Zoroastrianism: Ancient Teachings and Beliefs

1. Zoroastrianism By: Lexi, Areeba, and Danica

2. Origins • Began in Azerbaijan, Iran • Founded in 600 B.C by Zarathushtra • Practiced mostly in Iran

3. Founder Zarathushtra • Lived in Azerbaijan in Iran • Religious reformer in Persia (modern day Iran) • Known as Zoroaster • Spent life teaching and preaching

4. Key Figures Ahura Mazda • Supreme deity, Creator, Lord of the Universe • Leader of the Amesha Spentas • Battles to rid world of evil and darkness Angra Mainyu • Rival of Ahura Mazda • Evil spirit of death and violence

5. Key Figures Cont’d Amesha Spentas (Beneficent Immortals) • Seven divine beings belonging to Ahura Mazda • Messengers/connection between God and man • Help God and man fight Angra Mainyu for peace and justice

6. Key Beliefs • Purpose: to help God make the world a better place to live • There are two deities: - Ahura Mazda represents pure goodness - Angra Mainya represents pure evilness • Deities are rivals • Goodness is more powerful and prevalent but cannot abolish evilness.

7. Key Beliefs Cont’d • Have free will • Those who do good can be peaceful and happy • Belief system - Parallels good and evil tendencies within every person - Provides an answer to: If God is good, why is there evil in the world?

8. Key Ceremonies Jashan Ceremony • Thanksgiving ceremony reenacts moment of creation (world in harmony) Nirang-din Ceremony • Creates the Holy Nirang • Nirang is foundation of other sacred rituals • Good in the world increases, evil decreases

9. Key Ceremonies Cont’d Coming of Age Ceremony • Parsis initiated at age 7 in India, age 10 in Persia • Receive Sadre and Kusti Yasna Ceremony • Haoma (sacred liquor), milk, bread, meat, animal fat offered to Ahura Mazda • Ritual purification • Priests recite the Avesta (the sacred writing)

10. Symbol - Fire • Most important symbol • Places of worship called Fire Temples • Represents the divine • Is forever burning in Fire Temple • Three types of fires: - Royal fire in only four temples - Adaran fire in most temples - Dadgah fire in the home

11. Symbol –Symbolic Garments Two types are worn: • Sudre (the armor of God) - white cotton garment - worn at all times except when bathing • Kusti (the swordbelt of faith) - 72 threads composed of lamb's wool - made by priest's wife and blessed

12. Symbol - Faravahar • 2nd most common symbol • Unsure of its meaning and representation • Ancient theory: - Represents the King's Authority in terms of its divine origins. • Today: - Reminds people of purpose in life (to create a union with God)

13. Key Rituals Purification Ritual • Keeps mind, body and environment pure to defeat evil • 3 types of purification: - Padyab (ablution) - Nahn (bath) - Bareshnum (dog’s left ear is touched by the followers, dog's gaze casts evil spirits away)

14. Key Practices Burial of the Dead • Bodies of the dead given back to nature (sunlight and vultures dispose of corpse) • Brought to a Dakhma forDakhma-nashini • Rich and poor died in same manner = people equal in the eyes of God.

15. Key Practices Cont’d Worship • Takes place at fire temple • 5 daily prayers or hymns said before fire

16. Timeline • 600 B.C.: Zoroastrianism spreads in Iran • 640 B.C: The Arab Invasion • 1000 B.C.: Aryans arrive in Iran from central Asia • 1600 B.C.: Zarathushtra is born

17. Timeline Cont’d • 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

18. Timeline Cont’d • 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

19. # of Adherents in the World • World population of Zoroastrians is 150,000 - 100,000 in India - 17,000 in Iran - 12,000 in North America - 20,000 outside of Persia and India

20. Influence in the 21st Century • Contributed to major Western religions - Christianity - Judaism - Islam • Important concepts - redemption, final judgment, life after death, Satan as God's enemy, resurrection, souls, heaven and hell

21. Influence in the 21st Century Cont’d • Jewish theory influenced by the post-Babylonian period in exile • Small, noticeable religious community offers religious education classes, ceremonies, and receptions

22. Key Terms/Definitions • Persian: - a group of people that mostly live in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan • Monotheistic: - A religion in which only one God is worshipped • Jaziye: - A kind of tax for non-Muslims • Parsis: - Indian community of practicing Zoroastrians • Gabars: -Iranian community of practicing Zoroastrians

23. Interesting Facts • First monotheistic religion • Pray at a Fire Temple and believe fire is the symbol of God, but they never pray to fire • Prevalent in later monotheistic religions - Islam, Judaism, Christianity • Themes such as good and evil, hell, and a messiah originated from Zoroastrianism • World's oldest continuing non-judgmental religion