What is Zoroastrianism ?
“ Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith." Mary Boyce - author.
The religion was founded by prophet & reformer Zarathushtra in Persia - modern-day Iran prior to the appearance of Islam in 6th century BC. It may have been the world's first monotheistic faith. With the exception of religious conservatives, most religious historians believe the Jewish, Christian and Muslim beliefs concerning God and Satan, the soul, heaven & hell, the virgin birth of the savior, the slaughter of the innocents, resurrection, the final judgment, etc. were all derived from Zoroastrianism.
Legends say that his birth was predicted and that attempts were made by the forces of evil to kill him as a child. This is a common theme found in many religions of the world. He preached a monotheism in a land which followed an aboriginal polytheistic religion. He was attacked for his teaching, but finally won the support of the king.
Zoroaster probably became a priest or worship leader of the existing religion of multiple gods, which involved extensive ritual and animal sacrifice. According to Zoroastrian hagiography, at about age 30, he went into a river to collect water for one such ritual and was struck with a vision. In the vision, which began as a white light, he was introduced to a single, supreme god, Ahura Mazda, who taught him the elements of a new, semi-monotheistic faith. Zoroaster began to preach this new religion, first within his own community, where it was largely rejected, then widely across the area that became Persia. Lacking means of support, he was often cold and hungry during this period of wandering.
Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrians, and Zoroaster. Zoroastrians are the original Persians who lived and ruled the lands of modern day Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and parts of India. The history of the religion prior to the 6th century BC is largely unknown. Zoroastrian Iran was finally defeated by the expansion of Islam, but for over 1,000 years Zoroastrianism was the official religion of three major world empires, making it, perhaps, the most powerful world religion of the time. The last Zoroastrian monarch was Yazedegird (d. 652 CE). The modern Zoroastrian calendar begins with his coronation and the designation anno Yazdegird (AY) is used.
They are a group of people, who are mistakenly known as “Fire Worshipers”. Zoroastrianism is considered to be one of the oldest religions in world. The confusion of “fire worshiping” comes with the notion that Zoroastrians see fire to be cleansing and purifying, and also a gateway to Zoroaster. Fire is where the written prayers of the worshipers are placed… there they are purified before entering the heavens where Zoroaster and other “purified” things go. It’s very complex and dynamic.
Traditional Zoroastrian teachings are found in the holy book, the Avesta, and the Pahlavi literature. An essential feature of all worship (yasna), centred on fire, is physical and moral purity. Zoroastrianism is often described as a dualism because of its teaching of the struggle between good and evil that was seen as an eternal rivalry between the wholly good God, Ahura Mazda's twin sons, Spenta Mainyu (good) and Angra Mainyu (evil). Later Zoroastrian cosmology depicted the rivalry between Ahura Mazda himself (by then called Ormizd) and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman). This later cosmology identifies four periods of history; the last began with the birth of Zoroaster.
It is, however, a central part of this optimistic religion that evil will be defeated. There is no idea of a spirit/flesh dualism because both the spiritual and the material worlds are the creation of God. Humans therefore have a religious duty to care for both the material and the spiritual aspects of their existence. It is a religion which inculcates the highest moral ideals. Once the believer has been initiated, he or she (there is little difference in the religious duties of the sexes) should fight evil in all its forms.
Zoroastrian practice includes an initiation ceremony and various rituals of purification intended to ward off evil spirits. Fire worship, a carryover from an earlier religion, survives in the sacred fire that must be kept burning continually and be fed at least five times a day. The chief ceremony involves a sacrifice of haoma, a sacred liquor, accompanied by recitation of large parts of the Avesta, the primary scripture.
Zoroastrianism has considerable historical importance because of its geographical position astride the routes between East and West, and also because of its profound influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, especially in regard to beliefs on heaven, hell, resurrection of the dead and the final judgement. It is also thought that it inspired a belief in a saviour to come in Hinduism & Buddhism.
In the 10th century BC, some Zoroastrians left Iran to seek a new land of religious freedom and settled in north-west India, where they are known as Parsis . By the 19th century these Indian Zoroastrians, or Parsis, were noted for their wealth and education. The small group of Zoroastrians remaining in Iran are known as the Gabars.
The main centres of Zoroastrianism nowadays are India (mainly Bombay), 72,000; Iran, 30,000 plus; Pakistan, 2,000; Britain, 5,000; and North America, 6,000 (all figures are approximate).
