Zoroaster is thought to be the very first monotheist. "His teachings include the concept on one god (Ahura Mazda), heaven and hell, the coming of a savior figure, the resurrection of the dead, and a last judgment" (Clarke 121). It is said by Zoroaster that God came to him in a revelation and told him the truth about god and man. According to the Zoroastrian religion Zoroaster, at the age of thirty went to a nearby river at dawn to get some water. When he arrived at the river he saw a bright light that brought him to god. It is said that god spoke to Zoroaster and gave him a message. He told Zoroaster tha

What Aeshma and Azhi are to Angra Mainyu, Sraosha is to Ahura Mazda. Sraosha is a good and powerful warrior who "with his battle axe smashes the skulls of demons"(Hinnells 53). Sraosha protects the world from demons at night and is constantly battling Aeshma. He prevents Aeshma from causing an enormous amount of evil in the world. When he leaves his home on the top of Mount Haraiti he rides in a chariot pulled by four white hourses with golden feet (Hinnells 53).

The Zoroastrian belief of how the world was created and how it will end is a very interesting one. In the beginning it was just Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu who existed. Ahura Mazda was aware of Angra Mainyu, but Angra Mainyu had no idea Ahura Mazda existed. He found out when one day he came across the light of Ahura Mazda and attacked it. The two battled each other, but neither was able to defeat the other and the confrontation ended with neither being victorious. So, they decided to meet again at a later time to determine the fate of the world. They believe the world was created when Ahura Mazda defeated Angra Mainyu in a battle and sent him to hell. During this time Ahura Mazda "created the Immortals [Amesha Spentas], then the Yazatas, and finally he began the creation of the universe: first the sky, then water, earth, the tree, the animal [ox] and, last of all, man"(Hinnells 57). Angra Mainyu then escaped from hell and nearly destroyed the earth. He was eventually defeated again by Khshathra Vairya and an army of the fravashis (men's heavenly self). Once he was defeated again he was sent back to hell and everything that he destroyed was recreated (Hinnells 56-59). It is believed that "as the ox died, fifty-five species of corn and twelve species of medicinal herbs grew from its limbs and its seed passed to the moon where it was purified, giving rise to the different species of animals. So, too, as man died passed seed into the earth. Thus from his body, made of metal, the earth received the different kinds of metal, and from his sperm grew the first human couple, Mashya and Mashyane"(Hinnells 59).

t he is Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), the only god (Cavendish 126). At first Zoroaster's beliefs were rejected, but he managed to convert an Iranian king, Vishtospa. After that Zoroastrianism spread all through Iran and other countries.

In addition to the Amesha Spentas there are also the Yazatas (Worshipful Ones). Although the Yazatas are not as powerful as the Amesha Spentas they still play an important role in Zoroastrianism. There is no end to the number of Yazatas, but certai

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Approximate Word count = 1740
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)