World Religion Assignment
World Religion Assignment
INTRODUCTION
LIFE OF ZOROASTER
According to a legend the conception of Zoroaster was divine. The place and time of
his birth is under dispute. It is assumed that Zoroaster appeared and proclaimed the
new teaching in tenth BCE in the reign of Kai Vishtasp. We find from some of the
passages from sacred books that Rahaga in Media was his birthplace. Avesta (sacred
book) narrates that as youth he spent his time in the deep study of philosophical
questions and in divine meditation on the top of a mountain named ‘Ushidarena.’ He
is belived to have had his first vision at the age of 30 and began his preaching at 40
and converted his king Ghustasp two years later. Avesta mentions that he had three
daughters and three sons.Tradition hold that he lived for 77 years. One morning when
he was engaged in prayer he was killed by a sharp instrument thrown at him by
Turbartur, the general of King Arjasp.
MONOTHEISM IN ZOROASTRIANISM
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transcendent, all good, omnipotent, omniscient and uncreated supreme creator deity,
Ahura Mazda, or “wise Lord”. The entire universe is governed by him so He is called
Ahura and everything in the world is created by him so He is Mazda. Creation and
governance are two principle functions of God. Good He avoided the term ‘daiva’ and
chose Ahura Mazda as the name for God. There is mention of two kinds of powers.
One is Angra-mainyush, an angel whose presence considered to be evil, and the other
is and spenta-mainyush who is a good angel.
Ahura Mazda is closely associated with the powers of nature but the Zoroastrian
notion is not pantheistic since Ahura Mazda is distinct and above all mankind and
natural powers.
Dualistic notion
Zoroaster has presented the presence of two forces in the creation, good and evil.
These two forces are shown by two primeval principles, the two angels mentioned
above, Angra-manyush and Spenta-mainyush. Spenta-mainyush is the creative
principle, cause of all that is bright and shining, of all that is good and useful in nature.
Angra-mainyush is destructive power which brings chaos and confusion in the
creation. The Spenta-mainyush is all light, truth, goodness and knowledge while
Angra-mainyush is all darkness, falsehood, wickedness and ignorance.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of knowledge which I got through different sources I found that
Zoroastrinism was first monotheistic religion in the history of the world. The God
Ahura Mazda is both creator and sustainer of the creation. He is supreme and only
one. Though there is presence of dual principles it does not make it dualistic because
these two principles work under Ahura Mazda and do whatever is commanded by
Him.