The teachings in the book cover commandments for the body and soul, the souls destination, a gatha hymn, prayer of kem na mazda, prayer of ormuzd yast, the creation of the world and gods warning. Zoroastrianism was founded by the prophet zoroaster in the sixth century bce and was one of the first monotheistic faiths in the world. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism are stories and epic poems. Other names for zoroastrianism are mazdaism and parsiism. Holy is the river harsapatha and so also is candravati. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. Arguably the worlds first monotheistic faith, its one of. Zoroastrianism, religion founded in ancient persia by the prophet zoroaster.
Kapadia 1905 contents start reading page index text zipped this is a short study of the zoroastrian religion, part of the wisdom of the east series. Although technically it is not sruti, since it is part of an epic, most hindus treat it as though it is divinely inspired in practice. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. According to a legend preserved in the book of arda viraf, a 3rd or 4th century work, a written version of the zend avesta had existed in the. Sacred texts zoroastrianism wisdom of the east the teachings of zoroaster by s. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of. Zoroastrianism was found in persia by zoroaster in 6th century b.
Prophet muhammad in zoroastrian and hindu scriptures. Pdf hinduism and zoroastrianism michael stausberg academia. His teachings challenged the existing traditions of the indoiranian religion and inaugurated a movement that eventually became the dominant religion in ancient persia. He was born into a bronze age culture with a polytheistic religion the worship of. This short book is comprised of selected teachings of zoroaster zarathustra.
The holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance. I do not know how much you know about this religion, but it was founded by someone called zoroaster or zarathushtra who was born around 1200 bc and has a holy text called the avesta. Jan 07, 2020 the zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the avesta, which contains the gathas, or the seventeen hymns by zoroaster, and the the younger avesta, which includes commentaries, myths, ritual descriptions, and more. A peculiar and interesting difference is that of benevolent and malevolent beings. The zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. Just as in hindu scriptures there are 33 gods traytrimsha devas that uphold the universe, so too are there is a group of 33 gods in zoroastrianism.
Kapadia zoroastrianism is an ancient semidualistic monotheist religion of greater iran. According to the holy book of the magi, zoroaster was born in eastern iran and lived from about 660 bce to 583 bce. Zoroastrianisms influence on judaism, christianity. Zoroaster was the persian prophet on whose teachings the ancient religion of zoroastrianism is based. Around 1750 bc aryan invaders from central asia settled in north west india and introduced their own religious. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. The doctrines preached by zoroaster are preserved in his metrical gathas psalms, which form part of the sacred scripture known as the avesta. Zoroaster also known as zarathustra was an important religious figure in ancient persia. May 27, 2005 as far as i can tell, as of now, there is only one real argument against christianity and that comes from zoroastrianism. The earliest form of zoroastrianism, known as gathic zarathustrianism, was founded during zoroasters lifetime, perhaps as early as 1500 bce. The religion itself finds its origins with the prophet zoroaster greek form of zarathushtra of whom little is known. Paul kriwaczek quickly covers nietzsche, the cathars, the manichees, the roman cult of. You will find here a selected list of books on zoroastrianism, life and teachings of zoroaster or zarathushtra, zoroastrian beliefs, zend avesta, parsees, indo iranian connection, ancient history and persia.
Zoroaster thus shares an exalted station with abraham, moses, krishna, jesus, muhammad, the bab, and the founder of the bahai faith, bahaullah. Oct 02, 2009 vohu manah led zoroaster to the presence of ahura mazda god and five other radiant beings, which are called the amesha spentas holy immortals. Aug 24, 2015 the avestas of zarathustra zoroaster are the holy books of zoroastrianism. It is one of only two festivals mentioned by zoroaster in the avesta, the only holy zoroastrian scriptures written by zoroaster himself. Introduction hinduism stands for the faith and the way of life most of the people who live in india. Zoroaster was born in northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. Apr 03, 2016 it is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayerbook of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. Zoroaster was born in either northeast iran or southwest afghanistan. Hinduism is followed by hindus and zoroastrianism is followed by people referred to as parsis. Beliefs fire is a very important symbol in zoroastrianism. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity.
Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Differences and similarities between hinduism and zoroastrianism and their. It is a religious symbol representing divine sight and shows that one is a hi foreward magazine. The teachings of zoroaster and the philosophy of the parsi religion wisdom of the east the teachings of zoroaster and the philosophy of the parsi religion by s. This religion was likely similar to early forms of hinduism. Even the idea of satan is a fundamentally zoroastrian one. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. Zoroastrianism, the common religion of ancient persia is also known as parsiism, magainism, and fireworship.
Like moses who is thought to have lived between 1600 and 1200 bce, there is virtually no corroborative historical evidence for his life outside the religious writings. This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. There are a number of scriptures and holy books in hinduism. Feller learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Difference between hinduism and zoroastrianism difference. The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. According to zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like. Biography of zarathustra, founder of zoroastrianism. Book on hinduism, hindu religious beliefs and practices. Although often viewed as a polytheistic faith, hinduism is.
Zoroaster also known as zarathustra was an important religious figure in ancient persia presentday iran and surrounding areas, whose teachings became the foundation of a religious movement named zoroastrianism, a tradition that would largely dominate persia until the mid7th century ce, when islam gained. There is no single scripture as it is in other religions like christianity and islam. Both hinduism and zoroastrianism being fire religions, hold special. The teachings of zoroaster, free pdf, ebook global grey.
The vedas and these other works are further divided into two sections. The founder of zoroastrianism was zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc. The pyramid texts are known as one of the oldest religious texts in the world. According to later zoroastrian legend denkard and the book of arda viraf, many sacred texts were lost when. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. He has been a major figure in the history of world religions, in large part because of his apparent monotheism, his purported dualism, and the possible influence of his teachings on middle eastern religions. The holy book of zoroastrianism is known as the avesta. For example, the names siva charming and variations of rama black are used by iranic speakers, such as persians and pashtuns. Hinduism is such an ancient religion that it had many types of beliefs and religious practices. Zoroaster taught that the forces of good in the world served the supreme god ahura mazda and his holy spirit spenta mainyu. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. The rig veda or other hindu religious texts do not directly mention mazda. Archeological remains in turfan, china, state that zoroaster was born 2715 years after the great storm, placing his birth at 1767 b. Centuries before dantes divine comedy, the book of arda viraf described in.
Scholars differ considerably about the date of zoroaster s birth. The avestas of zarathustrazoroaster are the holy books of zoroastrianism. It represents god and helps zoroastrians focus when they are praying. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. Some of the other holy works and books of hinduism. Jun 20, 2017 nawruz, also spelled nowruz as well as other variants, is an ancient persian holiday celebrating the new year. Zoroastrianism history and beliefs schoolworkhelper. Books on zoroastrianism and zoroaster the real hindu website.
It is a heterodox yet orthopraxic faith centered in a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. Zoroastrianism is an monotheistic religion because zoroaster s believe in one god. Zarathustra, iranian religious reformer and prophet, traditionally regarded as the founder of zoroastrianism. As far as i can tell, as of now, there is only one real argument against christianity and that comes from zoroastrianism. The name by which he is commonly known in the west is from the greek form of his original name,zarathushtra, which means shining light. The author himself was a member of the indian zoroastrian community. Zoroasterzarathustra c 550523 bce was a prophet and spiritual teacher who founded the religion of zoroastrianism. Their religious beliefs and practices this book, now reissued with a new introduction by mary boyce, is the first attempt to trace the continuous history of the faith from the time it was preached by zoroaster down to the present daya span of about 3,500 years. Apart from the persons, such as gods and sages, what they represent in zoroastrianism is similar in hinduism. Zoroaster appears in the bahai faith as a manifestation of god, one of a line of prophets who have progressively revealed the word of god to a gradually maturing humanity. During the 5th or 6th dynasties of the old kingdom in ancient egypt, the text was carved on to the walls and within the sarcophagi of the saqqara pyramids. Cranmerbyng, edited or wrote many of the books in the wisdom of the east, was a member of the indian zoroastrian community, and his personal insights into the religion are invaluable. Vohu manah led zoroaster to the presence of ahura mazda god and five other radiant beings, which are called the amesha spentas holy immortals. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free online.
