Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). Mazdaism is the religion that acknowledges the divine authority of Ahura Mazda, proclaimed by Zoroaster to be the one uncreated Creator of all (God).

As demonstrated by Zoroastrian creed and articles of faith, the two terms are effectively synonymous. In a declaration of the creed — the Fravarānē — the adherent states: "…I profess myself a devotee of Mazda, a follower of Zarathustra." (Yasna 12.2, 12.8)

While Zoroastrianism was once the dominant religion of much of Greater Iran, the number of adherents has dwindled to not more than 200,000 worldwide, with concentrations in India and Iran. For details, see adherents below.

My ancestors, the Zoroastrians of Iran (pre-Islamic) were members of the Indo-European family known as the Aryans. They called themselves Zoroastrians because they believed in the teachings of the first Aryan prophet, Zarathushtra.

Zarathushtra was the first prophet to preach a monotheistic religion, and He was born in Iran about 8000 years BC. He revealed that there was only one God, Ahura Mazda and that life in the physical world was a battle between good and evil. As per man's actions, he would either cross the "Chinvato Peretu" or the sword bridge after death, and reach Heaven, or fall from it and go to the abode of the evil one. In the final days there would be a battle between good and evil, evil would be vanquished and the world would be purified by a bath of molten metal. Mazda would then judge the world, resurrecting the dead and His Kingdom would be established on earth.

Zarathushtra's songs are called the "Gathas" which linguistically may be older than the Indian Vedic scriptures. The Gathas are written in an ancient Avestan dialect. This is a sister language to Sanskrit of India, and Greek and Latin of the West. The reason is, the common ancestors (common to the ancient Iranians, Ancient Indians, Greeks, and Europeans) were one and the same - the Indo-European or Aryan peoples.

Surprisingly, many so-called Christian concepts actually were derived from Zoroastrian Aryan ideas which thrived in Iran for thousands of years until the Arab invasion of Iran around 1300 years ago. Concepts such as heaven and hell, God and the evil adversary ahriman, the coming of the Saviour or Saoshyant born of a virgin, the end-time purge of the world by Fire followed by the resurrection of the dead (Ristakhiz), the making fresh of the world (Frashogard) and the final battle between good and evil leading to the final defeat of evil. These beliefs filtered down to Judaism during the reign of King Khushru (Cyrus) of Iran.

Although proud to be Aryans, Zoroastrians also believe that all races in the world are created by God and are equal - a true sign of the real ancient Aryan's nobility and tolerance. Cyrus, King of Iran who was an Aryan rebuilt the temple of the Jews after freeing the Jews from Babylon - for this, he is still remembered by the Jews and called the "Anointed of the Lord" in the Bible. The Jews still celebrate that act of the true Aryans in a festival. Many Jews then stayed in Iran under Cyrus and his successors such as Darayus, as equal subjects under the King. Books of the Bible written after this stay have taken all these Zoroastrian concepts, from there they came to Christianity and other religions. There are scholars who consider Zoroastrianism as such to be the mother religion of the present day world's faiths.

In fact the edict of Cyrus proclaiming equality for all his subjects is enshrined in the United Nations today. The original Aryans were realy multicultural and tolerant of all races! So, it is probable that the Jews were influenced by the Zoroastrian faith of Iran in those days - and took on the concepts of heaven/hell, God's evil adversary, the resurrection and the final purification of the world - the virgin birth, the Saviour etc., all these concepts being Zoroastrian. There are other similarities too - certain purificatory observances such as the impurity of menstruation etc. are found in both faiths. Indeed, the very idea of the Messiah, and the very concept of Jesus could be Zoroastrian in origin.

Zarathushtra's religion was the prominent one in Iran until the conquest by the Arabs, around 1300 years ago, who converted Iran to Islam. To preserve the Zoroastrian faith, this most ancient of faiths, indeed the "mother" faith of all mankind, a band of the Zarathushtrians sailed by boat to India about 1300 years ago, and settled in India where they were called the Parsees (from "Pars" ie. Iran). I am a descendant of these migrants. Rare as diamonds are, we number 100,000 or so in the world today.

