ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism (Parsism)(Parsism)

By-Vipul By-Vipul MesariyaMesariya

History of religionReligious Belief and PhilosophyAbout People

OriginsOrigins

Began in Northern Iran,(Now Azerbaijan) Founded in 600 B.C by Persian prophet Zoroaster

(Zarathushtra),Practiced mostly in Iran

FounderFounder

Zarathushtra Religious reformer and founder Lived in Azerbaijan Also Known as a Zoroaster Spent life teaching and preaching He is a messenger from the one

God to his people First monotheistic religion

Zoroastr ianism at Its Peak….Zoroastr ianism at Its Peak….

The Achaemenian Empire (700-330 BC),Largest empire (3.0 million sq. miles-480 BC).State Religion – Zoroastrian Cyrus rule (550-529 BC)It extended,West-Macedonia (now Greece) ,East -Indus River (India)North-Caucuses Mountains (Russia),South-Egypt

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Belief in Ahura Mazda as the highest and

supreme Lord of the universe. (duality of existence)Ahura Mazda (Pure goodness) Zoroastrians believe in a single God. Ahura means "Lord” and Mazda means

"Wisdom” Battles to rid world of evil and darknessAngra Mainyu (Pure evilness) Rival of Ahura Mazda Evil spirit of death and violence

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belief in the  duality of existence. There are two deities: Ahura Mazda & Angra Mainya

Belief in an ongoing conflict between God and evil in which God will ultimately destroy evil.

Goodness is more powerful and prevalent but cannot abolish evilness

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belief in the existence of six Immortal Beings (Amesha Spentas) and many divinities who are part of God's force.

-Messengers/connection between God and man

-Help God and man fight Angra Mainyu for peace and justice

Belief in the Prophet Zoroaster and His teachings.

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belief in the sanctity of fire as a symbol of God in the material plane.

Belief in the divinity of creation of God in the spiritual and material planes.

Belief in the spiritual nature of the world and human(God created the spiritual entities).

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belief in Heaven and Hell and Divine justice.

Belief in the tradition of future prophets- next prophet will be a future son of Zoroaster, whose name would be Shoshyant, who would herald the Judgment Day and the eventual destruction of evil powers in the material world.

Belief in the ending of the world in a violent conflagration

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belif in After Life 3 days after death - Soul remains at the head of

its former body- Soul journey toward Chinawad bridge-Sharp edge which stands like a sword on bridge- Hell is below the bridge.

After Life

Where an angel would assess its actions and decide whether it should go to the heaven or hell for a temporary residence till the Last Judgment Day.

If soul is righteous, the sword presents its broad side.

If soul is wicked, that sword continues to stand edgewise, and does not give passage.

If debits and credits cancel each other out, the soul is placed in Hammistagan ("region of the mixed").

Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Cont’dCont’d

Belief in the sanctity of the elements- Fire, water, earth and air should be kept pure by not allowing the evil entities to pollute them. The dead bodies should neither be cremated, nor thrown into water, nor buried in the earth.

Key Figures Cont’dKey Figures Cont’d

Belief in the efficacy of sacred chants. Zoroastrians believe in the ritual chanting as the means to establish order and purity in the world and in the lives of the worshippers

Belief in the Judgment day- Belief in the resurrection of the dead and last judgment day. At the end of current cycle of 3000 years, God will destroy the evil forces in a final conflagration and herald the Judgment Day 

Religious Literature (Holy Rel igious Literature (Holy Avesta) Avesta)

“AVESTA” is the Parsis HOLY BOOK. Originally contained 21 books but

today it contains only:(a) “YASANA” (Book of sacrifice – 17 Gathas are part of it).

(b) “YASTS” (Hymn like praises).(c) “VENDIDAD” (Law & Code of

Purification).(d) “VISPERAD” (Collection of prayers

& Liturgical texts)

The Gathas . .

The original teachings of Zoroaster are contained in the Gathas, which are a part of the Avesta, the Zoroastrian Holy Scriptures.

