The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c22.s1.22

v1.c22.s1.22

The word is probably, not certainly, to be identified with the Āthravan of the Avesta, which must mean fire priest, the Avestan Ātar being akin to *athar-yu*, flaming, used as an epithet of Agni. There is therefore every reason to see in the Atharvans the elevation to divine rank of fire priests of old time.⁴