Only about 10,000 survive in remote villages in iran, but over the centuries many sought religious freedom in india. And forget about any increased price for doing that it would be worth it to have a truly readable book. The gathas are abstract sacred poetry, directed towards the worship of the one god, understanding of righteousness and. 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. Avesta zoroastrian scripture britannica encyclopedia britannica. The gathas have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent.
Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Ascribed to the teachings of the iranianspeaking spiritual leader zoroaster also known. 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 holy book of zoroastrianism is known as avesta which consists of a collection of sacred text. This article examines zoroastrian beliefs about god, zoroaster and the immortals. Displayed is a page from the gathas, in the middle persian language pahlavi, and its translation into modern persian. For example, the holy book of christianity is the bible, the holy book of islam is the quran, and the holy book of the. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Ancient history world religions islam, christianity. 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. Compiled over many centuries, the avesta was not completed until persias sassanid dynasty 226641 ce. The earliest form of zoroastrianism, known as gathic zarathustrianism, was founded during zoroasters lifetime, perhaps as early as 1500 bce.
It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the zend avesta zoroastrianism is also dualist. 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.
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. He saw other radiant figures too, but could not see his shadow on the ground, a sign which convince zoroaster his vision was authentic. Zoroastrianism at a glance zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. History of zoroastrianism including thus spake zarathustra, wise men of. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. According to zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like.
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. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. West 1897 late zoroastrian texts of traditional history and prophecy. 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. 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. The daily prayerbook the parsis use everyday is khordeh avesta the smaller avesta. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrian texts the zoroastrian sacred text is the avesta book of the law, a fragmentary collection of sacred writings. 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. Zarathushtra eventually came to be regarded as the founder and prophet of the. Biography of zarathustra, founder of zoroastrianism. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Rural revolt and local zoroastrianism patricia crone.
Professor almut hintze explores its history and some of the key components of the religion. An introduction to zoroastrianism the british library. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the. Zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc, created zoroastrianism.
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. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as the avesta. This missionary activity shows that zoroastrianism was really a universal religion and not an ethnic religion, limited to one people. The scripture contains the teachings of prophet zoroaster, hymns, laws, and the tenets of the religion. Zoroastrianism or mazdaism refers to the religion developed from the teachings of the persian prophet zarathushtra c. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of the oldest religions still in. The fresh reader into zoroastrianism will be helped greatly by the forward. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. The holy book of zoroastrianism is called the avesta or zendavesta. A major figure in the history of world religions, zarathustra has been the. Different religions have different holy books books they consider holy. 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. Ahura mazda, he says, created a pair of twin spirits as his sons.
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. Zoroastrianism is arguably the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Pahlavi texts, part iv sbe 37 contents of the nasks e. The gathas documents, a set of hymns written in the old avestan language and attributed to zoroaster, are. 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.
Zoroastrianism, ancient preislamic religion of iran that likely influenced the other major western religions. According to the most faithful followers of the religion he lived some time around 6000 bc. Textual sources for the study of zoroastrianism textual sources for the study of religion mary boyce. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster or zarathustra in ancient iran. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity.
Zoroastrians believe in one god, called ahura mazda meaning wise lord. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. 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. Zoroastrians most commonly refer to themselves as zartoshti zoroastrians, mazdayasni wisdomworshippers, and behdini followers of the good religion.
In islam, the religious book is the quran and usually goes along with the. The videvat are religious law books laying down codes of conduct and procedures for penance. 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 founder of the religion was a man named zoroaster, who is viewed as a prophetic figure by adherents. This page provides an overview of zoroastrian beliefs, which can be. This is the holy book of zoroastrianism itself and its printed here in a book that is just way too small.
Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. The religious texts of the zoroastrian faith of ancient persia are referred to as the avesta. 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. Zoroastrians believe ahura mazda created two spirits. Zoroastrianism is a preislamic iranian religion and one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. Zoroastrianism, the worlds oldest monotheistic religion. Chapters 1517, and partly 18, are devoted to purifications o several sorts of uncleanness. The beliefs of zoroastrianism were spread across asia via the silk road. Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the persian empire, but it virtually disappeared in persia after the muslim invasion of 637 ce. The corpus of religious texts in zoroastrianism is called the avesta, which is written in the.
It was the official religion of persia iran from 600 bce to 650 ce. The visprat is a lesser liturgical scripture, containing homages to a number of zoroastrian. Its also a sacred language because the texts are written in it an. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Topics zoroastrianism, history, boyce collection opensource. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. 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. As the religion of zoroastrianism develops, after its founders death, ahura. This book should be at least 25% bigger than it is, and the font size along with it. Zoroastrianism was made the state religion of the empire, and conversions were actively made to counteract the proselytizing zeal of christians.
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. 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. There is no unanimity among historians as to the times in which he lived. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have. Alexanders conquests largely displaced zoroastrianism with hellenistic beliefs, though the religion continued to be practiced. Not much is known about the personal history of zoroaster. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures. What is the religious book of zoroastrianism and islam. West 1892 longlost zoroastrian texts available now only in summaries and fragments. 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. Start studying ancient history world religions islam, christianity, judaism, zoroastrianism and shintoism. The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains are not these, o soul, the vision of him who reigns.
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