Key CeremoniesKey Ceremonies

Jashan Ceremony Thanks giving ceremony reenacts moment of

creation (world in harmony)

Nirang-din Ceremony Creates the Holy Nirang Nirang is foundation of other

sacred rituals Good in the world increases

and evil decreases

Key Ceremonies Cont’d

Yasna Ceremony Haoma (sacred liquor), milk, bread, meat,

animal fat offered to Ahura Mazda Ritual purification (Priests recite the Avesta

the sacred writing)Naujote or Initiation ceremony

This is prescribed for both boys and girls when they are are inducted into the religion.

Parsis initiated at age 7 in India, age 10 in Persia Receive Sadre and Kusti

Key RitualsKey Rituals

Purification Ritual Keeps mind, body and environment pure to defeat

evil 3 types of purification:

- Padyab (ablution)- a ritual washing of the exposed parts of the body. - Nahn (bath) - Bareshnum -ritual which lasts nine nights. (dog’s left ear is touched by the followers, dog's gaze casts evil spirits away)

Symbol - FireSymbol - Fire

Most important symbol Places of worship called Fire Temples Represents the divine Three types of fires:

- Royal fire in only four temples- Adaran fire in most temples - Dadgah fire in the home

Symbol - Fire

Large significance in Zoroastrianism as it is the provider of heat, light and growth.

A fire burns in Zoroastrian temples, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Pray at a Fire Temple and believe fire is the symbol of God, but they never pray to fire.

Symbol - FaravaharSymbol - Faravahar

2nd most common symbol Ancient theory:

- Represents the King's Authority in terms of its divine origins.

Today:

- Symbol of the Zoroastrian faith, divine guardians who are believed to accompany every human being and keep the world in order and motion and reminds people of purpose in life.

Key Practices Cont’dCont’d

Practice of three commandments.

(Every Parsi promises himself) To think - GOOD THOUGHTS. To do - GOOD DEEDS. To Speak - GOOD WORDS.

  Practice of moderation and balance. There is no

place for ascetic practices in Zoroastrianism. People are advised to lead ethical, balanced and harmonious lives.

Key Practices Cont’dCont’d

Disposal of the dead Neither cremate nor bury their dead. Bodies of

the dead given back to nature . They place the dead in open round structures

called Dakhmas (Tower of silence) Bodies to be consumed by vultures and other

flesh eating birds and animals The corpses are exposed there naked Rich and poor died in same manner All people equal in the eyes of God

The interior of the Tower of Silence has three concentric circles (for Man,Woman & children) Vultures -strip the flesh off the bones, which are

then dried by the sun, and are later swept into the central well.

The Tower of Si lence

Key Practices Cont’d

Worship Takes place at fire temple 5 daily prayers or Hymns said before fire

Key Practices Cont’d

Kusti and Sudre. Every follower should wear kusti a sacred thread and sudreh a white garment

Symbol –Symbol – Symbolic GarmentsSymbolic Garments

Two types are worn: Sudre (the armor of God)

- white cotton garment

- worn at all times except when

bathing Kusti (the swordbelt of faith)

- 72 threads composed of lamb's

wool

- made by priest's wife and blessed

Timeline

1600 B.C.: Zarathushtra was born (Between 1600-600 BC)

1000 B.C.: Aryans arrive in Iran from central Asia

600 B.C.: Zoroastrianism spreads in Iran

Timeline Cont’d

640 C.E - The Arab Invasion

651 C.E. – Group of staunch Zarathushtis left Khorasan for Kuhestān

751 C.E. – Left Kuhestān for Hormuz

766 C.E. – Left Hormuz for Diu (Gujarat) 785 C.E. – Left Diu for Sanjān – (Near Surat-

Gujarat- story of asylum )

