Author: Zoroaster
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781536939033
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 128
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Book Description
Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest religions, "combining a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique... among the major religions of the world." Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian Prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), he exalted their deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda, (Wise Lord) as its Supreme Being. Leading characteristics, such as messianism, heaven and hell, and free will are said to have influenced other religious systems, including Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Islam. With possible roots dating back to the second millennium BCE, Zoroastrianism enters recorded history in the 5th-century BCE, and including a Mithraic Median prototype and Zurvanist Sassanid successor it served as the state religion of the pre-Islamic Iranian empires from around 600 BCE to 650 CE. Zoroastrianism has no major theological divisions, though it is not uniform; modern-era influences having a significant impact on individual and local beliefs, practices, values and vocabulary, sometimes merging with tradition and in other cases displacing it. In Zoroastrianism, the purpose in life is to "be among those who renew the world...to make the world progress towards perfection." Its basic maxims include: Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta, which mean: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds. There is only one path and that is the path of Truth. Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and then all beneficial rewards will come to you also. The most important texts of the religion are those of the Avesta, which includes the writings of Zoroaster known as the Gathas, presented here in this book which are enigmatic poems that define the religion's precepts, and the Yasna, the scripture. The full name by which Zoroaster addressed the deity is: Ahura, The Lord Creator, and Mazda, Supremely Wise. He proclaimed that there is only one God, the singularly creative and sustaining force of the Universe. He also stated that human beings are given a right of choice, and because of cause and effect are also responsible for the consequences of their choices. Zoroaster's teachings focused on responsibility, and did not introduce a devil, per se. The contesting force to Ahura Mazda was called Angra Mainyu, or angry spirit. Post-Zoroastrian scripture introduced the concept of Ahriman, the Devil, which was effectively a personification of Angra Mainyu. Included in this interpretation of the book is a list of Glossary terms for the reader to further understand one of the oldest religions in the world.
Author: D. J. Irani
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415614481
Category : Avesta
Languages : en
Pages : 88
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Book Description
Zarathusthtra brought about important religious reform in Iran, giving a definitely moral character and direction to religion whilst at the same time preaching the doctrine of monotheism, which offered an eternal foundation of reality to goodness as an ideal of perfection. This volume provides a substantial introduction on the life and doctrines of Zarathushtra and compares the development of religion in India with that of Iran.
Author: Piloo Nanavutty
Publisher: Mapin Publishing Pvt
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 188
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Book Description
The Words Of Zarathustra, Prophet Of Ancient Iran, Have Come Down To Us Across The Centuries Through The Gathas, Seventeen Hymns Which He Composed And Which Embody The Core Of His Faith. For The First Time, The Background Provided By The Story Of Creation
Author: K. D. Irani
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 106
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Book Description
Author: Khosro Khazai
Publisher:
ISBN: 9782930473000
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 168
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Book Description
Author: Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Avestan language
Languages : en
Pages : 408
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Book Description
Author: Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN:
Category : Avesta
Languages : en
Pages : 1146
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Book Description
Poetic prophecies from the 5th century Persian prophet.
Author: Shapurji Asponiaryi Kapadia
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 128
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Book Description
The Teachings of Zoroaster, And the Philosophy of the Parsi Religion by Shapurji Aspaniarji Kapadia, first published in 1913, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation. Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it.
Author: M. L. West
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857731564
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 173
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Book Description
Zoroaster was one of the greatest and most radical religious reformers in the history of the world. The faith that he founded some 2600 years ago in a remote region of central Asia flourished to become the bedrock of a great empire as well as its official religion. Zoroastrianism is still practised today in parts of India and Iran and in smaller communities elsewhere, where its adherents are known as Parsis. It has the distinction of being one of the most ancient religions in the world: only Hinduism can lay claim to greater antiquity. The foundation texts of this venerable system of belief are the founder's own passionate poems, known as the Gathas ('Songs'), and a short ritual composed soon after his death, called the Liturgy in Seven Chapters. These hymns are the authentic utterances of a religious leader whose thought was way ahead of his time, and are among the most precious relics of human civilization. After so many millennia they continue to speak to us of an impressively austere theology and of an inspiring and easily understood moral code. Yet existing translations are few, divergent in their interpretations of the original Avestan language of Zoroaster, and frequently hard to access. M L West's new translation, based on the best modern scholarship, and augmented by a substantial introduction and notes, makes these powerfully resonant texts available to a wide audience in clear and accessible form. 'A thoroughly worthwhile and refreshingly readable translation of the Older Avesta, M L West's book will be widely welcomed, by students and general readers alike.' - Almut Hintze, Zartoshty Reader in Zoroastrianism, School of Oriental and African Studies, London
Author: Kavasji Kanga
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 9781304365057
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 364
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Book Description
The oldest Zoroastrian religious scripture, handed down from ancient times, is the Avesta. One section of the holy book is known as the "Khordeh Avesta" or "Smaller (i.e. Selected) Avesta." This is the book of daily prayers of the Zoroastrians, including the most sacred prayers or manthras, as well as graces said over meals and other occasions, blessings, and hymns to spiritual beings. It is a cherished possession of every devout Zoroastrian household. Zoroastrians recite their prayers in a sacred language known as Avestan. The celebrated Avesta scholar and priest (Ervad) Kavasji Edulji Kanga prepared an edition of this prayer book in 1880 A.D., with Gujarati translation. An English edition was first printed in 1993, which has become very scarce. Due to the popularity of Kanga's editions, and the accuracy of its pronunciation, this new printed edition was prepared, correcting the frequent printer's errors found in the 1993 edition.