Part of a series on Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ...

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Primary Topics

Zoroastrianism / Mazdaism Ahura Mazda Zarathustra (Zoroaster) aša (asha) / arta Faravahar, The depiction of the Human soul before birth and after death. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for an exalted divinity of ancient proto-Indo-Iranian religion that was subsequently declared by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) to be the one uncreated creator of all (God). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... In Vedic Sanskrit, Rta literally means the course of things. ...

Angels and Demons

Overview of the Angels Amesha Spentas · Yazatas Ahuras · Daevas Angra Mainyu Zoroastrian angelology is branch of Zoroastrian doctrine that deals with the hierarchical system of divinities introduced by the reforms of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zoroastrian angelology. ... Ahura is the Avestan language designation for a class of divinity, adopted by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) from prehistoric proto-Indo-Iranian religion. ... The Daeva are a fictional clan of vampires in the role-playing game Vampire: The Requiem, published by White Wolf Game Studio . ... Angra Mainyu is the Avestan language name of the hypostasis of the destructive spirit. The Middle Persian equivalent is Ahriman. ...

Scripture and Worship

Avesta · Gathas Vendidad The Ahuna Vairya Invocation Fire Temples See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... The Gathas (Gāθās) are the most sacred of the texts of the Zoroastrian faith, and are traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Faravahar, believed to be a depiction of a Farvashi, as mentioned in the Yasna, Yashts and Vendidad The Avesta is a collection of the sacred texts of the Mazdaist (Zoroastrian) religion. ... Ahuna Vairya is the Avestan language name of the most sacred of the Gathic hymns of the Avesta, the revered texts of Zoroastrianism. ... A Zoroastrian Fire Temple is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. ...

Accounts and Legends

Dēnkard · Bundahišn Book of Arda Viraf Book of Jamasp Story of Sanjan The Denkard is the largest encyclopedia of Zoroastrianism written in 9th century. ... Category: ... The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text which describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian through the next world. ... The Jamasp Nameh (var: Jāmāsp Nāmag, Jāmāsp Nāmeh, Story of Jamasp) is a Middle Persian book of revelations. ... The Qissa-i Sanjan (or Kisse-i Sanjan, the Story of Sanjan) is an account of the early years of Zoroastrian settlers on the Indian subcontinent. ...

History and Culture

Zurvanism Calendar · Festivals Marriage Eschatology Zurvan is the Persian god of infinite time, space and fate. ... The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. ... Zoroastrianism has numerous festivals and holy days, all of which are bound to the Zoroastrian calendar. ... In the Zoroastrian faith marriage is encouraged, an institution greatly favoured by the religious texts[1]. As of such, a Zoroastrian Wedding is a cause for celebration. ... Zoroastrianism eschatology is the oldest eschatology in recorded history. ...

Adherents

Zoroastrians in Iran Parsis · Iranis • • • Persecution of Zoroastrians Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd Zoroastrians in Iran have had a long history, being the oldest religious community of that nation to survive to the present-day. ... A Parsi (Gujarati: PārsÄ«, IPA: ), sometimes spelled Parsee, is a member of the close-knit Zoroastrian community based in the Indian subcontinent. ... Irani is a term used to denote Indian Zoroastrians whose ancestors emigrated from Iran within the last two centuries, as opposed to the longer residing Parsis. ... The persecution of Zoroastrians has been common since the fall of the Sassanid Empire and the rule of Umayyad Arab empire that replaced it. ...

See Also

Index of Related Articles

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Zam (Zām) is the Indo-Iranian^[1] concept for "earth" (as in soil, land, ground), prototyped as a chemical element in ancient philosophy, and as a minor Yazata in Zoroastrianism and later Persian mythology. Zero Artistic Movement (ZAM) is an anti-art movement. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zoroastrian angelology. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ... The beliefs and practices of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau and its borderlands, as well as areas of Central Asia from the Black Sea to Khotan (modern Ho-tien, China), form Persian mythology. ...

