A Quick Look at the Religion

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ALOOKATTHERELIGIONOFASHUZARATHUSHTRA

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RELIGION

OF

ASHU ZARATHUSHTRA

vTHERELIGIONOFASHUZARATHUSHTRA

AshuZarathushtra,aMessengeroftruthandwisdom,wasborninIranon6thofFarvardinmonth,1768B.C.TheHolyAvestamentions"Rageh"aplacenextto"Droji"riverandnearLake"Chichast",asHisbirthplace.

Ashu Zarathushtra's father was Pourushaspa.HismotherwasDoghdhova,HiswifeHvavi,His3sonsIsadvastar, Orvatadnar and Khorshidchehr andHis3daughterswere Triti, Frini andPouruchista.

Whenanadolescent,AshuZarathushtrarealizedthatsuperstitions and the worship of several and unrealgods were wrong. At the age of Twenty, he choseseclusion, pondered in nature and finally came toknowGod.When30yearsold,GodchoseHimasaProphet and He made the religion of monotheismknowntotheworldfortheveryfirsttime.

God is referred to as Ahuramazda in AshuZarathushtra'smessage and thought. "Ahura"means"lifegiving", "maz" means "great" and "da" comesfromtheword"knowledge".Inthisviewpoint,Godisthe Great Wise Creator. As such Ahura MazdadoesnotconsiderHumanbeingasHisslave,Hehasvested into human beings the virtues ofIntelligence and Humanity with the power of athinking Mind (Manah) and that of theConscience(Daena).

ToAshuZarathushtraGod isnot spiteful, vengeful,angryoronewhopenalizeseverybody.HebelievesinaGodwhoisAll good,AllwiseAlljudicious.

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vGATHASTHESACREDBOOKOFZARTOSHTIS

GathasisthereligiousandsacredbookofZartoshtis.BeingAshuZarathushtra'sownwords,it isapartofYasnaandexists in theheartofYasna.Theother5parts of Avesta including "yasna", "Yashts","Vandidad", "visperad" and "Khordeh Avesta"have been written by Moghan council and greatMobeds in ancient eras. These Books are sacred toZartoshtis,andformtheirScriptures.

Ashu Zarathushtra'sMessages

AshuZarathushtradidnotneedanyMmiraclesforconveying the Message of Asha, to the people,.Talking with the language of wisdom, AshuZarathushtrahasgivenAhuramazda,smessageinHishymnsinaneloquentmanner.TheGathas,whichare,about, the earliest written poemlike hymns, talkabout the ways and means of a good life andsalvation. Itmakes us think deeply andwisely, alsoinspiring our conscience.Gathasannounces the best&easiestpatternofbehaviorforeverybodyineveryplace & time in a logical way, far from allsuperstitions.

In Ashu Zarathushtra's words, Gathas has beennamed "Manthra" meaning "Holy & Ahuraicchallenging words". Thus, "Gathas" meaning "Purehymns" is the name given by the people who haveappliedAshuZarathushtra'smessagebasedontheirperception&understanding.

From the point of viewof theGathas,material lifeshould be coordinated with nature & the rulesgoverningit calledAsha andintheSpiritualpointof view, everybody should use Vohumans help tosensetheRealLight(Ushta).

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Onlywisepeoplecan fathom thedeepmeaningsofthe Gathas words, because the ignorant ones actaccording to their inept feelings & do not listen toAhuraicmessages.

Whenwisepeoplelearnthroughtheirgoodthoughts,they should propagate their knowledge& insight toothers especially to inept ones. In this waysuperstitionsandevilthoughtscanbeeradicated.

vTHEBASICPRINCIPLESOFTHERELIGIONOFASHUZARATHUSHTRA

The religion of Ashu Zarathushtra has 9 basicprinciples,asfollows:

1. FaithinAhuramazda,theonlyGod

2. FaithinAshuZarathushtra'sprophecy

3. Faithinspiritualworld&eternityofsoul

4. Faith in the law of Asha (Truth, purity &Ahurailove)

5. Faithinequalityofallhumans

6. Faith in Amshaspandan & the 7 steps ofZartoshtitheosophy

7. Faithinmunificence&helpingpoorpeople

8. Faithintheholinessofthe4naturalElements(water, air, soil & fire) & trying to keep theenvironmentclean

9. FaithinFrashkard(Progress&innovation)

It is clear thatother,Monotheistic,Religiousordersagreewiththeseprinciples aswell.

