Under Abbasid rule, Muslim Iranians (who by then were in the majority) in many instances showed severe disregard for and mistreated local Zoroastrians. Contrast with Henning's observations: Henning, W.B., Learn how and when to remove this template message, Being good for the sake of goodness and without the hope of reward, Western references to Zoroaster and Zoroastrianism, Sasanian Empire was overthrown by the Arabs, Aj'ib al-makhlqt wa ghar'ib al-mawjdt, List of countries by Zoroastrian population, Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, National Database and Registration Authority, "Is Zoroastrianism Dualistic Or Monotheistic? [citation needed], In Khorasan in northeastern Iran, a 10th-century Iranian nobleman brought together four Zoroastrian priests to transcribe a Sassanid-era Middle Persian work titled Book of the Lord (Khwaday Namag) from Pahlavi script into Arabic script. [b], If Zarantutra is the original form, it may mean "with old/aging camels",[14] related to Avestic zarant-[13] (cf. [154][155][38] Devout Zoroastrians are known to cover their heads during prayer, either with traditional topi, scarves, other headwear, or even just their hands. "258 years before Alexander" is only superficially precise. 21 terms. BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time: Zoroastrianism, avesta.org - Zoroaster's life in pictures, avesta.org - History of Zoroastrianism by MN Dhalla. What did Zoroaster teach & who was it between? By the late 20th century, most scholars had settled on an origin in eastern Greater Iran. [41] There is also a heavy emphasis on spreading happiness, mostly through charity,[42] and respecting the spiritual equality and duty of both men and women. The precise date of the founding of the religion is uncertain and estimates vary wildly from 2000 BCE to "200 years before Alexander". Zoroastrian faith in mod. [60], According to the tradition, he lived for many years after Vishtaspa's conversion, managed to establish a faithful community,[61] and married three times. general and particular judgment), including the resurrection of the dead, which are alluded to in the Gathas but developed in later Avestan and Middle Persian writings. [56] The prophet Zoroaster himself, though traditionally dated to the 6th century BCE, is thought by many modern historians to have been a reformer of the polytheistic Iranian religion who lived much earlier during the second half of the second millenium BCE. [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. ", " ", "Herodotus, The Histories, Book 1, chapter 131", "Dadestan-i Denig ('Religious Decisions'): Chapters 1-41", "Zoroastrian rituals: Navjote/Sudre-Pooshi (initiation) ceremony", "Herbal life: traditional medicine gets a modern twist in Iran", "MAGIC i. [citation needed], A corpse is considered a host for decay, i.e., of druj. This religion was quite similar to the early forms of Hinduism of the Indus Valley. According to this tale, Zaradusht defrauded his master, who cursed him, causing him to become leprous (cf. [133], Zoroastrianism also includes beliefs about the renovation of the world (Frashokereti) and individual judgment (cf. The usurper, pretending to be Cyrus' younger son Smerdis, took power shortly thereafter. assisting the needy, doing good works, or conducting good rituals) we increase aa in the world and in ourselves, celebrate the divine order, and we come a step closer on the everlasting road to Frashokereti. [38] Ahura Mazda will ultimately prevail over the evil Angra Mainyu, at which point reality will undergo a cosmic renovation called Frashokereti[39] and limited time will end. [73] Strabo further states that these were "noteworthy enclosures; and in their midst there is an altar, on which there is a large quantity of ashes and where the magi keep the fire ever burning. [14] All present-day, Iranian-language variants of his name derive from the Middle Iranian variants of Zarot, which, in turn, all reflect Avestan's fricative --. [115] The later manuscripts all date from after the fall of the Sasanian Empire, the latest being from 1288, 590 years after the fall of the Sasanian Empire. He was born into a Bronze Age culture with a polytheistic religion (the worship of many gods), which included animal sacrifice and the ritual use of intoxicants. [55], The training for priesthood probably started very early around seven years of age. In Zoroastrianism, good transpires for those who do righteous deeds for its own sake, not for the search of reward. Nominally an Iranian religion, Manichaeism was heavily inspired by Zoroastrianism[109] because of Mani's Iranian origin, and it was also rooted in prior Middle-Eastern Gnostic beliefs. Many traits of Zoroastrianism can be traced back to the culture and beliefs of the prehistorical Indo-Iranian period, that is, to the time before the migrations that led to the Indo-Aryans and Iranics becoming distinct peoples. [91], The struggle between Zoroastrianism and Islam declined in the 10th and 11th centuries. which conception see Apam Napat). [33][32][34] Some scholars assert that Zoroastrianism's concept of divinity covers both being and mind as immanent entities, describing Zoroastrianism as having a belief in an immanent self-creating universe with consciousness as its special attribute, thereby putting Zoroastrianism in the pantheistic fold sharing its origin with Indian Hinduism. 