Tower of Silence Zoroastrian: How Dakhma Sky Burial Works

What Is a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence?

A Tower of Silence — called a dakhma in Avestan and dokhma in modern parlance — is a large, circular stone structure open to the sky where Zoroastrians traditionally place their dead for exposure to the elements and carrion birds. The practice, known as dokhmenashini, is rooted in a core theological principle: the human body, once the life force (ruvan) departs, becomes a vessel for the demon of putrefaction, Druj-e-Nasu. Contaminating the sacred elements of fire, water, or earth with decomposing flesh is considered a grave spiritual violation.

The solution the faith devised thousands of years ago is elegant in its logic. Rather than burying the body (polluting earth), cremating it (polluting fire), or submerging it (polluting water), the remains are exposed to sunlight and scavenging birds. The flesh is consumed quickly, the bones bleach dry, and the sacred elements remain untouched.

The Structure: Three Concentric Rings

The interior of every dakhma follows a precise architectural layout. Three concentric stone rings divide the platform:

• Outer ring — reserved for adult male bodies
• Middle ring — for adult female bodies
• Inner ring — for children

This arrangement reflects a theological principle of equality that persists even in death. Whether wealthy or poor, high-ranking or ordinary, every deceased Zoroastrian is wrapped in the same simple, worn white cotton sheets. No permanent stone monuments, caskets, or individual markers distinguish one person from another.

At the center of the structure sits a deep well — the bhandar — filled with alternating layers of sandstone, sand, lime, and charcoal. After the birds consume the flesh and the bones have dried in the sun, the nasesalars (ritual corpse-bearers) sweep the skeletal remains into this central pit. Rainwater and bodily fluids pass through the filtration layers before draining into underground channels, keeping the surrounding earth ritually pure.

The Dokhmenashini Process Step by Step

The journey to the dakhma begins after the Geh Sarna (the main funeral liturgy) is complete.

1. The Paidust procession. The nasesalars lift the iron funeral bier onto their shoulders and begin the silent procession toward the Tower of Silence. Mourners walk behind in pairs, each pair connected by a white handkerchief or cord called a paiwand. This physical link combines the internal spiritual fire-energy (Atashe-Vohufryan) of two people, creating a double-strength protective shield against the dispersing Nasu.

2. The final Sagdid. At the last salutation slab near the entrance, a dog — ideally one with two light-colored spots above its eyes (a "four-eyed" dog) — is brought to gaze upon the corpse one final time to confirm death and repel the hovering Druj-e-Nasu.

3. Entry and placement. Only the nasesalars enter the dakhma. They strip the body of its white cotton garments and place it on the appropriate stone ring. From this point, the body is exposed to the sun and the birds. The entire process is designed so that no mourner, priest, or family member ever enters the structure.

4. Consumption and filtration. When vulture populations were healthy, the flesh could be consumed rapidly. The bones dry in the sun over subsequent days before being swept into the central well.

Where Towers of Silence Still Operate

Active dakhmas remain in use primarily in India:

• Mumbai (Malabar Hill) — The Doongerwadi complex, managed by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), is the most prominent. It sits on a forested 55-acre estate in south Mumbai.
• Pune — A smaller complex serves the Pune Parsi community.
• Bangalore (Hebbal) — The Bangalore Parsi Anjuman maintains a dakhma on its grounds.

In Pakistan, Towers of Silence exist but see declining use as the community shrinks.

Outside South Asia, operational dakhmas are generally unavailable; local law and facility rules govern any alternative to open-air exposure.

The Vulture Crisis and Solar Concentrators

The biggest practical challenge facing dokhmenashini today is the near-extinction of India's vulture population. The widespread veterinary use of diclofenac — an anti-inflammatory drug given to cattle — proved catastrophically toxic to vultures that fed on treated animal carcasses. India's vulture population collapsed, slowing the traditional process.

Without vultures, decomposition at the Towers of Silence slowed dramatically, leading to neighborhood complaints about odor and public health concerns. The BPP responded by installing large solar concentrator panels at the Doongerwadi complex. These reflective panels focus sunlight onto the bodies to accelerate dehydration, partially compensating for the loss of the birds.

The solar concentrator approach remains controversial within the community. Traditionalists view it as a necessary adaptation to preserve the essence of dokhmenashini. Critics argue it fundamentally alters the practice and question its effectiveness during Mumbai's extended monsoon season.

Alternatives When No Dakhma Is Available

Diaspora families in North America, the UK, Australia, and elsewhere face a practical reality: dokhmenashini is not an option. Three alternatives have emerged:

Concrete aramgahs (lined burial). Used in Singapore, Delhi, Hong Kong, and Bangalore, this method places the body inside a concrete vault or concrete-lined grave. The lining creates a physical barrier between the decomposing remains and the sacred earth, satisfying the theological prohibition against polluting soil.

Cremation. Once considered heresy by orthodox authorities — fire is a sacred element that must never contact a decaying corpse — cremation has gained acceptance among reformist groups and diaspora communities. Mumbai's Worli Prayer Hall, operated by the Prayer Hall Services and Maintenance Trust, conducts the full four-day funeral liturgy for families choosing cremation.

Standard burial. Some diaspora families opt for conventional cemetery burial, sometimes with concrete-lined caskets as a nod to the theological principle, sometimes without.

Navigating the choice between these options often creates intense family conflict, particularly when elderly orthodox relatives hold strong views about dokhmenashini being the only acceptable method. Our Zoroastrian Funeral Guide walks through each option with the theological reasoning, practical logistics, and conversation scripts to help families reach a decision without fracturing relationships.

The Theology Behind Sky Burial

Understanding why Zoroastrians developed this practice requires grasping the faith's cosmology. The physical world (geti) exists in constant tension with the spiritual realm (minoi). Death represents a temporary victory of the destructive spirit, Angra Mainyu, over the creative force of Ahura Mazda. The moment life departs, the body becomes a weapon of druj (the Lie) — a source of both physical and spiritual contamination.

The four sacred elements — fire, water, earth, and air — are creations of Ahura Mazda and must be protected from pollution. Dokhmenashini is the method that avoids contaminating any of them. The sun's rays provide purification, the birds serve as natural processors, and the elaborate filtration system in the central well neutralizes what remains.

This is why the practice persists even in the face of enormous practical challenges. It is not simply tradition for its own sake — it is a direct expression of the faith's most fundamental theological commitments.

Visiting or Learning More

The Doongerwadi complex in Mumbai is a restricted compound. Visitor and mourner access rules are set by the local trust, so families should confirm them before going.

For families navigating a Zoroastrian bereavement — whether in Mumbai with access to a dakhma or in the diaspora without one — the Zoroastrian (Parsi) Funeral Guide provides the complete timeline from the final breath through the first annual death anniversary, with step-by-step instructions for every disposition method.