We keep the holy FIRE in our temple as the symbol of Ahura Mazda, and our priests feed the fire with sandalwood and cedar and intone the ancient sacred Mathras (verses of praise) in the ancient Aryan Avestan language. The Mathric incantations have incredible divine potent power, a power used to fight evil. We also revere the elements of God such as water, earth, wind, and the creations of God such as the Sun, moon and stars. We wear the sacred Aryan girdle or the "Aiwiyaonghanem" around our waists, a sign of our ancient Aryan lineage and religion, and the white "Sudreh" as a garment.

My real name is "Pourashpa", an Avestan Indo-European name meaning "Owner of Grey Horses", horses signifying spiritual wisdom. As per the ancient custom, it should be always mentioned with my father's name ie. Pourashpa Puthra (son of) Hormuzd (my father's name). The ancient Avestan Pourashpa does have a mystical meaning because we believe the entire language itself, and its pronunciation (our ancient prayers the Gathas are in Avestan, these are the songs of Zarathushtra) itself has a powerful mystical effect in the fight against evil.

# 18) Q: You say Zarathustra "realized" God, but others would say "invented" it.

A: So? They do now! They do not believe the Abrahamic fairy tales either, that is why Christianity is loosing ground. That is why most Jews are secular and many are atheists. AND the only reason that Islam is not in the same trouble ( Although it is in Iran and all of Central Asia), is because the demand for submission makes them unthinking mind numbed robots. It's not what some say, it's what most believe that matters. There will always be those that will say that Zarathushtra invented God and Zoroastrianism, but I can make the same argument about Paul, Moses, Mohammed and Baha Ullah, with all their prophets.

# 21) Q: Why did G-d let his revalation go through the history of the Jews and Jezus ?

A: God does not 'let' or not 'let'. Humans are free to choose what they do. Historically Zarathushtra's message was deviated over millennia into something that did not resemble the original. This happens to all ancient religions for many reasons, including the ignorance of the message by the masses, the manipulations by 'god traders', governments and others. The lack of printing presses to preserve the very original message etc.

Judaism was basically a Henotheist religion, in which Yahweh was the particular god of the Hebrew tribes and supposedly greater than the gods, also real, of the gentiles. It was not till the Jewish Exile, that Yahweh starts to exhibit some of the qualities of a Universal God. Basically the Jews in exile came under the influence of Persian religion, which was already deviated from the Original teachings of Zarathushtra, but had indeed preserved the Universality of Mazda. It is at that point that we see massive changes in the nature of Yahweh. As it happened the Jews were able to syncretize from their religion and the Persian religion a New Judaism, better than the previous one, while the deviated Mazdayasna degenerated into absolute ritualism. This is the Judaism that served as one of the main basis for Christianity.

Mazda is not like Yahweh or Allah, Mazda is interested in results and improvement in actions of righteousness, in good thinking in good rule etc. These are the ways to god likeness. God likeness, in turn, is the Mazda's goal for human kind. The call of Yahweh and Allah is to blind obedience , blind faith and/or submission. The Call of Mazda is to Good Thoughts, Words and Deeds and what is Good is defined as what is in harmony with the ethical dimension of the Law of the Cosmos (Asha). Thus it does not matter to Mazda if you call Her/Him Yahweh, Allah etc., rather it is righteous, Asha like, thoughts words and deeds, that Mazda seeks.

So, to say that His revelation was 'let' by God to go through others, has no meaning in a Mazdayasni context. Mazda is God of All and is discovered, rather than revealed. Indeed, S/He does not need to be revealed, Her/His handiwork, is there for all to see and realize and seek Her/Him. If Mazda's aim of having humanity achieve godlikeness through Asha like choices, in thought word and deed, are furthered by one human religion or another, it does not matter to Mazda. Zarathushtra's message is only claimed to be the Best, Greatest and Sublimest, it is never claimed to be the only one.

To every people (was sent) a messenger: when their messenger comes (before them), the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged.

Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other). But (later generations) cut off their affair (of unity), one from another: (yet) will they all return to Us. Whoever works any act of righteousness and has faith,- His endeavour will not be rejected: We shall record it in his favour.

The Truth is from thy Lord; so be not at all in doubt. To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) Towards all that is good. Wheresoever ye are, Allah will bring you Together. For Allah Hath power over all things.