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by Jayaram V
Zoroastrianism is a very ancient religion. The
founder of this religion was
Zarathushtra. He was born in a princely family in the ancient city of
Rae or Ragha in ancient Persia. Pourushaspa was his father's name and
Dugdhova was his mother's. When he was born, he was named Spitama,
after one of his great heroic ancestors.
At the age of fifteen, young Spitama, instead of
taking up household duties, retired into solitude, renouncing the
worldly life. He spent fifteen strenuous years in the contemplation of
God, facing numerous difficulties and innumerable temptations. The
evil spirit Ahirman tried his best in various wicked ways to wean him
away from his chosen path. But Spitama was steadfast in his
determination to seek God and find answers to his perplexing
questions. Finally, at the end of fifteen years he got enlightenment.
After returning home, he started preaching his new
religion. Many were reluctant to accept his teachings, because they
had fallen into wicked ways. For several years he had only one
disciple, his cousin, Maidyoimaongha. He wandered from place to place
teaching men what he believed in. But it was in vain. In Iran, people
were not yet ready to accept him as a prophet and follow his
teachings.
But Vishtaspa, ruler of the neighboring Bakhdi (
Bactria), welcomed him with open arms. He embraced the new religion
and also inspired two of his ministers and two of his brothers to
become his disciples. With their support the new religion became
popular. Vishtaspa waged several wars in the defense of the new creed.
Finally all opposition to the new religion was overcome and
Zorastrianism was firmly established in Bactria as well as ancient
Persia and also some of the neighboring countries. Zarathushtra
continued to preach the new religion to the people of his times till
he reached an advanced age.
There is a controversy as to the date of his birth.
Historians believe that he lived some time around 1000 B.C. According
to another opinion he might have lived some time around 600 B.C. While
it is not possible to arrive at an exact date, we can safely assume
that he might have lived during the early Rig Vedic period, when the
Rigvedic people were busy consolidating their gains in the
northwestern parts of the subcontinent.
Suggested Further Reading
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