Culture the obscure religion that shaped the west bbc. The religious philosophy of zoroaster divided the early iranian gods of the protoindoiranian tradition into ahuras and. Greek sources place zoroaster at 6000 years before the death of plato, that is, about 6350 b. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. Vedas and upanishadas are the most authoritative amongst all hindu scriptures and holy books. Jan 21, 2020 the earliest form of zoroastrianism, known as gathic zarathustrianism, was founded during zoroaster s lifetime, perhaps as early as 1500 bce. These texts were meant to be for the pharaoh and were reserved for him. Zoroastrianism and hinduism share a remote common original ancestry, but their historical trajectories over the millennia have been notably distinct. The teachings of zoroaster index internet sacred text. Unlike christianity or islam, it is a not a religion that is governed by the book.
Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. Zoroastrianism is mostly practiced in india and the middle east. The avestas of zarathustra zoroaster are the holy books of zoroastrianism. They were opposed by the demonic spirit angra mainyu, the head of evil forces in the world. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures. You should read enough of the materials presented in this section concerning the tradition of hinduism in order to understand how this tradition displays the characteristics or elements that make a tradition one that would be termed a religion. At the heart of avestas scriptural core are the gathas. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The zend avesta is the holy book of zoroastrianism.
Zoroastrianism was founded by zoroaster or zarathushtra in ancient iran. First taught among nomads on the asian steppes, zoroastrianism became the state religion of the three great iranian empires. Zoroastrianism is an monotheistic religion because zoroasters believe in one god. Apr 25, 2017 the avesta is the holy book of the zoroastrians, and contains the religions sacred scriptures. The bhagavad gita is perhaps the single most important holy book of hinduism today. However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of. The avesta is the holy book of the adherents of zarathustra, the zoroastrians, the supreme god ahuramazda. The upanishads are also called as vedantas or the end of the vedas. These many different texts are believed to have been transmitted orally for centuries before they were written down in the 3rd century. The majority of the vedas are considered the shruti, which is translated to that which is hard. In hinduism, the benevolent beings are called devas and the malevolent ones are asuras, while in zoroastrianism, the malevolent are daevas, and benevolent are ah. Just like hinduism claims and maintains a particular relationship to the spatial entity know.
Zoroaster was born in northeast iran, close to the border of modern day afghanistan old persian empire. Zoroastrianism and hinduism hindupedia, the hindu encyclopedia. Hinduism known to adherents as sanatan dharma, eternal order. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word. Nawruz, also spelled nowruz as well as other variants, is an ancient persian holiday celebrating the new year. The founder of the religion was a man named zoroaster, who is viewed as a prophetic figure by adherents. Not all the daeva in zoroastrian and persian texts are the devas mentioned in the. The name zoroaster is a greek folk etymology derived from interpreting his name as meaning. The religion of zoroaster, hinduism and buddhism soper, edmund davison on. It also includes information about the avestan language, and other useful information for students of zoroastrian religion. These are seventeen hymns considered to have been composed by zoroaster himself.
God and the forces of goodness and light represented by the holy spirit, spenta. Apart from the gods that are common to both zoroastrianism and hinduism, names of some other hindu gods are carried by even modern day persian speakers. The gathas documents, a set of hymns written in the old avestan language and attributed to zoroaster, are oldest part of the holy book of the zend avesta. Hinduism hinduism is the indigenous, most predominant religion of the indian subcontinent. The precise date of the founding of zoroastrianism is uncertain and dates differ wildly from 2000 bce to 200 years before alexander. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. The beliefs of zoroastrianism were spread across asia via the silk road, a network.
Hinduism and zoroastrianism are two very different religions followed by people of different beliefs. Zoroaster also known as zarathustra, zarathushtra spitama or ashu zarathushtra. The zoroastrian holy book is called the avesta this includes the original words of their founder zoroaster, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. Hindu scriptures and holy books hinduism facts hinduism facts. This is a short study of the zoroastrian religion, part of the wisdom of the east series. Sep 25, 2017 this feature is not available right now. Across iran and central asia to find the worlds first prophet this is a lovely little book tracing the influence and mythology of zarathustra zoroaster through time. Was hinduism a branch of from this when the indoaryans migrated into india. Zoroaster was a religious reformer teaching a monotheistic religion based on choosing between light and darkness truth and falsehood.