Zoroastrianism and Parsis in India

Zoroastrianism Parsis India refers to the ancient Iranian religion founded by prophet Zarathustra and its Indian adherents, the Parsis, who fled Arab-Islamic conquest of Persia between the 7th and 10th centuries CE, settling in Gujarat and enriching Indian society with their culture, commerce, and civic leadership.

Origins of Zoroastrianism: The Faith of Ancient Persia

Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Greek: Zoroaster) in ancient Iran, probably between 1500 and 600 BCE. It served as the state religion of the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian Persian empires and profoundly influenced later Abrahamic faiths through its doctrines of cosmic dualism, individual judgment, and the resurrection of the dead.

The central theological principle is the eternal struggle between Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord — supreme deity of truth, light, and goodness) and Ahriman (Angra Mainyu — the destructive spirit of darkness and evil). Every human being must freely choose righteousness (asha) over falsehood (druj). Zoroastrianism teaches that good will ultimately triumph at the end of time in an event called Frashokereti, when the universe will be renovated and the righteous resurrected.

The Avesta: What Is the Sacred Scripture of Zoroastrianism?

The sacred texts of Zoroastrianism are collectively known as the Avesta. The most revered portion is the Gathas — seventeen hymns composed in an archaic Avestan dialect by Zarathustra himself. The Gathas are embedded within the Yasna, the primary liturgical text. Other key sections of the Avesta include:

• Vendidad — ritual codes governing purity and conduct
• Yashts — hymns dedicated to divine beings (yazatas)
• Visparad — supplements to the Yasna
• Khordeh Avesta — a prayer book for daily devotion

Much of the original Avesta was lost after Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia (330 BCE) and subsequent Islamic conquests. What survives represents roughly one quarter of the original compilation.

How Did the Parsis Arrive in India?

After Arab Muslim armies defeated the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah (636 CE) and the Battle of Nahavand (642 CE), Zoroastrians faced mounting pressure to convert to Islam. A devout community refused and, after years of refuge in the mountains of Khorasan and on Hormuz Island, sailed across the Arabian Sea toward India.

Tradition holds that the refugees landed at Sanjan on the Gujarat coast around the 8th–10th century CE. The Qissa-i-Sanjan (Story of Sanjan), a 16th-century Gujarati narrative poem, records their negotiations with the local Hindu ruler Jadi Rana. When the king hesitated, a Zoroastrian priest poured sugar into a brimming bowl of milk — the sugar dissolved without causing overflow, demonstrating that the newcomers would blend into Indian society without displacing anyone. Jadi Rana granted asylum on four conditions:

1. They would explain their religion in the local tongue.
2. Zoroastrian women would adopt the Indian sari.
3. They would lay down their arms.
4. Ceremonial rites would be conducted in Gujarati.

The Zoroastrians agreed. This became known as the Sanjana Pact. They consecrated a sacred fire at Sanjan — the Iranshah (King of Iran) — which is today enshrined at Udvada, Gujarat, and regarded as the holiest fire among Indian Parsis.

Parsi Religious Practices: What Are Fire Temples and Towers of Silence?

Fire Temples (Atash Behram)

Fire is the supreme symbol of Zoroastrianism, representing the light of Ahura Mazda and the principle of truth. Zoroastrians maintain perpetually burning consecrated fires in temples called Atash Gah. The highest grade of fire is the Atash Behram (Fire of Victory), consecrated through a complex ritual that combines fire from sixteen different sources — including lightning-struck wood and fires used in various trades. Only eight Atash Behrams exist worldwide: six in India (five in Mumbai and the Iranshah at Udvada) and two in Iran. Temple priests wear mouth-veils to prevent their breath from polluting the sacred flame.

Towers of Silence (Dakhma)

The Zoroastrian method of disposing of the dead is sky burial in a Dakhma (Tower of Silence). The body is placed on a circular stone tower open to the sky, where vultures consume the flesh. This practice stems from the belief that a corpse is ritually impure and must not contaminate the sacred elements — fire, earth, air, or water. Cleaned bones are eventually deposited in a central pit. The Doongerwadi Towers of Silence in Mumbai remain active, though a dramatic decline in vulture populations has prompted the community to explore supplementary methods such as solar concentrators.

