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Introduction: This factsheet is not intended to be definitive guide to Zoroastrianism. Alternatively, it attempts to provide basic known facts as well as some information that is perhaps less well-known.

Zoroastrianism

The emblem of the World Zoroastrian Organisation

One of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions, Zoroastrianism has its origins in Iran where it was founded by the prophet Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra) in approximately 1200 BCE2, some 3,500 years ago (although there are still active scholarly debates around the date). Zoroastrianism was the official religion in Persia (Iran) for a thousand years, up to 650 CE3. Zoroastrians are split into Iranians and Parsees, the latter being Iranians who fled their country in the 10th Century and who settled in Gujarat, founding and establishing their community in India. Terminologically, Parsee is Gujarati for Persian.

Numbers in the UK
There are approximately 4000 Zoroastrians in Britain.

Beliefs and Rituals

Zoroastrians believe in one God and Creator, who they call Ahura Mazda (which translates as Wise Lord), who imparted the truth through the prophet Zoroaster. Zoroaster translates as He of the golden light (though there are numerous other possible etymologies). They believe in the primacy of natural elements (leading some to consider Zoroastrianism as the first ecological religion) and that fire is pure and representative of Gods light, wisdom and justice. A sacred fire is always present in Zoroastrian rituals and ceremonies. However, it is wrong to associate Zoroastrianism with fire worship. Fire is intensely symbolic. All Zoroastrian religious rituals involve the display of evergreen plants, and represent the productive cooperation of earth, fire, water and air through the presence of seven different fruits and nuts. Green is considered an auspicious colour representing the fertility of nature. The most appropriate summary of Zoroastrian belief is good thoughts, good words good deeds. Accordingly, there is a strong commitment to social action and the improvement of community and society, and to equality and spiritual righteousness. Zoroastrianism differs from those religions that make human beings subservient to God, in that there is a belief that people act as Gods helpers rather than as servants. Zoroastrians believe in the existence of a good (beneficent) and evil (maleficent) spirit Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu respectively but believe in their independence and separation. As a result, there is a fundamental belief in Heaven and Hell. Followers are taught they must struggle through their good deeds and truth inspired by Spenta Mainyu, to minimise the impact of the destructive essence (Angra Mainyu), whose energy serves to attack the goodness emanating from God and to which is attributed worldly situations such as famine, illness and natural disasters.

From correspondence with the World Zoroastrian Organisation. The emblem of the organisation includes the Faravahar, one of the main symbols of Zoroastrianism. 2 Before the Common Era (BCE) 3 Common Era (CE)

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Zoroastrian dualism takes two interdependent forms: 1) cosmic dualism concerns conflicting forces of good and evil within the universe; and 2) moral dualism, which relates to similar psychological conflicts within each person. A Zoroastrian wedding is in two parts: 1) the signing of a marriage contract; and 2) a service, feast and celebrations that used to last from between three to seven days. Both bride and bridegroom, customarily, wear white, the symbol of purity (though until the recent past in Iran, green was the colour of choice for the bride who will still wear items of green jewellery). Traditionally, a Zoroastrian funeral involves laying the body of the deceased out on a purpose built tower (the Tower of Silence) so that it can be eaten by birds of prey and decayed by the Sun. This is in accordance with the belief in not contaminating the purity of the natural elements and Gods goodness with death associated with Angra Mainyu. In the West, cremation is usually used though burial is not uncommon. Zoroastrianism has had a significant impact on the history of mankind in relation to religious thought. Examples of such impact and influence include the existence of evil forces counteracting Gods goodness, the existence of Heaven and Hell and the divine judgment of human souls.

Zoroaster4
The founder of Zoroastrianism was born in North Eastern Iran or South Western Afghanistan; it is said near the Oxus River. His teachings form the basis of Zoroastrian devotion and commitment to the path that God has paved. Zoroaster was led to God through Vohu Manah (translated as Good Mind or Good Purpose) who revealed himself as a shining being when Zoroaster was bathing in a river. In this illumination, Vohu Manah also revealed a further five such beings who are known as Amesha Spentas or Immortal Beings and who each represent a specific attribute of God and aspect of a good life (e.g. truth, devotion, kindness etc). Visions were the method of dialogue with God through which Zoroaster was able to formulate, through Gods answers, the basis of the Zoroastrian faith.

(left5) Detail from The School of Athens by Raphael. This painting of 1509 shows Zoroaster on the left with a start-studded globe talking to the mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, Ptolemy.

