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The Bare Essentials of Zoroastrianism

Nowadays there are fewer than a quarter of a million Zoroastrians - most live in India, where they are called Parsis - but there is still a significant Zoroastrian community in Iran, and around 4,000 Zoroastrians in Britain.

Zoroastrianism was founded in Iran by the prophet Zoroaster sometime around 1200 BCE.

Zoroaster's Teachings

Zoroaster proclaimed that there is one God (Ahura Mazda) and that he created the world.

The world is based on the dualistic principle of Good versus Evil. When man chooses to follow good (Ahura Mazda), evil (Angra Mainyu - God's adversary) will be defeated - and when this happens, all of creation will be purified and Earth will become a Paradise .

The Holy Scriptures

The Zoroastrian book of Holy Scriptures is called The Avesta, named after the ancient dialect of Avestan which the early scriptures were written in. The Avesta can be roughly split into two main sections:

Places of Worship

Zoroaster placed less emphasis on ritual worship, instead focusing on the central ethics of 'Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds'. So early Zoroastrians worshiped around a fire outside or at their hearth.

Later, Zoroastrians began to worship communally in a Fire Temple or Agiary. This is still the tradition today.

Zoroastrians traditionally pray several times a day. Some wear a kusti, which is a cord knotted three times, to remind them of the maxim, 'Good Words, Good Thoughts, Good Deeds'. They wrap the kusti around the outside of a sudreh, a long, clean, white cotton shirt. They may engage in a purification ritual, such as the washing of the hands, then untie and then retie it while reciting prayers.


		FAITHS \| Bahá'í \| Buddhism \| Catholicism \| Christianity \| Hinduism \| ISKCON \| Islam \| Jainism \| Judaism \| Methodist \| Paganry \| Sikhism The Bare Essentials of Zoroastrianism Approximately 3500 years old. Began in Iran . Zoroastrianism is one of the world's first monotheistic religions. God is called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) and he created the world. Ahura Mazda revealed the truth through the prophet, Zoroaster. The Zoroastrian book of Holy Scriptures is called the Avesta. The Zoroastrian building for communal worship is known as a Fire Temple or Agiary. Zoroastrians traditionally pray several times a day. Zoroastrians are roughly split into two groups: The Iranians The Parsis Zoroastrianism had a significant influence on the development of Judaism, Christianity and Islam as well as other religions and philosophies. Demographics Nowadays there are fewer than a quarter of a million Zoroastrians - most live in India, where they are called Parsis - but there is still a significant Zoroastrian community in Iran, and around 4,000 Zoroastrians in Britain. Origins Zoroastrianism was founded in Iran by the prophet Zoroaster sometime around 1200 BCE. Zoroaster's Teachings Zoroaster proclaimed that there is one God (Ahura Mazda) and that he created the world. The world is based on the dualistic principle of Good versus Evil. When man chooses to follow good (Ahura Mazda), evil (Angra Mainyu - God's adversary) will be defeated - and when this happens, all of creation will be purified and Earth will become a Paradise . The Holy Scriptures The Zoroastrian book of Holy Scriptures is called The Avesta, named after the ancient dialect of Avestan which the early scriptures were written in. The Avesta can be roughly split into two main sections: The Avesta - this is oldest and core part of the scriptures, which contains the Gathas. The Gathas are seventeen hymns thought to be composed by Zoroaster himself. The Younger Avesta - commentaries to the older Avestan written in later years. It also contains myths, stories and details of ritual observances. Places of Worship Zoroaster placed less emphasis on ritual worship, instead focusing on the central ethics of 'Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds'. So early Zoroastrians worshiped around a fire outside or at their hearth. Zoroastrians believe that the elements are pure and that fire represents God's light or wisdom. Zoroastrians are not fire-worshippers, as some Westerners wrongly believe. Zoroastrians venerate all of God's creation. Later, Zoroastrians began to worship communally in a Fire Temple or Agiary. This is still the tradition today. Prayers Zoroastrians traditionally pray several times a day. Some wear a kusti, which is a cord knotted three times, to remind them of the maxim, 'Good Words, Good Thoughts, Good Deeds'. They wrap the kusti around the outside of a sudreh, a long, clean, white cotton shirt. They may engage in a purification ritual, such as the washing of the hands, then untie and then retie it while reciting prayers.
'My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.' The Dalai Lama

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