![]() The other remained on the native soil, flourished for centuries, built up an empire, and finally in its turn gave place to the Moslem hordes of Arabia. Inevitable war of creed and faith resulted in the migration of the weaker and polytheistic branch to the fertile plains of India, where it took root and blossomed into the absolute Brahminism of the modern Hindoos. One branch of the ancient Aryas, powerfully supported by the State, became Mazdayasnians (Monotheists), and the other of the same stock remained staunch to the worship of material gods, and were known as Daêvayasnians (Polytheists). This led to a schism amongst the Indo-Eranians. ![]() This was the great evil, the crime of ignoring the Creator for the created, which our prophet Zarathustra laboured to remedy and to restore the then ancient faith to its pristine purity of Ahura worship was his chief object. Thus, a religious system, in itself philosophically sublime, degenerated into a system of polytheism, having for its object adoration of idols and visible forms of good and evil spirits, reflective of human imagination. Things, which were originally manifestations of God’s good work, became in course of time personified assumed shapes of deities in the frail imagination of the devotees and finally came to be adored in lieu of the Great Architect of the world. The heavenly firmament, tinted with cerulean hue-one limitless vault of refulgence and indescribable splendour-the resplendent orb of the rising sun, the ethereal gentleness of the beaming moon, with her coruscating companions, the planets and the stars, the verdant earth, the swift-flowing river, murmuring in sweet cadence of eternity and bliss, the roaring sea of life and death, and the glorious fire of Empyrean,-all these, in the days of the primitive Aryan religion, were believed to be so many manifestations of the Almighty God, and were accordingly symbolized. ![]() In the early days of Zoroaster homage was paid and prayers were offered to the Supreme Being, usually through the recognized symbols of the Deity. Somewhere in the region washed by the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea, on the fertile soil of Atropatene, the primeval Aryas toiled and laboured in peaceful pastoral pursuit. By persuasion and argument he unfolded his religious mission and proclaimed the mandate of Ahura, in order to elevate the ancient faith of the Aryas to its lofty and intellectual purity of monotheism. *Ĭothed in pure white flowing vestments, bearing with him the sacred fire, † “Adar Burzin Mehr,” and a staff or sceptre made of a cypress tree, this sage of antiquity appeared before the court of Kava Vishtaçpa. Imbued from his infancy with deep philosophical and religious thoughts for the welfare and well-being of mankind, this ancient prophet of Bactria derived his holy inspiration after thirty years of divine meditation on a secluded and inaccessible mountain-top of “Ushidarena.” Thus fortified in communion with Ahura-Mazda, “Spitama Zarathustra” proceeded to the city of Balkh, at the time the capital of the King of Iran, Kava Vishtaçpa. ![]() Ye offspring of renowned ancestors, awake to agree with us.” So preached Zoroaster, the prophet of the Parsis, in one of his earliest sermons nearly 3,500 years ago. Contemplate the beams of fire with a most pious mind! Every one, both men and women, ought to-day to choose his creed. You shall therefore hearken to the Soul of Nature. ![]() “I WILL now tell you who are assembled here the wise sayings of Mazda, * the praises of Ahura, † and the hymns of the Good Spirit, the sublime truth which I see rising out of these flames. Source: Editor's Introduction to The Teachings of Zoroaster and the Philosophy of the Parsi Religion, ed. ![]()
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