In the heart of an ancient nation, a sacred fire burns, which hasn’t been extinguished in over two thousand years. It’s a mystery once inspired the faith of millions, and lie at the very root of what Christians, Muslims, Jews, and even many atheists believe in today.
To understand the magic of this place, we’ll have to travel far behind the Islamic Iran, into an Iran where time & history began.
Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.
There is only one path and that is the path of Truth.
Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and then all beneficial rewards will come to you.
– Asho Zarathushtra
While I did spend a considerable amount of time in Iran, traveling across the beautiful city of Esfahan, the dreamy city of Shiraz, the love of Tehran, & holiness of Azargoshsnap during my visit in 2015, a very special place to me was Pir-e-Sabz, more commonly known as Chak Chak.
A beautiful Zoroastrian shrine, hidden in the mountains outside of Yazd. Yazd is a fairytale city, a mirage rising out of the desert, so strange and improbable it is.
The road to Chak-Chak runs straight through miles and miles of barren emptiness, bounded by mountains on the horizon. Not a bird or animal or human being in sight; just dust-devils and the occasional truck passing by at high speed in the opposite direction. This truly is the Dasht-e Tanhai, the desert of loneliness, and it takes being in Iran to understand the true melancholy of Hafiz’s poem. The name ‘Chak Chak’ is the Persian word for ‘drip drip’ due to the ever-dripping spring located on the mountain.
When I finally reached, I saw a cluster of tiny buildings, embedded into a massive mountain, where pilgrims can rest after traveling from far and wide places. After climbing a few hundred stairs, I finally reach the holy flame. I remove my shoes, clean myself, and step into arguably the heart of my ancient soul.
To Zarathushtis/ Zoroastrians, the light of Fire is reminiscent of the Light of God. The radiance and the sun-like warmth of fire exuberates our hearts and the pleasant warmth of it brings our hearts and spirits closer together that we may be philanthropic, kind, and considerate that gentleness and forgiveness may become our way of life and that thereby the Light of God may keep shining in our hearts.
After spending a couple of hours reflecting on my thoughts, words, & deeds, and meditating on the sacred flame, it was time to head back, but this time, with the company of a beautiful sunset & a gentle cool breeze to remind us that no matter what, at the end of the day, there will be relief.
“In the School of Truth, one sits at the feet of the Master of Love. So listen, so that one day you may be an old master, too! Clear is this all to the people of wisdom as to the one who carefully thinks; who upholds Truth with all the might of their power, who upholds Truth the utmost in his word and deed, that one, indeed, is thy most valued helper of this world”- Zarathushtra