Zoroastrian Resources
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An Introduction to Zoroastrianism
Provided by FEZANA
Nomenclature
Zoroastrians are the followers of the prophet Zarathushtra, who the Western
world often calls Zoroaster. There are two main groups of Zoroastrians.
Zoroastrians on the Indian sub-continent are known as Parsis and Iranis.
Another group of Zoroastrians is in present day Iran. Their beliefs and
practices are very similar, and wealthy Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians
have often donated to Zoroastrian welfare organizations in Iran and India
to assist their more socially marginalized, fellow Zoroastrians.
History
The Indo-Iranian Aryans who settled in Persia and India between 3000
and 1500 B.C.E. were pastoral; worshiping many gods of nature, fire being
the main one around which they performed their rituals outside. This polytheistic
religion was the precursor to Zoroastrianism, which Zarathushtra, by the
divine revelation from Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, propagated in Iran
around 1500 B.C.E. Zoroastrianism is credited to be the oldest monotheistic
religion. Though many scholars fix Zoroastrianism’s date of inception
around 1500 B.C.E., some believe Zarathushtra was born as early as 6000
B.C.E. or as late as 700 to 600 B.C.E.
Due to a lack of reliable sources, it is unknown what happened to the
religion after Zarathushtra death. By the seventh century B.C.E., however,
Zoroastrianism was present in the court of the Medes, a dynasty that ruled
Persia. In 559 B.C.E., Cyrus the Great emerged as the sole king of Persia
and founded the Achaemenian Dynasty. He liberated Jews from Babylon and
allowed them to go to Jerusalem and helped them build their Temple. Celebrated
for his tolerance of different religions and ethnicities, Zoroastrianism
flourished under his reign and that of his successors, Darius the Great
and Xerxes.
After the conquest of Iran by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.E., Iran
was in turmoil under the Greek rule until in 224 B.C.E., the Parthian
Dynasty was founded and Zoroastrianism flourished again sporadically.
Parthians were defeated by the Sasanian King Ardeshir in 226 CE and established
the powerful Sasanian Dynasty and Zoroastrianism became the state’s
most powerful religion. After the fall of the Sasanian Empire at the hands
of the Arabs in 651 C. E., an era of persecution began. Zoroastrians were
prohibited from worshipping freely and relegated to rural villages. By
the tenth century, these conditions had prompted many Zoroastrians to
move to India, where their community thrived. Modern Parsi Zoroastrians
in India and Pakistan continue to enjoy economic and social success. Iranian
Zoroastrians, however, still suffer from conditions of inequality that
leads in some cases to poverty.
Scripture
The revelations Zarathushtra received from Ahura Mazda (God) are contained
in a collection of hymns called the Gathas. These seventeen hymns are
all that survive of Zarathushtra teachings, and are an integral part of
the Zoroastrian worship ceremony called the Yasna. There is also religious
literature in a later form of the Avesta language and redaction of the
Avesta literature and commentary and prayers in Pahalevi, which was the
language of the later Parthian and Sasanian dynasties. Because the majority
of the religious literature is in the Avesta language, the word Avesta
often refers to the holy book(s) of Zoroastrianism.
After the fall of the Achaemenian Dynasty, it is generally believed that
the Avesta was destroyed and scattered by the Greeks. A first restoration
of Avesta was made by the Parthian king, Vologases I (51-77 C. E.), who
had collected the scattered Avesta including the Yasna containing 72 chapters.
The collection and restoration of the Avesta continued vigorously under
the Sasanian Dynasty (226-651 C. E.). The writing and canonization of
the texts was under Shapur II (309-379 C. E.) by his Prime Minister and
High Priest Aturpat Marespandan. The Sasanian Avesta was written in the
specially invented alphabets in order to render with extreme precision,
the slightest nuance of the liturgical recitation. After the fall of the
Sasanian Dynasty at the hands of the Arabs, much of the Avesta once again
was destroyed and scattered, with a few fragments surviving. Numerous
religious texts were written by various authors in the Pahalvi and Pazand
languages in the ninth century C. E. During this time, many Zoroastrians
from Iran migrated to the west coast of India and thrived there as Parsis.
They have preserved most of the Avesta fragments from the Sasanian timeBeliefs:
Zoroastrians believe in the Wise Lord, called Ahura Mazda or Ohrmazd (Pahalevi
form). Ahura Mazda, has the attributes of Good Mind, Righteousness, Dominion,
Devotion, Wholeness, and Immortality. These are also known as the Holy
Immortals and are also the virtues to which each Zoroastrian should aspire.
Creation in the material state is good and is destined to move towards
perfection. This is opposed by the destructive acts of evildoers and deceivers,
inspired by Angre Mainyu (the evil mentality). Human beings are required
to choose and act so that they move creation towards the goal of perfection
by fighting evil and working for the triumph of good.
Zoroastrians see all aspects of nature as Ahura Mazda’s creation
and are required to maintain an ecological balance and strive to take
care of their bodies as instruments for the good.
Zoroastrians also believe in two moments of judgment. Individual judgment
occurs immediately after death and the soul suffers or benefits from its
actions before death. There is a final judgment when good ultimately triumphs
over evil at which time all souls are purified.
Practices
One of the earliest and most basic Zoroastrian practices is worshipping
at fire temples. The fire, a symbol of purity, burns in the spiritual
center of Zoroastrian temples. Worshippers purify themselves before entering
the temple, which is devoid of all decoration, and then pray individually
around the fire.
Another important Zoroastrian ritual is navjote, in which Zoroastrian
priests initiate boys and girls into their religious community. During
the ceremony, the child receives a white cotton under-vest (sudreh) and
a white, wool cord (kusti) which s/he will wear their entire life.
The final Zoroastrian rite of passage is the funeral ceremony. In order
to avoid polluting the environment, bodies are not buried, burned, or
drowned. Traditionally, they are left on top of a circular stone tower,
where carrion birds devour the flesh. This practice is now followed only
in India and Pakistan.
Symbol
The Zoroastrian symbol is the Farohar, sometimes considered an image
of the Wise Lord, Ahura Mazda, who is depicted as a man from the waist
up with the wings and tail feathers of an eagle.
Characteristics: Many believe Zoroastrians are fire-worshippers. Zoroastrians
believe that fire promotes their connection with God, but they never pray
directly to it. Fire is used as a symbol of the divine energy of God that
permeates His creation and in Zoroastrian rituals and Zoroastrian temples
it represents the presence of God. Since Zoroastrians strongly emphasize
the battle between good and evil, many have considered Zoroastrianism
a dualistic religion that places equal emphasis on good and evil. Zoroastrianism,
however, is a monotheistic religion that worships one God who is perfectly
good.
Additional Material
Pamphlet on Zoroastrianism
For additions or corrections, please contact Ms. Priti Vaishnav.