The oldest zoroastrian religious scripture, as preserved at present, is known as the avesta. These many different texts are believed to have been transmitted orally for centuries before they were written down in the 3rd century. Though he was a native speaker of old avestan and lived in the eastern part of the iranian plateau, his birthplace is uncertain. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. Zoroaster created judeo christian religions page 5. While there may not have been an explicit reference to zoroaster in the koran, the prophet mohammeds sole nonarab companion was a man known as salman al farisi salman the persian, who was quite possibly a hermitmonk and practitioner of zoro. Here are a few examples from zoroastrian beliefs, beliefs which existed before the interaction with judaism. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to hannah pynn hannah. Zoroastrianism is defined by the merriam webster 1 online dictionary as a persian religion founded in the sixth century b. But, generally speaking, both his homeland and his date, and sometimes even. Of the 72 chapters, chapters 1 to 27 and 55 to 72 are in avestan language.
The religion of ahura mazda is revealed by zarathushtra zoroaster. Zoroaster was born in northeast iran, close to the border of modern day afghanistan old persian empire. Zoroastrianism download books, sacred, spiritual texts. This blogpost series is called holidays and holy days to inform our osu community about significant religious and spiritual observances. Pahlavi texts, part v sbe 47 marvels of zoroastrianism e. The language is closely related to sanskrit and might have been mutually inteligible with it. Zoroastrian scriptures presentation at north american mobed. 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. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. Avesta the holy book gathas words of zoroaster monotheism. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas.
What survives today is estimated to be only a quarter of the original 21 books of the avesta. Artakhshirs son shapur i 241272 ad enlarged this reedited avesta by collecting and incorporating with it the. The content of books of veda and upanishads were combined and called as the holy book of sruti was revealed 14. Others maintain that he flourished in the middle of the seventh century b. Later priests would add to the gathas, in the avestan language, to make up the rest of the zoroastrian holy book, now known as the avesta or zend avesta. Avesta the holy book gathas words of zoroaster monotheism ahura mazda ormazd from religion 830 at rutgers university. Little is known about the earliest days of zoroastrianism after its establishment by iranian prophet zarathustra zoroaster in western culture but during the 6th century bce and 7th century ce zoroastrianism was the most influential religion in three consecutive persian empires known as iran. In his youth he astounded wise men with his wisdom. O zoroaster, if from among physicians who cure, one cures with knife, the other cures with medication, and the other with the holy word, that who cures with the holy word mantreh is the most effective of all. Besides this, lasor argues that zoroaster was not a true monotheist anyway, but a polytheist.
Indeed, isaiah wrote his book before zoroaster was even born. The teachings of zoroaster, free pdf, ebook global grey. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. It is written in an eastern iranian dialectlanguage that is called avestan for the lack of more suitable terms. Zoroastrian scriptures presentation at north american. The qissai sanjan is a tale of the journey of the parsis to india from iran. The other religions that zoroastrianism or the original prezoroastrian religions, i. Pahlavi texts, part iv sbe 37 contents of the nasks e. Zend avesta, the original document of the religion of zoroaster, still used by the parsees as their bible and prayerbook.
Zoroaster was a religious reformer teaching a monotheistic religion based on choosing between light and darkness truth and falsehood. It is the religion of one man who lived some 600 years before the birth of christ. Ascribed to the teachings of the iranianspeaking spiritual leader zoroaster also known. 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 prayerbook of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. This short book is comprised of selected teachings of zoroaster zarathustra. The zoroastrianbiblical connections influence of zoroastrianism in other religions. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free online. The literature appears to designate the period and condition of the church. Zoroaster from greek zoroastres, also known as zarathustra avestan.
Zoroastrianism is ranked with judaism, christianity, and islam among the higher religions originating in the middle east 1. Holidays and holy days khordad sal zoroastrianism dean. 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. The present work is an attempt to meet that demand. Zoroaster was born of a virgin and immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason. May 27, 2005 indeed, isaiah wrote his book before zoroaster was even born. Professor almut hintze explores its history and some of the key components of the religion. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
The birthplace of zoroastrianism karakalpakstan blog. Avesta is the name the mazdean mazdayasnian religious tradition gives to the collection of its sacred texts. They believed that the alphabet which existed at the time could not precisely reflect the holy sounds of their gods revelations. This book should be at least 25% bigger than it is, and the font size along with it. The period in which isaiah was writing was roughly that of 740680 b. Geldner, avesta, the sacred books of the parsis, stuttgart, 18891896. This is the holy book of zoroastrianism itself and its printed here in a book that is just way too small. Avesta, also called zendavesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra.
Moreover, they had also written another holy book which was called upanishads. March 26th, 20 is the zoroastrianism holiday khordad sal. The avesta accorded a high degree of importance to mantreh cure through discourse. West 1897 late zoroastrian texts of traditional history and prophecy. Iranian prophet and religious reformer zarathustra flourished before the 6th century bce. He can be credited with the authorship of the gathas and possiby the yasna hapta. And forget about any increased price for doing that it would be worth it to have a truly readable book. The yasna is composed in a dialect of avestan called younger avestan, in which many of the ancient gathic words and usages have changed. The gathas, the most ancient, describe zoroasters followers often as depressed and endangered. Zoroaster and his earliest followers were monotheists, dualism being a later development of the persian theology. Ahmad noori according to ancient texts, jamshid the fourth pishdadi king was the person to establish the custom of bathing with hot and cold water.
Prophet muhammad in zoroastrian and hindu scriptures. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. Zarathustra, also spelled zarathushtra, greek zoroaster, born traditionally c. What is the name of the holy book of parsis and when was it. According to zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like. The year 2001 was declared by uzbekistan to be the 2700th anniversary of the holy zoroastrian book the avesta. Most of his life is known through the zoroastrian texts. Zartosht, zardosht, or as zarathushtra spitama, was the founder of zoroastrianism. The name zwpo urrpns is the corrupt greek form of the old iranian zarathustra new persian, zardusht.
