structure erected outside ancient temples, where lamps are lighted on important days of worship. The word Minar (minaret) although appropriated by islam, along with other places of worship, actually means a place for fire and light (Noor), or a "luminous place.

The term "Noor" also, meaning the Light of knowledge, of liberation from doubt is of Avestic origin.

  

Ys31.7: Taa Mazda, Man-yu Uk-sho,
Ye -aa Noor-em chit Ahura Haa-mo



Minar, therefore, refers to a tall tower-like column built in a shrine, where a fire was lit, or hanging lantern placed, to guide passersby at night time.  

Minaret (65m) of Jam-Afghanistan.

 Dr. Zaki Mohammad Hassan, the renowned Egyptian professor, says that appropriated Iranian minarets, were not used for Azan because of their height and the muezzin used to call people to prayers by standing on the roof of mosques.  The construction of a minaret with images sculpted onto its walls, showing a distinct Zarathushti lineage,  had been common in the ancient Persian lands. 


Examples abound.:

 A square-based tower was built in front of the Great Darius's tomb in Naqsh –Rustam  which is as old as the tomb itself. Professor Luis Vanderberg of Brussels University deems it to be a fire alter. This structure has been built on a three step square-shaped platform resembling some minarets of the very first Islamic eras.



Noorabad tower: Situated on the mountain slopes on western Noorabad in Fars Province. The staircase in the center of this tower with appropriate meanders led to the top. There was a luminous fire in a stone brazier on the top.

Firooz Abad Fire Tower: In the ruins of Firooz Abad which belongs to the beginning of the Sassanids (224-651) era, there is a huge tall Tetrahedron made of stone and plaster which is one of the structures of the Firooz Abad Fire Temple complex. The staircase of this Tetrahedron was built outside the tower and was used to climb the twenty-six meter high tower to light the fire. 


                               
The large sanctuary of Surkh Kotal in Afghanistan consists of five terraces, built one above the other. A broad stair-case leads to the sanctuary which lies on the top-most terrace. The main room contains one cella (ca. 11 x 11 m) in the middle of which there is a square platform of stone with three steps and one pillar-base on each side. 

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[1] Zao-thra-byo means divine waters; those that just like rivers fertilizing the valleys they go through, divinely fertilize & purify the individuals who partake of them.
Surprisingly we find that Jesus Christ uses this word "Zao" "Zao Waters". in John 7:38 to describe these waters coming from the "innermost being" which translates to 'universal womb'. The Greek New Testament defines it in almost verbatim Zarathushti terms as: To live, to breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead) ; to enjoy real & true life and worthy of the name; to be active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God; to live an active life of  character, to be fresh, strong, efficient. It further identifies this term as: living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul

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