Like the name suggests, at the centre of a the Chak Chak fire temple is a fire, or Atar. Each year from June 14–18 many thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the fire temple at Pir-e Sabz. Pir-e Banu-Pars; near Sharifabad; pilgrimage period in early July. The wild goat, wild sheep and partridge were much more abundant than today and the water supply was probably better than now due to a wetter climate. Notable features of Chak Chak include the ever-dripping spring located at the mountain. Each year from June 14 to 18, many thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the temple of Pir-e Sabz. Meaning “drip-drip” in Persian, Chak Chak is where Nikbanou, second daughter of the Sassanid Emperor Yazdegerd III of Persia, was cornered by the invading Arab army in 640 CE. The Sassanid Empire was the last imperial dynasty in Persia before the rise of Islam. The vital needs of the caravans were water and food, both of these were relatively available in the abandoned mountainous areas of Aghda, Ardakan and Yazd. It is on this mountain where Zarathustra is believed to have gained the power and energy to go out into the world as a great spiritual teacher, while it was on Mt. Most of the temples were destroyed, but those that remained, are of great interest to tourists. Besides its emphasis on the eternal conflict of good and bad, Zoroastrianism is also characterized by nature worship, by deification of the sun, moon and stars, and by scrupulously followed injunctions regarding the protection of the earth. Look at the list of power places in that country. Fire temples were built in villages and cities, and at remote places in the high mountains sacred rocks, caves and holy springs were venerated. The village of Chak Chak, also known as Pir’e Sabz, consists of a Zoroastrian Fire Temple perched beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of central Iran.It is located amongst the mountains of Ardakan and Anjireh on the way to Tabas, about 46 kilometers from Yazd. Chak Chak (Persian: چک‌چک‎ – "Drip-Drip", also Romanized as Chek Chek; also known as Chāhak-e Ardakān and Pir-e Sabz (Persian: پیر سبز‎) "The Green Pir") is a village in Rabatat Rural District, Kharanaq District, Ardakan County, Iran. It is located among the mountains of Ardakan and Anjireh on the way to Tabas, about 46 kilometers from Yazd. The village of Chak Chak, also known as Pire Sabz, consists of a Zoroastrian Fire Temple perched beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of central Iran. Reply By the way, photos are very nice, specially last one. Pir-e Naraki; at the foot of Mt. That looks like volcanic Rock. April 8, 2017 at 2:24 pm. This legend, commonly used by devout Zoroastrians in order to sanctify their mountain shrines, is however, known to date from an historical period demonstrably more recent than the shrines themselves. Like the name suggests, at the centre of a the Chak Chak fire temple is a fire, or Atar. Long story short, Chak Chak now serves as a pilgrimage point for pious Zoroastrians. The story which is mostly said is about the daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last Sassanid king, Nikbanoo. Located near the city of Ardakan in Yazd province, Chak Chak serves as a pilgrimage point for pious Zoroastrians. In front of the altar, there is a set of trays combined in such a way as to look like a lotus flower from above and serves as a place to receive donations from pilgrims. The Zoroastrian religion has three central commands of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. The shrine enclosure is floored with marble and its walls are darkened by fires kept eternally burning in the sanctuary. According to this theory, these holy places, or their nearby lands, were the hiding places of treasures of the Yazdgerd or other Sassanian nobles. Not far from Yazd is the Zoroastrian sanctuary of Chak-Chak. Chak Chak then, is not just a small village in the mountains, but a Zoroastrian fire temple and the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. It is the most sacred of the Zoroastrians mountain shrines. Your Lightboxes will appear here when you have created some. Nowadays, it is a touristic place which is also used sometimes by Zoroastrian people to gather and pray there. Sources of information on Zoroastrian sacred mountains are found in parts of Zoroastrian Avesta literature known as Zamyad Yasht and the Pahlavi Bundahishn. April 9, 2017 at 5:24 pm. Each year from June 14–18 many thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the fire temple at Pir-e Sabz. The temple has an altar in which there are three oil-burning lights with a container of oil right beside them. Narestaneh is located in one of the valley sides of the Narestaneh Mountain, which is also a remote place. Considering the geographical, geological and historical conditions of the Yazd-Ardakan area, the holy places may were functioned as temporary shelters for Zoroastrian caravans travelling towards India. This temple is the symbol of unity and convergence of the Zorastrians. Notable features of Chak Chak include the ever-dripping spring located at the mountain. Chak Chak then, is not just a small village in the mountains, but a Zoroastrian fire temple and the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. In fact, Chak Chak is the sound of the drops of water which is always dropping in the shrine and has never stopped since 1500 years ago. Our support is available to help you 24/7. It is situated at an oasis where the Dasht-e Kavir desert and the Dasht-e Lut desert meet. Nareke, south of Yazd; pilgrimage period in mid-August. The Bundahishn, however, places it in Seistan (or Sajestan), east of Iran in the region referred to in the Avesta (Vendidad I, 9-10) as Vaekereta, the ancient name of Kabul (or Sajestan). Pat Albrey As it is said, Nikbanoo came to Chak Chak and hid in the mountain. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Posted in Uncategorised. Mt. Legend also has it that a petrified colorful cloth from Nikbanou was also visible in the rocks, although pilgrims have since removed it. Each year in June thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the fire temple of Pir’e Sabz. This mountainous shrine is in a village with the same name in Ardakan county. Legend also has it that a petrified colorful cloth from Nikbanou was also visible in the rocks although pilgrims have since taken this (if it ever was there). The congregational pilgrimage is observed inside a cave, where an “eternal” flame is kept alight. The village consists of a pir perched beneath a towering cliff face in the desert of central Iran. All rights reserved. In the early period of the religion, it seems that the hearth-fire of each family dwelling was used for worship but that around the 4th century BC communal temples began to be constructed. Head to my About page! In the Bundahishn, Mt. The legend concluded that in the last minutes of the journey when the travellers were near to be captivated the innocent girls or women prayed to the God for protection. At the 2006 census, its existence was noted, but its population was not reported.[2]. Nobody until now has tried to investigate the exact age of the inhabitancy of this cave and the age of the fireplace. Pilgrims may visit any of the shrines throughout the year but the religious benefit is considered greatest when an individual participates in the communal yearly pilgrimages. After 1100 AD (5th century of khorshidi) the immigration of Zoroastrians towards east was accelerated due to a rapid increase in hardship life and limitation on their activities. Sina Alborz range near Azerbaijan, Zarathustra's traditional birthplace. During the last few months of the Sultan Hosain life, Zoroastrians were seriously under attack and persecution. No archaeological evidence has been found in these holy places so far to suggest antiquity or very ancient age of the features. Tradition has it that pilgrims are to stop riding the moment they catch sight of the temple and complete the last leg of their journey on foot. But as far as I am away they are not volcanic. The six shrines are: The shrine of Shekaft-e Yazdan (the 'Cleft of God') in the Tutgin valley near the village of Zardju is sometimes visited after the pilgrimage to the shrine of Pir-e Banu-Pars. Chak Chak (Persian: چک‌چک‎ – "Drip-Drip", also Romanized as Chek Chek; also known as Chāhak-e Ardakān and Pir-e Sabz (Persian: پیر سبز‎) "The Green Pir")[1] is a village in Rabatat Rural District, Kharanaq District, Ardakan County, Iran. Mythological and archaeological evidence indicates that these mountain sites had been pagan sacred places well before the development of Zoroastrianism. There are also some window-like open spaces or holes within the cave over which huge branches of the nearby tree extends inside the temple and a small water fall that keeps the stage of the alter wet (upon which no one is allowed to step). Required fields are marked *. Although each village has its own fire temple where initiations, agricultural festivals and funeral ceremonies are held, the annual pilgrimages to Pir-e Sabz and the other five mountain shrines are the most important religious periods of the year. The Chak Chak fire temple, located 43km east of the city of Ardakan in Yazd province in central Iran, is the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism. Shrine legends tell of a conquering Arab army that had pursued Nikbanoo, the daughter of the Sassanian Emperor Yazdgird III, to this region. The shrine enclosure, a man-made cave, is floored with marble and its walls are darkened by soot from the fires kept eternally burning in the sanctuary. One can assume that these places were important for many centuries, before the renewing of the firealtar buildings took place. Pilgrimage ceremonies at the shrines generally last for five days and the pilgrimages themselves are referred to by the Muslim term hajj. In my previous post I wrote about visiting the abandoned city of Kharanaq. It is the most sacred of the mountain shrines of Zoroastrianism.Located near the city of Ardakan, Chak Chak serves as a pilgrimage point for pious Zoroastrians.Each year from June 14–18 many thousands of Zoroastrians from Iran, India and other countries flock to the fire temple at Pir-e Sabz. There is a drawing showing the figure of the Zoroastrian elders which adds to the beauty of the temple. The Zoroastrians pilgrimages of Yazd are conventionally believed to be originated from the end of Sassanian dynasty as the martyrdom places of Yazdgerd daughters. It is a time-honored tradition for pilgrims to stop the moment they see the sight of the shrine and continue the rest of their journey by foot. Probably the oldest building belongs to Pir-e Banoo could not be older than 200 years due to its architectural elements and materials and also according to the existed inscriptions.