Timeline Cont’d

936 C.E. : Zoroastrians immigrated to Gujarat in India 

1381 C.E. :Mongol Ruler Timur Lenk invaded Iran killing thousands of Zoroastrians  

1719 C.E. : Afghan invaders massacre thousands of Zoroastrians in Kerman

1878 C.E. :The first fire Temple is built in America

Timeline Cont’d

1882 C.E.: Jaziye (a kind of tax for non-Muslims) is abolished in Iran 

1960 C.E.: First World Zoroastrian Congress held in Tehran

1979 C.E.: Religious freedom granted to Zoroastrians

1990 C.E. : The Zarathushtrian Assembly is established in the United States

Sought asylum from the local ruler – Jadi Rana

Condit ion for Asylum

1. Explain your religion and customs

2. Renounce your native language and take up the local language

3. Women shall wear the local dress

4. Lay down your swords and arms

5. Marriages shall take place at night

Priest NERYO SANGH accepted all conditions by putting SUGAR IN MILK POT

Asylum Granted

Jadi Rana granted asylum and gave them a parcel of land

Named the land Sanjān after the homeland from where they came

790 C.E. – Consecrated an Atash Behram fire in Sanjān, in fulfillment of their vow

Came to be known as “Parsis”-Persia

Influence in the 21 st Century

Contributed to major Western religions- Christianity- Judaism- Islam

-Hinduism 

Important concepts - Redemption, final judgment, life after death, Satan as God's enemy, resurrection, souls, heaven and hell 

Zoroastrian Temple of Yazd, Iran. 

Ancient Zoroastrian Temple in Azerbaijan

Some Temples….

Zorastrian temple of Chak Chak, near Yazd

Zoroastrian temple of Pir-e-Naraki, near Yazd Before the Arabs invaded Iran there were many

f ire temples in Esfahan. The Arabs destroyed them all except for this one.

Parsee Sects….

In 1730 on a Controversy of New Year’s Festival Indian Parsees separated themselves into:

SHEHEN SHAHIS – 93% of Parsees (New Year - Sept) KADMIS – 7% of Parsees (New Year - Aug) FASLIS – 21 Mar New Year.

Gujarati Identity. .

World population of Zoroastrians is 120,000

- 70,000 in India - 17,000 in Iran - 13,000 in North America - 20,000 in Other country

  

Demographic

Demographic Profi le Of Parsis in India

Total population in India only 69,601 (2001)Total Pecentage of Indian population 0.007% All India Growth rate 21.34%. But Parsis recorded negative decline of - 8.88%Religious minority community are:

Muslims Christians Sikhs Buddhists Parsis (without any population weightage)

Sex ratio: For 1050 F/ 1000 M30.9% population in 65+ category, a disturbing feature (Indian 8%).

Growth of Parsi Population, India

111791100772

91266

71630 7638269601

45000

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

Call for the Parsi Community….

The Dwindling numbers. The main causes are:

Late marriages. No marriages. Fewer children. Exogamy if married

outside the religion.

Community services

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore TISS TIFR Tata Memorial Hospital NCPA

Parsis leave an honest impression of dedicated & sincere in their chosen profession.

They work mirthfully & give their best.Parsis are the best Social Worker and

Entrepreneur They are in all chosen profession: Doctors, Bureaucrats, Scientist, Politics Bankers , Lawyers, Acting, Modeling Teachers , Chartered Accountant Journalists , Scholars, Arm forces Musicians, Writers , Sportsman

Profess ionally. .

Parsis & The Raj

Sir Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy

Dadabhai Naroji

Sir Pherozeshah Mehta

Loard Karan F Bilimoria

Shapurji D Saklatvala

Madam Bhikhaiji Cama

Parsis in the Armed Forces

4 Parsis became Chief of their own services:

– Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw MC of the Army (1932-1972)

– Air Marshal Aspy Engineer of the then Royal Indian Air Force (1964)

– Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major (2007 – 2009)

– Admiral Jal Cursetji PVSM, AVSM of the Navy (1937-1979)

– Lt. Col Adi B. Tarapori – Param Veer Chakra (1965)

Contribution of Parsi community in development of India is far out of proportion to their strength..

Some well known Parsis….Some well known Parsis….

ResourcesResources

www.theparsidirectory.com www.theparsimatch.com www.theparsichronical.com www.w-z-o.org www.parsiresourcegroup.org www.wzcc.net www.hinduwebsite.com www.zoroastrianism.com www.google.com

Thanks…Thanks…