The history of the Avesta is speculated upon in many Pahlavi texts with varying degrees of authority, with the current version of the Avesta dating at oldest from the times of the Sasanian Empire. What belief did Zoroaster teach? | Homework.Study.com [66], The Histories is a primary source of information on the early period of the Achaemenid era (648330BCE), in particular with respect to the role of the Magi. Important Beliefs of Zoroastrianism - Hindu Website From the bull's seed grew all beneficial plants and animals of the world and from the man's seed grew a plant whose leaves became the first human couple. Zoroaster proclaimed that Ahura Mazda was the supreme creator, the creative and sustaining force of the universe through Asha,[5] and that human beings are given a choice between supporting Ahura Mazda or not, making them ultimately responsible for their choices. (Caliph Abu Bakr, qtd. [84] Zoroaster was set in the ancient past, six to seven millennia before the Common Era, and was described as a king of Bactria or a Babylonian (or teacher of Babylonians), and with a biography typical of a Neopythagorean sage, i.e. reiteration of passages in works of other authors) is a complete Coptic tractate titled Zostrianos (after the first-person narrator) discovered in the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. The King and his queen, Hutosa, heard Zoroaster debating with the religious leaders of his land, and decided to accept Zoroaster's ideas and made them the official religion of their kingdom. Sarianidi considered the BactriaMargiana Archaeological Complex region as "the native land of the Zoroastrians and, probably, of Zoroaster himself. But the Sassanids tolerated or even sometimes favored the Christianity of the Church of the East. He did, however, try to reform it on the basis of existing social and economic values. Zoroaster - Wikipedia A three-line cryptogram in the colophones following the 131-page treatise identify the work as "words of truth of Zostrianos. [115] According to Middle Persian tradition, Ahura Mazda created the twenty-one Nasks of the original Avesta which Zoroaster brought to Vishtaspa. [159], Communities exist in Tehran, as well as in Yazd, Kerman and Kermanshah, where many still speak an Iranian language distinct from the usual Persian. What belief did Zoroaster teach? - Brainly.com Zarathustra - World History Encyclopedia Furthermore, some of the deities of the old religion, the Daevas (Devas in Sanskrit), appeared to delight in war and strife. The Avesta (both Old and Younger portions) does not mention the Achaemenids or of any West Iranian tribes such as the Medes, Persians, or even Parthians. [52] The medieval "from Media" hypothesis is no longer taken seriously, and Zaehner has even suggested that this was a Magi-mediated issue to garner legitimacy, but this has been likewise rejected by Gershevitch and others. [25] The Zoroastrian name of the religion is Mazdayasna, which combines Mazda- with the Avestan word yasna, meaning "worship, devotion". [4][39] This estimate then re-appeared in the 9th- to 12th-century Arabic and Pahlavi texts of Zoroastrian tradition,[c] like the 10th century Al-Masudi who cited a prophecy from a lost Avestan book in which Zoroaster foretold the Empire's destruction in 300 years, but the religion would last for 1,000 years. "[44] The Avesta and other texts call for the protection of water, earth, fire, and air making it, in effect, an ecological religion: "It is not surprising that Mazdaismis called the first ecological religion. Zoroaster's birth and early life are little documented but speculated upon heavily in later texts. [64], The Cypress of Kashmar is a mythical cypress tree of legendary beauty and gargantuan dimensions. [citation needed], Among migrations were those to cities in (or on the margins of) the great salt deserts, in particular to Yazd and Kerman, which remain centers of Iranian Zoroastrianism to this day. [69], According to later Zoroastrian legend (Denkard and the Book of Arda Viraf), many sacred texts were lost when Alexander the Great's troops invaded Persepolis and subsequently destroyed the royal library there. . The evils of this physical world are not products of an inherent weakness, but are the fault of Angra Mainyu's assault on creation. What belief did Zoroaster teach? A. He taught that the universe is | page 8 Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [55][32], The roots of Zoroastrianism are thought to lie in a common prehistoric Indo-Iranian religious system dating back to the early 2nd millennium BCE. The Ilm-e-Khshnoom and the Pundol Group are Zoroastrian mystical schools of thought popular among a small minority of the Parsi community inspired mostly by 19th-century theosophy and typified by a spiritual ethnocentric mentality. Zarathushtra, also