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vTHELAWOFASHA(RIGHTEOUSNESS)

Ashu Zarathushtra's ideology , is following &reachingAshalaw(meaningtruth).

In His viewpoint, Almighty God has created theworld based upon a law ruling over the wholeuniverse.OurIranianProphetnamesthispreciseruleAsha.Assistance to keep up theConsistency of theLawOfAsha, intheuniverse,is whatAhuraMazdademands from us Humans. The rule of Ashacoordinates the universe and it is the foundation ofeverything from atoms to galaxies. In Zartoshtibelief,oneistrulysuccessfulthatmatcheshimselftothe law of nature and also develops good humancharacteristics such as love, purity, truthfulness andmodesty.

vTHETWINSPIRITS(GOOD&EVIL)

InHismessage,AshuZarathushtramentionsthetwinoppositespirits.Thesetwoplayaroleinmaintainingthe needed harmony within Gods creation. Theconsequence of these two appears as positive &negative energy existing in the smallest particleslikeElectron&Protonandaffectthewholeuniverseas Push and Pull. None of these have been createdBad according the rule ofAsha and they exist asRelativetotheother.Thus,Ahuramazdaisnotthecreator of any evil or vice. He is the creator of allgood things. The opposition of these twins onlycomes to its expression in our thoughts whenthinking about choosing good and bad. The wiseperson makes use of "Spentamainyu" (Promoter ofgoodthoughts)inhismindandontheotherhand,theignorant ones, merely, follow evil thoughts andprejudice or "Angramainyu" (Devastating thoughts)whichisknownasAhrimaninfarsilanguage.Thus,thecreatorofAhrimanordevastating thought isnotGod but unwise person that changes devastatingthoughtintodevastatingwords&deeds.

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vRELIGION(DEEN)

Derived fromAvestanword "Daenah",DeenmeansConscious Awareness in other words the power todistinguishbetweengoodandevilbasedonwisdomand with complete freedom of choice. In thisviewpoint, a Religious person is one who thinksdeeply and with the help of his good thoughts,chooses thePathOfAshaand,thereupontries tobeaSpentaman(Pious).Assuchhumanbeingsareresponsiblefortheirchoiceanddeedsinbothworlds(material& spiritual)and, finally, face the result oftheirdeedsaccordingly.

vPARADISEANDHELL

Ahuramazda wants happiness and salvation for allHiscreatures.So,Hehasshownthepathofgoodlifeto the people who utilize their conscience andwisdom. Those who choose bad thoughts and actagainstthelawofAsha,bringaboutbadword&baddeeds and will receive the result of their behaviorbased on the law of action & reaction. From thispoint of view, not onlyGodhasnever createdHellfor punishment, and, also, that it is the humanbehaviorthat createsparadise or hellforhissoul..

Paradise(VahishtemMano)orthebestspiritualplacewhichisreachinghappinessandspiritualserenity is the reflection of good thoughts, words & deeds.Hell(AchishtemMano)ortheworstspiritualplaceisconscioussufferingandspiritualdepressionandis the reflection of bad thoughts, words & deedscoming back to that person in his material &spiritualworlds.

