mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== [Home] These Things Zarathushtra Said Being that I'm a fan of Stanley Kubrick and Aurthur C. Clarke and in particular their creation "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) and that the year became 2001, I was compelled to do a little research. I was first of all curious about the main musical theme which came from Richard Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (1896). Richard Strauss (1864-1949) based his symphony on philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's book "Also Sprach Zarathustra " (1891). Nietzsche (1844-1900) used a character named Zarathustra in a story format in order to present some of Nietzsche's philosophical ideas. Nietzsche concludes most chapters (of about one page to a couple of pages) with "Also Sprach Zarathustra" ("Thus spoke Zarathustra"- I understand it as meaning: "These things Zarathushtra said."). Nietzsche's inspiration for Zarathustra was a real person who lived a long time ago and started a religion which still survives today. As I researched the real Zarathushtra, I became very fascinated so I compiled information from many different sources into the report below. If you research Zarathushtra, don't get confused between Nietzsche's Zarathustra and the real Zarathustra. Also remember this page is a report on Zarathushtra compiled from many souces including encyclopedias and the internet. It is a not an authoritative document and there certainly is no guarantee of its accuracy. A great source of information on Zarathushtra is _www.zarathushtra.com _. Look under the category "Informative" and the subcategory "Zarathushtra". In this report I use the following prefixes to alert the language of the word that follows it: /(Av:)*=Avesta(n)*/ - the ancient language of Zarathushtra's writings, /(Pers:)*=Persian,*/ /(PG:)*=Parsi Gujarati,*/ /(Pahl:)*=Pahlavi BC 300 to AD 950,*/ /(Gk:)*=Greek*/ -often used in Western texts. Around about BC 1700, the ancient */land of the Aryans/*, from which the name */Iran/* comes and which the Greeks called /(Gk:)*Persis*/ and we now call */ancient Persia/*, was a land where many pagan gods and goddesses were being propitiated through ignorance and fear. Then over the centuries, centered around ancient Persia in central Asia, very advanced, and in many ways exitensialistic, philosophies and religions evolved and developed. The single most significant development in this evolution was a man named /(Av:)*Spitaman Zarathus(h)tra*/, /(PG:)*Zarthos(h)t*/, /(Pahl:)*Zartosht/Zardusht*/, /(Gk:)*Zoroaster*/. Zarathushtra is believed to have been born in a region called Azerbaijan, a northern part of ancient Persia. Zarathushtra was believed to have lived around BC 600, but some current estimates have revised this date to anywhere between BC 1000 to as far back as BC 1500 or even earlier. He was an unusual child and at an early age began to have visions. Zarathushtra is supposed to have spent his early manhood in the wilderness studying and working out philosophical and religious principles. At the age of 30, somewhere around the Aral Sea, he started out to introduce and preach his new religion. Zarathushtra believed in -*/the one and only/*, Good and Just, all knowing and wholly wise, Eternal, Supreme, the Infinite- One, Being, Lord and God, /(Av:)*Ahura Mazda*/, /(Pahl:)*O(h)rmazd*/. Ahura Mazda is the creator of Heaven and Earth and Light and Darkness and is at the center of nature. Ahura Mazda, he taught, was a friend to all and never to be feared by man, who in turn should worship Him. The purpose of life on this earth is to live in such a way that the soul progresses spiritually and reaches the ultimate goal of attaining union with Ahura Mazda. This far-off event and state of being, towards which the whole of creation moves, is called /(Av:)*Frasho-kereti*/(??:)*Frashegird*/("make wonderful"). To achieve Frasho-kereti, the soul must evolve and progress and has to pass through all of five */jzhirums/*. These are cycles of rebirths on this earth and other planes which the soul has to undergo to make progress on the most virtuous and righteous path of the greatest "goodness" called the */path of Asha/*. Ahura-Mazda has given every soul */_a free will to choose_/* either to obey divine universal natural laws or to disobey them. By the path of Asha, the soul is able to make its own spiritual progress. If the divine universal natural laws are obeyed through the path of Asha, our soul will be able to attain union with Ahura Mazda. Upon physical death (which is seen as the temporary triumph of evil), every soul will be judged by Ahura Mazda at the Bridge of the Separator. If in the life they have led in this world, they have elected to obey the divine universal