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NEW BOOK COMPANY LTD
,
1 88- 1 9 0 , H ornb y R oa d, B OMB AY
.
ZO RO ASTRIANISM
IN
SASSANIAN TIMES
Pres e nted
to the
LIBRARI ES of the
UN IVERSITY O F TO RO NTO
W illa rd G O xto b y
.
S
.
H JHABVALA
.
O TH ER B OO K S B Y THE AUTHO R
B e a ds
of
A P o em
A m b er
Po e m s Wr i t t e n in Pr i so n
P rin c e
of
Pe a c e
P r i n c e o f Li gh t
Ma l i n i
K ab i r
C at e c his m
on
B io g r aphi c a l
Em i n e n t
etc
.
etc
,
Z o ro a s tr i an i sm
S ke tc h e s
Parsi s
of
i
n
G u j ara ti
.
P ri n te d b y A P Sa t a a t t he St a t e s P eo p l e P ress Fo r t B o m b ay
B
l
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an d
P REFAC E
I n p resen ti n g t hi s Boo kl et t o the
re a d er s
I have
an o
bjec t
viz
.
of
,
d om i n a te d b y hi st o ri c a l co n d i t i o n s P a rsi s— f o llo wers
Zo ro ast r i a n i sm
of
sus t a i n ed
a ll
t he ms el ves
ag a i n s t
po li t i c al
e xi e nc i es o f li f e a n d s tee r ed t hem se lve s c l e a r o f d a n e r s t o t he ir
g
g
i
sho w n
g h ow
,
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na t ona
l
i
e x s te n c e
I
.
l
a so
wa n t
sho w
to
th a t
m ai n
t he
o ar
tha t
"
g ui d e d t he b ar u e o f t heir ca r e e r was t he ir n a t i o n a l vir t ues i n spire d
b y t he ir f a i t h whi ch leap t f o rwa rd o n ce aga i n t o li fe a nd ac t ivi ty
.
P l ac e d
P a r si s
i d st d i ve rse r aces a n d re li gi o n s
o f m a n ki n d
t he b ar "
ue o f Zo ro as t ri a n s p rac t i c a ll y a nywher e in t he
wo rl d c a n n o t si n k i f t hey m a i n t a i n t he sa me a rd uo us genesi s o f
t he ir i n he re n t way o f li fe
T he P a r si s sank a f t e r t he Ac hce m en id es
bu t survi ved so mehow d uri ng the P ar thi a n rul e ; a n d t he n re vi ve d
d uri ng t he d ays o f t he Sa ssa n i a n s
T he sam e evo l u t i o n is m er c il es sl y
r epe a t i ng i tse lf he re in I n d i a a n d e lsewhe re I f eel sure we sha ll
su rvi ve a n d
pe rha ps o nc e a ga i n ri se t o a n c i e n t g l o ry
as
t o d ay a m
a re
,
,
.
.
.
.
O ften
l ong
e nd u
r
a d ve se
‘
t ha t a
p
e
ri
s
t
ri n g
ime
r ac e
he d
f ri n g
su f e
i
is
u est o n
whe the r
,
a ske d
it
W ho wil l p ro phesy?
.
o nc e o
rga n i sed
Cha ng es ha ve
-
.
"
m erc il ess
t he
un d e
r
r
end u e d
c an
B ut
to
so u l
t he
r i
H i st o ry
t he
su v ve
th s
race
t em p est s
of
l y pro ves
fa i th n eve r
ab u n da n t
t he a ege s o f
it s
o rig in a l
f ul n ess
of
li fe ;
t he
i
of
and
t hey
ha ve
i
v
e n u n e n d i n g s us t e n a n c e t o t he P a r s i b ac k b o n e w hi c h t ho ugh a t
g
uen t e n d
T he
has n ever yi e ld ed t o r u i n a n d c o n se"
t i m es b e n t
P a r si s a re a va l ued pa r t o f t he g re a t hum a n race a n d wi t h t he ir
re
n
u
n
a
u
t
d
t
h
e
a
co
t
ri
b
t
i
as
vir t ues
s
t
o
a sse r t i ve
y
y
g t o wa r d s
j
t he stren g t he n i n g o f u ni ve r sal li fe a n d f a i th fo r a ll t i me t o co m e
they wil l p ro ve a so u rce o f i n sp ir a t i o n fo r all tha t is best a n d g r ea te st
inm a n ki n d
-
~
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,
,
-
,
,
.
AUT H O R
Kha r B o mba y
,
,
i st
j une
1
95 2
.
s a cre d tru ths wor l d s Ma st e r So ul propo unde d to
hu m a n ity a tho u s a n d yea r s b e for e the fo unde r of the cree d
whos e fo ll owe rs to d a y n u mb e r ove r a fo urth of the c ivi l i se d
glob e ( Chri sti a n ity ) we r e immo rt a l in th e ir virt ue I f th e y are
a liv e upto to d a y s urvivi n g p e ri l ous re volut io n s o f a st up e n d o u s
tim e how could th e y n o t survive the tortuous t e mp e sts of po st
Ac hoe m e n ia n d a ys d a ys wh e n the who l e Ir a n i a n pl a t ea u
w a s sh a ki n g from bo ttom upwa rds in a fe rm e n t of p o litic a l
uph e a v a ls t e rri tori a l a gg r a n di s e m e n ts cmd r a ci a l a s c e nd an
ci e s ? How should a Zoro a stri a n liv e ?
