Thank you for visiting. This article is one part of a series explaining the “original texts” of the world’s mythologies and religions, and is an index page gathering the original texts of “Zoroastrianism.”
Zoroastrianism, though its number of believers today — about 100,000 to 200,000 worldwide — is small, has immeasurable historical significance. This is because it is one of the world’s oldest “revealed religions,” and is thought to be one of the important sources of the worldview that the later Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share — “angels and demons,” “the Last Judgment,” “heaven and hell,” “the resurrection of the dead,” and “the savior.”
In Japanese, from its treating fire as sacred, it is also called the “fire-worship religion.” Born in ancient Persia (Iran), it flourished as the state religion of the Persian Empire. In this series, I explain its original texts in detail, divided into 4 articles, following the original texts.
The comprehensive index of the world’s mythology and religion original texts, including others besides Zoroastrianism, can be seen on the following page.
Zoroastrianism’s Original Text — the Avesta
Zoroastrianism’s scripture is called the “Avesta.” It is a compendium of a number of documents written in the ancient “Avestan language.”
The most important of these is the “Gathas.” These are the oldest and most sacred core of the Avesta, held to be hymns composed by the founder Zarathushtra himself, incorporated into the Yasna, the center of worship. Note that the Avesta was long transmitted orally, and was written down in letters much later, in the era of Sasanian Persia. In later ages, the book of creation and the end of the world in Middle Persian (Pahlavi), the “Bundahishn,” and others were also compiled.
An Illustrated Introduction to the World’s 5 Great MythologiesView on Amazon →
World Mythology for Beginners (illustrated)View on Amazon →
The “Good-Evil Dualism” Running Through Zoroastrianism
The greatest key to understanding Zoroastrianism is “good-evil dualism.” It holds that the world is a battlefield where two fundamental powers, good and evil, fiercely fight.
The supreme good god “Ahura Mazda,” and the root of evil “Angra Mainyu (Ahriman).” In this battle of the two, humans too participate, choosing by their own will which side to take — this is the framework of Zoroastrianism’s worldview. And in the end, good is held always to win.
Introducing Each Article
Now let me introduce what each of the 3 articles in this series explains.
Article 1: The Founder Zarathushtra and the Scripture the Avesta
In the first installment, I explain the life of the prophet “Zarathushtra” and the scripture “the Avesta.” I cover the mystery-shrouded founder’s dating, the revelation from Ahura Mazda, the composition of the Avesta with the Gathas as its core, and the history from oral tradition to being written down.
Article 2: Good-Evil Dualism and Religious Life
In the second installment, I explain Zoroastrianism’s teaching and practice. In addition to doctrines such as the supreme god Ahura Mazda and the evil Angra Mainyu, the truth asha, the divine helpers the Amesha Spentas, and human free will, I cover the three virtues of “good thoughts, good words, good deeds,” the sacred fire, and the “Tower of Silence,” where sky burial is performed.
Article 3: The Creation and the End of the World
In the third installment, I explain the grand story of the world that Zoroastrianism depicts. I cover the creation of the world by Ahura Mazda, the judgment at the “Chinvat Bridge” that the souls of the dead cross, heaven and hell, the savior “Saoshyant,” the renewal of the world “Frashokereti,” and the resurrection of the dead.
Article 4: The Influence on the Three Great Monotheisms and Its History
In the fourth installment (the final one), I explain the influence Zoroastrianism gave to later religions, and its history. I cover how ideas such as angels, demons, judgment, resurrection, and the savior were transmitted to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the Magi of the East, the glory as the state religion of Achaemenid and Sasanian Persia, the decline by Islam, and India’s “Parsis.”
To Learn More
Here are some related books. Reading them alongside this series lets you savor this world even more deeply.
The Origins of Religion: Why We Needed a ‘God’View on Amazon →
A Complete History of Philosophy and ReligionView on Amazon →
Conclusion
In this article, I introduced the whole picture of Zoroastrianism’s original texts and the content the 3 articles in the series cover. How was it?
Zoroastrianism’s original text, the “Avesta,” takes the founder Zarathushtra’s hymns, the “Gathas,” as its core, and conveys a grand good-evil dualism — the battle of the good god Ahura Mazda and the evil god Angra Mainyu. Its thought gave a deep influence to the three great monotheisms as well.
I also explain the original texts of other mythologies and religions. For the full list, please see the Summary of the World’s Mythology and Religion Original Texts.
For the strength of the gods and heroes, please also refer to this ranking article.
I hope you’ll read the next article too.
📚 Series: The Original Texts of Zoroastrianism (1/5)
