(Originally written February 23, 2007 in Book 14)
Chapter 12 - Parsiism (Zoroastrianism)
Name
Zoroastrianism is named after its founder, Zoroaster, who lived in the 6th century BC.
Most of its adherents moved from Persia to India and became known as Parsis.
It was also called Mazdaism after their deity, Ahura Mazda.
Numbers and Distribution
There are only about 150,000 Parsis in the world and most of them live in Bombay, India.
Symbols
Parsiism's symbols go back to Ancient Persia.
The most common symbol is the fravahar. The fravahar is a winged man with many speculations as to its meanings. It could stand for Ahura Mazda, Zoroaster, the Persian kings, or most likely, every individual fravashi, their primordial soul.
History.
The prophet Zoroaster lived 273 years before Alexander according to ancient Parsi sources.
Zoroaster was a prophet who worshipped many gods called daevas.
When Zoroaster was 30 he had a vision that told him the daevas were not gods, but evil spirits. He learned there was one true God, Ahura Mazda ("Exalted Lord").
Zoroaster's teachings were rejected until he miraculously cured King Hystaspas' favorite horse.
After King Cyrus, the kings of the Persian empire followed Zoroaster's teachings until Alexander conquered the Persians. Zoroastrianism came back and flourished from 200-600 AD until the Muslims conquered them. From there they moved to India.
Scriptures
There are many scriptures, but most have been lost. The Avesta is the remaining important book.
The Avesta contains the life of Zoroaster, prayers, liturgy and incantations.
Major beliefs
There is a continual struggle between good and evil.
Ahura Mazda is truth and light.
Ahura Mazda express himself through his holy spirit and through 6 aspects of his personhood:
1) Good thought
2) Righteousness
3) Power
4) Perfection
5) Piety
6) Immortality
Ahriman is the opposite of Ahura Mazda. He is falsehood, unrighteousness and darkness.
The Persian gods are considered to be evil spirits who sway people to Ahriman's side.
Human beings must stay morally and ritually pure by not touching any human waste or dead persons.
Morally and ritually pure humans help Ahura Mazda triumph over Ahriman.
Subgroups
The Zoroastrians who remained in Persia after the Muslim conquest are called Gabars. Those who left for India are called Parsis. The differences are merely culturally, not religious.
Worship Practices
Worship serves to exalt Ahura Mazda and to ward off daevas.
The Avesta is chanted in services and a sacred flame is maintained. Priests drink a drink of sacred haoma plant.
Religious Buildings
Parsi temples are called 'fire-temples'.
Non-Zoroastrians are not allowed inside of temples because they have been persecuted for 1400 years.
Home practices
A Parsi home contains a small altar to burn incense and maintain a small sandalwood fire.
Zoroastrians must pray five times.
The Navjot is a coming-of-age ceremony for all Zoroastrian boys and girls. Children declare themselves to be Zoroastrians, repudiate daevas and wear the sacred shirt and belt.
Zoroastrians do not touch dead bodies, or pollute the ground with them or pollute fire by burning them. They allow them to deteriorate on elevated, circular platforms (towers of silence). Vultures eat the corpses.
Clothing
Paris wear an undergarment called a sudra and a belt called the kutsi belt.
The sudra has a pocket to collect each person's good deeds. The belt is white and is wrapped around the wearer three times.
Diet
None
Calendar
The Zoroastrian calendar is solar. 12 months of 30 days (plus 5 to keep with the West).
On the 6th day of the 1st month (either August or March, depending on Gabars or Parsis) they celebrate Zoroaster's birth.
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