A Tower of Silence or Dakhma is a circular; raised structure used by Zoroastrians for exposure of the dead. There is no standard technical name for such a construction. The common dakhma or dokhma (from Middle Persian dakhmag) originally denoted any place for the dead. Similarly; in the medieval texts of Zoroastrian tradition; the word astodan appears; but today denotes an ossuary.

In the Iranian provinces of Yazd and Kerman; the technical term is deme or dema. In India; the term doongerwadi came into use after a tower was constructed on a hill of that name. The word dagdah appears in the texts of both India and Iran but; in 20th century India; signified the lowest grade of temple fire (cf. Fire temple). The term 'Tower of Silence' is a neologism attributed to one Robert Murphy; who; in 1832; was a translator of the British colonial government in India. Pictures From History Pictures From History