Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest Religion. It explains man's duties in this
life and the high destiny which he can achieve by establishing his conduct in
accordance with the eternal and immutable law of nature. Zarathushtra the founder
of Zoroastrianism called it the law of Asha. Zoroastrianism is based upon the
knowledge and illumination and its emblems are the Fire and the Sun.
ZARATHUSHTRA
Zarathushtra is said to have been born around 6th century B.C in the town of
Amui near Rae, on the salt lake Urumiah renamed Razsieh, in Azarbaijan province.
He went up the mountains of that province for meditation and preached his faith
for many years among hostile tribes. As a young boy, he was placed under able
teachers, but they soon found that he was more advanced. Zarathushtra spent
several years in meditation and study, pondering over the fundamentals of life
and existence trying to find a rational explanation based upon the Law of nature,
Asha. He discovers the perfection which lies in the absolute as possessing perfect
power or energy and perfect wisdom, which reality he calls 'Ahura Mazda', Lord
of Life and Wisdom.
The religion of the Iranian people of his time was a primitive form of polytheism
of Indo-Aryan origin. It is partly based on the Rig-Veda. There were many deities
and each family had sacred idols. Each tribe had different rituals, sacred obligations
and customs. To this Eastern world, Zarathushtra brought a new universal concept
of religion. His religion was not a set of superstitious rituals based on fears,
but a universal call for a better life to be achieved with the aid of an invisible
god of wisdom, truth, light and goodness.
Zarathushtra was the first man who gave a definitely moral character and direction
to religion and at the same time, preached the doctrine of monotheism which
offered an eternal foundation of reality to goodness an ideal of perfection.
Zarathushtra showed the path of freedom to man, the freedom of moral choice,
freedom from blind obedience to meaningless injunctions. He preached that the
moral worth of deed comes from the goodness of intention and the value of his
religion was upholding man in his life of good thoughts, good words and good
deeds. Zarathushtra was the first prophet who emancipated religion from the
exclusive narrowness of the tribal god.
At the age of seventy-seven, Zarathushtra was killed by a Turanian soldier during
an attack on the city of Bulkh.
The active heroic aspects of Zoroastrian religion reflects the character of
the people. They had zest in life and confidence in their own, strength. They
accepted the world in all seriousness. By force of will and deeds of sacrifice,
they tried to achieve Haurvatat, wholeness, well-being, in this world and Ameretatat-
immortality.
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