Citations

“A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO ZOROASTRIANISM.” Kwintessential. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/religion/zoroastrianism.html>.

“Avesta.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avesta>.

“Buddhism vs Zoroastrianism.” – Difference and Comparison. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://www.diffen.com/difference/Buddhism_vs_Zoroastrianism>.

“Faravahar – Winged Symbol OfÂ Zoroastrianism.” About.com Alternative Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. <http://altreligion.about.com/od/symbols/a/faravahar.htm>.

“Gathas.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gathas>.

“Purity and Fire InÂ Zoroastrianism.” About.com Alternative Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://altreligion.about.com/od/beliefsandcreeds/a/fire_in_zoro.htm>.

“Religious Timeline.” Religious Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://www.avesta.org/timeline.htm>.

“The History of Zoroastrianism.” The History of Zoroastrianism. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://people.duke.edu/~jds17/zoroast.html>.

“Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenetsof the Religion.” Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of the Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/>.

“Zoroastrianism – Main Beliefs.” Important Beliefs of Zoroastrianism. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2013. <http://www.hinduwebsite.com/zoroastrianism/beliefs.asp>.

“Zoroastrianism.” – ReligionFacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. <http://www.religionfacts.com/zoroastrianism/index.htm>.

Places of Worship

Zoroastrians believed that having alters, temples, and statues were against their believes. Greek historian Herodotus commented: “It is not their custom to make and set up statues and temples and altars but they offer sacrifices on the highest peaks of the mountains.” Over time, however, they started to build simple temples on the natural sacred sites. These temples became the focus of Zoroastrian pilgrimage tradition. Although people may visit them at any time of the year, it is said that there are more religious benefits when they go at a certain time dedicated to the sacred site. The next 6 mountain sacred sites are the places that hold the most important religious periods(festivals) of the year.

Picture above: Pir-e Naraki is situated at the foot of Mt. Nareke, south of Yazd. The pilgrimage period for people to worship there is during mid-August.

Picture above: Pir-e Sabz (Chak-Chak), situated 72 kilometers from Yazd, near Ardakan. The pilgrimage period is between June 14-18.

Picture above: Seti Pir, situated east of Yazd. The usual pilgrimage period is between June 14-18 and often visited on the way to the shrine of Pir-e Sabz.

Picture above: Pir-e Narestuneh (Narestan), located in the Kharuna mountains,situated six miles east of Yazd. The recommended pilgrimage period is in the later part of June, after Pir-e Sabz.

Picture above: Pir-e Banu-Pars, situated near Sharifabad. The pilgrimage period is in early July.

Picture above: Pir-e Herisht located near Sharifabad.

Zoroastrianism and Buddhism

Key Folks

Zarathustra

The religion was founded by him. At around the age of 30 he believed that he had seen visions from God, and from there he started writing the Avesta, compilations of hymns, invocations and rituals, and spells.

Cyrus the Great

Scholars consider him a Zoroastrian King because Zarathustra’s teachings influenced him in his acts and policies.

Darius I of Persia

His religious belief was Zoroastrianism. He stated that he was the rightful king by the grace of Ahura Mazda. He believed in all the teachings of Zoroastrianism. He believed that all the rebellion in his kingdom was the cause of druj, the enemy of Asha.

The Faravahar and Fire

Symbols

The Faravahar continues to be associated with the fravashi.

Meanings:

Central human figure: human soul

Ages in appearance: wisdom

One hand pointing upwards: urges believers to always strive to be better and be mindful of higher power

Hand that holds a ring: Loyalty and faithfulness

Circle in the middle of the figure: immortality of the soul or the repercussions of our actions

Two wings with 3 rows of feathers: good thoughts, food words, and good deeds

Tail with 3 rows of feathers: bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds.

Two streamers: Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu, spirits of good and evil, people are constantly having to choose between the two and therefore, the figure is facing one and having its back to the other.

Fire

Purity and goodness to which everyone should strive towards.

Sacred Texts

Gathas

17 hymns that were written by Zarathusthra and are claimed to be the most sacred texts of the religion.

Avesta

A collection of sacred texts, including, the Yasna, the Visperad, the Vendidad, the Yashts, the Siroza, and the Khordeh Avesta.

Main Tenents that Rule

1. Belief in the Supreme and Universal God, Ahuramazda.

2. Belief in the existence of the battle between good and evil, although good will eventually win.

3. Belief in the divinity of creation.

4. Belief in the spiritual nature of the world and human beings created by God.

5. Belief in God and the 6 Immortal Beings, who help God to contain all the evil in the material world.

6. Belief in the basic goodness of humans and that we have a choice whether or not to follow God. Depending on the choices made and actions done, God will decide on their fate in the spiritual realm. It also says that God doesn’t promise to take upon himself the sins of people.

7. Belief in the fact that God created the spiritual realm before the material world and that the evil has no power to infiltrate the spiritual realm, however, it can attack the material world. Humans should therefore do their part to not pollute the Earth by not touching anything dead.

8. Believe that all their scriptures are sacred, including the Gathas, Yashts, and the Vendidad.

9. Believe that all their fire-temples and rituals are sacred and necessary.

10. A Zoroastrian has to marry a Zoroastrian, because the percentage of their children becoming Zoroastrian is greater and they believe that their religion is part of their ethnic identity (race).

11. Believe in afterlife, once the soul leaves the body, the sanctity and purity of the body is considered lost. The soul will then hover near the body for 3 days and nights and then be brought to the spiritual realm by Daena, the guardian spirit, where it can see all the things that the person did on earth.

The End is Not Here Yet

The religion was founded roughly around 3500 years ago by the prophet Zarathustra.

Anytime between 1500-1000 B.C.E. Zarathustra could have lived. This was decided through archaeological evidence and linguistic comparisons with the Hindu text, the Rig Veda.

Between ages 35-40 Zarathustra received revelation about the religion and he created scriptures called the Gathas, which are 5 poetic songs.

The Achaemenid Empire (549 B.C.E – 330 B.C.E.) was the first empire to use Zoroastrianism as its religion.

Part of the Arsacid Empire (Parthian Empire) (220 B.C.E – 227 B.C.E) was the second empire to use Zoroastrianism as its main religion.

The Sassanid Empire (220 C.E – 651 C.E) was the third empire to use Zoroastrianism as its main religion. During this time, the holy ancient Zoroastrian texts were finally compiled and written down.

The Sassanid Empire was defeated by the Arab Muslim and it collapsed (650 C.E.). Beginning of the slow persecution of Zoroastrians.

The traditional date of the arrival of the Iranian Zoroastrians in India to escape the persecution (910-950 C.E.).

Establishment of the Halls of Worship and Zoroastrian associations in several U.S, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand cities. (1970-1996)

The religion is slowly disappearing now.