ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

November 2011November 2011

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion which was once Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion which was once widespread in what is now Iran, Pakistan, India, and the widespread in what is now Iran, Pakistan, India, and the Middle EastMiddle East

It was the state religion of the ancient Persian Empire, It was the state religion of the ancient Persian Empire, during which time it was one of the most important during which time it was one of the most important religions of the ancient world religions of the ancient world

It has under 200,000 practitioners today, mostly in India, It has under 200,000 practitioners today, mostly in India, and much of its scripture and history has been lostand much of its scripture and history has been lost

ZarathustraZarathustra Zarathustra was an ancient prophet who may Zarathustra was an ancient prophet who may

have lived in Central Asia sometime between have lived in Central Asia sometime between 1800 and 600 BCE1800 and 600 BCE In the fourth century BCE, Zoroastrian priests In the fourth century BCE, Zoroastrian priests

estimated the date of Zarathustra’s lifetime to be estimated the date of Zarathustra’s lifetime to be around 600 BCEaround 600 BCE

Recent scholars argue that Zarathustra lived much Recent scholars argue that Zarathustra lived much earlier, based on the language in which the Gathas, earlier, based on the language in which the Gathas, texts attributed to Zarathustra, are composedtexts attributed to Zarathustra, are composed

Scholars believe that Zarathustra lived in what is Scholars believe that Zarathustra lived in what is now eastern Iran or Afghanistannow eastern Iran or Afghanistan

Zarathustra was known to the ancient Greeks, Zarathustra was known to the ancient Greeks, who called him Zoroasterwho called him Zoroaster

Zarathustra belonged to a priestly family and Zarathustra belonged to a priestly family and was raised in the ancient Indo-Iranian tradition, was raised in the ancient Indo-Iranian tradition, which was closely related to the Vedic religionwhich was closely related to the Vedic religion

ZarathustraZarathustra Little is known about the life of Little is known about the life of

Zarathustra, but the Gathas indicate Zarathustra, but the Gathas indicate that he had an experience of Ahura that he had an experience of Ahura Mazda, the benevolent creator god, and Mazda, the benevolent creator god, and founded a new, monotheistic religionfounded a new, monotheistic religion

Zarathustra apparently had difficulty Zarathustra apparently had difficulty winning converts during his lifetimewinning converts during his lifetime

According to legend, Zarathustra was According to legend, Zarathustra was murdered by his enemies while murdered by his enemies while performing a religious ceremonyperforming a religious ceremony

Sacred TextsSacred Texts Zarathustra is said to be the author of the Zarathustra is said to be the author of the

Gathas, a collection of sacred hymns dedicated Gathas, a collection of sacred hymns dedicated to Ahura Mazdato Ahura Mazda

The Gathas are written in Avestan, an ancient The Gathas are written in Avestan, an ancient Persian language that is now extinct, and are Persian language that is now extinct, and are extremely difficult to translateextremely difficult to translate

They may be approximately as old as the Rig They may be approximately as old as the Rig VedaVeda

In addition to the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, In addition to the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, a number of texts were composed in the 9a number of texts were composed in the 9thth to to 1111thth centures CE which supplement the centures CE which supplement the fragmentary Avestan material; however, only the fragmentary Avestan material; however, only the Avestan texts are considered sacredAvestan texts are considered sacred

History of History of ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

By the 6By the 6thth century BCE, the Achaemenid kings of century BCE, the Achaemenid kings of the Persian Empire made Zoroastrianism the the Persian Empire made Zoroastrianism the religion of the land, and compiled the Avesta religion of the land, and compiled the Avesta canoncanon

The religion appears to have been administered The religion appears to have been administered by a priestly class called the Magiby a priestly class called the Magi

The invasion of Alexander of Macedon The invasion of Alexander of Macedon (Alexander the Great) in 330 BCE brought an end (Alexander the Great) in 330 BCE brought an end to the Achaemenid Empireto the Achaemenid Empire

According to legend, Alexander destroyed a According to legend, Alexander destroyed a library containing many Zoroastrian texts and library containing many Zoroastrian texts and killed many Zoroastrian priests when he reached killed many Zoroastrian priests when he reached the capital city of Persepolisthe capital city of Persepolis

History of History of ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

A smaller Persian Empire was established by A smaller Persian Empire was established by the Parthians following Alexander’s invasionthe Parthians following Alexander’s invasion

The Parthians were succeeded by the Sassanid The Parthians were succeeded by the Sassanid dynasty in the 3dynasty in the 3rdrd century CE century CE

In the 7In the 7thth century CE, the Zoroastrian century CE, the Zoroastrian Sassanids were overthrown by Muslim Arab Sassanids were overthrown by Muslim Arab armiesarmies