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vDYNAMICITYANDFRESHNESS(FRASHKART)

InAshuZaratushtra'sreligion&basedontheruleofAsha, in which not only retrogression is notmeritorious but also inertness & inactivity is notsatisfactory."Frasha"isawordofAshuZaratushtra'smessage that directs every body to freshness anddevelopment. Human's thought, spirit, culture &morality must move forward to development &freshness. In His message, Ashu Zaratushtra wantsHis followers tomake theworld novel and the lifefresh. As the prophet of ancient Iran believes, onemusttry evenif insmallsteps toreachabetterandmoreusefullifewithpeace.

vEndeavorAndEffort

May we be amongst the people who make theworld novel and lead people toward truth andpiety.(Gathas)

Endeavor and effort is one of the most effectivefactors leading tohappinessofallworld. InGathas,AshuZaratushtrarequestseverybodytoendeavorforpeace&developmentofhumansocietywiththehelpofgoodthought&accordingtoAsharuleasmuchastheycan.Zartoshtisbelievethatoneofthebestwaysof praying God is trying to accomplish in art,economy&gooddeeds.Thus,abstinence,begging&lazingareunappealing acts.

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vFRAVAHAR

In traditional Zartoshti belief, human beings areendowedwithfivePowers.Bytheircomingtogether& interaction, development results. These 5 partsinclude:bodyandlifepertainingtomaterialworldand spirit, the power of realizing good & evil(wisdom and conscious) and Fravahar allpertainingtospiritualworld.

"Fravahar" ismade up of two parts: "Fra"meaningforeward & "Vahar" meaning "taking, driving".BeingabeamofAhuramazda'sglow,Fravaharisthemostvaluablepartofhumanbeing.Itisthesourceofall "Ashui" characteristics in one person. Fravaharprevents one's spirit from tendency to lie andincompetence. Giving humans the power ofinnovation, Fravahar helps one's spirit to pass thepath of theism & become eligible to become aSpentaman.

In Achamenid era, a picture with this name wasselected as the national symbol respecting basicthoughtsofAshuZarathushtrareligion.Eachpartsofthissymbolconveyamessage:

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Theshinyoldfaceremindsoneto usethewisdomand experiences.of anelderly

Praying to Ahuramazda,Fravahar'shandisupward andsymbolizesupward growthanddevelopmenttowardsprogress.

TheringinhishandisthesymbolofMithra andremindshuman'sagreementwithGodfor followingthePathof Asha.

The3partsofthewingsrecallgoodthoughts,words&deeds.

TheringaboutFravahar'swristshowseternalworld&alsohumanpowertogetridofinelegantdesiresandreachGod.

The2hangingtracts,underneath, signifythefollowingSpentameynu(holythought)&refusingAngrameynu(wrongthought).

ThepartunderFravahar'swing whichisalsomadeupof3parts conveysthediscardingof badthoughts,words&deeds.

vTHEUNIVERSALPEACEANDLOVE

WeworshipMazdiyasnireligionwhichremonstratesweaponsandisthereligionofpeace&devotion.(MazdiyasnoAhmiAvesta)

Ashu Zarathushtra believes that one must think forthebenefitofallhumans,workforhisnationandlivea life based on His religion.Thus, war either forconquering others to extend the country or forspreading thereligion is unethical and aZartoshtimustthinkofaworldfullofpeaceandfriendship.

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Everyone should propagate kindness and unity byfollowing Asha and then world friendship willappear.EachZartoshtirepeats hisbelief&promiseinMehr (Love and kindness) and peace while, daily,praying the"MazdiyasnoAhmiAvesta".He followsa religionwhich is against war and praises piety&devotion.

vHAPPINESS

Happinessisforthatpersonwhomakesothershappy.(Gathas)

Derived from "yasna", "Jashn" means utteringPrayers. The religion of Ashu Zarathushtra is areligionofhappiness.So,Hisfollowershaveselectedhappiness and avoid depression & grief. In thisReligion,happiness&celebrationisoneofthewaysofworshippingGod.Forthisreason ZartoshtishavetheGahanbarfeasts,which involveactsofgenerosity&munificence,themonthlycelebrationswhenday& month have the same name in addition to theNowrooz,Mehregan&Sadeh celebrations.

TheIranianProphetwantsHisfollowerstobehappybecause this is theway throughwhich humanbodybecomes strong&his spirit achieves happiness andenthusiasm for working & endeavor increases. InAshu Zarathushtra's viewpoint, only real peace andhappiness brings about "benevolence according tothe rule of Asha. Otherwise, one won't reach realhappiness.