a n d the Min o t Khira d
"
ha s a gu idi ng an swe r
He shou l d m a k e wi sdom hi s
prot e ctor shou ld do n the wea p o n s a nd a rmo ur of co nt e ntm e n t
ove r the body shou ld h a ve Truth for hi s shi e l d a nd th an kful
n e ss for his
m a c e shou l d m a k e d e votio n his bo w a nd
l ib e r a lity his a rro w sho ul d m a k e mod e r a tio n his sp ea r
p e rs e ve r a n c e his ga un tl e t a n d fortu ne hi s sh e l t e r Re l igi on
”
t a k i n g c a re o f the soul ( re l igio n com e s n o t from re lig a re
”
to bi n d tog e th e r ; but from re le g e re = to t a k e ca r e of : oppo
“
sit e o f n e g le g e re = to n e gl e ct i s to b e l ife i ts e lf l ive d
The followe r of Za ra thu s htra l ive d Zoro a stri a n ism a s put in a
n ut sh e ll by the a bove qu ot a tio n from the Mino t Khira d in
p re Sa ss a n i a n tim e s though the r e volution a ry tim e s disp l a c e d
it by the varyi n g co n qu e sts of A ssyria n s Ch a ld e a ns an d
Ba bylo n i a n s cul mi n a ti n g in the no ne to o ps e ud o Zoro a stri an s
the Pa rthi a n s
'
The
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I f the un ch a n gi n g re v e l a tion of a ch a n ge ful history o f
hum a n civilis a tio n divulge s but o n e mys te ry o f the h um a n
mi nd it is tha t the e ss e n c e u n d e r l yi ng e ve ry con ce pt of
re ligio n e n dur e s e ith e r a s a f ee li n g of a b so l ut e d e p e n d e n ce
or a s i n tuitio n o f Unio n with
a s Sc hle irm a c he r wou l d p ut it
the wor l d
H a ve lock Ellis wou l d s ay or a s Murr ay
as
a n n oun c e s a s th a t which brin gs u s i n to r e l a tio n with the gr e a t
worl d forc e s or a s R e i n a ch s a ys sum of s c ru pl e s which
i mp e d e the fre e e x e rcis e of o u r fa c ul ti e s though the form s
the ve stm e nt s ch a n ge ch a n ge e t e r n a lly s ubj e c t to ch a nge
—
,
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,
Z
This h a p p e n e d to Za ra thu s htra s e xp o sitio n of hi s cre e d
"
liv ed a n d e xp e ri e n ce d m e t a physics un thin k a bl e a s a
c e rt a in ty
sup e r n a tur a l a s a f a c t life a s e xi st e n c e in a wor ld
tha t i s n o na ctu a l b u t t rue
to quo te O swa ld Sp e n gl e r The
l ight d id n o t dim ; the sh a dow shifte d a c cordin g to the c urv e
the d e e r c arri e d the p e rfum e in its a bdom e n ;
o f the horizo n
o n ly it sm e lt in the woods a bro a d a n d the d e e r w a n d e re d in
s ea rch of wh a t i t a ctu a l l y ha d
'
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,
,
,
-
.
"
-
,
.
THE MAGI
y e ar s b e fore the fa ll of th e Ach ae m e n i a n s H e rodotus
s p e a k s i n spiri n g l y
a b out the
Ma gi a s the mo st s c i e n tifi c
a n d Zara thu s htra
e xpo n e n ts of the philo sophy of the D e ity
Hi s th e i sm co uld n o t fal l with
w a s the fore m o s t o f th e m a ll
but the mo n o th e i sm of his
the f a ll of D a rius C o d o m a n u s
pr e a chi n g wor e a m a n y co l o ur e d g arb d urin g five ce n t uri e s
an d a h a l f of n on Zoro a stri an r eg i m e l arg e ly cove r e d by the
P arthi an e mpir e which ultim a t e ly fe l l at the co n qu e ri n g f e e t
a p a ka n
o f Arta khs hir e P
1 25
,
,
'
.
,
-
-
—
.
