The zoroastrian name of the religion is mazdayasna, which combines mazdawith the avestan word yasna, meaning worship, devotion. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal beliefs and should be read with a critical mind and a large dose of sound skepticism. The faravahar or farohar is the most wellknown icon of mazdeism. They regard fire as a symbol of their god, and they cherish the light that it produces. In zoroastrian scriptures, ahura mazda is described as full of luster, full of glory, and hence his luminous creationsfire, sun, stars, and light. The image contains a disc with wings representing a sun with wings, as well a human torso to represent humanity itself. This page looks at zoroastrian worship and prayers. The dog is a coworker of the rooster and they both help the yazata, srosh, to protect the world from evil influences. The faravahar is the most common symbol in zoroastrianism.
In the middle of the winged sun is a man with a ring in one hand. About zoroastrianism zoroastrian association of metropolitan. Zoroastrianism, the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Jan 15, 2017 and so we find running all throughout the christian as well as the jewish scriptures, the septenary system, which culminates in the book of revelation the final pamphlet of the bible in the heptaktis, and a prophecy of the coming of the persian sosiosh under the figure of the christian messiah, riding, like the former, upon a white horse. It is one of only two festivals mentioned by zoroaster in the avesta, the only holy zoroastrian scriptures written by zoroaster himself. The second the younger avesta contains rituals, laws and observances. In a zoroastrian temple, the only symbol before which prayers are said is the fire which is tended by a mobed. Have questions about zoroastrianism, the oldest continuously practiced religion. In ancient times, when zoroastrians built no temples, possessed no religious imagery and had no books on the teachings. Zoroastrianism teaches that the goal of life is to attain perfect eternal happiness through companionship with ahura mazda. In reality, they are truly worshipping the meaning behind it.
Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. What is the religious book of zoroastrianism and islam. Fire provides light, and light grants us the ability to see. The original avesta has been destroyed see destruction below and some portions. Jan 11, 2021 the faravahar is arguably the bestknown symbol of the persian zoroastrian faith. First taught among nomads on the asian steppes, zoroastrianism became the state religion of the three great iranian empires and had a remarkable influence on other world faiths. Although the number of its followers declined dramatically in the centuries after the 7th century islamic conquest of. In zoroastrianism, good transpires for those who do righteous deeds for its own sake, not for the search of reward. On the avesta, or the sacred scriptures of the zoroastrian. The means for attaining the everlasting bliss is asha or holiness. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. He is known as zartosht and zardosht in persian and zaratosht in gujarati.
The faravahar is an ancient symbol of the zoroastrian faith. Historical documentation of his life is fragmentary, and documents attributed to him have been dated. Feb 02, 2021 the most visible symbol of zoroastrianism is the farohar or faravahar, what looks like a large winged eagle with the body and head of a bearded man. Below are the two main symbols that are used in the religion and a brief explanation of each symbol. Apr 23, 2019 zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Pure thoughts, pure words, pure deedsthis is the famous axiom of zoroastrian religion. The first thing that happens however, is the signing of the marriage contract by the bride, groom, and their parents. Zoroastrianism is the religious tradition named after the founding prophet zoroaster, the greek form of the iranian zarathustra, who most scholars agree lived between 1500 and bce in north east iran.
It is a reminder of our purpose in life, to live in the image of ahura mazda and to strive towards goodness. Jun 20, 2017 nawruz, also spelled nowruz as well as other variants, is an ancient persian holiday celebrating the new year. Join your host pablo, a zoroastrian convert and scholar, as they provide the answers to. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. In the ancient city of persepolis, visitors find 2. There are also other religious scenes and details on these early thirdcentury bce coins that could suggest zoroastrian connections. It is the most common symbol in the zoroastrian religion. The penguin handbook of the worlds living religions p. There are many devoted jewish and christian believers who deny that zoroastrianism had any influence on their religions.
