Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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ZOROASTRIAN BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS
Origin
Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, founded in Iran by Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) between 1500 BCE to 600 BCE.
He proclaimed the worship of Ahura Mazda (The Wise Lord) as the source of truth, righteousness, order and justice (asha), and good mind (vohu manah). He called the people to observe the threefold ethic of good thoughts (humata) and good words (hukhta) and good deeds (hvarstha). It was the official religion of for nearly 1,000 years. From tenth century CE onwards, following the Arab conquest of Iran and religious persecution, many Zoroastrians migrated to India and established in Gujarat, where they were accorded religious and economic freedom by the local King. They became known as the Parsis and adopted India as their homeland. Zoroastrianism has about190,000 followers worldwide and 5,000 in Britain.
Sects
The only surviving group following the Zoroastrian faith is Parsis, except for two historical sects of the Shahanshahis, named after the last Shahanshahian King of Persia (Yazedegard), and the Kadmis, no other notable sects are found. Parsis observe New Year's Day as the Day of Yazedegard.
Beliefs
Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion; believes in Ahura Mazda as their supreme God, who is compassionate, just, creator of the universe, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, unchanging and impossible for humans to conceive, and the source of all goodness and happiness. Zoroastrians believe that everything he created is pure and should be treated with love and respect. This includes the natural environment; hence Zoroastrians traditionally do not pollute the rivers, land or atmosphere. Ahura Mazda is believed to express him in the form of two spirits, one of good (Spenta Mainyu) and the other of evil (Angra Mainyu or Ahriman Satan). Zoroastrians believe Ahura Mazda was aided by the seven guardian angels of his primary creations the sky, waters, earth, plants, cattle, humans and fire, in fashioning the world. These guardians are collectively known as the Bounteous Immortals (Amesha Spentas) and they form the ethical framework based on the attributes of Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda has made the world with an ethical purpose, a stage of constant strife between the forces of good and evil, and the struggle will be unabated until the forces of good prevail over those of evil and darkness. This will happen one day. When this occurs, Ahura Mazda will
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