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vTHEHUMANRIGHTS

InAshuZarathushtrareligion,allpeoplehaveequalrightsnomatterwhatnationality, race, skincolor,language, religion and belief they have. FollowingtheruleofAsha ,goodthoughts,words&deedsaretheonlyfactorsofpredominance.AshuZarathushtrabelieves that God has given all people wisdom &conscience.

They are free to choose the bestway of livingwithcomplete freedom after pondering in differentsuggestions & viewpoints. Just the same as peoplehave right of freedom in thinking, they have thefreedom in choosing their religion, too. When allpeoplehaveequalrights,man&womanhaveequalrightsintheirmaterial&spirituallives.

vFORCEANDFREEDOM

Listenwith your ears thehighest truth considerthemwithilluminatedmindscarefully.Theneachman and woman, choose personally and freelybetweenthetwopaths,goodandevil.(Gathas)

Ashu Zarathushtra's religion teaches that force is asubsidiary of the lawAsha, talks about freedom inchoosingone'sway.withoutmakinganymentionof"force"

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InAshuZarathushtra'sbelief,thetheoryof" force"isrejectedandsoisthetheoryof"initialsin".Thus,everybodyisbornsinlessandpure&onemakeshislife and future based on the way he chooses.Witheverykindofcorporal,spiritual&familialefficiency,onecanacquireknowledgeandtherebygettoknowthe forces present in the rule of Asha. Thus, byovercoming deficiencies, insufficiencies change tocompetencies.

The religion ofAshuZarathushtra is the religion ofhope, freedom and bounty. Gathas suggests everybody to choose good thought, knowledgable leader,wise friend and Ashu mate but does not forceanybody.This religion respects everybody as a freeperson.Therightoffreedomof choiceisamongstthemostpreciousAhuraicgiftswhichnobodyisallowedtotakeitfromanotherperson.

v PROTECTING THEENVIRONMENT

The law of Asha expects, human beings to beresponsible for theuniverse&whathappensinit.Oneshouldrefrainfromdestroyingany material&spiritual sources of the world. By applying onesGood Thoughts which has been emphasizedstrongly in this Religion environmentalprotectionwillresult.EachZartoshtimustkeephisenvironment and the four cleansing elements(water, fire, soil & air) clean. Polluting theseelements or misusing them is consideredunrighteousinthe Zartoshti Religion.

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vThe AMESHASEPANTAS(THE7STEPSOFZARTOSHTITHEOSOPHY)

KnowingGod, developingmoral charecteristics andtryingtobeaSpentamanarethemaingoalsoflivingthat Ashu Zarathushtra has suggested. He believesthat if one coordinates his behaviour with the sixcharecteristics emanatedfromGod,hewill reach the7thstep&hewillseeonlyGodandnothingelse.

The first step for reaching Ahuramazda is"Vohuman" or good thinking. This word has beenchanged toBahmaninFarsi language.Beingoneofthe innate charecteristics of God, good thinking isamongstAhuraigiftstohumanthateverybodymustdevelop.

The second step in reaching Ahuramazda is "AshaVahishta" or the best Ashui. This word has beenchanged toArdibehesht in Farsi language. Ashui istruth, the only rule of universe & the ability ofcoordinationinGod'snature.Developingthistraitinhuman is also an effort to coordinate deeds withAsha.

"Khshatra Vairya" which has been changed toShahrivar in Farsi language means the power ofspiritual strenght & selfcontroling. This is like theinnert power of God but confined which one shalldevelop. Khshatra Vairya includes the power ofcontrolling wrong behaviour with coordination offeelingsandwisdom,thepowerof followingAshaspath,thepowerofdefendingone'srightanddefeatinglies, the strenght to reach freedom in thinking, thestrengthofdevotion&love,.

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The fourth step is love, mentioned in Gathas as"Spenta Armaiti". It has been changed toSpendarmazd or Esfand in Farsi language. AshuZarathushtra believes that God and human'srelationship is based on friendship & love but nothorror&dread.So,onemustnurtureloveinhimself.Some traits of Spenta Armaiti are: fulfillingpromises,devotion,modestyandmunificence.

