Holy book of zoroaster definition

This work of antiquity, dating back some centuries before the christian era, still forms, with the supplementary writings in the pahlavi or middle persian language, the scriptures of the modern parsis in india, and of some scattered bands in yezd and kirman, the surviving remnants of the faith of. The avesta the zoroastrian book of holy scriptures. It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. Zarathustra, also spelled zarathushtra, greek zoroaster, born traditionally c. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. Zoroaster synonyms, zoroaster pronunciation, zoroaster translation, english dictionary definition of zoroaster. The yasts and vendidad are said to compose the younger avesta.

History of zoroastrianism book global history blog. The zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. Zoroaster started out as a priest named zarathustra, who criticized many bronze age religious practices, such as animal sacrifice. The vendidad contains particulars of ohrmazd having produced the pleasure of mankind by that place where they specially made a residence, and the advantage from the same production. Jan 07, 2020 the zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. Eirciv 102a, spring 2005 1 february 1, 2007 yasna 0. At the heart of avestas scriptural core are the gathas. Zoroastrianism is a religion the holy book of zoroastrianism is the zend avesta. The vendidad, for example, according to tradition, is one of the surviving. Avesta is the name the mazdean mazdayasnian religious tradition gives to the collection of its sacred texts.

The founder of the religion was a man named zoroaster, who is viewed as a prophetic figure by adherents. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free online. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. Zoroaster appears in the bahai faith as a manifestation of god, one of a line of prophets who have progressively revealed the word of god to a gradually maturing humanity.

In ancient times, the modern country of iran was known as persia. Zoroastrianism the phenomenon of death, or nonlife as it is called in the zoroastrian holy scripture the gathas, is a concept accompanying the advent of creation. The denkard book 8, chapter 44 gives this synopsis of the contents. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as the avesta.

March 21 nawruz zoroastrians reading their holy book, or avesta, during a nowruz ceremony held at the rostam bagh fire temple in tehran, iran. To the biblical student, the avesta and the religion of zoroaster have more than. The prophet zoroaster zarathrustra in ancient persian is regarded as the founder of zoroastrianism, which is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic faith. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. Zoroaster is to be classed with such great religious leaders as buddha and. It is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deci phered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayer book of zoroaster, the prophet of. This is the oldest portion of the avesta and descends directly from the prophet and his disciples. About the formation of sixteen perfect places specially enumerated, and also the. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. Other names for zoroastrianism are mazdaism and parsiism.

Zoroastrianism definition of zoroastrianism by merriam. According to a legend preserved in the book of arda viraf, a 3rd or 4th century work, a written version of the zend avesta had existed in the. The gathas are abstract sacred poetry, directed towards the worship of the one god, understanding of righteousness and. Zoroaster was a religious reformer teaching a monotheistic religion based on choosing between light and darkness truth and falsehood. The whole book is relatively short, and i managed to skim read it in a few hours. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as. According to the holy book of the magi, zoroaster was born in eastern iran and lived from about 660 bce to 583 bce. Apr 03, 2016 it is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayer book of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran.

Zarathustra started to preach that there was a supreme god, the wise lord ahuramazda, who had created the world, mankind and all good things in it through his holy spirit, spenta mainyu. Zoroastrianism definition of zoroastrianism by merriamwebster. It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheism monism, and polytheism. Zoroastrianism definition is a persian religion founded in the sixth century b. The rest of the universe was created by six other spirits, the amesha spentas holy immortals.

Zoroastrianism is also dualistic, meaning it focuses on a twofold nature of the world good and evil or heaven and hell, for example. The zorastrian holy book is called the avesta and it is a compilation of all zoroastrian prayers, which were composed over several centuries, some dating back to more than 3500 years. Zoroaster article about zoroaster by the free dictionary. Zoroaster was born in northeast iran, close to the border of modern day afghanistan old persian empire. Jun 20, 2017 other holidays are dedicated to particular spirits or mark historic events, notably the death of their founder, zoroaster. The 9th century came to define the great number of zoroastrian texts that were composed or rewritten during the. Have you ever wondered when popular religions started to develop.

