The
first of the great monotheistic traditions, Zoroastrianism was
founded by the prophet Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, who was born
around 1800 B.C. in ancient Persia. In an age of polytheism and
idol worship, Zarathustra declared that there was one supreme
God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), to whom one lifts praise in the
form of divine songs called Gathas. Ahura Mazda, the one eternal
being, is also described as six attributes radiating from the
godheCE in the form of luminous beings. It is humanity’s
goal on earth to choose the righteous path (Asha), which is practiced
by maintaining moral purity of thought, word, and deed. The loftiest
ideal for man is to be god-like, to follow a path of righteousness
and devotion, thereby eradicating all evil and attaining the twin
wards of perfection and immortality.
The
faith became the state religion of the great Persian Empire founded
by Cyrus the Great in 558 B.C. With the rise of Islam and the
conquest of Persia by Arabs, large numbers of devout followers
of Zoroastrianism fled to India, where they were given refuge
by the native Hindu ruler. Their descendants, the Parsees, are
concentrated in and around Bombay.
Only
about 130 thousand Zoroastrians are thought to exist today, most
located in India, Iran and small enclaves in the West.
ZOROASTRIANISM