m a n y curve d gr a ph of th e i sm ha d p a s s e d I IS
inv e t e r a t e lin e through A n im ism M a gic T a boo a n d Tot e m
A n ce stor worship a n d e v e n Pa g a n i sm b e fore the d ee p c e n tr e
co n t e mpl a t e d by Za ra thu s htra o n the Mo un t of Us hid a re n a
r e sul ti n g in mo n oth e ism could b e lo ca t e d to dr a w m an ki n d
towa rds it from whi ch si n c e th e n it ha s n o t swe rved though
l a t e r both the A rya n s a n d the S e mitic r a ce s ga v e t o hum a n ity
n e we r form s of f a ith a n d r e ligio n
Zara thu s htra t a u ght wh a t
”
the Dinkard summ a rily puts
th a t The hum a n body i s a
t e ne me n t with s e n s e s a s its wi n d ows a n d soul a s its o wn e r
In the a rchit e ctur e of hi s mon oth e i stic co n ce pt Za ra thu s htra
p l a ce d Ahur a M az d a a t the top of the hi e ra rchy a Spirit
a n d y e t the Lord of Wi sdom with Vohu M a n o = th e Be st Min d
A s ha Purity
Atar fire
ob e di e nc e
Sna o s ha re lig io us
The
—
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,
-
,
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,
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—
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,
,
,
,
,
z
A s hi
z
z
,
s a n c tity ,
Arm a iti
z
fulfilm e n t in thi s world
powe r t o cre a te
an d
,
d e v o tio n
an d
,
Ha urv a ta t
the n e xt
fulfil Good
,
o n on e
a nd
z
Am e re ta t
,
:
i n strum e n ts of Hi s
h an d an d d e stroy Evi l
as
3
oth e r He procl a im e d through 1 7 Ga tha s divid e d in to 5
"
The ox tur n s to dust silv e r an d go l d t urn dust
gro up s th a t
the v a li an t h e ro turn s to dust a ll mort a l s tur n to du st
Th a t
o n e thi n g which do e s n o t turn to dust i s the Ri ght e ous n e ss
"
which a m a n pr a ctis e s upo n the e a rth
He imp a rt e d to
m a n ki n d the k n owl ed ge of Tim e b e i n g the v e rit a bl e Ahur a
Hims e lf D e l a y an d Afte rw a rds b e i n g the two d e mo n s th a t
O rm a zd d e n ou n c e s a s b e i n g m e mb e rs in the c a mp o f
Ahrim a n
on
the
.
,
,
,
,
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,
—
,
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.
his th e ology a s Mi n oi Khir a d would tra n sl a te
The
sky a nd the e a r th a n d the w a t e r a nd a ll e ls e th a t th e r e is
are lik e u n to a n e g g of a bird
The sky i s a rr an ged by the skill
of Orm a zd lik e a n e g g ove r the e a rth
An d the e a rth i s
st a tio n ed in the midst of the sky lik e the yolk in a n e g g
Tho ugh fe a r w a s the cr a dl e in whi c h the gods we re bor n y e t
Z a r a th u str a r e l e gat e d F e a r to the dom a i n of Ahrim a n ; a n d
O rm a zd w a s to him but a n e mbl e m of Love a n d b y Wh a t
Dinka rd s a ys a bou t R e ligio n m a y b e s a id a bout Orm a zd in
"
If yo u a dv a n c e but o n e
the voc a b ul a ry of Za ra thu s htra
st e p tow a rds re ligio n r e ligio n will a dva n ce 1 0 s te ps towa rds
yo u
Ir
.
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
—
,
.
A s for soci a l orga n i s a tio n Za ra thus htra corr e spo nds to
the e xpo sitio n of philo sophy of M a n u Mi n o s the Gr e a t of the
Gree ks for in the Dinkard four c l a s s e s divid e the hum a n r a c e
in to vo c a tio n a l group s H e a ds H a nds Be lly a n d L e gs
A thra v a n s a n d Ra the s hta rs from the high e r gua rd o f
m a n ki n d in th e ir growth y e t the a gri c ulturi sts of the Be lly are
roph e t vid e the Ga tha s
H a ppy
n ot e wo rt hily d e a r to the P
i s the l a n d o n which a n a gricult uris t w a lks ; h a ppy the wi nd
th a t blows ov e r him ; h a ppy the hors e which he rid e s ; h a ppy
the c a ttl e o n who s e products he sub sists ; a n d h a ppy i n d e e d
"
a re the s un a n d the moo n a n d the st a rs th a t shi n e upo n him
,
-
”
,
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,
,
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"
,
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THRESHO LD O F SASSAN
Th a t in v e ry bri e f a n a lysis w a s the soci a l polity
th e ology th a t Za ra thu s htra l e ft b e hi nd him a n d
,
,
the
,
an d
the
4
a ll c o mpr e h e n sive
min e nc e of his in te ll igen c e c o nti nue d
The
down til l the thre shold of the S a ss a n id e cit a d e l
Ba ctri an s
the
M e d e s a n d the Pe rsi a n s ha d distribut e d
the m s e lve s in the North ea st North we st a n d South we st
re sp e ctiv e ly a n d the a bove the ologica l co de whil e m a kin g
Zoroa stri a n ism the pristi n e c h a r a c t e r of the di ffe re n t ra ce s
m a rr e d its e ss e ntia l p urity with a ffec t a tio n s from th e m e g the
first mo noth e i sti c d ua l i sm of the Ga tha s w a s fo ll owe d by the
pure du a lism of the l a t e r Ave st a a S a ss a n id e g ro w th out o f
