What are Zoroastrian Beliefs and Philosophy?
• The rock engraved image to the right is called a fravahar or farohar (also spelt faravahar). • It is an image found on rock inscriptions and carvings commissioned by the ancient Persian Achaemenian kings. The image is usually portrayed above the image of a king, and the figure in the farohar is identical to the king below. • In 1925, J. M. Unvala, a Parsi scholar, identified the image as a representation of the fravashi of the king or king’s ancestor, and in 1928, Dr. Irach Taraporewala identified the image as a representation of the king’s khvarenah or farr. • Since then, the farohar has become the principle symbol of the Zoroastrian faith and is displayed on the facade of most fire temples • The symbol of the fravahar or farohar therefore has three meanings nowadays: • As a general symbol of the Zoroastrian faith: a symbol of belonging to the Zoroastrian community and of being a Zoroastrian (a symbol in a manner similar to the Christian cross). • As a fravahar or farohar: a general