natural laws based on the path of Asha, the soul will ascend to the abode of joy and light and shall have a happy afterlife in Heaven, else the wicked soul will descend into the depths of darkness and gloom and will experience pure torment in hell. The three balanced aspects of the path of Asha are: /*Humata*/ or /*Manashni* /or/ *having pure Good Thoughts*/, /*Hukhta*/ or /*Gavashni* /or/ *speaking Good Words*/, and /*Hvarasta*/ or /*Kunashni* /or/ *doing righteous Good Deeds*/. The greatest evil is /*the lie*/. *Invocation of Asha (Holiness or Righteousness)* */ashem vohû vahishtem astî, ushtâ astî ushtâ ahmâi, hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem./* / Righteousness is the best good (and it) is happiness. Happiness (is) to him who (is) righteous for the sake of the best righteousness./ At the center of nature, Ahura Mazda is surrounded by seven primordial spirits (forces of nature) which are in fact the seven aspects of divinity. It is the responsibility of man to imbibe the virtues of these divinities in order to know how to generate the right thoughts, words and actions. These seven qualities collectively came to be known as the /(Av:)*Amesha Spentas*/, /(Pahl:)*Ama(s)hraspand*/---"Bounteous/Benficient Immortals": /(Av:)*Spenta Mainyu*/, /(Pahl:)*Spenamino*/-/ *(assar-i rosh(a)ni)*/- The Holy Spirit And Goodness /(Av:)*Vohu Manah*/,/ (Pahl:)*Vohuman*/- The Good Mind And Thought /(Av:)*Asha Vahishta*/,/ (Pers:)*Ardibehesht*/,/ (Pahl:)*Ardwahisht*/- Universal Truth And Order /(Av:)*Khsha(r)thra Vairya*/,/ (Pahl:)*Shahrewar*/- Desirable Dominion and Power /(Av:)*Spenta Armaiti*/,/ (Pahl:)*Spandarmad*/- Holy Devotion, Benevolence And Righteousness /(Av:)*Haurvatat*/, /(Pahl:)*Hordad*/- Salvation, Perfection, Perfect Health /(Av:)*Ameretat*/,/ (Pahl:)*Amurdad/Amardad*/- Immortality In nature there is another spirit: /(Av:)*Ang(h)ra/An(g)ra/Angre*/* /Mainyu/*,/ (Pahl:)*Ahriman/Ahreman*/- */(assar-i tariki)/*- The Wicked Mind And Hostile And Destructive Spirit, the Devil Spenta Mainyu is locked in open conflict and constantly at odds with his diabolical adversary, Angra Mainyu; thus, there exists two opposing forces. A continuous conflict goes on in nature between these two. Both are inherent in nature and hence striving to influence people's minds. A person's soul is caught between the two and is pulled by each from side to side. It is a person's */_own responsibility to choose_/*, by exercising his intellect. Zarathushtra teaches that one can keep Angra Mainyu at bay by following the path of Asha instead of following a path of evil. Ahura Mazda, through his omniscience knew of his own goodness and his infinite self, as well as he was aware of Anghra Mainyu's limited strength and finite existence. In order to destroy his adversary, Ahura Mazda created an immaculate material world of the seven creations to trap Anghra Mainyu. Ahura Mazda knew that Anghra Mainyu, because of his inherently destructive nature and ignorance, would attack the material world bringing within it disorder, falsehood, wickedness, sorrow, cruelty, disease, suffering and death. During this period of conflict, man, Ahura Mazda's finest creation, is believed to be the central figure in this cosmic struggle. Zarathushtra took the notion of heaven and hell a step further. Gradually, the wicked will be purified in hell. Zarathushtra recognized that the use of the principles of righteous living, would enable man to bring about the eventual annihilation of evil in this world. The prophet declared that it is during the period of conflict, that man through free will, should choose to fight and vanquish Anghra Mainyu using the ethical paradigm of the Amesha Spentas. There is a promise of a series of saviours, the /(Av:)*Saoshyants*/,/ (Pahl:)*Soshyants*/, who will appear in the world and complete the triumph of good over evil. In this world, Anghra Mainyu, the evil and the lie, will be contained. Evil will be rendered ineffective and Ahura Mazda will finally become truly omnipotent in endless light. There will then take place, a general Last Judgement of all the souls awaiting redemption. The souls in hell, now purified, will be finally saved and go to heaven. There is no eternal damnation in Zoroastrianism. The physical body will be resurrected and will once again meet its spiritual counterpart, the soul. The world will become the paradisical home of the just, forever. Time, as we know it, will cease to exist and the seven creations of Ahura Mazda will be gathered together in eternal blessedness in the Kingdom of Mazda, where everything, it is believed, will remain in a perfect state of joy and undyingness. (Comment from one source: "Seems like a million more years to go.".) Zarathushtra taught that since this world created