the ori gi n a l p a stora l Pe he la v i
Mithr a ism w a s o n e a n oth e r
silve rn sh a dow ove r the gold e n soul of Zoro a stri a n i sm The
f a t e of e ve ry e volutio n of R e a s o n ha s b ee n e n trust e d by
history to re mn a n ts of ch a n ge— ch a nge bro ught a bou t
by i n te r r e l a tio n s of group s of m a n kin d a s in the a bove c a s e
Arb e lla wr e st e d the Zoro a stri an sc e ptr e from the h a n d s o f
D a rius III ( 3 3 0 B C ) A rs a c e s foun de d the Pa rthi an e mpire
The S e l e ucid s a tr a pi e s fa i l e d a fte r Al ex a n d e r s
( 25 0 B
d e a th ; a nd the r a pid st a g e s of po l itic a l co nf usio n u sh e re d in
The wa nd e ri ng :
a Zoro a stri a n ch a o s in the form s of b e li e f
wh a t high e r Zoro a stri an
n om a ds duri n g the S e l e ucid r e gim e
we a lth of thought th e y could p urs ue l the a bun d a n c e of the
Ach ae m e n i a n gra n a ry 1 Pa r thi a a t the summ it a n d he r in te r
cours e with riva l a ggr e ssive powe rs ( 1 2 0 88 B C ) could o n ly
Pa rthi an
produce
re l i gi o n a nc e stor worship
m a gi c
a
i nvo c a tio n s to the va ri ed gods for e arth l y gifts such a s gr a i n
fre ed om from di sea s e a n d a v e rsio n from n a ture s ca l a m iti e s
Zoro a stri a n i sm duri n g the 5 5 0 ye a r s of its a bolitio n of ru l e ha d
a nd ch a otic
n o t b e com e a v a cuum d a rk though the surf a ce
the corn e rs W h e r e ve r the A sh a spirit t urn ed its b e wilde ri n g
e y e ; but s u r e l y
tha t w a s not the provin ce Za ra thus htra ha d
l e f t wh e n he f e l l a t the h a n d of Tur b a r a t ursh a t Nush Ad a r
in Ba l kh
Si n ce the d a ys of Ga y e Ma re ta n the prim a l m a n
fa i th ha s ha d a hum a n curv e of v a ryi n g gro wth th ough
e v e ry thi n g i s o n the d e c a d e n t
y e t in the s c h e m e of Ahur a
n othi n g p e rish e s
e v e r y thi n g s ee ks its shoot s in a v a ri e ty o f
sh a p e s a n d div e rsi ty of form s The spiritu a l doc tri n e of p re
S a s s an i a n d a ys cove re d in its sh e ll the n otion of the
Fr a v a shi s h a rdly to b e co n ce ived in the Ga tha s of Z ara
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p
D
W e a dor e the sunn y a bod e s of
S a ys the Ya s n a
A sh a wh e r e i n the sou l s (Urwa n ) of the d e a d r e st which are
"
the Fr a v a shi s of the right e ous
An d in still a n oth e r v e rs e
the sa m e s a cr e d scriptur e e mph a sis e s D a e n g ( s e lf ) the livi n g
"
e mbo d im e n t o f the spirit
s a yi ng Who so m a k e s hi s thought
n o w b e tt e r
n o w wors e
and
lik e wi se hi s s e lf ( D a e ng ) by
a ctio n a n d by wor d a n d follows his o wn i n cli n a t io n s
wish e s
a n d cho ic e s
he sh a ll in thy purpos e b e in a s e p a r a t e p l a ce
"
a t the l a st
thus htra
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
The
lowe r corru pt form s of Zoro a stri a n ism di sh e d out to
the Pe rsi a n r a c e a Hin d u is tic p an th e o n n a rr a t e d in the 1 1 th
ch a pt e r of the G e e t a wh e r e Krishn a the God e m b old e n s
him s e l f with a b so rptio n of the whol e v a ri e gate d u n ive rs e in
him s e l f for the phi l h e ll e n i sm of the the n a ll ru l in g M a gis
such a s
e xhibi te d Zoro a stri a ni sm in multi n um e rous im a ge s
Mithra e Airy a m an H a om a Ve re thr a g ha na Pe re n di N a ir
y o s a ng a V a yu Ush a A ng hit ( f e m a l e divi n ity) Ye za ta ( V e dic
Ya ia ta ) o n e fit to b e a dor e d The though t of m a n grows from
st a g e to s ta ge a ssi st e d b y n a ture s un a lt e ra b l e l a ws ; a n d
j u st a s from Prim a ry or Pa l a e ozoic a g e civili s a tio n d e v e lop e d
to Po st Te rti a ry or Pl e istoce n e a g e a n d y e t God s e ss e n ce re
m a i n e d in t a ct the slow e volutio n o f Zoro a stri a n ism bulge d out
i n t o a Pa rtho Rom a n cu l t i n flue n ce d by H e ll e nic d e ism a n d
Good a n d Evi l an d D e votio n a n d
s till n o ne th e l e s s A h ur a
A sh a th a t Za ra thu s htra ha d e xpoun d e d in the d a y s of
Gus hta s p r e m a ine d the c e n tra l k e r n e l of the philo sophy of
l if e of a ll tho s e who br e a th e d in the t e rritory of Ira n th a t w a s
in tho s e d a ys
,
-
-
,
—
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
:
.
'
—
,
'
—
,
-
,
,
,
.
Pa rt hi a
b e for e
the
,
the
un c l a im e d
v a st w e ild in g
-
a rm s of Rom e
l a st of the Pa rthi a n ch a o s
AD
.
the
a nd
—
,
a nd
of the re g io n
with it
,
,
th a t Vo la g a s e s
wh e n Arta b a n us f e ll
so ul of P a rthi a s u spired
in gl o ri o u s in the D h a rm a
the
—
of Za ra thus htra
the ology
a
,
a ll
fe ll
the
in 22 6
th a t wa s
llowi n g in gr e ss to
hid de n rhythm of Za ra thus htra of the Ac hoe m e n ia n
e
poch
.
