Compiled over many centuries, the avesta was not completed until persias sassanid dynasty 226641 ce. Oct 02, 2009 the zoroastrian calendar holy days, feasts and festivals. Although the teachings of prophet zarathushtra were primarily spiritual, and substantially devoid of mythological and ritualistic beliefs, zoroastrianism, the religion that was based on his teachings incorporated many aspects of prezarathushtra traditions as well as novel and creative approaches to ritualism. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. Zoroastrianism is the most difficult of living faiths to study, because of its antiquity, the vicissitudes which it has undergone, and the loss, through them, of many of its holy texts. The videvdad or vendidad is an ancient collection of zoroastrian myths, prayers, and religious observances, intended to defend against sources of infection and evil.
It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that. The zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. The zoroastrianbiblical connections influence of zoroastrianism in other religions. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroasters transformation of a very ancient tradition. For example, the holy book of christianity is the bible, the holy book of islam is the quran, and the holy book of the baha. The religious text of judaism is the jewish bible or tanakh. The most important texts of the religion are those of the avesta, which.
Apr 10, 2015 zoroastrian texts the zoroastrian sacred text is the avesta book of the law, a fragmentary collection of sacred writings. Oct 02, 2009 this article examines zoroastrian beliefs about god, zoroaster and the immortals. The traditional date of 600 bce was assigned by priests of zoroastrianism in the older avesta is written in a language similar to the sanskrit of the rigveda, which would give it a date of about 2000 3500 bce, and making zoroastrianism one of the oldest religions in the world. There are less than 190,000 followers of zoroastrianism worldwide. Reading this book is an excellent way to pick up that thread and see where the big three monotheistic religions, starting with judaism, picked up many of their ideas. Avesta, also called zendavesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. The similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity.
In his visions, zarathustra was taken up to heaven, where ahura mazda revealed that he had an opponent, aura mainyu, the spirit and promoter of evil. Hi everyone, i am really interested in zoroastrianism and would like to know some more. Surprising it is, when reflecting the fact that this ancient persian religion has had. Zoroastrianism zoroastrianism practices and institutions. 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. Zoroastrian scriptures presentation at north american mobed. The link didnt work for me, but i sure will dig into zoroastrianism from that angle. The religious texts of the zoroastrian faith of ancient persia are referred to as the avesta. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster approximately 3500 years ago. Have you ever wondered when popular religions started to develop. The zoroastrian calendar is full of holy days, feasts and festivals, giving zoroastrians the reputation of being a joyful religion full of. Religion a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. Permanent altars exist from the sasanian period and are depicted on coins with a burning fire. The religious philosophy of zoroaster divided the early iranian gods of the.
This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. Zoroastrianism practices and institutions britannica. 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. Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity although these are two different religions, they have many things in common.
One of the most obvious tenets of christianity that has its roots in zoroastrianism is the concept of dualism. February 1, 2007 zoroastrian texts translated with notes by prods oktor skj. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. You can read dastur dhallas history of zoroastrianism, tome i m. Although herodotus wrote that the persians had no temples, some have been found, in the shape of terraces or towers or square rooms. One of the leastknown religions in the world is also one of the oldest of all revealed world religions and likely the first to be monotheistic recognize a single god. Traditional zoroastrian teachings are found in the holy book, the avesta, and the pahlavi literature. The holy book of zoroastrianism is called the zend avesta, believed to be. Particular attention is given to disposal of the dead and other dead matter nasu, to keep disease from spreading, as well as avoid polluting the earth, water, etc. Zoroastrianism download books, sacred, spiritual texts. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Comparision of judaism and zoroastrianism religion has been a major focal point in any society and in any culture. The latter represent the basic source of the religion.
The ancients saw in zoroastrianism the archetype of the dualistic view of the world and of mans destiny. It also includes information about the avestan language, and other useful information for students of zoroastrian religion. Zoroastrianism is often described as a dualism because of its teaching on a wholly good god, ahura mazda, who is opposed by the evil angra mainyu. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta. And forget about any increased price for doing that it would be worth it to have a truly readable book. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures.