spelled Zarathustra, Greek Zoroaster, (born 2nd millennium bce, probably eastern Iran), Iranian religious reformer and prophet, traditionally regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism. Confident in the truth revealed to him by Ahura Mazd, Zarathushtra apparently did not try to overthrow belief in the older Iranian religion, which was polytheistic. He taught that the universe is ruled by many different gods and goddesses. [53], Zoroaster is recorded as the son of Pouruaspa of the Spitamans or Spitamids (Avestan spit mean "brilliant" or "white"; some argue that Spitama was a remote progenitor) family,[54] and Dugdw,[43] while his great-grandfather was Haataspa. Next, all will wade through a river of molten metal in which the righteous will not burn but through which the impure will be completely purified. All of these works are in the Middle Persian dialect of that period (free of Arabic words), and written in the difficult Pahlavi script (hence the adoption of the term "Pahlavi" as the name of the variant of the language, and of the genre, of those Zoroastrian books). This means that the gods and humankind are both bound to observe the same ethical principles. In the final renovation, all of creationeven the souls of the dead that were initially banished to or chose to descend into "darkness"will be reunited with Ahura Mazda in the Kshatra Vairya (meaning "best dominion"),[40] being resurrected to immortality. Many doctrines of the Christian faith have parallels in Zoroastrianism, e.g., the virgin birth, the son of God, and resurrection. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Avesta contains, among other writings, the Gths, a set of hymns composed by Zarathushtra in the Old Avestan language. [2][3], There is little scholarly consensus on when he lived. What is known is recorded in the Gathas, forming the core of the Avesta, which contain hymns thought to have been composed by Zoroaster himself. Some traditionalists recognize the children of mixed marriages as Zoroastrians, though usually only if the father is a born Zoroastrian. [citation needed], Though the Armenians share a rich history affiliated with Zoroastrianism (that eventually declined with the advent of Christianity), reports indicate that there were Zoroastrian Armenians in Armenia until the 1920s. " ". His father's name means "possessing gray horses" (with the word aspa meaning horse), while his mother's means "milkmaid". Most scholars agree that Zoroaster was a real person who lived long ago. [47][48] Also Arabic sources of the same period and the same region of historical Persia consider Azerbaijan as the birthplace of Zarathustra.[43]. Traditionalists are mostly Parsis and accept, beside the Gathas and Avesta, also the Middle Persian literature and like the reformists mostly developed in their modern form from 19th century developments. [32] It has been argued by Dr Almut Hintze that this designation of monotheism is not wholly perfect and that Zoroastrianism instead has its "own form of monotheism" which combines elements of dualism and polytheism. Persian Influence on Greek Thought", "ZOROASTRIANISM i. [6][27][7][28][29] The shortfall of the argument is the vague comparison, and the archaic language of Gathas does not necessarily indicate time difference. 21 terms. [5] In the Gathas, Ahura Mazda is noted as working through emanations known as the Amesha Spenta[24] and with the help of "other ahuras",[32] of which Sraosha is the only one explicitly named of the latter category. Historic England Research Report 203/2020", "Zoroastrianism: Relation to other religions", FEZANA Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zoroastrianism&oldid=1154882485. Before the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century ce, most Persians followed Zoroastrianism, based on the teachings of the ancient prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra), who lived during the first half of the 1st millennium bce. [118] Along with these texts is the individual, communal, and ceremonial prayer book called the Khordeh Avesta, which contains the Yashts and other important hymns, prayers, and rituals. Very little is known of the time between Zoroaster and the Archaemenian period except that during this period Zoroastrianism spread to Western Iran. [70], Manichaeism considered Zoroaster to be a figure in a line of prophets of which Mani (216276) was the culmination. Zoroaster Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements of [76] The Sassanid authority clashed with their Armenian subjects in the Battle of Avarayr (a.d. 451), making them officially break with the Roman Church. In India's 2001 census, the Parsi population numbered at 69,601, representing about 0.006% of the total population of India, with a concentration in and around the city of Mumbai. Among