6
M ITHRAISM
It w a s Mithra i sm th a t ha d e n gro s s e d the c a ptiv e mi n d of
m a n o f the we s te rn divi sio n of A si a of the p re Arte khs ha tra
d a ys ; a n d it ha d spr e a d a ll ov e r Europ e wi th the idolistic
pa ssio n s of the H e ll e n ic pri e st s so we ll d e pict e d by Bulw ar
Ly tto n in o n e of his fa mous n ov e l s ( L a st D a ys of Pomp e ii )
Mi thr a howe v e r still a vi si b l e li n k b e twe e n the Un m a n ife st e d
the pi n i n g soul of m a n
a nd
In the G e e t a ( l l th A d hy a y a )
"
"
Kri sh n a d e t e rmi n e s d e votio n to the High e st a s the Nirv a na
of the d e vote e s though he do e s n o t co n d e m n th a t to
the M a n ife s t D a e v a ; a n d so the Mithr a ic cult still pr e s e rv e d
Ahura a s the c e n tra l gov e rn or a n d co n trol l e r o f the whol e
cre a tio n though He w a s un obt a i n a bl e e ve n by the mos t
imp a ssio n e d of d e vot ee s
—
‘
"
,
—
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
.
of Horm uz ( 226) A D i n st a l l e d A rd a shir e
Pa p a k a n the foun d e r of the S a s s a n i a n e mpire o n the Pe rsi a n
thro n e who s e wi n gs ha d n ow spre a d ov e r t e rritorie s va st e r
th an wh e re the l a st D arius o f the A c hoe m e ni a n s ha d l e ft
A rd a shir s e t a foo t imm e di a te ly 1 n the midst of hi s r a mbli n g
pre occup a tio n s a tru e a n d sou n d syst e m of Zoro a stri a n fa ith
W it h
e rs twhil e w e a k e n e d o n a ll sid e s by corrupt i n flu e n c e s
such a s the Ari stocr a cy
the h e lp of the privil e ge d c e n tr e s
a nd
the Pri e s tly commu n ity he
op e n e d a c a m p a ign of
di ffusi n g a n d dilu ti n g h a bits b a s e d o n Zoro a stri a n th e ism
"
S a n t a y a n a r e m a rks
Civilis a tio n ha s hith e rto
and
as
co n sis te d in the diff usio n a n d dilutio n of h a b its a ri sin g in
"
privil e ge d cl a ss e s
Ard a shir g a v e a n imp e tus to the birth
of a n e w thi nk i n g bo th r e l ig iously a n d soci a lly a n e w
civili s a tio n a s if out of the old sh a tt e re d cra gs of a brok e n
tim e Wi th n e w c ulture thro ug h f a ciliti e s for the g rowth a nd
tr a n smi s sio n of k n ow l e dge m an ne rs an d arts the first of the
"
S a ss a ni a n s coll e ct e d toge th e r a n umb e r of Te a ch e rs of Goo d
"
The M a gi figure d p romi n e n tly in thi s co n voc a tio n
Re ligi on
for th e y we r e in the l e a din g stri n gs of the whol e r e ligious move
m e n t good b a d a nd i n di ffe re n t Ard a shir wa nt e d to e xc a va t e
the Good u n d e r l yi n g M a gi ism a voi d i n g the u g l y p rotub e
The
Ba ttl e
-
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
‘
,
—
,
'
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
~
-
,
'
r a n ce s th a t ha d e a te n in to the ve ry V i ta l s of the n obl e st h ea l
thy spirit o f the M a st e r Th e y k ne w D e mocr a cy in thos e d a ys
b e tt e r tha n wh a t w e a re fo ll o win g out in th e s e d a ys of Bl a ck
Marke t a nd Hun t For Powe r ; a n d so Ard a shir c a l l e d a Co un ci l
of the N a tio n out o f which to e le ct a Coll e ge of chos e n M a gi
The firs t A ss e mb l y of the M a gi w a s th u s so sci e n ific a lly
t
co n vok e d th at a full co nfid en ce w a s i n spir e d in the a c tio n
of Ard a shir towa r d s r e viva l of the d e a d e n e d s an iti e s o f
Za ra thus htra s origin a l cr ee d
By hi s holy spirit a n d by
Be st Thought D e e d a nd Word in a ccord an c e with Bight
Ma zd a Ahura with Domi n io n a n d Pi e ty sh a ll gi ve us We lfare
Ya s n a
An d Be s t Thought the prim e
Immort a lity
a nd
ge n e si s of m a n ki n d b e g a n first to b e v e n tila t e d a ft e r 1 5 0 0
yea rs of s e p a ra tio n of Ir ani a n s from th e ir gre a t Proph e t The
re sults of the co n voc a tio n w e r e re m ark a b l y fe rt il e in a s m u c h
a s a re d ivivu s of Zoroa stri a n ism through the St a t e b e c a m e a
s e ttl e d f a c t M ithr a the prot e ctor of the Ro m a n Empire ha d
s e rious l y d a m a ge d the l i n gu i stic sch e m e of thi ngs a s pr e vai li ng
the n a nd Av a s ta wa s di s a strou s ly crippl ed
Ard a shir ga ve
a nd lurid lights of
a n imp e tu s to the r e v iv a l of the l a n g ua ge
the birth p an gs of Pa ha la vi Pa rtha va b e g an to b e first vi sib l e
No p re lim i
in the co m e rs of the Co n voc a tio n of the M a gi s
typ e un d e r m e nti o n h e r e h a ve
na ry co nfe r e n c e s o i the
e volv e d fi n a l pl a n s of b e li e f a n d so Ard a s hir s first A ss e mbly
c o u ld ha rdl y a chi e v e a fi n a lity in the dir e c tio n of hi s a mbi
tio n s ; but the mo st s a l i e n t fe a t ur e w a s the u na lt e ra b l e
d irec tio n give n to the p e opl e th a t h e n ce fo rwa rd Zoro a stri an ism
wa s to b e r e stor e d to its origin a l pri sti ne purity
‘
,
.
