Zoroaster

Zarathushtra (Zara?u?tra), usually known in English as Zoroaster after the Greek version of the name, ??????????, was a Persian (Iranian) prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism, which was the national religion of Persia from the time of the Achaemenidae to the close of the Sassanid period. Zoroaster was probably born in the northeastern part of Persia (Iran), though there is also a tradition that he came from Balkh in modern day Afghanistan. In Modern Persian the name takes the form of Zarto?t or Zardo?t (?????).

The Gathas of Zoroastrianism

The teachings of Zoroaster are presented in seventeen liturgical, texts, or "hymns", the yasna which is divided into groups called G?th?s.

Related Topics:
Liturgical - Hymns - Yasna

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If basic precepts of Zoroastrianism are to be distilled into a single maxim, the maxim is Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta (Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds).

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A cosmic struggle between A?a "The Truth" (Pahlavi Ahl?y?h) and Druj "The Lie" (Pahlavi Druz) is presented as the foundation of our existence. This is often related to a struggle between good and evil in a Western paradigm. This may also be conceptualized as a battle between Darkness and Light. The two opposing forces in this battle are Ahura Mazd? (Ohrmazd) (God) and Ahriman (The Devil). In the yasnas, Zoroaster refers to these forces as "the Better and the Bad."

Related Topics:
Pahlavi - Paradigm - Battle - Ahura Mazd? (Ohrmazd) - God - Ahriman - The Devil

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Zoroaster describes Ahura Mazd? in a series of rhetorical questions, "Who established the course of the sun and stars? ... who feeds and waters the plants? ... what builder created light and darkness? Through whom does exist dawn, noon and night?" (Yasna 44, 4-6).

Related Topics:
Ahura Mazd? - Rhetorical - Sun - Stars - Water - Plants - Dawn - Noon - Night

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• Vohu Manu, Pahlavi Wahman, "Good Mind": the principle of the good
• A??m, afterwards A??m Vahi?t?m, Pahlavi Ardwahi?t: "Right": truth and the embodiment of all that is true, good and right, upright law and rule (ideas practically identical for Zoroaster)
• X?a?ra- Vairya-, Pahlavi ?ahrewar: "Best Rule", the power and kingdom of Ahura Mazd? and guardian of metals
• Sp?nta- ?rmatay-, Pahlavi Spandarmad, "Holy Thought": the female immortal of the earth
• Haurvatat: "Perfection"
• Am?r?tat?t, Pahlavi Amurd?d: "Immortality", the guardian of food and plants.

Other prominent immortals are Geush Urvan, defender of animals, and Sra??a, Pahlavi Sr?? "Obedience".

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