Thenexttraitis"haUrvatat"inGathasandKhordadinFarsi.Getting knowledgewillhelp one attain thestep of gamut & perfection in order to be an idealperson. Khordad & "Amordad or Ameratat"(perpetuity)thesixthstepofmaturity go togetherIt means that if one achieves perfection, he willsimultaneouslyachieve eternity,too.

Undoubtedly,AmeratatAmordadinFarsiwhichmeans perpetuity is the innert characteristic ofGodbuthumanbeingcangaineternityinanotherwaythathasbeenpredictedinhiscreation.

Theseventh step of zartoshti theosophy in knowingAhuramazda is being the perfect human(Spentaman) who has understood Ahura and thelight of reality.Traits like effort& endeavor, purity& truth, the power of innovation and love will beincreasedinhimso thatbydevelopmentofperfectionhesucceedstoknowGod.

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vLIGHT,THEWORSHIPDIRECTIONOFZARTOSHTIS

ThefollowersofAshuZarathushtrareligionwhocallthemselvesMazdiyasni(worshippersofMazda),prayGodwithacleanbodyandsoulwhilefacinglight.Intheir prayers, they wish a life full of peace for allpeoplewithgooddeedsaroundtheworld.Zartoshtisrespect fire besides the other three elements (water,soil&air)andkeep"Atashkadeh"as thesymbol oflove & purity.When praying, they use the light offire orotherlightsastheworshipdirection.

Zartoshtisbelieve that fire,thesymbol ofAsha,hassomespecialqualitiesthattheinwardfireofhumansadjoiningone'swisdomtoGod'scan learn fromthemandthenteachthemtoothers,too.

Some of these qualities include the followings:cleansing dirt, lightening darkness, always movingupward,selfburningbutdonatingenergy,light,heatto others&making industry run. Zartoshtis respectthe"VerahramFire"madeupof16firesofdifferentjobsand theancestors' fireand consider thatas theflag of their Religious identity, of which they areproudof.

Atashkadeh is a complex of fire temple, library,school & its related halls. In this complex, fire oflove, knowledge, coordination, unity & wisdom isburningandspreadsAshui.

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vASUMMERYOFZARTOSHTIS'HISTORY

The Religion of Ashu Zarathushtra was introduced,gradually, in Iran fromAchamenidandKianianera.It was propagated in the Parthian Era. During theSasanianera,itbecame the formalreligionof Iran .When Arabs invaded Iran, some of the Iranianschangedtheirreligionwhilesomeotherthatcouldn'ttoleratethestrangers'rulings,migratedtoIndia.Bytheir efforts, truthfulness & assiduity these peoplemade great advances in industry and now areamongstvaluable&famouscitizensofIndia.

The Zartoshtis that remained in Iran , had difficulttime in the very first reignsafter Sasanians becauseoftheharshvailableprejudice.Afteryearsoflabor&discomfort they took refuge in the central cities ofIran like Yazd & Kerman making aqueducts anddoing agriculture (the work the prophet hassuggested).

Centuries later, in Ghajar era, "Manekji LimjiHateria"succeededtohelpalotandcancelJeziye(atax thatZartoshtishad to pay).Whenprejudice andinjusticebecameless,Zartoshtismanagedtomigrateto other cities of Iran and with the help of someParsians like "Markar" could build social, cultural,therapeutic&religiousbuildingsinYazd&Tehran,which provided humanitarian services for Iran &Iranians.

Nowadays, zartoshtis live their lives in peace alongwith their other patiots. They always wish pride &stability for their country ( Iran ) and try to play

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importantroles inbuilding&developingtheAhuraicountryofIran.

ThesummaryofAshuZarathushtra'smessageisthatonemustthinkforthebenefitofallhumans,workforhisnationandlive alife basedonhisreligion.WehopethatallZartoshtismayreachthestatusofpropagatinggoodthoughts,wordsanddeedsinthewholeworldinthisAhuraic path.

TehranMobedanCouncil

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