King Karan needed help. He sought the same from the Parsis who had
settled there since 1233 AD in the village of Sanjan under the great
king, Jadav Rana.

It was here that the Parsis decided to build the First ever Fire
Temple of the Highest Graded Order, i.e., ATASHBEHRAM and dedicate it
as a thanksgiving to the Supreme Lord, ‘Ahura Mazda’. The Fire was
called IRANSHAH, giving it a kingly status and dedicating it to Iran,
the country of Prophet Zarthustra’s birthplace. The fire so
consecrated is kept burning and alive even to this day and is
presently located at Udvada, about 60 kms from Bordi in Gujarat.

So to get back to the story of Bahrot Hills. A brave Parsi commander
named Ardeshir Babekan responded to the call of King Karan. Ardeshir
created his own battalion of 1400 soldiers and fought a brave battle
and won against Altaf Khan. However Altaf Khan renewed his forces,
mustered a large battalion of 5,000 soldiers and attacked again.

Ardeshir then went straight to the Fire Temple and invoked Ahura
Mazda’s guidance and blessings.

Legend has it that whilst praying, he fell into a trance and an YAZAD
(Angel)  told him that in the even of danger, the Holy Fire must be
shifted to the caves in the Bahrot Hills and also guided him to it.
Ardeshir at once reported the incident to the High Priest Dastoor
Dinyar and to his brave son Shapur. He instructed Shapur that in the
event of his defeat, all Zorastrians at Sanjan along with the Holy
Fire be shifted to Bahrot.

Ardeshir was defeated and killed in the battle that ensued. Sahpur his
brave son did as his father had bid him to do. The Holy Fire was then
properly ensconced in one of the three caves and guarded. For 12 years
among many intrusions the Holy Fire was kept in the Caves and looked
after. When peace reigned again, the Holy Fire was then shifted to
Vansda near Valsad and later to Navsari in 1419. It remained in
Navsari for almost 300 years and for a short period was shifted to
Surat before being brought back to Navsari. Finally in 1742 AD, it was
installed in Udvada. To this day the Holy Fire is alive and burning as
the Highest Grade of Consecrated Fire in the World.

Courtesy : Dara Panthakee