Zoroastrians (Entry #5)

I admit that I didn’t know a lot about Zoroastrianism. The word was thrown around here and there in RLG100 but we never delved deeper into what it is. So I did a little bit of research and a lot of sites stated that this religion is one of the oldest traditions, like Hinduism. I also knew that it is a monotheistic religion. However, I got confused when reading about this conflict in the readings as some scholars have stated that it’s polytheistic. Moreover, the translations of Zoroastrian texts are not concrete for some of the sections provide uncertainty as to what is written, like the Sogdian letters. This of course should be taken into consideration since the translations can’t entirely be trusted, especially if various scholars generate different versions of a text. I’m not saying that the translations are completely wrong but when scholars use a word that is somewhat “similar” but not quite what is meant in the actual text, I find myself being cautious.


(Zarathushtra, the Zoroastrian prophet)

Zoroastrianism was created by a self-proclaimed prophet, named Zarathushtra. In the readings, it gives a Western name, which is Zoroaster. Much of what we study in university is usually a scholarly viewpoint and it made me question as to why we use the Western terms. It was through missionaries that religions had an “ism” added at the end. So what do we use…the correct term or the Western version? I’m using the Western terms as well but I always wonder if it offends the adherents of the tradition or if it is improper.

I found it interesting that Ahura Mazda (the Supreme Being in Zoroastrianism) is not portrayed as all-powerful since the religions that I have encountered always illustrate God as omnipotent. The reason as to why Ahura Mazda is not all-powerful is because of an evil twin, Angra Mainyu. It is stated in Zoroastrian texts that Ahura created this planet as a battleground to fight against evil. In order to defeat evil, the followers must commit good deeds, such as charity.


(Symbol of Ahura Mazda)

I also found the focus on purity fascinating. There are many traditions that give new clothes or have purity rituals for things like weddings. Baptism is also another huge purification ritual. Such processes are done to either rid the individual of impurity at birth or to mark their inclusion into the faith. In Zoroastrianism, individuals are given clean clothes before marriage to sort of mark a new beginning. In contrast, this reminded me of a ceremony in Punjabi culture, called maiya in which the couples-to-be are not to change their clothes for a few days before the wedding.


(A child being initiated into the Zoroastrian faith)

Furthermore, in a firm orthodox sect, newborns are separated for forty days from their mother because of impurity issues. This brought out the discussions we’ve been having in a sociology course where we’re learning about different family structures. While the Western world would consider this harsh and unnecessary for there is a belief that bonding is required, this custom most likely doesn’t hold such notions for the followers.

Another focus on uncleanness is shown in funerals. What I was particularly intrigued by was that the funeral process was completed by people that were separated from the community and viewed as impure individuals. This reminded me of the Untouchables in Hinduism, that also perform such procedures. Moreover, the deceased body is kept inside a coffin that is “set in cement” so as to protect the planet from impurity. The whole emphasis put on contamination concerns was really interesting to me. Things like menstruation cycles are considered normal processes these days but within the Vendidad section, there are laws and punishments laid down concerning this aspect; i.e. food was to be given three paces away to a woman who was menstruating.

Lastly, I was mostly drawn into the translation of Inscriptions of Darius. The king states that he has his position through the will of Ahura. I thought he seemed a bit arrogant when he declared himself to be the “king of kings”. He further illustrates himself as a savior for he believes Ahura Mazda created him to diminish chaos on earth. This rule-by-will-of-God notion is seen in other cultures as well, like the Mandate of Heaven for the Chinese.

It was neat to learn about a religion I didn’t have much knowledge on before. It was even more interesting to see the influences this religion had on later traditions.