Zoroastrian speculative philosophyspenta mainyus creative spirit and angro mainyus destructive spirittheir incessant conflict in the state of nature. It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that. Zoroasterzarathustra c 550523 bce was a prophet and spiritual teacher who founded the religion of zoroastrianism. The second half of the book is important quotes from the sacred texts. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroasters transformation of a very ancient tradition.

These many different texts are believed to have been transmitted orally for centuries before they were written down in the 3rd century. Zoroaster was thus the first to teach the doctrines of an individual judgment, heaven and hell, the future resurrection of the body, the general last judgment, and life everlasting for the reunited soul and body. May 30, 2016 and the philosophy of the parsi religion by s. Avesta is a repository of oral texts, transmitted orally in fixed linguistic form until it was written down. It is based on the concept of a continuous struggle between ormazd or ahura mazda, the god of creation, light, and goodness, and his arch enemy, ahriman, the spirit of evil and darkness, and it includes a highly developed ethical code. I now feel armed with enough knowledge to try a reading of the avesta, the sacred zoroaster texts.

Particular attention is given to disposal of the dead and other dead matter nasu, to keep disease from spreading, as well as avoid polluting the earth, water, etc. Vohu manah led zoroaster to the presence of ahura mazda god and five other radiant beings, which are called the amesha spentas holy immortals. Zoroastrianism definition and meaning collins english. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the avesta. Who was zoroaster and how did he gain religious followers. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free online library. Apr 25, 2017 the avesta is the holy book of the zoroastrians, and contains the religions sacred scriptures. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. Zoroastrianism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The literature appears to designate the period and condition of the church. At the dawn of creation, twin primal spirits manifested themselves. These doctrines were to become familiar articles of faith to much of mankind, through borrowings by judaism, christianity and islam. The teachings of zoroaster, and the philosophy of the parsi. Their religious beliefs and practices this book, now reissued with a new introduction by mary boyce, is the first attempt to trace the continuous history of the faith from the time it was preached by zoroaster down to the present daya span of about 3,500 years.

These are seventeen hymns considered to have been composed by zoroaster himself. These are easy to understand and written in simple english. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Other holidays are dedicated to particular spirits or mark historic events, notably the death of their founder, zoroaster. The founder of zoroastrianism was zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc. First taught among nomads on the asian steppes, zoroastrianism. According to the faith, at the age of 30, zoroaster had a divine vision of a shining spirit who taught the prophet about ahura mazda and the other divine spirits. From these hymns, we know that zoroasters father was pourusaspa and his mother was dughdova. This page provides an overview of zoroastrian beliefs, which can be summed. The latter represent the basic source of the religion.

He is said to have used holy water, prayers, and other ritual practices in his work which may have included performing exorcisms. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Like moses who is thought to have lived between 1600 and 1200 bce, there is virtually no corroborative historical evidence for his life outside the religious writings. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta the. Zoroastrianism article about zoroastrianism by the free. Parseeism, parsiism the faith of a zoroastrian sect in india type of. It is generally accepted that they contain the original teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathustra, who lived in the first half. Zoroastrian holidays and festivals learn religions. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. It is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayer book of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. Zendavesta literally means interpretation of the avesta.

Iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bce. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta. The beliefs of zoroastrianism were spread across asia via the silk road. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. The gathas, the most ancient, describe zoroasters followers often as depressed and endangered. The videvdad or vendidad is an ancient collection of zoroastrian myths, prayers, and religious observances, intended to defend against sources of infection and evil. The book of zoroaster or the zartusht namah by zartusht. The article iran contains a description of the geography and economy of the modern country and a short account of its history since the arab invasion of the 7th cent.

Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of. The gathas have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent texts. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. The teachings of zoroaster, and the philosophy of the parsi religion shapurji. It may fairly be said that the sacred books of no other people, outside the light of the. Zoroaster definition of zoroaster by the free dictionary. A dakhma remains in operation near mumbai, india, for example.

Zoroaster was a member of the spitamid family, and was a priest. Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the other major western religions. Zoroaster thus shares an exalted station with abraham, moses, krishna, jesus, muhammad, the bab, and the founder of the bahai faith, bahaullah. Zoroastrians believe in one god, called ahura mazda meaning wise lord. The religious philosophy of zoroaster divided the early iranian gods of the protoindoiranian tradition into ahuras. The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains are not these, o soul, the vision of him who reigns.