-
The tenets of the Zoroastrian
religion are basically contained in the 'Gathas'. Gathas are sacred songs
divided into stanzas and strophes. The five Gathas are :
-
Gatha Ahunavaiti, on freedom of
choice.
-
Gatha Ushtavaiti, on supreme bliss
(ushta)
-
Gatha Spenta Mainya, on the holy
spirit
-
Gatha Vohu Kshathra, the gatha
of the Good Kingdom
-
Gatha Vahishtoishti, the gatha
of sovereign desire or the gatha of fulfillment.
The word 'Ahu' means life, energy, the moving force which operates in Nature,
so the 'Ahunavaiti Gatha' deals with the laws which operate in nature with freedom
of choice, the creation of the world and the origin of evil. The second Gatha,
the 'Ushtavait' leads the reader to religious ecstasy showing the way to deep joy
and happiness. The 'Spenta Mainya Gatha' deals with the essence of the absolute,
the spirit which permeates all existence. It unfolds the perfect
wisdom which activates the Divine Plan. Man cannot comprehend this perfection
and wholeness until he develops his own mental faculties and acquires moral strength.
This is the gist of the fourth Gatha, the 'Vohu Kshathra'. The fifth Gatha, the
'Vahishtoishti', is the gatha of fulfillment where in a series of admonitions are
laid down for men to follow.
-
With Ahura Mazda, the supreme
Creator and ruler with the Universe, six other great beings are associated
in the Gathas. These Beings were later named the Amesha Spenta, Holy immortals
or Immortal Shinning Ones. These six Divine Powers or Energies are:
-
Asha, the Divine Law, truth, Righteousness
and Justice.
-
Vohu mana, the Good Mind, representing
divine Love that transcends all bounds of time and space.
-
Kshathara, the power and Majesty
of Ahura Mazda, his choice Kingdom.
-
Kshthra-Vairya, the creative activity
in the service of mankind.
-
Aramati, Divine Devotion, stability,
loyality, the love of God in our hearts.
With Ahura mazda at their head ,the seven Amesha Spenta are collectively
known as the Hafta Amahashpands.
The language in which the
Gathas are written is termed as Gathie
Avestan. It
bears a strong affinity with Rig-Vedic Sanskrit. The Avesta language is believe
to have came into existence some three hundred years after Zarathushtra.
The Gathas were written when Zarathushtra was meditating in a mountain
probably Demavand whereas other Avesta were written by his disciples in Eastern
Iran .Yashts which is long poems of praise and Nyaeshes which is shorter poems
of praise were composed during this period.
Zarathushtra preached his religion in the Kyanian period of
Iranian history. After the overthrow of that dynasty, there was a sudden
revival of the Zorashtrian religion. The omnibus book called Yasna or Yezashne
is the collection of Gathas and Avesta writings. The Visperad and Vendidad
are writings of this period.
The entire library at
Persepolis,
containing a mammoth collection of books,
manuscripts and other writings of learnings along with the entire Avesta
writings were burnt to ashes by Alexander the Great. The Zoroastrian scriptures
were once again neglected and disjoined until another great Zoroastrian,
Ardeshir Papakan founded the last Zoroastrian
empire in the Iran called Sassanian empire. It was during this period that
a concise prayer book was composed called the 'Khorda Avesta', or 'Khordeh
Avesta'.
It contains Avestan prayers and passages in Pazand with commentaries on
astronomy, medicine and cosmogony.
Zarathushtra insisted upon active good towards one's fellow man, the
motto of the religion became "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds".