Founded by the persian prophet and reformer zoroaster, the religion contains both monotheistic and dualistic features. Chahartaq s sacred buildings with four gates or doors are scattered over most of iran. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. For four centuries zoroastrianism was the state religion of the sassanids, and it successfully met the challenge of nascent christianity and, later, of heretical manichaeism. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism and the abrahamic religions question. Angels and demons also feature in all four of these religions. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m. The religious ceremonies and customs of the parsees. Nov 06, 2015 zoroastrian beliefs the zoroastrian concept of god incorporates elements of both monotheism and dualism. It was the official religion of persia iran from 600 bce to 650 ce.
As is the kitabiaqdas, which translated means the most holy book. Ad 226 under ardashir i, who established the sassanid dynasty and fostered a general revival of achaemenian culture. I know too little of that source of many beliefs in the abrahamic and probably other religions, like the sacred fire in the ot, and perhaps the hindu god agni or is he the source of the zoroastrian fire worship. The zend avesta is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Humanity, human beings to zoroaster, played a part in the struggle of good forces against the bad forces in the world by being free to choose cooperate with either one. Holy text, beliefs and practices religious tolerance. This is the holy book of zoroastrianism itself and its printed here in a book that is just way too small. Comparision of judaism and zoroastrianism, religion. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. I know that zoroastrianism influenced the abrahamic religions and hinduism, but my question is how are they compatible, if at all, with one another like christianzoroastrian or muslimzoroastrian etc. It influenced the other major western religionsjudaism, christianity, and islam. History of zoroastrianism 1938, part 2 it is a very long book, interesting, it contains some faults because it is quite old and they didnt have the same resources back then. Zoroastrianism, like other religions is a religion with a book or rather a religion possessing written texts.
Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity. Its religious core is a collection of songs or hymns, the gathas, thought to be in the. May 27, 2005 it used to be one of the most popular religions in the world, but has since dwindled down to about 140,000 members, most in india. There are many devoted jewish and christian believers who deny that zoroastrianism had any influence on their religions. Zoroaster comes from the avestaa collection of zoroastrian religious scriptures. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. There are many aspects of christianity that were not drawn from judaism, although that religion was the major predecessor of christianity. An essential feature of all worship yasna, centred on fire, is physical and moral purity. A moment later, vesta became aware that her life was passing her by in that busy city, where no man could capture her heart what if she married someone, who wasnt mentally prepared to keep his zoroastrian identity intact. List of books and articles about zoroastrianism online. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have. This part of the site has complete online editions of the sacred books of the easts zoroastrian texts.
Ascribed to the teachings of the iranianspeaking spiritual leader zoroaster, it exalts an uncreated and benevolent deity of wisdom, ahura mazda, as its supreme being. Jul 25, 2011 the zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. The avesta is the analogue of the bible for zoroastrians. Jun 07, 2011 zoroastrianism clearly has had a large influence on christianity. Ahura mazda is the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the yasna. But some more recent researches date zoroastrianism to around 1200 b. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the. Zoroastrians believe in one god, called ahura mazda meaning wise lord. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the avesta. Hinduism, has many holy books, but most popular is shreemad bhagavad gita, upanishads and veda.
Qiginatingover 3500 years ago in 3ri1ze age culture on the asian steppes, it became the state. In ancient times, the modern country of iran was known as persia. I feel that waterhouse was holding back on his belief that judaism picked up a lot of its ideology and tales from zoroastrianism. From the beginning, zarathushtras prophetic teachings were embodied in words, though they were not written down until more than a millennium later. The religion of those peoples has been reconstructed by means of common elements contained in the sacred books of iran and india, mainly the avesta and the. Download the zend avesta in full text pdf download free here. This book should be at least 25% bigger than it is, and the font size along with it. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. What are the top ten religions and what is the holy book.
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