May 30, 2016 and the philosophy of the parsi religion by s. The name zendavesta has been current in europe since the time of anquetil duperron c. The religious texts of the zoroastrian faith of ancient persia are referred to as the avesta. Zoroastrianism is ranked with judaism, christianity, and islam among the higher religions originating in the middle east the dates given for zoroaster by ancient and modern writers differ considerably. Zoroaster, also known as zarathustra, or as zarathushtra spitama, was the founder of zoroastrianism.
Zoroasterzarathustra c 550523 bce was a prophet and spiritual teacher who founded the religion of zoroastrianism. Zoroaster was the greatest prophet among the ancient iranians. The precise date of the founding of zoroastrianism is uncertain and dates differ wildly from 2000 bce to 200 years before alexander. Why does the quran not speak about the prophet zoroaster. What is the name of the holy book of parsis and when was. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the avesta.
The yasts and vendidad are said to compose the younger avesta. This book was translated by the conquering sasanids into the pahlavi tongue. West 1892 longlost zoroastrian texts available now only in summaries and fragments. Firealong with waterare seen as symbols of purity in zoroastrian religion. A new translation of the most ancient sacred texts of iran by with introduction and commentary by m. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions.
An old edition of the avesta with zand interspersed is called the zend avesta or zand avesta. Bbc culture the obscure religion that shaped the west. This is the book of daily prayers of the zoroastrians. To judaism christians ascribe the glory of having been the first religion to teach a pure monotheism. Avesta the holy book gathas words of zoroaster school rutgers university. A section of this avesta is known as the khordehavesta which means the smaller or selected avesta.
Westergaard, zendavesta or the religious book of the zoroastrians i, copenhagen, 18521854. Dec 21, 20 the other religions that zoroastrianism or the original prezoroastrian religions, i. 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. This page provides an overview of zoroastrian beliefs, which can be summed. Thus, if there was any borrowing, it was zoroaster borrowing from isaiahnot viceversa. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution zinovia dushkova.
This is a rather limited definition that actually tells us very. The analysis of the sasanian avesta and zand in the denkard is summarized in darmesteter, zendavesta iii, pp. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free. Zoroastrianism was the official religion of persia and its distant subdivisions from 600 bce. Zoroaster was born in either northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. The first part of the book is collectively called the gathas. The teachings in the book cover commandments for the body and soul, the souls destination, a gatha hymn, prayer of kem na mazda, prayer of ormuzd yast, the creation. Zoroastrianism was founded by zoroaster or zarathushtra in ancient iran.
The book of rig veda, sama veda, yajur veda and athraya veda were written based on the mixture of arya theology and dravidia. The priests themselves were against committing avesta to paper. Avesta the holy book gathas words of zoroaster monotheism ahura mazda ormazd. But monotheism existed long before the jews attained to it. Exploring the religion of zoroastrianism religion essay. Zoroasters doctrine was based on humans mental struggle between truth and lie, for the purpose of sustaining truth, creation, existence, and free will. Oct 02, 2009 zoroasters vision zoroaster the prophet zoroaster. Jan 07, 2020 the zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith.
There is no certainty at all about the age in which zoroaster lived. The zoroastrian holy book, called the avesta, was written in the avestan language, which is closely related to vedic sanskrit. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Eirciv 102a, spring 2005 1 february 1, 2007 yasna 0. It had only to be collected and interpreted, which could be done only with the cooperation of the parsi priesthood. The zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. 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 religion shapurji aspaniarji kapadia. The zoroastrian scriptures are called the avesta and the classical explanations, interpretations and commentaries are called the zend or zand. First taught among nomads on the asian steppes, zoroastrianism. Apr 15, 2016 the zoroastrian holy book, called the avesta, was written in the avestan language, which is closely related to vedic sanskrit. 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. Zoroastrianism, a unique religion which stresses the eternal battle of good versus evil, has had a larger impact than its small number of followers 100,000 would suggest.
Zoroaster, one of the great teachers of the east, the founder of what was the national religion of the persoiranian people from the time of the achaemenidae to the close of the sassanian period. The avesta is the holy book of the adherents of zarathustra, the zoroastrians, the supreme god ahuramazda. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the avesta, which contains the gathas, or the seventeen hymns by zoroaster, and the the younger avesta, which includes commentaries, myths, ritual descriptions, and more. Many of these texts are responses to the tribulations of the time, and all of them include exhortations to stand fast in their religious beliefs. Feb 08, 2010 yet the zoroastrian book avesta was first written down a thousand years after it had been created by prophet zoroaster. Get information about zarathushtra, his teachings, and the faravahar symbol from. Zoroastrianism was founded by the prophet zoroaster or zarathustra in ancient iran approximately 3500 years ago. It was said that during his reign, which lasted for a long time, no plant withered and no living creature died. The author himself was a member of the indian zoroastrian community. 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 prayerbook of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. Displayed is a page from the gathas, in the middle persian language pahlavi, and its translation into modern persian. The oldest part is the gathas, which includes a collection of hymns and one of the oldest examples of religious poetry attributed to the prophet zoroaster ca. 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.
Zoroaster thus shares an exalted station with abraham, moses, krishna, jesus, muhammad, the bab, and the founder of the bahai faith, bahaullah. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. An introduction to zoroastrianism the british library. Mar 26, 20 zoroaster was born into a family of priests and experienced his first illumination from ahura mazda, the highest deity of zoroastrianism, at the age of 30. The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains are not these, o soul, the vision of him who reigns. Avesta zoroastrian scripture britannica encyclopedia britannica.