ZOROASTRIANISM

ORIGINBy: Maleeha Naheed

Founder- ZoroasterZoroaster was the prophet that founded the

religion of Zoroastrianism in 6th BCE

650 B.C.-551 B.C

At the age of 30 he had a vision at Daitya River, where a figured appeared in front of him and identified him self as Vbhu Manah

He took Zoroaster to the lord Ahura- Mazda, who told him about the true religion of Zoroastrianism

He died at the age of 77, but the religion he spread still was alive

Origin of Zoroastrianism The worlds oldest, non-pantheistic religion

Was founded in the 6th century by a prophet named Zoroaster

Zoroastrianism, the religion, was once spread from the Mediterranean to India, but now it is found in Shiraz in Iran, Karachi in Pakistan, and Mumbai in India

It is mostly practiced in Iran.

Zoroastrianism was the firs Monotheistic religion

Zoroastrianism is a very small religion with about 140,000 followers

Zoroastrianism is also known as Zarathustrism, Mazdaism and Parsism

Timeline 1600 B.C.: Zarathushtra is born 1000 B.C.: The Aryans arrive in Iran from central Asia 600 B.C.: Zoroastrianism spreads in Iran 640: The Arab Invasion 936: Zoroastrians immigrated to Gujarat in India  1381:Mongol Ruler Timur Lenk invaded Iran killing thousands

of Zoroastrians   1719:Afghan invaders massacre thousands of Zoroastrians in

Kerman 1878:The first fire Temple is built in America 1882: Jaziye (a kind of tax for non-Muslims) is abolished in

Iran  1960: First World Zoroastrian Congress held in Tehran 1979: Religious freedom granted to Zoroastrians 1990: The Zarathushtrian Assembly is established in the

United States 

This is one important key practice that takes place:• (The zôt, looking steadily at the râspî, says• ýathâ ahû vairyô zaotâ frâ-mê mrûtê, • (As he does this he salutes his fellow-priest with a grave gesture of

his right hand to the forehead while his left holds the barsom. The râspî, returning his gaze, salutes him in return, usually with both hands to the forehead, and replies:)

• ýathâ ahû vairyô ýô zaotâ frâ-mê mrûtê, (zôt,) • (with emphasis on the yô; whereat the zôt, still looking full into his

eyes, salutes him once more and responds:) • athâ ratush ashâtcît haca frâ ashava vîdhvå mraotû.

• For Zoroastrians, this is a very important factor, for example the nirang and holy water, the zôt at 'athâ ratush' should gaze at the nirang, and at 'ashâtcît' should gaze at the water. This is also presumably one reason why Zoroastrians face the light while praying. It is very important in the Zoroastrianism cultural to memorize there prayers.

• A child born of  Zoroastrian parents is not considered a Zoroastrian till he goes though the fold by the Navjote ceremony. The word 'Navjote' means a new initiate who offers  Zoroastrian prayers. The ceremony of initiation consists of the investiture of the child with the sacred shirt called 'Sudreh' and a sacred thread called 'Kusti'. The Navjote ceremony among the Parsi is performed at the age of seven or nine or eleven, up until fifteen. Therefore, the child  continues to wear the Sudreh and kusti and perform the kusti ritual with the right prayers, throughout his or her life. The Sudreh is made of pure, white muslin or cotton while the kusti is woven of seventy-two threads of fine lambs wool. In the pahlavi Texts, the Sudreh or Sudra is described as "Vohu Manik Vastra", in other words it means Good Mind. The word 'kusti' means a waist band. Being tied round the waist, it points to the trinity of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. These form a barrier protecting the individual from all that is evil.

• Marriage is the another important ceremony in the life of a  Zoroastrian. It starts off with young couples sitting face to face with each other. The priest would then place a cloth between and tie the ends around their chair. He would then take the brides right hand and place it in the grooms right hand and tie there hands seven times with a piece of twine. Prayers would be said around with the assistance of the first with the sandalwood. Then they would embrace there parents. After embracing their parents, the couple leave and go to the Fire Temple to pay their homage to the sacred fire. While going to the grooms house, the bride holds a small wick lamp in a protective silver vase. The light should not go out on the way to her new home. At the threshold, her husband awaits her. The little wick lamp is kept burning in the bridal chambers all night.

• Funeral ceremonies of  Zoroastrians continues for four days. On the tenth day after death, certain prayers are said both at home and in the Fire Temple. After a month, prayers are again said and then annually on the death anniversary. The dead body is disposed of in 'Towers of silence' on the top of a hill. The flesh is devoured by birds of prey and after a few days, the bones are lowered into deep wells at the bottom where the bones slowly dissolve. Therefore the mortal remains of the individual and is disposed of in a most hygienic manner.

Worship includes symbolic ceremonies and prayers:

• Religious believers are dedicated to a three-fold path based on their motto:  "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”

• One must be born into the Zoroastrian religion. Zoroastrians do not generally accept converts.

• The rituals are conducted around a sacred, living fire. Zoroastrians regard fire as the manifested symbol of their God.

• Zoroastrians believe in Zarathushtra, which means Zoroaster in Greek, he was the first monotheist.  This means that he was the first person to believe in one god.

• Zoroastrians believe that time is divided into three ages: the current era mixed both good and evil, those of creation, and the coming era, when Ahura-Mazda will take over, triumph, and those who commit wrong will be punished, and the good will go directly to heaven.

• Every person in the Zoroastrian religion is free to choose between good and evil.

• Ahura Mazda is their friend, and their purpose in this world is to help god make the world a better place. 

• Zoroastrian holidays include the New Year, celebrated at the Spring Equinox, Farvardigan, No Ruz (literally, new day) or ten days of the dead, honouring and remembering Zoroastrians of the past, and Khordad Sal, Zoroaster's birthday. These holidays celebrated by the Zoroastrian religion are very important and serve to be very significant.

