The Farva-WHAT?

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I remember when it was such a special treat to see a Farvahar on someone’s neck.  It was such a strong symbol of Persian culture, society, unity, Zoroastrianism and Iranian culture that it made me proud.  Now the Farvahar has become a piece of Persian bling-bling that every Tom, Dick, and Akbar wears around his or her neck.  So many people wear the Farvahar, yet so many of the same people do not know the history and the meaning behind this iconic symbol of both Iranian heritage and Zoroastrian history.
In case you haven’t been Iranian for the past 5000 years, the Farvahar is best known as its modern day form of “that guy” with the clasped hands above “those wings.”  Well, both “that guy” and “those wings” have symbolic and historic meanings above and beyond that of cheap jewelry.  
“Those wings” have a long and intense history in the art, culture, and all the lands of Iran and surrounding areas.  Historically, the wings have denoted the winged sun appearing in Iran during Assyrian times.  The wings themselves are linked to the very concept of angels and most importantly the creation of the guardian angel.  Before Farvahar, there are no recorded concepts of angels in any culture or religion.  Hence the reason the name Farvahar is so closely related to the Farsi word Fereshteh (angel),
This however does not mean that every Persian girl that wears a Farvahar is an angel– TRUST ME!
The wings are more than just a symbol of angelic strength but that of a higher royal power.  This also does not mean that every Persian girl that wears a Farvahar is a princess, no matter what their “baba” says.  Oh yes, and not every Persian boy is a prince no matter how fast his BMW goes.
Farvahar literally translated means “a forward pulling force.”  However the Farvahar itself means so much more.  The wings are connected into three major segments representing the three major philosophies of Zoroastrianism: good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.
The bottom part of the wings contains the feathers.  This represents the opposite of the teachings of the wings: bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds.  They are on the bottom because they are the force that holds us down and keeps people negative.  The wings represent how we must “rise” above this.
If you look closely you will see a ring in the middle.  This is not the Lord of the Rings.  This ring in the center symbolizes the eternity of the universe and the eternal nature of the soul.  The concept of the soul is also a Zoroastrian/Iranian idea.  Much like the soul, it symbolizes the ring is a circle it has no beginning and no end.  
The center ring is not the only ring.  The figure of the man not only represents Ashur and  Ahura Mazda the creator, but that of wisdom of age.  Before King Darius I, the figure did not have a man or a face.  Some suspect that it is the face of King Darius.  
Also, notice how the hands point upwards towards heaven another Zoroastrian concept telling us the direction that we should choose.  Heaven itself is a traditionally Iranian concept.  The other hand holds a smaller ring.  This is the ring of promise which should never be broken.  This means when an Iranian gives a promise it is like a ring, their promise can never be broken.  This is why Iranians make horrible car dealers (sarcasm).  But it is the reason why upon entering marriage traditionally a ring is given to both the male and the female. You can thank our ancestors for that one too.
The two curly threads from the waist are symbols of the duality of our experiences in life.  Through our good mind we can make good choices and in its opposite our bad mind we make bad choices.  
The Farvahar is a reminder of our purpose in life -- to live in such a way that we progress towards “frasho-kereti” our union with Ahura Mazda.  So while the Farvahar makes really good bling bling and matches all my outfits, it also reminds us of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds– the true Iranian way.

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