Examination by Zoroastrian priests Ateshgah of Baku

illustration brockhaus , efron encyclopedic dictionary (1890—1907)

in 1876, james bryce visited region , found remarkable mineral product naphtha, bursts forth in many places, profusely near baku, on coast of caspian, in strong springs, of said burning. without referencing atashgah name, mentioned of zoroastrians after extirpated persia mohammedans, hate them bitterly, few slunk here on pilgrimage , under more tolerant sway of czar, solitary priest of fire maintained parsee community of bombay, inhabits small temple built on 1 of springs .

the temple examined in late 19th , 20th century parsi dasturs, of whom had visited jwala ji @ kangra in himalayas. based on inscriptions , structure, assessment temple hindu , sikh shrine. in 1925, zoroastrian priest , academic jivanji jamshedji modi traveled baku determine if temple had indeed been once zoroastrian place of worship. until (and again today), site visited zoroastrian pilgrims india. in travels outside bombay, modi observed not me parsee little familiar our hindu or sikh brethren s religion, temples , customs, after examining building inscriptions, architecture, etc., conclude not [zoroastrian] atash kadeh hindu temple , gurdawa, brahmins (priests) used worship fire (sanskrit: agni).

besides physical evidence indicating complex hindu place of worship, existing structural features not consistent other zoroastrian or sikh places of worship (for instance, cells ascetics, fireplace open sides, ossuary pit , no water source. cannot ruled out site may once have been zoroastrian place of worship.

j. unvala visited temple in 1935 , noted structure pure sasanian style.