Festivals6
There are many festivals, holy days and observances in the Zoroastrian Calendar. Festivals are particularly linked with the seasons and the Calendar itself is divided into twelve months. Each month and indeed each day within a month is named after God (Ahura Mazda), an immortal being (Amesha Spenta), a Yazata (which means venerable one) or other holy feature or essence.

The character of Zoroaster appears many times in Western thought, art and literature (e.g. Also Sprach Zarathustra, Sarastro in Mozarts The Magic Flute) without necessarily being depicted in his true Zoroastrian meaning and context. 5 Source: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. Copyright: Zenodot Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Raffael_071.jpg) 6 Further information on important days within the Zoroastrian Calendar can be found in the Interfaith and International Calendar produced by Julian Harrison at Leicestershire County Council.

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The Calendar has become a complex issue within Zoroastrianism as a result of the migration to India and the development of a Parsee community and there are now three versions in operation, ensuring that festivals and commemorations are held at different times depending on which calendar is used in a particular community. Observances in the Zoroastrian Calendar: The six obligatory memorial feasts known as the gahanbars, linked to seasonal factors. The seventh obligatory feast known as NoRuz (New Year) and dedicated to fire. The birthday of Zoroaster (which is known as Khordad Sal by Parsees).

Worship
Zoroastrians normally undergo an initiation ceremony which is known as Sedreh Pushi (Iranian: putting on the Sedreh) or Navjote (Parsee: new birth). This can occur from the age of 8 or 9 onwards but adults too can be initiated if they were not in their youth. Zoroastrians believe that the individual has a choice over whether he or she wishes to pray and also the method of prayer. Nevertheless, traditionally, prayer takes place several times a day (up to five times). Once a day prayer should involve the tying of the kus(h)ti (cord) around the sedreh (shirt) three times to symbolise good thoughts, words and deeds. Prayers are said by participants facing a source of light (symbolic of the divinity and energy of Ahura Mazda. Most worship takes place in the home. However, collectively, the Zoroastrian community worship in a Fire Temple (Atashkadeh or Agiary) in which sacred fires are maintained and never extinguished. Such communal worshipping usually coincides with a festival. Priests play an important role in temples. Some of them have responsibility for maintaining the sacred fire. The Zoroastrian book of Holy Scriptures is called The Avesta, which has many parts, but two main sections the older, which contains 17 hymns or Gathas, thought to have been written by the prophet himself, and the younger Avesta, which includes myths and stories and also details of religious observance and rituals.

Famous Zoroastrians
Famous Zoroastrians include: Farhang Mehr Cowasji Dinshaw Adenwalla JRD Tata Farokh Engineer Ronnie Irani Freddie Mercury Zubin Mehta Shapurji Saklatvala Khurshed Nariman Dadabhai Naoroji The former deputy Prime Minister of Iran, who left his native country in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. A Parsee trader who founded and developed the port of Aden in Yemen. Indian businessman and aviator (though born in Paris). He founded Indias first commercial airline and the famous car industry. Famous Indian cricketer (wicketkeeper) who played in England for Lancashire. The England cricketer is of Indian Iranian descent. The legendary singer was born Farrokh Bulsara and is of Parsee descent. Conductor of international renown. British politician, who became the third MP from the Indian community in 1922. He was also one of the first British Communist parliamentarians. Politician and founding member of the Indian National Congress. First Indian/Asian British MP (Liberal for Finsbury Central). He took the parliamentary oath on the Khordeh Avesta in 1892, having refused as a non-Christian to take it on the Bible. He was known as The Grand Old Man of India. Prominent Architect and Mechanical Engineer from the United Kingdom.

Cawas Jehangirji Bardoliwalla

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Leicestershire Contacts

None known. Contact the Leicester or Loughborough Council of Faiths.7

Credits and Sources of Further Information

Avesta Zoroastrian Archives (www.avesta.org/) BBC Religion and Ethics (www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/) Meta Religion (http://meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Zoroastrim/zoroastrism.htm) Vohuman Home Page (www.vohuman.org/) Wikipedia The World Zoroastrian Organisation (www.w-z-o.org/) Zarathushtra (www.zarathushtra.com/) Zoroastrian Sacred Texts (www.sacred-texts.com/zor/)

We are grateful to the World Zoroastrian Organisation for their help and support during the production of this factsheet. In particular, we would like to thank Shahin Bekhradnia for taking the time to look through a draft and make informed and useful corrections and suggestions. We would thoroughly recommend the organisations website for furthering knowledge and understanding of Zoroastrianism. The website address is www.w-z-o.org/.

Contact Julian Harrison (0116 305 7018 or julian.harrison@leics.gov.uk) at Leicestershire County Council for further information.