The first of the great monotheistic traditions, Zoroastrianism was founded by the prophet Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, who was born around 1800 B.C. in ancient Persia.

In an age of polytheism and idol worship, Zarathustra declared that there was one supreme God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), to whom one lifts praise in the form of divine songs called Gathas.

Ahura Mazda, the one eternal being, is also described as six attributes radiating from the godheCE in the form of luminous beings. It is humanity’s goal on earth to choose the righteous path (Asha), which is practiced by maintaining moral purity of thought, word, and deed.

The loftiest ideal for man is to be god-like, to follow a path of righteousness and devotion, thereby eradicating all evil and attaining the twin wards of perfection and immortality.

The faith became the state religion of the great Persian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 558 B.C. With the rise of Islam and the conquest of Persia by Arabs, large numbers of devout followers of Zoroastrianism fled to India, where they were given refuge by the native Hindu ruler.

Their descendants, the Parsees, are concentrated in and around Bombay.Only about 130 thousand Zoroastrians are thought to exist today, most located in India, Iran and small enclaves in the West.

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