What does fire symbolize for Zoroastrians?

Fire is seen as the supreme symbol of purity, and sacred fires are maintained in Fire Temples (Agiaries). These fires represent the light of God (Ahura Mazda) as well as the illuminated mind, and are never extinguished. No Zoroastrian ritual or ceremony is performed without the presence of a sacred fire.

What is the Zoroastrian motto?

Zoroastrians believe people are free to choose between good and bad. Choosing good will lead to happiness, and choosing bad will lead to unhappiness. So it is the best to choose good. Therefore, the motto of the religion is “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds”.

What does fire symbolize in Zoroastrian worship quizlet?

For many Zoroastrians, fire is a symbol of Ahura Mazda, while for others fire is divine in itself. Humans are both a spiritual and physical creation of Ahura Mazda.

Is fire a symbol of purity?

Fire is by far the most central and often used symbol of purity. While Ahura Mazda is generally viewed as a god without form and a being of entirely spiritual energy rather than physical existence, he has at times been equated with the sun, and certainly, the imagery associated with him remains very fire-oriented.

What are the basic principles of Zoroastrianism?

The basic tenets of the Gathas consist of a monotheistic worship of Ahura Mazda (the “Lord Wisdom”) and an ethical dualism opposing Truth (Asha) and Lie, which permeate the entire universe.

Which is older Judaism or Zoroastrianism?

Sometimes called the official religion of ancient Persia, Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest surviving religions, with teachings older than Buddhism, older than Judaism, and far older than Christianity or Islam. Zoroastrianism is thought to have arisen “in the late second millennium B.C.E.

What is the relationship between Zoroastrianism and Hinduism?

The most noteworthy similarity between Zoroastrianism and Hinduism is their pro-life approach. The concept of Asha in Zoroastrianism is like the concept of Dharma in Hinduism, referring to a superior law of the universe and the bright path of life for the believers.

What is another name for Zoroastrians?

He is known as Zartosht and Zardosht in Persian and Zaratosht in Gujarati. The Zoroastrian name of the religion is Mazdayasna, which combines Mazda- with the Avestan word yasna, meaning “worship, devotion”. In English, an adherent of the faith is commonly called a Zoroastrian or a Zarathustrian.

Which is the best quote from Zoroastrianism?

Zoroastrianism Quotes. “Truth is best (of all that is) good. As desired, what is being desired is truth for him who (represents) the best truth. (Gathas 27.14)”. “To Judaism Christians ascribe the glory of having been the first religion to teach a pure monotheism.

Are there any types of fire in Zoroastrian literature?

In Zoroastrian literature a flame is associated with only a few of the many types of fires ( athra / atarsh / atash ), some being contained in materials cold to the touch. There is even a spiritual fire, the mainyu athra.

What kind of light does a Zoroastrian worship?

Zoroastrians turn towards a flame (athra / atarsh / atash) or a source of light when they worship. The light can come from a natural source such as the sun, an oil lamp, a natural fire such as the natural gas fires of Azarbaijan or a wood fire. For the main part, Zoroastrians worship privately at home and in the open.

What did Ahura Mazda say about Zoroastrianism?

Oh Ahura Mazda, she’d never wanted any man so intently in all her life. She ached to have him touch her, kiss her, taste her. And Ivar did as she wished. He put her hand to his nose to smell her skin, kissed her inner wrist to taste her, his lips lingered over her racing pulse.