the most famous of the European depictions of Zoroaster is that of the figure in Raphael's 1509 The School of Athens. [93], Association with astrology according to Roger Beck, were based on his Babylonian origin, and Zoroaster's Greek name was identified at first with star-worshiping (astrothytes "star sacrificer") and, with the Zo-, even as the living star. One example of this was a legend that Husayn, son of the fourth caliph Ali and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, had married a captive Sassanid princess named Shahrbanu. [citation needed], Although a few recent depictions of Zoroaster show him performing some deed of legend, in general the portrayals merely present him in white vestments (which are also worn by present-day Zoroastrian priests). Some scholars say that Zarathustra (a.k.a. [5] In the Gathas, the most sacred texts of Zoroastrianism thought to have been composed by Zoroaster himself, Zoroaster acknowledged the highest devotion to Ahura Mazda, with worship and adoration also given to Ahura Mazda's manifestations (Amesha Spenta) and the other ahuras (Yazata) that support Ahura Mazda. Corresponding to the former is a kingdom of justice and truth and to the latter the kingdom of the Lie (Druj), populated by the daevas, the evil spirits (originally prominent old Indo-Iranian gods). He taught that the universe is dominated by good, not evil. Such parallels include the evident similarities between Amesha Spenta and the archangel Gabriel, praying five times a day, covering one's head during prayer, and the mention of Thamud and Iram of the Pillars in the Quran. [55], The training for priesthood probably started very early around seven years of age. [30], Classical scholarship in the 6th to 4th century BC believed he existed 6,000 years before Xerxes I's invasion of Greece in 480 BC (Xanthus, Eudoxus, Aristotle, Hermippus), which is a possible misunderstanding of the Zoroastrian four cycles of 3,000 years (i.e. Zoroaster, or Zarathustra During the Persian Empire, who experienced revelations that caused him to be revered as a prophet of "true religion"? (b) Name the God he proclaimed. Marital relationship in between an Iranian and somebody . They felt their own faiths, power, and particularly their rituals, threatened, because Zoroaster taught against over-ritualising religious ceremonies. Juha Pentikinen, Walter de Gruyter, Shamanism and Northern Ecology 11/07/2011. [20] Throughout the Gathas, Zoroaster emphasizes deeds and actions within society and accordingly extreme asceticism is frowned upon in Zoroastrianism but moderate forms are allowed within. The Gathas consist of only 17 songs and 241 stanzas. Other scholars date him to the 7th and 6th centuries BC as a near-contemporary of Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great. [72], Alexander's conquests largely displaced Zoroastrianism with Hellenistic beliefs,[60] though the religion continued to be practiced many centuries following the demise of the Achaemenids in mainland Persia and the core regions of the former Achaemenid Empire, most notably Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus. Between these each individual is bound to decide. The most significant and important books of this era include the Denkard, Bundahishn, Menog-i Khrad, Selections of Zadspram, Jamasp Namag, Epistles of Manucher, Rivayats, Dadestan-i-Denig, and Arda Viraf Namag. 224) that Zoroastrianism would receive renewed interest. The prophet Zoroaster (Zarathrustra in ancient Persian) is regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism, which is arguably the world's oldest monotheistic faith. Answer: Ahura Mazda (the Lord of lights) (c) What did Zoroaster teach? What Did Persians Trade - TooIf | TooIF [14][15], The most important texts of Zoroastrianism are those contained within the Avesta, which includes the central writings thought to be composed by Zoroaster known as the Gathas, that define the teachings of Zoroaster and which are poems within the liturgy of worship, the Yasna which serve as the basis for worship. [88], Despite economic and social incentives to convert, Zoroastrianism remained strong in some regions, particularly in those furthest away from the Caliphate capital at Baghdad. He found such a place in the country of King Vishtaspa (in Bactria). [21], In this schema of asha versus druj, mortal beings (both humans and animals) play a critical role, for they too are created. He was a native speaker of Avestan and lived in the eastern part of the Iranian plateau, but his exact birthplace is uncertain. [54][32] Within Iran, many of the beleaguered Zoroastrians have been also historically opposed or not practically concerned with the matter of conversion. Zoroaster rejected the religion of the Bronze Age Iranians with their many gods and oppressive class