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The Encyclopedia Britannica has a passage on Zoroaster that boosts patriotic feelings in any Iranian reader, Zoroastrian, Armenian, Jew, Moslem… It reads: “The great Iranian religious reformer and prophet, Zoroaster (also known in Old Iranian as Zarathushtra and in Modern Persian as Zartosht), was the founder, probably in the 6th century BC, of the religion that bears his name: Zoroastrianism, or Parsiism, as it is known in India (the name Parsiism indicates its Persian origin). “A major personality in the history of the religions of the world, Zoroaster has been the object of much attention for two reasons. On the one hand, he became a legendary figure believed to be connected with occult knowledge and magical practices in the Near Eastern and Mediterranean world in the Hellenistic Age (c. 300 BC-c. AD 300). “On the other hand, his monotheistic concept of God has attracted the attention of modern historians of religions, who have speculated on the connections between his teaching and Judaism and Christianity Though extreme claims of pan-Iranianism (i.e., that Zoroastrian or Iranian ideas influenced Greek, Roman, and Jewish thought) may be disregarded, the pervasive influence of Zoroaster’s religious thought must nevertheless be recognized.” There is no certainty about the date of birth of Zoroaster. Various sources give various dates from 600 to 6000 years before Christ. According to some Zoroastrians, he flourished “258 years before Alexander” at the age of 40 which indicates that he converted King Vishtaspa in 558 BC. An eminent Iranian scholar, Zabih Behrooz (1890-1971), however, seems to have proved that Zoroaster was born in 1768 BC and most authors today have apparently accepted this date. His place of birth is also doubtful. Some sources claim he was born in Rhages (today’s Ray, south of Tehran) others maintain that he was born in Azarbaijan and go as far as claiming that he was born in a town that lay on the River Aras, today’s border river between Iran and parts of Azarbaijan Republic and Armenia. Whatever the exact place of his birth it is evident that he lived in a region that was not yet urban with its economy based on animal husbandry and farming. According to Zoroastrian sources, at the age of 30 he had a vision in which Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, appointed him to preach the truth. Zoroaster did not attempt to discard the older Iranian religions which were polytheistic but he placed Ahura Mazda “at the center of a kingdom of justice that promised immortality and bliss.” It is said that Zoroaster encountered and conversed with the six angels known as Amesha Spenta, the “Bounteous Immortals”, who “polished” his mind with their words and “purified his heart”. Ahura means existence and life: In Zoroastrian philosophy there is existence and non-existence and all that exists in the outside world is created by God. The world, life, truth, goodness, humans, animals, vegetation and non-living entities like rocks, exist and are created by God. Death is a truth and a fact but has no existence; it is not a godly phenomenon.The essence of being or existence is one, a unity, embracing the whole universe, a totality, all-embracing. Zoroastrianism is the oldest Iranian religion that has written philosophy, prayers, laws and regulations. It is an ancient religion whose origin apparently lies in the dark prehistoric ages but from the fourth century BC we witness its effects and influence on the writings of Greek scholars, and later on Romans. It also influenced Judaism, later Christianity and later still Islam. Pythagorus (b. 583 BC) considered himself a student of this school and the influence can be inferred from his writings. Democritus (b. 460 BC); Xantus (b. 465 BC)… and many other Greek thinkers and philosophers have written about Zoroaster with much respect and admiration. At the time of Plato, it appears, Zoroastrianism was well-known among Greek scholars. Coming to more recent times Lassalle believes that Hegel was strongly influenced by Zoroastrian philosophy, hence his thesis and antithesis concepts. Zoroaster, the Prophet His early attempts ended in failure. Indeed, he faced one defeat after another but he never lost heart. Finally he had a vision in which Ahura Mazda told him to go eastward. In the east of Iran he finally met Vishtaspa somewhere in the present Khorassan region. Vishtaspa adopted Zoroaster’s religion and this king’s power and prestige boosted Zoroastrianism which henceforth spread rapidly. Some authors who believe that Zoroaster was born during the Achaemenid era maintain that Vishtaspa was probably Darius’ father. Zoroastrian Principles The main pillar of Zoroastrian thinking is that in every human being there is a conflict, a constant battle between Good and Evil, but these have not been clearly defined. To Zoroastrians the fire is sacred because it is a holy symbol or sign of Ahura Mazda and his holiness, his power, his goodness, his purity. In the end, Zoroastrianism maintains, Good will overcome Evil, Ahura Mazda will prevail over Ahriman, kindness will overcome cruelty; the truth will overcome the lie… Therefore, Zoroastrianism is totally optimistic about future especially as it maintains that life does not end with death; there is a hereafter. In the Gathas, Zoroaster’s hymns, Ahura Mazda is the highest God and he alone is worthy of worship. He is the creator of heaven and earth, i.e. the material as well as the spiritual worlds. He is the Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), and his highest angels are Asha Vahishta (Justice, Truth), Vohu Manah (Righteous Thinking), and Khashra Vairya (Desirable Dominion). The three other angles or entities are qualities attributed to Ahura Mazda: Spenta Armaiti (Devotion), Haurvatat (Wholeness) and Ameretat (Immortality). Their qualities – those of all the six entities – are to be earned and possessed by Ahura Mazda’s followers. To Zoroaster, Ahura Mazda did not create Ahriman, the Devil or Evil. Destructions are not Ahura Mazda’s doings. The snake, the scorpion and the like cannot be his creations and as they cannot have come to exist by themselves, they must have been created by Ahriman, who creates nothing good but tries to destroy all that is not evil. Zoroastrianism is a tolerant religion: Tolerant towards other creeds. Only, it does not easily accept others into the belief. It encourages the followers to be truthful, rightful, kind and compassionate, following the three principles of Humata (Righteous Thinking), Hulehta (Good Words) and Havarashta (Good Deeds). It also advises people to choose men of justice as leaders, wise governments, chaste wives… but it does not force anyone to do anything. It is not enough to be born Zoroastrian. Every such person must formally accept the religion after puberty, and has the choice of rejecting it too. Zoroastrians further believe that farming and animal husbandry are the most honorable professions; that the whole existence is a battlefield in which Good and Evil fight; and that the four elements, water, fire earth and air are the basic elements that must be kept pure and clean at all times. Fire represents Ahura Mazda and purity, and is therefore holy; it is not worshiped as many believe, but is respected, treated as sacred. Fire was also sacred in all Aryan religions that came before Zoroastrianism probably because of its importance to human life and because in the ancient times fire was difficult to make and, therefore, it was necessary to have some fire alight all the time with which other fires could be made. The holy book of Zoroastrians is the Avesta which has been claimed to mean “The Book”, “Beautiful Words”, “Knowledge”... It comprises 1000 chapters in 21 volumes, about 2 million verses. The Avesta of the Achaemenid era has 815 chapters and the Avesta of the Sassanid period has 348. Today the Avesta comprises five books: 1- The Yasna, which includes the Gathas, Zoroaster’s own hymns 2- The Vispered, which includes religious rituals in 24 chapters 3- The Vandidad, on ethics and morals 4- The Yashts, comprising 21 hymns in praise of angels, and 5- The Minor Avesta, a collection of various prayers.
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