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by Jayaram V
Zoroastrianism derives its names from its
founder Zarathushtra, the Persian
prophet, whom the Greeks referred as
Zoroaster. Zoroastrianism also goes by the name Parsiism, a name
derived after Parsis, a group of ancient Iranians or Persians, who
migrated to India in the 7th century AD after the fall of Sassanid
dynasty to escape persecution in the hands of Islamic invaders who
occupied the country and used various means to convert the vanquished to
the new faith. A small but vibrant community of Parsis continue to
practice this ancient religion in India and contribute richly to its
cultural, religious and ethnic diversity.
The Origins Of Zoroastrianism
Not much is known about the personal history of Zoroaster. There is
no unanimity among historians as to the times in which he lived.
According to the most faithful followers of the religion he lived some
time around 6000 BC. However based on the linguistic and other evidence
historians tend to place him between 12th and 6th century BC 1.
Zarathushtra probably lived long before the Buddha and Mahavira.
Therefore it would be more acceptable to place him nearer 12th century
BC rather than 6th, the period during which the Vedic people were
establishing themselves as a religious community in the Indian
subcontinent. There is
also a controversy about the place of his origin. According to one
popular theory, he hailed from a family of noble men who lived
at Rhages or Ragha, identified to be Ravy, a suburb in Tehran. Others
believe that he was probably born outside Iran in some part of Central
Asia.
Zoroaster
To them Zarathustra introduced the concept of one supreme God above
all, following a series of profound spiritual experiences he underwent, in which Ahura Mazda, the highest god
of Zoroaster religion, appeared to him in person and imparted to him the
highest knowledge. It is said that when he was about 30, as he was drawing water from a well, a shining angel named Vohu Manah,
appeared to him in a vision and led him into the presence of Ahura
Mazda. Ahura Mazda declared himself to Zarathustra as the highest,
eternal and ethical God and through a series of visions imparted to him
the knowledge of Zoroaster religion and its many secrets with an
instruction to spread them among his people. The teachings of Zoroaster
are now preserved in the 17 hymns known
as the Gathas in the Yasna part of the Zend Avesta, the Zoroastrian's
sacred scripture. Zoroaster lived among people who believed in the multitude of spirits and divinities whom they worshipped. They also
divided the gods into three categories, corresponding with the social
order which they followed. Of them they considered Varuna and Mitra as
the highest and most superior lords (asuras). Zoroaster did not entirely
reject the
prevailing notions about divinities, but introduced the practice of
monotheism, declaring Ahuramazda as the highest and righteous creator
God and dispenser of justice, aided by six or seven other divinities
known as Amesha Spentas each personifying certain qualities which human
beings should aspire for and cultivate in order to receive the reward of
heavenly life when they leave this world. He also did not entirely
abolish the prevailing rituals and animal sacrifices, but only those
that involved some decadent practices. He also retained the fire cult
and haoma sacrifice.
After receiving enlightenment, Zarathushtra converted some close
members of his family to his teaching. But largely he was not successful
in converting people to the new faith. However after several years, he
was able to convert king Vishtaspa and many of his ministers and court officials. He remained in his court for some time. According to a legend he
got his daughter married to Jamasp, a minister in Vishtaspa's court. We
do not know clearly how his life ended.
The teachings of Zoroaster began to spread among the people of Persia
and adjoining provinces mainly through wandering tribes. When Cyrus became the emperor of the
vast Persian empire, he made Zoroastrianism popular throughout Egypt, Greece, Persia and parts of
India, mainly with the help of Magi, a priestly community that
came originally from Medes. Probably the three Magi who visited Jesus at
the time of his birth in Bethlehem, belonged to the same priestly
community. Zoroastrianism suffered a temporary decline in Persia when
Alexander conquered Persia in 331 BC. However it was revived again in 3rd century AD,
when the Sassanians overthrew the Parthenians and established
their dynasty. The Sassanians made Zoroastrianism as their state religion.
They recognized the religious authority of the priests as an important
part of their political power and gave them special privileges to
propagate the religion among the people. The state and the religion
therefore became inseparable during their time, a concept that was
similar in many respects to the one followed by the Romans when they
accepted Christianity as the state religion. During this period the Magi
made a rigid interpretation of the teachings of Zoroaster and declared
any opposition to it as heresy and treason.
Zoroastrianism suffered a serious blow in Persia when the Sassanid
dynasty came to an end in 7th century AD, with the Muslim conquest. The
invaders subjected the followers of the old religion to persecution and discrimination. As a result
of their actions the religion disappeared
from the country, first in the cities and then in the rural areas,
leaving a few followers most. Some fled the country and went to India
where they settled first in Gujarat and then in other parts of the
country, especially Mumbai. They continue to live today in India as
Parsis, a vibrant community who played an important role in the economic
development of India. They constitute the single largest Zoroastrian
community in the world.
Those who remained behind, suffered persecution in the hands of Muslim
rulers for several centuries. They got a relief when Reza Sha Pahlavi
overthrew the rule of the Qajar dynasty in 1925 and established his
rule. There are still a handful of Zoroastrians in Iran, estimated to be
about 30000, who practice the
ancient religion, especially in the provinces of Yazd, Kerman, Fars,
Tehran, Khuzestan and Kohgilouyeh and Boyerahmad. The Iranian state laws
recognize Zoroastrians as a religious minority, along with Christians
and Jews. It is however appropriate to say that it is in India
that Zoroastrianism found its save haven, where its followers still
practice the ancient religion without the fear of persecution or
discrimination.
Suggested Further Reading
1. Merriam-Websters Encyclopedia of World Religions
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