It is a cherished possession of every devoted zoroastrian household. Hinduism holy book important books and writings of hinduism. Here are 10 things you didnt know about zoroastrianism. The zoroastrian holy book, called the avesta, was written in the avestan language, which is closely related to vedic sanskrit. Hinduism does not possess a single holy book like bible in christianity and quran in islamic dharma. Information on hinduism for kids primary homework help. The avestas of zarathustrazoroaster are the holy books of zoroastrianism. Mar 05, 2012 zoroastrian dietary laws, animal friendship and stewardship. Zoroaster was the persian prophet on whose teachings the ancient religion of zoroastrianism is based. The primary sacred texts, known as the vedas, were composed around 1500 b. Other names for zoroastrianism are mazdaism and parsiism. Apr 03, 20 the puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. The description of the old aryan religions, the names of their deities, and the groups.
Zoroastrianism is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions but many people know little about the faith. Apr 16, 2014 the avesta is the holy book of zoroastrianism. This sacred text is divided into two main sections, the old testament and the new testament which are then further divided into various books. Differences and similarities between hinduism and zoroastrianism and their. Avesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. There are less than 190,000 followers of zoroastrianism worldwide. Scholars differ considerably about the date of zoroasters birth. In kashmir, there is a village of similar name, renji in.
The oldest zoroastrian religious scripture, as preserved at present, is known as the avesta. The holy book in the hindu religion is known as the vedas. Zoroastrian legend denkard and the book of arda viraf, many sacred texts. Zoroastrianism download books, sacred, spiritual texts. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book. The name by which he is commonly known in the west is from the greek form of his original name,zarathushtra, which means shining light. The zoroastrian name of the religion is mazdayasna, which combines mazdawith the avestan language word yasna, meaning worship, devotion. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. One of the oldest known religious texts is the kesh temple hymn of ancient sumer, a set of inscribed clay tablets which scholars typically date around 2600 bce.
In english, an adherent of the faith is commonly called a zoroastrian or a zarathustrian. According to the zend avesta, the sacred book of zoroastrianism, zoroaster was born in azerbaijan, in northern persia. If you had to change your name, what would your new name be, and why would you choose it. The beliefs of zoroastrianism were spread across asia via the silk road, a network. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. It should be noted that asura is not demon which is in many later day hindu texts like puranas. Today it is the thirdlargest religion behind christianity and islam.
It is a multitendency faith centered on a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. Some of the aryans of iran originated zoroastrianism, and the instrusive aryans of india originated vedic hinduism. It is written in an eastern iranian dialectlanguage that is called avestan for the lack of more suitable terms. Zoroastrianism is a founding belief system acknowledged to have heavily influenced both abrahamic judaism, christianity, islam and dharmic hinduism, buddhism, jainism. These texts are glorious tales of the hindu trinity brahma, vishnu and maheshwar shiva. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Oct 02, 2009 vohu manah led zoroaster to the presence of ahura mazda god and five other radiant beings, which are called the amesha spentas holy immortals. The puranas are holy books of hinduism that date back to gupta empire in ancient india. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. The rig veda or other hindu religious texts do not directly mention mazda. Hindu holy book that is called geeta was founded by vyas in the name of shree krishna. Choose from 94 different sets of zoroastrianism history flashcards on quizlet. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the avesta, which contains the gathas, or the seventeen hymns by zoroaster, and the the younger avesta, which includes commentaries, myths, ritual descriptions, and more. Shaktism smartism srauta sant mat ayyavazhi neohinduism.
Buddhism, hinduism and christianity differ on fundamental beliefs on heaven, hell and reincarnation, to name a few. Zoroastrianism the zendavesta pahlavi texts links not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. One of the most interesting things about zoroastrianism was the teachings of zoraster, the prophet, which was all gathered in a book named gathas. Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as sanatana dharma, the eternal tradition, or the eternal way, beyond human history. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. This book was really innovative and thoughtprovoking at the time since it was written in the form of ritual poems. The holy book in comparative perspective book, 1985.