The gathas, the most ancient, describe zoroasters followers often as depressed and endangered. Faravahar, also known as forouhar, or farre kiyani, is one of the most wellknown symbols of iranian peoples, and zoroastrianism, the primary religion of iran before the muslim conquest of iran, and of iranian nationalism. In every religion, fire has been the symbol of the supreme lord. Having to capacity to select between good ohrmazd and evil ahriman, individuals bear responsibility for their own souls. The christian book of revelation, the last book in the new testament canon, is a later example of a form that goes back all the way through its jewish sources to the distant, ancient worlds of iran and mesopotamia. The spirit of the zoroastrian religion universal theosophy. In a way, fire serves as a symbol of the good god, ahura mazda. In ancient times when people had no temples, religious imagery, or holy books, light served as the focus of their religious practices. There is not much books available about zoroastrianism in english so this book by the eminent iranologist mary boyce is a great start and valuable resource.
Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism what is, history, beliefs, characteristics. The avesta, the primary collection of sacred texts of zoroastrianism, il. The sacred books of parsees, or zoroastrians, and the main source of our knowledge concerning the religious and spiritual life the ancient persians. This symbol can be interpreted exactly as what you see in it. Zoroastrian holidays and festivals learn religions. Fire is one of zoroastrianisms most significant symbol. The city of yazd, located in the center of the country, is home to the oldest zoroastrian community. The avesta texts fall into several different categories. Mazdeism has many symbols but the most representative are three. The god ahura mazda or ormuz symbolizes pure good, fire, wisdom. Fire is the major symbol in zoroastrianism and has a central role in the most important religious ceremonies.
Humata, huxta, huvarshta good thoughts, good words, good deeds, the threefold path of asha, is considered the core maxim of zoroastrianism especially by modern practitioners. The imagery of a disc with wings likely originated as a sun with wings. The most significant and important books of this era include the denkard, bundahishn, menogi khrad, selections of zadspram, jamasp namag, epistles of. New years day and the importance of light in zoroastrianism. By unconfirmed population figures there appears to have been an increase in the religion s membership. The fire is a symbol of the zoroastrian faith just as the cross is a symbol of christianity. Jan 27, 2017 the most common symbols of zoroastrianism are the faravahar, which was inscribed on ancient temples, and the adar or sacred fire. Zoroastrianism, the faith founded by the iranian prophet zarathustra, originated around bce and is widely regarded as the worlds first revealed religion. Information on zoroastrian rituals and traditions, especially the december festival of yalda and the rituals related to conversion to the zoroastrian faith from islam.
History zoroastrianism is the religious tradition named after the founding prophet zoroaster, the greek form of the iranian zarathustra, who most scholars agree lived between 1500 and bce in north east iran. Pdf ancient iranian motifs and zoroastrian iconography. In every fire temple, agiary, or place of worship, a sacred fire must be present it must be continually lit, fed a minimum of 5 times a day, and prayed to 5 times as well note. Hopefully this video will help you get a simple understanding of the zoroastrian faith and its history. Remember it is forbidden to eat a rooster as it is a bird of srosh. The word faravahar actually is pahlavi, or middle persian. Faravahar is one of the bestknown symbols of zoroastrianism, the state religion of ancient iran. Religion of ancient persia based on the teachings of the prophet zarasthustra zoroaster in greek. Some zoroastrians also recognize the evergreen cypress tree as a symbol of eternal life. As well, the age of the religion can sometimes make it hard to understand, as there are very ancient symbols such as the faravahar. It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that.
According to the bundahishn, the zoroastrian story of creation, the rooster was created by ahura mazda to oppose the demons. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Here is a link to the site for the textbook revealing world religions related. 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. Zoroastrian rituals are conducted before a sacred fire.
Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. It is a disc with wings that represents the winged sun. Zoroastrian wedding ceremonies can last anywhere between 3 days and a week. There are various interpretations of what the faravahar symbolizes, and there is no universal consensus except to note that it does not represent the fravashi. Zoroastrians worship in fire temples, and they are often mistaken as fire worshippers. The ancient zoroastrian solar calendar of 365 days is still used today. The most important texts of the religion are those contained within the avesta, which.