Fire, the provider of light, heat and the source of life

and growth, is the center of all religious rituals , and till this day, fire plays a pivotal

role in the religious ceremonies of the

Zoroastrians and the Hindus.

Zoroastrian Emperor

The winged Farohar or Faravahari is the symbol of the Zoroastrian faith.

They are the divine guardians who are

believed to accompany every human being and keep the world in order

and motion Zarathushtra, which means Zoroaster in

Greek, who was the first monotheist.  This means

that he was the first person to believe in one

god.

Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrianism: Religious SignificanceReligious Significance

By: Zainab Rangwala

Religious Significance of Fire in Zoroastrianism

Large significance in Zoroastrianism Large significance in Zoroastrianism as it is the as it is the provider of heat, light and provider of heat, light and growthgrowth

Some outsiders believe that they Some outsiders believe that they worship fire, but this is not trueworship fire, but this is not true

A fire burns in Zoroastrian temples, A fire burns in Zoroastrian temples, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Religious Significance of Zoroastrianism to the World

Although Zoroastrianism Although Zoroastrianism is still practiced is still practiced today, it has only a few thousand adherentstoday, it has only a few thousand adherents

It had an enormous influence on the It had an enormous influence on the monotheistic teachings monotheistic teachings

Some religious historians credit Some religious historians credit Zoroastrianism, with introducing many Zoroastrianism, with introducing many teachings that are seen in Christianity, teachings that are seen in Christianity, Judaism and IslamJudaism and Islam

Number of Adherents of Zoroastrianism Number of Adherents of Zoroastrianism in the Worldin the World

About 200 Thousand About 200 Thousand Zoroastrian FollowersZoroastrian Followers

Zoroastrian Population

Zoroastrian communities are comprised of two main groups of people: those of Indian Zoroastrian background, who are known as Parsis, and those of Iranian background

There is a continuing concentration of adherents in Western India and Central Iran

Zoroastrian Symbols and Images

By: Nazo Bangash

Fire plays an important role in the religious ceremonies of Zoroastrians. Fire is the provider of heat and light, and the source of life and growth. During the time of the early settlers, fire was seen in the form of

lightning, and in volcanoes. It was soon used as an upper hand in the animal kingdom. Those who

had to fight and compete with animals for food and shelter no longer had to put up with such a struggle.

Fire gave them protection, and sent animals wandering away. Sun by day and fire by night, were the only sources of illumination, the

Zoroastrians came to realize the brightness of this natural phenomenon.

The sacred fire must be kept burning and has to be fed at least five times a day. Prayers also are recited five times a day.    

Faravahar

The Faravahar has seven parts, each with a significant meaning.

1) The Faravahar’s face represents the face of human beings, and therefore shows a connection to mankind.

2) The faravahar has two wings, each of which has three main feathers.  The feathers indicate three things, "good reflections", "good words", and "good deeds."

3)The lower part also consists of three parts.  The meaning of these three feathers are opposite to that of the wings.  They represent "bad reflections," "bad words," and "bad deeds."  This will bring misery and misfortune to humans.

4) There are two loops on the Faravahar.  One on each side.  The former is directed toward the face and the latter is located at the back.  It indicates to us that we must look forward for the good in life, and turn away from the bad.

5) There is a circle in the middle of the Faravahar’s trunk.  This symbol indicates that our spirit is in a way endless, having neither a beginning, nor an end.6) One of the hands on the Faravahar points upwards, showing that we have to struggle to prosper.

7) The other hand holds a ring.  Some interpreters consider that it is perceived as the ring of covenant. This ring represents loyalty and faithfullness.                                                               

Zoroastrian Temple of Yazd, Iran. 

Ancient Zoroastrian Temple in Azerbaijan

Zorastrian temple of Chak Chak, near Yazd

Zoroastrian temple of Pir-e-Naraki, near Yazd

Before the Arabs invaded Iran there were many fire temples in Esfahan. The Arabs destroyed them all except for this one.

Temples were initially built during theAchaemenian period. After that period, the three types offires: Atash Behram, Atash Adaran and Atash Dadgah had a recognized place in the Zoroastrian society. The temples generally consist of four massive piers carrying an arch on each side.They are roofed overwith domes, but these are usually the older ones. There are approximately 50 fire temples related to the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. Most of the fire temples were destroyed through conquests of Iran by Arabs, Turks, and Mongols.

• The interior of the Tower of Silence has three concentric circles.• One for men, one for women, and finally, onefor children.• The corpses are exposed there naked.• Vultures must go into the tower of silenceand diminish the bodies• This usually does not take any longer than two hours.• They strip the flesh off the bones, which are then dried by the sun,

and are later swept into the central well.• The morning of the fourth day is the most solemn observance in

the death ritual, because it is then that the soul of the dead bodies reaches the next world and appears before those who are to pass judgment over them.

• Zoroaster was the first monotheist. • Zoroastrianism has influenced Christianity, Judaism, and

Islam. Ideas like heaven and hell, afterlife, and coming of a savior all have roots in Zoroastrianism.

• Zarathushtra, of the Spitaman family, is one of the first and oldest prophets of mankind's history.

• Zoroaster was always interested in what was going on around him, he was invited to speak with the priest of the town, and asked questions that stumped the priest. After he left, the priest had a heart attack and died.

• He left home at the age of twenty, in search of the “truth”• He got married during his search, and was the father of six

children, all of whom converted to Zoroastrianism.• The first converts to Zoroastrianism were Zoroasters entire

family. • The game of chess derived from Zoroastrianism• It is based on the fight between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman,

where Ahura is the white kind, and Ahriman is the black one.