by Ahura Mazda is essentially good, man should live well and enjoy its bountiful gifts, though always in moderation, as the states of excess and deficiency in Zoroastrianism, are deemed to be the workings of Anghra Mainyu. Man, in Zoroastrianism, is encouraged to lead a good and prosperous life and hence monasticism, celibacy, fasting and the mortification of the body are anathema to the faith; such practices are seen to weaken man and thereby lessen his power to fight evil. In fact, the prophet saw pessimism and despair as yielding to evil and therefore are sins. In his teachings, man is encouraged to lead an active, industrious, honest and above all, a happy and charitable life. Man's unique spiritual quest, according to Zoroastrianism, is linked to the preservation and promotion of the Ahura Mazda's seven creations, namely the sky/gas(*/vad/* or */bad/*)/smoke(*/bad/*)/vapor(*/bad/*)/wind(*/bad-jae/*), waters(*/nam/*, /(Pahl:)*ab*/, /(Pahl:&Pers:)*aban*/), ash(*/gel/*)/earth(*/gel/*, */gerad/*)/stone(*/kibarit/*), plants, animals (most notably cattle), man and fire(*/adur/*, */adar/*, */atar/*, */atash/*, */atesh/*). The last creation, fire, is a potent reality in Zarathushtra's revelation, as the prophet saw fire to be the physical representation of Asha (Order/Truth/Righteousness), and as a source of light, warmth and life for his people. All the religious rituals (the performance of which is an important Zoroastrian duty), are solemnized in the presence of fire, the life-energy which permeates and makes dynamic the Ahura Mazda's other six creations. Zoroastrians typically keep a fire constantly burning in a fire temple as a symbol of the divine light that burns in the soul of man. It can be a reminder of how critical but possible it is to control such a force whose potential if failed to be controlled would be destruction. Zarathushtra believed that his mission from Ahura Mazda was to teach the truth. His religion is known as the */Zoroastrian religion/* or */Zoroastrianism/*. Zarathushtra is the prophet. Followers of Zarathushtra are called /(Av:)*Zarathushtris*/, /(PG:)*Zarthostis*/, /(Gk:)*Zoroastrians*/. The sacred text or "bible" of the Zoroastrian religion is the /(Pers:)*Avesta*/, /(Pahl:)*Abestag/Abistag*/. It may have translation and exegesis called */Zend/Zand/* interspersed with the Avesta text (together called: Zend-E-Avesta, Avesta-E-Zend, Zend-Avesta, etc.). The Avista was made up of five parts, Zarathushtra's sublime hymns or Divine Songs called /(Av:)*Gathas*/*:* */1. Ahunawad/* /*2. Ushtawad*/ /*3. Spentomad*/ /*4. Wohukhshathra*/ /*5. Wahishtoisht*/ The early Gathas contain Zarathushtra's prayers to Ahura Mazda. He speaks "as friend to friend". Much has been added to the Avesta. Zarathushtra's five Gathas are part (ch. 28-34,43-51,53) of /(Av:)*Yasna*/ which in turn is just one book of the Avesta. The later poems and essays of the Zend-Avista were probably the works of priests or ancient singers. The book of the Avesta called /(Pers:)*Vendidad*/ gives the laws of the religion. It contains some of the best hygienic laws before the start of modern medicine. Another book is called /(Pers:&Pahl:)*Visperad*/. Specific passages of the Avesta with specific poetic and spiritual properties are called /(Av:)*Manthra Spenta/Mahraspand*/ ("Holy Word") which also can mean a created being who speaks such words. *Sacred Mantra of Zoroastrianism* */ýathâ ahû vairyô, athâ ratush ashâtcît hacâ, vanghêush dazdâ mananghô, shyaothananãm anghêush mazdâi, xshathremcâ ahurâi â, ýim drigubyô dadat vâstârem./* /Just as a (Pers:)Hormazd("King") acts according to his will, so does the Dasturan (Av:)Dastur/(Pahl:)Dastwar("high priest") by means of righteousness, etc. (acts according to his own will). The gift of (Av:)Vahu-manah ("Good Mind") is for those working for Hormazd of this world; he who constitutes himself to the protector (or the nourisher) of the poor (accepts) the sovereign rule (of the entire world) (as it were) of Hormazd./ Zoroastrians divide the day into five watches called */Gehs/Gahs/* (Geh/Gah can also mean "place" or "area"): */Midnight to daybreak:/*/ *Ushahin*/ /*Sunrise to noon:* (Av:)*Havani*/, /(Pahl:)*Havan/Hawan*/ /*Noon to PM03:00 :* (Av:)*Rapithwin* or The *Second Hawan* depending on month/ /*PM03:00 to sunset:* *Uzerin*/ /*Sunset to midnight:* *Awisruthrem*/ Zoroastrians are oblidged to say a prayer called a /(Av:)*farziyat*/ in each watch. Zoroastrians recognize five senses of the body. The number five is apparently significant to Zoroastrians. Zoroastrians have a symbol and model to work with called the */Faravahar/*, /(Av:)*Fravashi*/, /(Pers:)*Farohar*/, /(Pahl:)*Fravahr/Fravard/Frohar*/ ( see _Faravahar.jpg_ a color reconstruction from Persepolis from _oznet.net/iran/farvahar.htm _ ) which means "guardian angel/spirit of the living and dead". The faravahar is to remind one of the purpose of life on this earth. In the center of the figure is a circle which represents the soul of the individual. For the soul to evolve and progress, it has two wings. In each wing there are five layers of feathers. These remind one of the five jzhirums with which the soul is linked. The five layers can also represent the five Gathas of Zarathushtra, the five Gehs and the five senses of the human body. The two long curved legs on either side of the circle represent the two forces of Spenta-Mainyu and Angre-Mainyu. To help the soul balance itself between these two forces, the soul is given a rudder in the form of a tail. This tail has three layers of feathers, which reminds one of the path of Asha. The head of the figure reminds us that Ahura-Mazda has given every soul a free will to choose. The figure also has a pair of hands which hold a circular ring. The ring symbolizes the cycles of rebirths on this earth and other planes. When Zarathushtra first began to introduce and preach his new religion no one would listen to him. By the time Zarathushtra was about 42, he had converted King Vishtaspa who then spread the religion by force. His teachings became the guiding light of Persian civilization. The religion taught by Zarathushtra flourished as the state religion of three mighty Iranian empires. The Persians, led by Cyrus the Great (from BC 559), overthrew the Medes in BC 549 starting the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus the Great and later Darius the Great spread Zarathushtra's religion throughout their empire. Amongst the many subjects of the Achaemenian empire were the Jews, who adopted some of the prophet's main teachings and in due course, transmitted them to Christianity and later to Islam. After Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid Empire in BC 330, Zoroastrianism began to die out. In BC 248, the Parthians won control of Persia. The religion revived during the early days of Christianity. In AD 224, a Persian named Ardashir seized control of the Parthian Empire, starting the Sassanid Dynasty. Zoroastrianism was eventually adopted by the Sassanians as their state religion. The Sassanian Empire had fallen to Muslim Arabs by AD 652. Islam spread across the Persian plateau, but the new Islamic rulers kept much of the Persian organization, art, architecture and culture. In early AD 700's, to escape persecution from the Muslims and seek freedom of worship and economic redress, a group of Zoroastrians moved from the old Persian province of Parsa, sailed towards the warm shores of Western India, first landed in Diu and eventually took refuge some 180 km north of Bombay, at a place they named Sanjan along the coastline of Gujarat in India in AD 936. Within five years, these */Parsis/* (or */Parsees/*) built their first fire temple, */Atash Behram/*, to shelter the holy fire rescued from Iran. Late in the AD 1400's, Sanjan was attacked by a Muslim army, and 1400 Parsi soldiers were annihilated. The survivors fled with the holy fire which was installed in Nausari in AD 1516. From the AD 1500's, many Parsis migrated to Surat, a major center of trade. In the mid AD 1600's, Parsis began to settle in Bombay. Due to disputes between priests, the holy fire came to its present location in Udvada in AD 1742. Following a famine in Gujarat in AD 1790, and following a huge (not-so-holy) fire in Surat in AD 1812, waves of Parsis migrated to Bombay. Today, there are Parsis still following Zoroastrianism in India, mainly in Bombay. The Parsis practice Zarathushtra's teachings of justice, good deeds, and practical living. Cleanliness is a law of the group, and life in the sunshine guards their health. The Parsis believe that the person who does not love to study is no longer a servant of God. They maintain a school in every temple. Still performed today but not as commonly as it once was, the Parsis have an interesting custom they sometimes do with their dead as part of their Zoroastrian religion. They lay the dead body on an open grating platform at or near the top of a /(Av:)*Dakhma*/, or */Tower of Silence/* which are usually not more than 30 feet high and are built over a deep pit. After vultures have eaten the flesh, the bones fall through the grating into the pit below. There are a number of small sects still following Zoroastrianism today. Over the millenia, a small band of faithful Zoroastrians have continued to live in Iran and have tried to preserve their culture and religious traditions as best as possible. There is a group of fire worshipers in Iran who are called Ghebers. A fire burns constantly in a zoroastrian fire temple called */Ateshkadeh/*, in Iran. ~ [Home]