Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have. Zoroasters original concept of ahura mazda is found in what are believed to have been his own discourses, the gathas, which form the opening section of the avesta, the holy book of zoroastrianism. The oldest texts are the gathas, 16 or perhaps 17 short hymns written in an archaic form of an old iranian language called avestan, named for the avesta, the holy book of zoroastrianism. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution. 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 adoption of monotheism by the jews, which occurred only at a very late period in their history, was not, however, the result of a divine revelation, or even of an intellectual superiority, for the jews were immeasurably inferior intellectually to the greeks and romans, to the hindus and egyptians, and to the assyrians and babylonians, who. The principal text in the liturgical group is the yasna, which takes its name from the yasna ceremony, zoroastrianism s primary act of worship, and at which the yasna text. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism.
The long history of zoroastrianism from about bce to the present does not flow either quickly or smoothly, but boyce, in these 3 volumes, masterfully puts order into that imperfectly documented flow. Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the other major western religions. Zoroastrianism is a religion, one of the oldest according to tradition, it was founded by zoroaster after he received a vision in which he was introduced to ahura mazda, and told of the great god and his adversary. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. Zoroastrianism was made the state religion of the empire, and conversions were actively made to counteract the proselytizing zeal of christians. The gathas have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent. The avesta is composed in the otherwise unrecorded avestan language and is divided into several different categories, including the yasna, the visperad, the vendidad, the. A history of zoroastrianism vol i internet archive.
The holy text of the zoroastrians is the avesta, composed in a language belonging to the early iranaian group of languages and resembling the language of the vedas. In islam, the religious book is the quran and usually goes along with the. Zoroastrianism or mazdaism refers to the religion developed from the teachings of the persian prophet zarathushtra c. The religious texts of the zoroastrian faith of ancient persia are referred to as the avesta. Zoroastrians most commonly refer to themselves as zartoshti zoroastrians, mazdayasni wisdomworshippers, and behdini followers of the good religion.
The holy book of zoroastrianism is called the avesta or zendavesta. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroasters transformation of a very ancient tradition. The corpus of religious texts in zoroastrianism is called the avesta, which is written in the. Although the exact date zoroastrianism was founded is unknown, archaeological evidence and linguistic comparisons with the hindu text rig veda suggest that it emerged around 12001500 bce. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. The daily prayerbook the parsis use everyday is khordeh avesta the smaller avesta. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. 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. Pahlavi texts, part iv sbe 37 contents of the nasks e. Ancient history world religions islam, christianity. History of zoroastrianism including thus spake zarathustra, wise men of. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra.
Pahlavi texts, part v sbe 47 marvels of zoroastrianism e. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free. This article examines zoroastrian beliefs about god, zoroaster and the immortals. Zoroastrian texts the zoroastrian sacred text is the avesta book of the law, a fragmentary collection of sacred writings. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. According to zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like. Only about 10,000 survive in remote villages in iran, but over the centuries many sought religious freedom in india. It also includes information about the avestan language, and other useful information for students of zoroastrian religion. For example, the holy book of christianity is the bible, the holy book of islam is the quran, and the holy book of the. The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains are not these, o soul, the vision of him who reigns.
This book should be at least 25% bigger than it is, and the font size along with it. Not much is known about the personal history of zoroaster. It was the official religion of persia iran from 600 bce to 650 ce. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as avesta which consists of a collection of sacred text. This page provides an overview of zoroastrian beliefs, which can be. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity.
What is the religious book of zoroastrianism and islam. Its religious core is a collection of songs or hymns, the gathas, thought to be in the main the very words of zoroaster. Avesta zoroastrian scripture britannica encyclopedia britannica. 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. Zoroastrianism is a preislamic iranian religion and one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. Zoroastrianism, the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This missionary activity shows that zoroastrianism was really a universal religion and not an ethnic religion, limited to one people. Other names for zoroastrianism are mazdaism and parsiism zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion. The beliefs of zoroastrianism were spread across asia via the silk road. The earliest form of zoroastrianism, known as gathic zarathustrianism, was founded during zoroasters lifetime, perhaps as early as 1500 bce. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as the avesta.
Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the persian empire, but it virtually disappeared in persia after the muslim invasion of 637 ce. Chapters 1517, and partly 18, are devoted to purifications o several sorts of uncleanness. Different religions have different holy books books they consider holy. The visprat is a lesser liturgical scripture, containing homages to a number of zoroastrian.
This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. There is no unanimity among historians as to the times in which he lived. A major figure in the history of world religions, zarathustra has been the. It is now certain that for most of their long history the avestas various texts were handed down orally, and independently of one another, and that. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. Professor almut hintze explores its history and some of the key components of the religion. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures. West 1897 late zoroastrian texts of traditional history and prophecy. Zoroastrianism, known to its followers as the zarathushti din zoroastrian religion, developed from the words, ideas, beliefs, and rituals attributed to a devotional poet named zarathushtra later middle persian or pahlavi. The scripture contains the teachings of prophet zoroaster, hymns, laws, and the tenets of the religion. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. An introduction to zoroastrianism the british library.
Rural revolt and local zoroastrianism patricia crone. They form a middle section of the chief liturgical part of the canon, the yasna, which contains the rite of the preparation and sacrifice of haoma. Zoroastrians believe in one god, called ahura mazda meaning wise lord. According to the most faithful followers of the religion he lived some time around 6000 bc. Zarathushtra eventually came to be regarded as the founder and prophet of the. This is the holy book of zoroastrianism itself and its printed here in a book that is just way too small. The zendavesta pahlavi texts links zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. Start studying ancient history world religions islam, christianity, judaism, zoroastrianism and shintoism. Zoroastrianism at a glance zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. Ahura mazda, he says, created a pair of twin spirits as his sons. The gathas documents, a set of hymns written in the old avestan language and attributed to zoroaster, are. Zoroastrianism places more emphasis on the importance of leading an active life by cultivating pure thoughts, using good words and doing good deeds which are necessary to live a peaceful and happy life and in keeping the evil out of the doorstep.
Topics zoroastrianism, history, boyce collection opensource. The fresh reader into zoroastrianism will be helped greatly by the forward. Compiled over many centuries, the avesta was not completed until persias sassanid dynasty 226641 ce. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. We are astonished to find that the parsis have, up to now, neglected to raise a commemorative monument to mark the place of the landing of their ancestors and the place where the sacred. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. Its also a sacred language because the texts are written in it an. Zoroastrians believe ahura mazda created two spirits. It does not flow either quickly or smoothly, but boyce masterfully puts order into that imperfectly documented flowthe fresh reader into zoroastrianism will be helped greatly by the forward section of this volume in that forward, she. The videvat are religious law books laying down codes of conduct and procedures for penance. Zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc, created zoroastrianism.
West 1892 longlost zoroastrian texts available now only in summaries and fragments. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. By 650 bce, the zoroastrian faith, a monotheistic religion founded on the ideas of the philosopher zoroaster, had become the official religion of ancient persia. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. Biography of zarathustra, founder of zoroastrianism. Alexanders conquests largely displaced zoroastrianism with hellenistic beliefs, though the religion continued to be practiced.
He saw other radiant figures too, but could not see his shadow on the ground, a sign which convince zoroaster his vision was authentic. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal beliefs and should be read with a critical mind and a large dose of sound skepticism. Zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. As the religion of zoroastrianism develops, after its founders death, ahura. She has written a scholarly book, les parsis, about the history, religion and culture of our parsi community. Textual sources for the study of zoroastrianism textual sources for the study of religion mary boyce. 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. The founder of the religion was a man named zoroaster, who is viewed as a prophetic figure by adherents. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the zend avesta zoroastrianism is also dualist. Ascribed to the teachings of the iranianspeaking spiritual leader zoroaster also known. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster or zarathustra in ancient iran.
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