Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dualism in Zoroastrianism and why Goodness is independent of evil Before we examine dualism in Zoroastrianism, I shall emphasize that the ancient Zoroastrian religion like any other philosophy and/or religion must be understood on its own terms and context. To … Continue reading →

January 16th marked the festive holiday for Vôhü Manö (awe-inspiring spirit/mind.) The second day of each Avestan month and the eleventh month are sacred to Vôhü Manö. Vôhü Manö consists of two parts. VÔHÜ coming from the root vah, from … Continue reading →

Each year on December the 26th we commemorate the passing of the ancient Aryan prophet Zarathûshtrá. Since his message is all about “wisdom, luminosity and light,” there is NO room for gloom and mourning in his religion. Instead we focus … Continue reading →

The name of the tenth month of the Zoroastrian calendar is DAY. It is the happiest month of the calendar. It starts on December 16 and ends about January 14. The name DAY comes from the Avestan daδváv/daðváv “creator.” Daδváv/daðváv … Continue reading →

The ancient Iranian cosmogonists regarded fire as forming the life force within the creation, and so animating the world (see Bundahišn, tr., chaps, 3.7-8; 6g. 1; Zātspram, chap. 3.77-83). In the poetic gathas fire is closely associated with “mind, spirit, passion, … Continue reading →

The Destructive Spirit and the Daevas in the early Gathic Avestan Worldview John Easter 2014 Ahriman is the Middle Persian equivalent for Angra Mainyu. Angra Mainyu is from the older Gathic Avestan language of the Gathas where it means destructive/hostile … Continue reading →

The shining Twin Yima, Vedic Yama and Old Norse Ymir Yima is a primordial twin and a hero king of the Ice Age in the Avesta. The very name Yima means “twin” and is related to Latin Gemini. The twofold … Continue reading →

There is reference to the use of trumpets in the Zoroastrian Vî-daæv-dátá or Vendidad.Avesta tells the story of shining Yimá (Old Norse Ymir, Vedic Yama are related.) In the Avestan lore, Yima was an ingenious leader. He reigned during the … Continue reading →

BARSÔM (Avestan baresma/baresman) are sacred branches or twigs of an evergreen or fruit tree that form an important part of the Zoroastrian liturgical ceremony. The word barsôm is the Middle Iranian form of the Avestan baresma/ baresman, which is derived from the root barez, Sanskrit bṛh “ … Continue reading →

In the Avestan calendar the 9th month is that of Brightness, FIRE and August the 24th is the great fire festival in the Zoroastrian calendar. The Avestan word for “bright fire” is áthrá/áthar. Áthrá/áthar is related to Greek Aether/Æthere “Brightness.” … Continue reading →