Zoroastrianism is the ancient, preislamic religion of persia modernday iran. While the poet ferdowsis 9351020 ce persian epic, the shahnameh or book of kings is not a zoroastrian religious text, it is widely quoted by zoroastrians many of who believe that ferdowsis information is based on zoroastrian sources. Fire is another important symbol of zoroastrianism, as it represents light, warmth and has purifying powers. Then, already married relatives hold white scarves over the new couples heads while two crystallized sugar cones are rubbed together in order to. The most important texts of the religion are those contained within the avesta, which includes as. The name zoroaster is a greek rendering of the avestan name zarathustra. Some outsiders believe that they actually worship fire. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. It contains 14 chapters starting from the prehistory of the ancient iranians to present day zoroastrianism and its adherents. Before christianity, judaism and islam, there was zoroastrianism. This book covers not just the history of zoroastrianism but also some of its theology and background information crucial to understanding this obscure major religion. Zoroastrian religion though the total number of zoroastrians in indian population is very less yet they continue to be one of the important religious communities of india. According to the 2001 census, there were around 70,000 members of the zoroastrian faith in india. Zoroastrianism influenced the development of western angelologies and demonologies.
The faravahar first appears in the early part of the achaemenid empire and darius i the great r. The faravahar is an ancient persian symbol thought to represent the god ahura mazda. This collection of writings occupies the same place in the literature of iran ancient persia that the vedas do in india. The influence of zoroastrianism on other religions, by. Its also a sacred language because the texts are written in it an. Whilst the symbol is well known, the meaning behind it is more complicated. Fire is an extremely important symbol in zoroastrianism as it represents gods or ahura mazdas ultimate wisdom and eternal light, as well as is a symbol of purification and ahura mazdas presence. A symbol of ahura mazda that decorates many zoroastrian religious. In a zoroastrian temple the only symbol before which prayers are said is the fire which is tended by a priest five times a day. The faravahar is one of the best known symbols of iran and is often worn as pendant among iranians, including.
In english, an adherent of the faith is commonly called a zoroastrian or a. Zoroastrianism or mazdaism refers to the religion developed from the. The idea of the sacred fire is also a fundamental symbol in zoroastrian worship. Fire is one of zoroastrianism s most significant symbol. This symbol consists of a winged disc with a man emerging from it.
Fire is seen as a symbol of purity, and sacred fires are maintained in. A winged sun disk with a male figure in the center, primarily symbolizing zoroastrianism and its god, ahura mazda. The islamic conquest of iran in the seventh century scattered zoroastrian sects and caused a decline in the religion. Zoroastrian religious beliefs can best be summarised with the phrase, good thoughts, good words, good deeds. It has a special significance, being the supreme symbol of god and the divine life. The avesta is the primary collection of religious texts of zoroastrianism, composed in avestan language. It reminds people of their purpose in life and reminds adherents to live in the ways of ahura mazda. It can be written and pronounced in many different ways. Zoroastrian rituals and practices zoroastrian symbols zoroastrian texts. The primary collection of zoroastrian religious texts is called the avesta. The sacred book of zoroastrianism is called the avesta, and has two main sections.
This image is famously carved into the ruins at persepolis, the ancient capital of the zoroastrian achaemenid empire in iran, and now graces zoroastrian temples and gravesites. Some of the books in the avesta, notably the yasna, are the text of the liturgy of that name. It is now used as a symbol of zoroastrianism, persia, and iran. The corpus of religious texts in zoroastrianism is called the avesta, which is written in the otherwise unattested avestan language and it includes the yasna name of the primary act of worship among zoroastrianism and the five gathas with the. The faravahar is one of the best known symbols of iran and is often worn as pendant among iranians, including zoroastrians and kurds and has become a secular national and cultural symbol. The literature appears to designate the period and condition of the church. Middle persian and pahlavi works created in the 9th and 10th century contain many religious zoroastrian books, as most of the writers and copyists were part of the zoroastrian clergy. It depicts a bearded man with one hand reaching forward. The faravahar, or farohar, is to remind one of the purpose of life on this earth, which is to live in such a way that the soul progresses spiritually and attains union with ahuramazda the wise lord. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. The rituals practiced in zoroastrianism are often seen as very different from those practiced in the western religions, but are actually very similar.
It is the sacred symbol most reverenced by the zoroastrians of today. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. It centers on the words of the prophet zarathushtra, called zoroaster by the ancient greeks, and focuses worship upon ahura mazda, the lord of wisdom. Fire is seen as the supreme symbol of purity, and sacred fires are maintained in fire. In zoroastrianism, moderation, truthfulness, honest dealing, and charity are stressed. Although the number of its followers declined dramatically in the centuries after the 7th century islamic conquest of iran, zoroastrians survive in iran to the present day. Time fails me to enter into detailed explanation of the zoroastrian symbols as.
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