’
-
-
.
'
'
.
,
,
,
,
,
'
—
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.
.
.
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,
,
—
-
,
'
.
,
'
,
.
ARDAVIRAF
r viv l the s a i n t
Ard a vira f the first produ c t of
l i e st of s a i n ts of thos e r e n ova t e d tim e s b e c a m e Go d d e di c a t e d
an d he fe ll in a divi n e tr a n c e for ful l o n e we e k wh e n he
He bore the spirit ua l
dr ea m t the dre a m o f the immort a l s
b u rde n s of Ya g n a for the r e viva l of Zoro a st e r in the l a nd n o w
the n e w
,
a
e
—
-
.
,
.
re d e e m e d from
sou l wa n d e re d
h a n ds of d e te rior a t e d tim e Hi s ra tio n a l
whol e worl d a n d through the
ar o un d the
the
.
,
8
a nd
i n fi n ity ,
the
void
it
g
z
d
i
to
co
sid
r
d
n
e
a
e n comp a ssi n g
O
n
e
n
e
h
dd
U
iv
rs
e
n
t
h
e
i
o
f
d
str
u
tio
s
re
birth
s
d
n
a
n
c
e
p e riodi c
e
e
a
scri
b
s
b
c
m
e
t
e
t
h
e pri s ly
e
a
t
c
w
ki
g
t
xt
di
t
d
to
h
e
e
t
h
e
his a a n
t
e
h
i
l
it
r
a
f
v
r
a
A
d
m
Zoro
tri
an is
s
a
o
e
n
n
u
horiz
d
rsio
of
e
v
e
the a t
t
n
p
rs
ec
u
i
o
e
r
ligio
u
s
e
a
n
e
a
n
d
a
ir
lo
si
d
d
A
rd
shir
b
g
ea
ce
n
ng
f e
f
e r in g p ea c e
Right
o
u
s
s
s
o
f
e
n
e
o f the Chri sti an s the s word of
e
a
e
e
mo
oth
ism
r
v
l
d
e
n
e
a
p ur
to whom so e v e r sought through
,
e e
n
.
—
,
,
-
.
,
—
a
s
e
n
t
h
e
a
n
d
dictum
Co
si
d
r
l
t
a
r
thro
the a
n
e
Ard a s hir s
e
e
a
n
o
n
e
s
p
r
bl
th
y
must
l
w
y
sust
oth
r
A
sov
i
n
s
a
a
a
e
in e a a e ;
"
r e ign wi thout re ligio n i s a tyr an t
gr e a tly in flu e n c e d the
policie s of r e l a tio n ship b e tw e e n the S ta te a n d the Church in
h
e First
t
a
n
o
d
a
n
s
d
ys
of
hi
s
v
li
t
suc
s
sor
Sh
hpoor
c
e
a
n
a
the
a
'
.
,
,
.
,
of a m ul ti ph a s e d Chri sti anity
n ic
e
e
a
n
l
n
u
a
l
c
holici
sm
ridd
rough
shod
b
y
i
f
sio
of
H
ll
en
at
a
s ta r worship In ord e r to wre n ch a w a y the p eo pl e o n the we st
fr om th e ir c rud e form s of b e li e f to the o n ly Right e o u s Pa th of
Za ra thu s htra w a rs m u st b e fought with the Rom a n s ; a nd
t hough Sh a hpoor did n o t d e cl a r e le hha d upo n Rom e y e t wi th
o ut t e rri tori a l a ggr a n dis e m e n t the Rom an s m a d e vigoro u s by
a rduous physic a l co n di tio n s of lif e y e t brut a lis e d by the powe r
o f a low form of r e ligious b e li e f cou l d n o t b e wea n e d ov e r to
Hi story i s a proce ss of
th e divi n e Ash a o f the r e viv e d cr ee d
re b a rb a ris a tio n ; an d the Rom a n s dr iv e n by i n c r ea si n g e xige n
"
cie s of surviv a l ha d l e ft th e ir n a tive ha bit a t a n d ha d mov e d
d own upo n the l e s s v igoro u s p e op l e in th e ir n e ighbourhood
"
ha d c o n qu e re d disp l a ce d a n d e ve n a b sorb e d th e m
Rom e w a s the
s ea t
o
the n
—
-
-
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
'
,
,
,
,
.