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. [11] Zoroaster is credited with authorship of the Gathas as well as the Yasna Haptanghaiti, a series of hymns composed in his native Avestan dialect that comprise the core of Zoroastrian thinking. In it, Zoroaster and Ptolemy are having a discussion in the lower right corner. [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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He taught that the universe is governed by natural laws, not gods and goddesses. [70] According to one archaeological examination, the ruins of the palace of Xerxes bear traces of having been burned. [86][87], The language of that literature was predominantly Greek, though at one stage or another various parts of it passed through Aramaic, Syriac, Coptic or Latin. [68], The Sabaeans, who believed in free will coincident with Zoroastrians, are also mentioned in the Quran.[68]. In Iran, emigration, out-marriage and low birth rates are likewise leading to a decline in the Zoroastrian population. [133], While Ahura Mazda created the universe and humankind, Angra Mainyu, whose very nature is to destroy, miscreated demons, evil daevas, and noxious creatures (khrafstar) such as snakes, ants, and flies. [citation needed], Scholars and theologians have long debated on the nature of Zoroastrianism, with dualism, monotheism, and polytheism being the main terms applied to the religion. Currently though, The Council of Tehran Mobeds (the highest ecclesiastical authority within Iran) endorses conversion but conversion from Islam to Zoroastrianism is illegal under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Answer: First of all, there is no doubt that Zoroastrianism predated Christianity. This ethical dualism is rooted in the Zoroastrian cosmology. Both of these latter schools tend to center the Gathas without outright rejecting other texts except the Vendidad. 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. [4][31][32][33] This belief is recorded by Diogenes Lartius, and variant readings could place it 600 years before Xerxes I, somewhere before 1000 BC. [60], As late as the Parthian period, a form of Zoroastrianism was without a doubt the dominant religion in the Armenian lands. Moreover a few of the divine beings of the old faith the Daevas (Devas in Sanskrit) appeared to enjoy war and strife. [75] Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Bah Faith in the first half of the 20th century, saw Bah'u'llh as the fulfillment of a post-Sassanid Zoroastrian prophecy that saw a return of Sassanid emperor Bahram:[76] Shoghi Effendi also stated that Zoroaster lived roughly 1000 years before Jesus.[e]. The remaining 49% of English Zoroastrians were scattered relatively evenly throughout the country, with the second and third largest concentrations being Birmingham (72) and Manchester (47). Who ordered his soldiers to beat the waters of the Hellespont? [63], Silk Road Seattle believes that Chinese wu practices in the 9th century BCE, which inspired later Taoist beliefs,[64] lost to history might have been inspired by Zoroastrians. The cardinal concept of aawhich is highly nuanced and only vaguely translatableis at the foundation of all Zoroastrian doctrine, including that of Ahura Mazda (who is aa), creation (that is aa), existence (that is aa), and as the condition for free will. Festivals, in which worship is an essential part, are characteristic aspects of Zoroastrianism, a faith that enjoins on human beings the pleasant duty of being happy. 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." Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism.He is said to have been an Iranian prophet who founded a religious movement that challenged the existing traditions of ancient Iranian religion, and inaugurated a movement that eventually became a staple religion in ancient Iran.He was a native speaker of Avestan and lived in the eastern part of the . [35] According to Pliny the Elder, there were two Zoroasters. He was a family man, with a wife, three sons and three daughters. The aforementioned sources indicate that Zarathushtra was probably a priest of the ancient Iranian religion. 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. The prophet Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, was the founder of the religion known as Zoroastrianism, which is also known as Mazdayasna.
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