Parsi Integration into Indian Society

From their earliest settlement in Gujarat, the Parsis demonstrated a remarkable capacity for integration while preserving their distinct identity. They adopted the Gujarati language, local dress for women, and regional cuisine alongside their Persian traditions. When the British established Bombay as a trading centre in the 17th century, Parsis quickly became key commercial intermediaries. Their English education, business acumen, and progressive outlook placed them at the forefront of India's modernisation, making the community disproportionately influential relative to its small size.

Notable Parsi Contributions: Who Were the Key Figures?

Despite never exceeding a few hundred thousand in number, the Parsi community produced an extraordinary concentration of nation-builders:

Name	Field	Key Contribution
Jamsetji Tata	Industry	Founded the Tata Group; pioneered industrialisation with Empress Mills (1877) and laid the groundwork for Tata Steel at Jamshedpur (1907).
Dadabhai Naoroji	Politics / Economics	First Indian elected to the British Parliament (1892, Finsbury Central); formulated the Drain of Wealth theory; founding figure of the Indian National Congress.
Homi J. Bhabha	Science	Father of India's nuclear programme; founded TIFR (1945) and BARC (1954); chaired the Atomic Energy Commission.
Pherozeshah Mehta	Law / Politics	Founding president of the Bombay Municipal Corporation; dominant early figure in the Indian National Congress; champion of civil liberties.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw	Military	India's first Field Marshal; principal architect of the 1971 military campaign that led to Bangladesh's creation.

Is the Parsi Community Endangered?

The Parsi population in India has been in steep decline for decades. The 2011 census recorded approximately 57,000 Parsis, down from around 114,000 in 1941. Demographic challenges include:

• Low birth rate — among the lowest of any Indian community
• Late marriages — reducing the effective reproductive window
• No proselytisation — the faith admits no converts; children of Parsi women who marry outside the community are traditionally excluded
• Emigration — large numbers have settled in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia
• Ageing population — deaths exceed births every year

The Government of India launched the Jiyo Parsi scheme in 2013 under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, offering financial incentives and medical assistance to encourage higher birth rates. Despite this intervention, projections suggest the community could shrink below 23,000 by 2050. The Parsis thus represent a striking case study in the challenge of preserving minority religious traditions in a rapidly changing world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main sacred text of Zoroastrianism?

The main sacred text is the Avesta. Within it, the Gathas — seventeen hymns composed by the prophet Zarathustra himself — are the most sacred. They form the core of Zoroastrian liturgy and are written in an archaic form of the Avestan language.

Who was Jadi Rana and what was the Sanjana Pact?

Jadi Rana was the Hindu ruler of the Sanjan region in Gujarat who granted asylum to Zoroastrian refugees fleeing Arab-Islamic persecution in Persia. The Sanjana Pact refers to the four conditions he set — including adoption of local dress and language — which the refugees accepted. The episode is recorded in the Qissa-i-Sanjan, a 16th-century Gujarati narrative poem.

What is an Atash Behram and how many exist in India?

An Atash Behram (Fire of Victory) is the highest grade of consecrated fire in Zoroastrianism, created through a complex ritual combining fire from sixteen different sources. Six Atash Behrams exist in India — five in Mumbai and one at Udvada, Gujarat (the Iranshah fire) — out of eight worldwide.

Why is the Parsi population declining in India?

The decline results from very low birth rates, late marriages, no proselytisation (the faith admits no converts), and significant emigration. The population fell from around 114,000 in 1941 to approximately 57,000 at the 2011 census. The Jiyo Parsi scheme (2013) was introduced by the Government of India to slow this trend.

Who was Dadabhai Naoroji and why is he important for UPSC?

Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917) was a Parsi scholar and politician who became the first Indian elected to the British Parliament in 1892. He is renowned for the Drain of Wealth theory, which argued that British rule systematically extracted India's economic surplus. He was a founding leader of the Indian National Congress and a major intellectual influence on nationalist leaders including Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.

Sources and Further Reading

This article draws primarily on IGNOU BHIC-132: History of India from c. 300 CE to 1206 CE (Block 4, Unit 16 — Religious Movements and their Social Impact), which covers the Parsi migration to India, the Sanjana Pact, and the integration of Zoroastrians into medieval Gujarat. Additional references:

• Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 2001.
• Palsetia, Jesse S. The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City. Brill, 2001.
• Hinnells, John R. The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration. Oxford University Press, 2005.
• NCERT Class XI — Themes in World History.
• Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India — Jiyo Parsi Scheme documentation.