,
SHAH PO OR 1
Why shou l d n o t Sh a hpoo r the n co n qu e r the i l l e gitim a t e
c o n que rors but for the e st a b l i shm e n t of the kin g d om of Goo d
Thought ? He op e n e d thr e e c a m p a ign s a ga in s t the Rom a n s A D
e n de d w ith O d e n a thus o f P a l myr a
2 4 1 to 263
a n d c a rri e d
h om e to the r eg io n of the Mithra is the a we in spir in g v e rd i c t
a ha la vi i n scripti on a t Na ks ha e
e mb odi ed in the fo ll ow i ng P
,
.
—
,
'
-
9
R a ia b
Thi s i s the im a ge of the Ormo z worshipp e r the Go d
Sh a hpoor ki n g of ki n gs Ary a n a nd n o n Arya n of the r a ce of
the Gods s o n o f the Orm a zd worshipp e r the God Arda shir
Kin g of Ki ngs Arya n of the ra c e o f the Go d s the o ff spri ng of
the God Pa p ak the Kin g
z
-
.
,
-
,
,
-
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
Whil e the A ss e mbly of the Ma gi s a rd u ously a ssist e d by
b a nds of d e vo te d Mo b e d s w a s succ e s sfully cl e a n si n g the
Aug e a n s ta bl e s the s a cre d Te mpl e s of Fir e lif te d th e ir sp ire s
i n to the l ofty fl a m e o f the Et e rn a l a n d the i n d e stru ctibl e spirit of
Nush Ad a r b e g a n to a sc e n d the gold e n s te p s of Zoro a s tri a n ism
It i s n o t a s much the n umb e rs of t e mpl e s of worship a s the
sph e r e of physic a l co n qu e st of va st l a n ds towa rds the we st th a t
w ill a pprov e the spr ea d of Zoroa stri a n l ight d uri n g an d imm e
d ia te ly a ft e r the r e ign of Sh a hpoor Christi a n ity b e g a n to tott e r
though i t did n ot f a l l ; Mithra ism b e g a n to b e di sfi gur e d though
it did n o t cea s e its powe r a n ci e n tly e s ta b l ish e d In the compl ex
o f politic a l r e volutio n s th a t w e r e b e i n g r a pid l y c a u s e d n o
h a rmo ni ous history of a r e ligio u s r e viv a l could n a tur a l ly b e
re a d Bu t th a t l a rge m a ss e s of sub j e c t r a c e s w e re e m b r a ci n g
the ho l y cr e e d of Za ra thu s htra could b e v e r ifi e d from the wid e n
It w a s the Chri st
i n g of g e ogr a phic a l sph e r e un de r Sh a hpoor
”
"
of the b a rb a ri a n th a t ha d h e ld in his clu tch e s the i n te r re gn um
but
o f the Ary a n socie ty a ft e r the s n a p of the ch a i n a t I ssus
wh e n the S a ss a n i a n s st e pp ed on the thr e sho l d the n a t ur a l
thought of m a n a dv e n tur e d in a l a byri n th of a n a lysis a n d
discove r e d b e hi n d the pr e v a ilin g form s of soci e ty the re a l
in d ivi du a l Dive st e d of its n orm a l fun ctio n the tho u ght turn e d
i nwa rd a n d di s c ove r e d the s e lf The origina l i ndividu a l m a n i
te st e d through the dust a n d a sh e s of the un Zoro a stri a n force s
a nd the t o
rre n t w a s u n ch e ck e d
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
.
-
-
,
,
,
,
.
.
—
,
.
MA N ICHEISM
Chri sti a n ity a n d Mi thr a i sm we r e op e n fo e s to co n te s t
a g a i n st but th e r e w a s a ne w p e ril
M an ich e ism th a t r a i s e d its
d an ge rous h ea d a ga i n st the i nfa n t e ffo rt of Zoro a s tri a n i sm
n o t a cr e e d but a ph a n t a sy n o t a b e li e f but a c an t mor e tu tored
o ut of the soul of pov e rty th a n cu ltiv a t e d a s a pri n cipl e of f a i th
—
,
,
,
.
10
Ma ni ( M a n e s )
A l b a run i puts down hi s birth in 2 1 5 A D
-
,
.
.