The term 'Zam' exists with the same meaning in both Avestan and middle Persian languages. Zam is occasionally paired with the Amesha Spenta Armaiti, with whom Zam shares some attributes. The rare dvandvah expression Zam-Armaiti occurs in Yasht 1.16, 16.6 and 42.3. According to Xenophon, Cyrus sacrificed animals to the earth as the Magians directed. (Cyropaedia, 8.24^[1]) Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. ... Pahlavi is a term that refers: (1) to a script used in Iran derived from the Aramaic script, and (2) more broadly, to Middle Persian, the Middle Iranian language written in this script. ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... Xenophon, Greek historian Xenophon (In Greek , ca. ... Cyrus the Great (Old Persian: Kūruš,[1] modern Persian: کوروش بزرگ, Kurosh-e Bozorg) (c. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Cyropaedia (lit. ...

Zam of the earth is not related to the other Zam of Persian mythology: Zahhak-e-Maar-Doosh (Aži Dahāka in Avestan, Azhdshak in middle Persian), the king of dragons that slew Jamshid. Zahak, Zahhak, Zahak-e Tāzi or (Arab Zahak) also knwon as Bivar-Asp, which means [he who has] 10,000 horses in the Pahlavi (middle Persian) language, and Avestan Āži-Dahāk) is a mythical figure of ancient Persia (Iran). ... Jamshid (in Persian: ‎) is a common Persian male first name. ...

In the Avesta

The Zamyad Yasht, the devotional text of the Avesta named after Zam, has little to do with "earth": The first eight chapters of that hymn simply enumerate geographical landmarks, while the rest of the hymn is in praise of those who possess kavaem khareno "royal glory". These remaining verses begin with the creation of the earth, that is with a verse to Ahura Mazda (chapter 10), and closes with a verse to the Saoshyant (89). In between, it contains verses invoking the Amesha Spenta (15), Mithra (35). Mortals invoked include Yima (31), Thraetaona (36), the Kayanian dynasts (66-72), Zarathushtra (79) and Vishtaspa (84). According to Darmesteter, "this Yasht would serve as a short history of the Iranian monarchy, an abridged Shahnameh."^[2] See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... or () is an Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept literally denoting glory or splendour but understood as a divine mystical force or power projected upon and aiding the appointed. ... Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for an exalted divinity of ancient proto-Indo-Iranian religion that was subsequently declared by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) to be the one uncreated creator of all (God). ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... Mithra (Avestan Miθra, modern Persian مهر Mihr, Mehr, Meher) is an important deity or divine concept (so called Yazata) in Zoroastrianism and later Persian mythology and culture. ... Jamshed is one of the towns in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. ... Fereydūn (فریدون), also pronounced Farīdūn, in medieval Persian Firēdūn, Middle Persian Frēdōn, and Avestan Θraētaona is the name of a mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature. ... An ancient dynasty of hero-kings of Persia (Iran) recorded in the Avesta and the Shahnama. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... James Darmesteter (March 28, 1849 - October 10, 1894), French author and antiquarian, was born of Jewish parents at Chateau Salins, in Alsace. ... Shâhnameh Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma (Persian: )(alternative spellings are Shahnama, Shahnameh, Shahname, Shah-Nama, etc. ...

Dhalla considers the Zamyad Yasht an example of a simple concept being elevated to the rank of an angel.^[1] For Zam, this probably occurred as a linguistic conciliation between Zam and Armaiti (Avestan, middle Persian: Spendarmad), the Amesha Spenta responsible for the world. Notwithstanding the dedication of the 28th day of the month, and in ancient philosophical belief, Zam's manifestation as one of the chemical elements (earth, fire, water, air), Zam is not a particularly significant divinity. Dhalla goes so far as to say "her personality is very insipid as compared with Armaiti, who, as we have seen, has the earth under her care and is, in fact, a more active guardian genius"^[1] In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ...

