Zoroastrianism

This is one of the oldest religions on earth and was founded in Persia by prophet Zarathusthra (Zoroaster) in the 6th or 7th century BC. The followers of Zoroastrianism are known as Parsis.

Zoroaster's life dates have been traditionally given as 628-551 BC, but many scholars argue for earlier dates. Zoroaster's birth has been surrounded by marvels and mystery. He was said to be the inheriter of the glory of 'Yima' the land giver of ancient ages and Ahura-Mazdah or ormuzed meaning, the chief god of the ancient Persians. Linguistic evidence suggests that he was born in northeastern Iran, but the prophet's message was to spread throughout the Persian Empire. The persian Kings adopted it as the faith and Zoroastrianism became the religion of the Achaemenid empire and flourished under its successors, the Parthian and Sassanian empires. The Zoroastrianism began to decline with the rise of the Muslim in 7th century. The persuation resulted in the migration of the majority of Zoroastrians to India, and therefore they are now known as Parsis.

The parsians also sacrificed for Zeus the Vault of the sky which many persians still call Dyaus Pitar and the god worshipped by Darius was called Auramazada, which was ommipotent and who had the absolute power. There was reverence for truth, justice and supernatural glory and hatred for lies (Dranga) in the Zoroastrianism. The Gathas are written in the Dialect which the prophet spoke and its rendering in the Pahlavi language is poor both with regard to the expression and the spirit. The translations of those hymns by J.Darmesteter based on Pahlavi rendering is a demonstration of the impossibility of understanding the Gathas in the atmosphere of the 2nd century A.D.

Sacred Literature

Its doctrines are found in the Pahlavi books and in the Zinde-Avesta compiled sometime during the Sassanian period (224-640), and in the small portion of it called the Gatha which is said to be the work of the prophet in versified preachings. In the Gatha Zoroaster is depicted as a real human being devoid of all the marvallous features which later literature attributed to him. These sections, the Gathas, are thought to be by Zoroaster himself. They are hymns and form the primary part of the Yasna, the central rite of the religion. It also contains the Yashts, hymns to a number of the ahuras, and later in date than the Gathas. Finally comes the Videvdat, which is concerned with purity and ritual. A large body of commentary exists in Pahlavi, dating from the 9th century, which contains quotations from earlier material no longer extant.

The language of the earliest Zoroastrian writings is close to that of the Indian Vedas, and much of the mythology is recognizably the same. Two groups of gods were worshiped, the ahuras and the daevas. The worship of the ahuras (lords) may have reflected the practice of the pastoral upper classes, and tradition holds that Zoroaster was born into a family that worshiped only the ahuras. The message of the prophet, however, was that Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, was the sole creator and lord of the world and that the worship of the daevas was the worship of evil.

His doctrine was that to man in his vision are revealed the better and Bad in thought, word & action. The wise will chose the former and the foolish the later. The good spirit is of Ahur Mazdah and the spirit of deceit and treachery is of Angra Mainyu. Inspired by a right mind vohu Manah. He condemned priest, sorcerers, fairies, killing of animals for sacrifice and taking intoxicating drinks Heoma or Soma. He repudiated, nomadic life which bring rage and strife which the life of infidels. He wished others to live a life of purpose, orderly existence according to law, in obedience to the good spirit represented by a moral advisor. In this way one will realise in this world and hereafter the kingdom of blessing, the kingdom of the best (Vahista Manah) with good rewards and perfect happiness and immortality (Ameretat).

Beliefs

Zoroastrians worship Anurn, containing the holy fire which is placed on the altar in the temple and prefunms are sprinkled and covered on it occasionaly. A priest enters 5 times a day with his mouth covered with veil lest his breath may polute the sacred fire. He repeats 3 times A prayer to dispel evil thought, evil words and evil deed. Every Zoroastrian keeps fire in his own house.

To celebrate New year (Nauroz) The sacrifice consists of oblation of bread & milk. Besides this despite Zoroaster's ban on it, the sacrifice of Haoma or Soma is done. It is an intoxicating plant of which the stems were crushed in a mortar and the juice strained off. This was presented before the fire and drunk by the officiating priest.

A child at birth has his lips steeped in Haoma and he becomes a full zoroastrain at the age of 12 to 15 when he wears a girdle.

Marriage is a duty & its rituals are like the Hindu. Since Parsis believe in purity of elements, they do not cremate or bury their dead as they think that this might pollute the fire, earth, air and water. Instead they leave the bodies in 'Towers of silence' where they are soon cleaned off by Vultures so that they could benefit from flesh which is to serve some purpose. The soul of the dead haunts his home for 3 days and it takes wing for the judgement before Mithra, Sraorha and Rashmu. Its merits & demerits are judged or weighed in a balance to be sent to Behesht - house of songs, of Zoroaster who had a clear vision of life after death and of the means of attaining eternal happiness. But he tried to organise the social, moral and religious life of the people here on earth and this became associated with the idea of Nationality. All this prepared Zorasterianism to be a state religion and so it was under the Sasanian dynesty.

Present Existence

Zoroastrianism stretched all the way from India to the mediterranean, but today it is founded only around Shiraz in Iran, Karachi in Pakistan and Mumbai in India. Zoroastrianism was one of the first religions to postulate that there is an omnipotent and invisible God. They believe in Ahura Mazda, who is symbolized by fire. Humanity ensures victory over evil by following the principles of humata (good thoughts), hukta (good words) and huvarshta (good deeds). Parsis worship in the Fire temples and wear a sadra (sacred shirt) and a kasti (sacred thread).

There are only 85,000 parsis. There number is gradually declining as they have a strict rule: that a Parsi must marry another Parsi. The offspring of mixed liasions are not regarded as true Parsis.

All the traditions of Persia were preserved under a thin cover of Islam and Zoroasterianism never completely dispeared from Iran where it is still practiced by the Gabars around Yazd. Other orthodox Zoroasterian emigrated to India as in Bombay where the Parsi community has survived uptil now.