To say that dietary laws are not part of the original zoroastrian teachings and that all kind food is allowed in zoroastrianism is nothing more than unsubstantiated sheer nonsense. Popular, unique, and inspired from the holy book avesta, zoroastrian girl names are as unique and rare as their religion. The most ancient sacred texts of the hindu religion are written in sanskrit and called the vedas. Dec, 2019 it was when shia islamic faith became the state religion by the early 1500s that things got really rocky for zoroastrianism, yet in 1935 persia changed its name to iran, which comes from the avesta the book of zoroastrianism. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. However, the puranas are supposed to be complied by muni vyasa. He has been a major figure in the history of world religions, in large part because of his apparent monotheism, his purported dualism, and the possible influence of his teachings on middle eastern religions. It is believed that zoroastrianism was preceded in the region by an ancient religion that had some affinity with the rigvedic religion, and the differences and similarities between zoroastrianism and hinduism might be due to the distinction zoroastrianism tried to establish against its predecessor. What is the religious book of zoroastrianism and islam. The epic of gilgamesh from sumer, although only considered by some scholars as a religious text, has origins as early as 2150 bce, and stands as one of the earliest literary works that includes various mythological figures and themes. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century bce in persia iran. Zoroastrianisms influence on judaism, christianity, islam. Apr 11, 2007 zoroastrianism is a founding belief system acknowledged to have heavily influenced both abrahamic judaism, christianity, islam and dharmic hinduism, buddhism, jainism and sikhism religions. For example, the names siva charming and variations of rama black are used by iranic speakers, such as persians and pashtuns.
Apart from the gods that are common to both zoroastrianism and hinduism, names of some other hindu gods are carried by even modern day persian speakers. The vedas are scriptures that the hindu people use as a guide to daily and religious life. The corpus of religious texts in zoroastrianism is called the avesta, which is written in. This is the book of daily prayers of the zoroastrians. Shaktism smartism srauta sant mat ayyavazhi neo hinduism. Why are there so many similarities between zoroastrianism and. Zoroastrianism is an ancient persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. The holy book of zoroastrianism is the zend avesta. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroasters transformation of a very ancient tradition. The zoroastrian name of the religion is mazdayasna, which combines mazda. Have you ever wondered when popular religions started to develop. The term zoroastrianism is, in general usage, essentially synonymous with mazdaism the worship of ahura mazda, exalted by zoroaster as the supreme divine authority. Zoroastrianism and hinduism hindupedia, the hindu encyclopedia. What are the similarities of zoroastrianism and buddhism.
A section of this avesta is known as the khordehavesta which means the smaller or selected avesta. Learn zoroastrianism history with free interactive flashcards. As the linguists of both europe and india worked with the language of the gathas attributed to zarathushtra it became clear that they were far older than the language spoken in iran at the time of king darius father. Not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the. Zoroaster, who lived in eastern ancient iran around bc, created zoroastrianism. Oct 12, 2018 the founder of zoroastrianism was a man named zarathushtra, written in greek as zoroaster, from which comes the name zoroastrianism. The zoroastrian and hindu scriptures are the only known ancient texts that. It is a form of the word ariyana, or ayria in sanskrit. Zoroastrians also used the names rudra and nasatya as agents of angira.
The qissai sanjan is a tale of the journey of the parsis to india from iran. This holy book is written in the sanskrit language. The holy book is on a throne positioned at the front of the hall. This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. According to zoroastrianism, followers can pray as often as they like. Today hara parvat is revered by hindus as a sacred mountain. In the field of comparative religion, many scholars, academics, religious figures have looked at. It was founded by the prophet zoroaster approximately 3500 years ago. It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that. Zoroastrianism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The holy books of world religions sacred texts in world. The first part of the book is collectively called the gathas.
The language is closely related to sanskrit and might have been mutually inteligible with it. They are believed to be true history of ancient indian. In ancient times, the modern country of iran was known as persia. Zoroastrian dietary laws, animal friendship and stewardship. Dec 11, 20 what is the holy book of hinduism the holy book is on a throne positioned at the front of the hall. A hymn to ahura mazda or some other immortal being. What are the similarities between zoroastrianism and hinduism. Together, these lesser texts are conventionally called khordeh avesta or little avesta texts.
Asked in judaism why do jewish people use holy books. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one holy book. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the. When the first khordeh avesta editions were printed. This modern name of the religion reflects the emphasis on zarathustra zoroaster as its presumed founding figure or prophet. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. Zarathustra, iranian religious reformer and prophet, traditionally regarded as the founder of zoroastrianism. It means aryan from the landpeople of central asia steppes. Hinduism is an indian religion and dharma, or way of life, widely practised in the indian subcontinent and parts of southeast asia. Zoroastrianism obviously has aspects similar to christianity and may have been influenced by events from genesis forward as they were passed down from generation to generation. The name of the founder of zoroastrianism in its original avestan language form.
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