In Zoroastrian tradition

In the Pahlavi Shayest Na-Shayest ("[what is] Proper and Improper"), an enumeration of the qualities that each divinity epitomizes associates Zam with "conclusiveness". What this is supposed to mean remains unclear. In contrast, Armaiti is identified with "fruitfulness".^[3] The Pahlavi script was used broadly in the Sasanid Persian Empire to write down Middle Persian for secular, as well as religious purposes. ...

In the Pahlavi Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan the author advises his readership not to take medicine on the day of the month dedicated to Zam.^[4] The Pahlavi script was used broadly in the Sasanid Persian Empire to write down Middle Persian for secular, as well as religious purposes. ...

In the Pazend Afrin-i haft Amshespand ("Blessings of the seven Amesha Spenta"), Amardad is joined by Rashn, Ashtad, and Zam in withstanding the demons of hunger and thirst.^[5] The Pazend or Pazand is one of the writing systems used for the Middle Persian language. ...

The last hymn recited in the the procedure for the establishment of a Fire temple is the Zamyad Yasht. This is done because to achieve the required 91 recitals in honor of the Yazatas, would in principle require each of the 30 hymns to be recited thrice with one additional one. However, the first three are dedicated to Ahura Mazda, leaving 88, and 88 modulo 30 is 28, the day-number dedication of Zam.^[6] A Zoroastrian Fire Temple is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. ... Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for an exalted divinity of ancient proto-Indo-Iranian religion that was subsequently declared by Zarathustra (Zoroaster) to be the one uncreated creator of all (God). ...

From among the flowers associated with the yazatas, Zam's is the Basil (Bundahishn 27).^[7] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zoroastrian angelology. ... Binomial name L. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) (pronounced BAY-zl or BAZZ-il), of the Family Lamiaceae, is also known as Sweet Basil. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Dhalla, Maneckji Nusservanji (1938). History of Zoroastrianism. New York: OUP. 
2. ^ Darmesteter, James (1883). "Yasht 19: Hymn to the Earth". Sacred Books of the East 23. Oxford: OUP. 
3. ^ West, Edward William (1880). Sacred Books of the East. Oxford: OUP.  ch. 23.
4. ^ Jamasp-Asa, J. D. (ed., trans.) (1897). "Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan". Pahlavi Texts. Bombay: K. R. Cama Oriental Institute.  p. 71.
5. ^ Antia, E. E. Kersaspji (ed., trans) (1909). "Afrin-i haft Amshespand". Pazend texts collected and collated. Bombay: K. R. Cama Oriental Institute.  pp. 86-88.
6. ^ Modi, Jivanji Jamshedji (1922). The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees. Bombay: British India Press.  pp. 219-220.
7. ^ Anklesaria, Behramgore Tehmuras (ed., trans.) (1956). Zand-Akasih: Iranian or Greater Bundahishn. Bombay: Rahnumae Mazdayasnan Sabha.  pp. 153

James Darmesteter (March 28, 1849 - October 10, 1894), French author and antiquarian, was born of Jewish parents at Chateau Salins, in Alsace. ... Faravahar, believed to be a depiction of a Farvashi, as mentioned in the Yasna and the Vendidad The Avesta is a collection of the sacred texts of the Zoroastrian religion. ... The Sacred Books of the East is a monumental, 50-volume set of English translations of Asian religious writings, edited by Max Müller and published by the Oxford University Press between 1879 and 1910. ... Edward William West (1824-1905), usually styled E. W. West, was a scholarly English engineer, orientalist, and translator of Zoroastrian texts. ... The Sacred Books of the East is a monumental, 50-volume set of English translations of Asian religious writings, edited by Max Müller and published by the Oxford University Press between 1879 and 1910. ...

See also

• Zoroastrian divinities: Yazatas and Amesha Spentas
• day-of-the-month dedications in the Zoroastrian calendar

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zoroastrian angelology. ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ... The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith, and it is an approximation of the (tropical) solar calendar. ...

Further reading

• West's^[2] translation of the Zamyad Yasht