In the centuries that followed, most Persians In the centuries that followed, most Persians became Muslimbecame Muslim

Some Zoroastrians migrated to IndiaSome Zoroastrians migrated to India Today, Mumbai is the global centre of Today, Mumbai is the global centre of

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Beliefs of ZoroastrianismBeliefs of Zoroastrianism According to Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda is the one According to Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda is the one

true godtrue god Ahura Mazda created the world and imbued it with Ahura Mazda created the world and imbued it with

ashaasha (truth, good, order) (truth, good, order) Ahura Mazda first created the Amesha Spentas (heavenly Ahura Mazda first created the Amesha Spentas (heavenly

beings), then the material world, then the first human and beings), then the material world, then the first human and the first bullthe first bull

However, an evil spirit, Angra Mainyu (also known as However, an evil spirit, Angra Mainyu (also known as Ahriman) opposes Ahura Mazda, and brought Ahriman) opposes Ahura Mazda, and brought druj druj (falsehood, evil, disorder) to the world(falsehood, evil, disorder) to the world Angra Mainyu created various demons and also corrupted Angra Mainyu created various demons and also corrupted

and destroyed the first human and bulland destroyed the first human and bull The world is characterized by a struggle between The world is characterized by a struggle between

asha asha and and drujdruj All humans have free will and must choose All humans have free will and must choose ashaasha over over

drujdruj

Supernatural BeingsSupernatural Beings Zoroastrian mythology includes a complex Zoroastrian mythology includes a complex

hierarchy of supernatural beingshierarchy of supernatural beings The highest of the heavenly beings are the six The highest of the heavenly beings are the six

Amesha Spentas, which are emanations or “divine Amesha Spentas, which are emanations or “divine sparks” of Ahura Mazda and were responsible for sparks” of Ahura Mazda and were responsible for the creation of the universethe creation of the universe

Mithra is a divine being who is associated with Mithra is a divine being who is associated with contracts, justice, cattle, and the Sun, and is contracts, justice, cattle, and the Sun, and is sometimes worshipped as a deity in his own rightsometimes worshipped as a deity in his own right

Yazatas are divine beings which serve Ahura Yazatas are divine beings which serve Ahura Mazda, and are comparable to angels in the Mazda, and are comparable to angels in the Abrahamic traditionsAbrahamic traditions

DaevasDaevas

Daevas are demonic beingsDaevas are demonic beings In the Gathas, daevas are gods who are In the Gathas, daevas are gods who are

worshipped by non-Zoroastrians and do not worshipped by non-Zoroastrians and do not have the quality of ashahave the quality of asha

Later texts depict the daevas as evil beings Later texts depict the daevas as evil beings who follow Angra Mainyuwho follow Angra Mainyu

Zoroastrian mythology lists six arch-Zoroastrian mythology lists six arch-daevas which oppose the Amesha daevas which oppose the Amesha SpentasSpentas Two of these are Indar and SarvaTwo of these are Indar and Sarva

The End TimesThe End Times Those who live according to Those who live according to ashaasha will enter will enter

into the Kingdom of Lightinto the Kingdom of Light A temporary hell exists for evildoersA temporary hell exists for evildoers At the end of history, the Saoshyant At the end of history, the Saoshyant

(saviour) will lead an army of yazatas (saviour) will lead an army of yazatas against Angra Mainyu’s daevas against Angra Mainyu’s daevas

Good will triumph over evil and bring about Good will triumph over evil and bring about the “renovation” or “refreshment” of the the “renovation” or “refreshment” of the world, in which the dead will come back to world, in which the dead will come back to life, and life, and drujdruj, old age, and death will , old age, and death will disappeardisappear

RitualsRituals Zoroastrians wrap a sacred cord, called a Zoroastrians wrap a sacred cord, called a

kusti, around their midsections five times kusti, around their midsections five times per day and recite prayers to Ahura Mazdaper day and recite prayers to Ahura Mazda

Water is used for purificationWater is used for purification Zoroastrian worship often takes place in a Zoroastrian worship often takes place in a

fire temple, which houses a sacred flame fire temple, which houses a sacred flame and also has access to a source of waterand also has access to a source of water

When a Zoroastrian dies, his or her body is When a Zoroastrian dies, his or her body is traditionally taken to a Tower of Silence, traditionally taken to a Tower of Silence, where it is left in the open to be devoured by where it is left in the open to be devoured by vulturesvultures The only Tower of Silence that exists today is The only Tower of Silence that exists today is

located in Mumbai, Indialocated in Mumbai, India