structure, in which the Karvis and Karapans (princes and priests) controlled the ordinary people. However, the evil forces were trapped in the universe and could not retreat. . Kulii; P.. Zoroastrianism - Wikipedia Prior to the splitting off of the urvan, the fravashi participates in the maintenance of creation led by Ahura Mazda. It is achieved only at the expense of Ahura Mazd (by then called Ormazd), who is conflated by later Zoroastrian theologians with Spenta Mainyu and brought down to the level of his opponent, Ahriman. [52], In Zoroastrianism, water (aban) and fire (atar) are agents of ritual purity, and the associated purification ceremonies are considered the basis of ritual life. In Iran, emigration, out-marriage and low birth rates are likewise leading to a decline in the Zoroastrian population. What belief did Zoroaster teach? - Questions LLC Under the early orthodox caliphs, as long as the non-Muslims paid their taxes and adhered to the dhimmi laws, administrators were enjoined to leave non-Muslims "in their religion and their land." [156], Zoroastrian communities internationally tend to comprise mostly two main groups of people: Indian Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians. C. He taught that the universe is locked in an eternal struggle between good and evil. In his Aj'ib al-makhlqt wa ghar'ib al-mawjdt ("The Wonders of Creatures and the Marvels of Creation"), he further describes how the Al-Mutawakkil in 247 AH (861 AD) caused the mighty cypress to be felled, and then transported it across Iran, to be used for beams in his new palace at Samarra. [citation needed], Zoroaster's ideas were not taken up quickly; he originally only had one convert: his cousin Maidhyoimanha. [92] Moreover, the little "magical" teaching that is ascribed to Zoroaster is actually very late, with the very earliest example being from the 14th century. It became enormously popular among both Zoroastrians and Muslims, and also served to propagate the Sassanid justification for overthrowing the Arsacids (i.e., that the Sassanids had restored the faith to its "orthodox" form after the Hellenistic Arsacids had allowed Zoroastrianism to become corrupt). Zoroaster's lessons, as noted above, fixated on Ahura Mazda, who is the most noteworthy god and alone is deserving of love. [citation needed], The central ritual of Zoroastrianism is the Yasna, which is a recitation of the eponymous book of the Avesta and sacrificial ritual ceremony involving Haoma. Sets with similar terms. Many did not like Zoroaster's downgrading of the Daevas to evil ones not worthy of worship. [59], Eventually, at the age of about forty-two, he received the patronage of queen Hutaosa and a ruler named Vishtaspa, an early adherent of Zoroastrianism (possibly from Bactria according to the Shahnameh). This assault turned the perfectly flat, peaceful, and ever day-lit world into a mountainous, violent place that is half night. The traditional Zoroastrian date originates in the period immediately following Alexander the Great's conquest of the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BC. Followers of Ilm-e-Kshnoom in India believe in reincarnation and practice vegetarianism, among other currently non-traditional opinions,[51] although there have been various theological statements supporting vegetarianism in Zoroastrianism's history and claims that Zoroaster was vegetarian. Chapter 7 Jeopardy Game! [citation needed], Zoroaster is rarely depicted as looking directly at the viewer; instead, he appears to be looking slightly upwards, as if beseeching. He is the creator as well as sustainer. [citation needed]. Zoroaster, or Zarathushtra, was an ancient prophet who lived in Persia. This personal choice to accept aa and shun druj is one's own decision and not a dictate of Ahura Mazda. Gnoli proposed Sistan, Baluchistan (though in a much wider scope than the present-day province) as the homeland of Zoroastrianism; Frye voted for Bactria and Chorasmia;[49] Khlopin suggests the Tedzen Delta in present-day Turkmenistan. "[99], Another work circulating under the name of "Zoroaster" was the Asteroskopita (or Apotelesmatika), and which ran to five volumes (i.e. Zarathushtras teachings, as noted above, centred on Ahura Mazd, whom he portrayed as the highest god and the only deity worthy of worship. Zoroastrianism[a] is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. Their language is also called Gavri or Behdini, literally "of the Good Religion". In 522 BCE, the Magi revolted and set up a rival claimant to the throne. The acceptance of Christianity in Georgia (Caucasian Iberia) saw the Zoroastrian religion there slowly but surely decline,[77] but as late the 5th century a.d. it was still widely practised as something like a second established religion.
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