l i mp in g s chol a r of
,
a
m e a n r e put e formu l a t e d a formu l a of
"
divi ne life Brie fly p u t M a n i ch e ism w a s an a dm ixture of the
"
l igh t a n d the da rkn e s s which giv e ri s e to the m a t e ri a l u n iv e rs e
w a s e s s e n ti a lly e vil a n d a r e sult o f the a ctivity of the po we r s
of e vil
The whol e u n iv e rs e would coll a p s e a n d the fi n a l
co n fl a gr a tio n would m a rk the r e d e mptio n of the l ight a n d its
fi n a l dis soci a tio n from the irre d e e m a bl e a nd i n d e stru ctib l e
d a rk n e s s
The philo sophic a l i n te rpr e ta tio n of the e so te ric in
e v e ry r e ligious cr e e d ha s history prov e s c ap t u re d the sou l of
the rud e u n tr a i n e d a n d the h e rd a m o n g m a n ki n d for it c a p
ture s the im a gi n a tio n of the m a ss e s an d the b a ll i s r ap idly s et
rollin g M a n i ha d l a id down a bro a d b a si s for the i n t e rpre t a
tio n of hi s id e a s ; a n d ch e ri sh e d Za ra thu s htra C hr i st a n d
Buddh a
he ha d vi sit e d Chi n a Tib e t a n d I n di a duri n g hi s
p e re gri n a tio n s a s gre a t m e ss e n g e rs Ma n i b e c a m e a ckno w
l e dg e d a s a pio n e e r of a n e w f a ith a s fa r a s Tib e t a n d Chi n a
o n th
e a st to Europ e o n the w e st Sa m a rc a n d a n d Ba bylo n i a
turn e d out to b e the sh e lt e rin g ho u s e for the n e w m e ssi a h a t
the l a st pl a c e of which the M a n ich e a n Pop e h e ld suz e ra i n ty for
m a n y c e n turi e s Sh a hpoor too w a s c ap ture d by his e n a mour
in g i n t e rpr e t a tio n s of the th e ory of Good a n d Evil Ch a stity an d
Pove rty a s virtue s for s e lf r e n un ci a tio n
In the ge n e r a l re l i
g io u s r e viv a l wh e n Sh a hpoor w a s motiv a t e d by high e r i d e a l s
a n d purpo s e he w e lcom ed M a n i in hi s co u rt
But he r e s e n t e d
it l a t e r Za ra thu s htra b e i n g d e ni e d Proph e thood a n d r e l e g a t e d
o nl y to a corn e r of a m e s s e n ge r c a te g o ry in g with Christ an d
Buddha
He ha rd l y di smis s e d him from hi s pre s e n ce e re he
di e d l ea vi n g the un ce rt a in t a sk of a c c e ptin g him a s a
m e ssi a h to hi s more imp e tuous succ e ssor Horm a zd who
ve n e ra t e d him a n d ga ve him cordi a l r e ce ptio n a t his co urt
M a n i soo n ga i ne d a dva n t a ge th e re from a n d he I ea p t fo rward
to foun di n g a s e ct n a m e d a ft e r him la t e r on
no
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
'
.
,
,
—
,
,
,
—
.
e
.
,
,
,
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whil e Chri sti an ity the to dd l in g b a b e of t im e b ec am e
irr e m e di a bly fa scin a t e d by M a n i a n d M a n i s un d a un te d
pre a chi n gs so th a t the whol e of M e sopot a mi a the glo ry o f
the ea st of th o se tim e s
the Sa viour o f
as
a cce pt e d him
But
,
—
,
12
Pyth a gore an ism an d n eo P l a toni sm a re prea ch e rs of Ma n i
"
Whoso
c h e a n philo sophy of lif e
The 45 th Y a sn a s ay s
th e r e for e in the fu ture lightly e s te e m e th the Da e v a s a n d tho s e
m ort a l s who lightly e st e e m him e v e n a ll oth e rs s a v e th a t
who highly e s te e m e th him unto him sh a ll the holy
on e
s e l f of the futur e S a o shya n t
( D e live r e r) a s Lord of the hous e
M a n i b e c am e
b e fri e n d or broth e r or f a th e r O M a z d a Ahur a
a
p art of Zoro a s tri a n polity e v e n a ft e r its tot a l b a n i shm e n t
Extra c t good
w ith force e ve n upto the d ay s of Na o s hirwan
f rom the wor l d to p u t M a ni in a n u s he ll th a t sm a ck s of
s a ys Za ra thu s htra
e cl e ctic commun i sm of the 2 0 th c e n tury ;
"
”
b a n ish e vil from the world
This pol ari ty of e thics must
f e ud in l e ss sci e n ti fic thin k in g of the tim e s b u t
a
c r ea t e
Ho rm a s d is duri n g on e ye a r of his r e ign fully e n cour a ge d the
grow th of M a n ich e i sm he j oi n e d the e n ds of the pol e s in the
circl e of his a u thority
Apollo ni us w a s simil a rly tr e a t e d in
Gree c e a n d the a c c e pt e d a gn o sticism u nde r l y in g hi s th ought
re d e m p
c a m e to be r e a li s e d a s gold e n gn o s ticism for he s a id
"
t io n w a s to be so u ght from f a ls e hood a n d ign or a n c e
a nd
nO P
rop he t e a rth ha s g i v e n b irth to
ha s d e e p e n e d f a l s e hood
an
Though Ma n ich e ism w a s progr e ssiv e
d cloud e d light
thought the Zoro a stri an mo n archs the ari sto cr a c y a n d the
f e uda l b a sis of the mo n a rchi c syst e m could i l l a ff ord to che rish
thi s sort of Stoicism e xce pt a t the p e r il of the who l e e mpir e in
the a c t of slow but s te a dy d e v e lopm e n t Ag a i n the S a ss a n i a n s
h a d 0 ; virtuous ob li ga tio n to di sch a rge to the growin g co n qu e sts
o f the w e st
Pa rthi a Ba by l o n ia Ch a l dea A ssyri a Me sopo
t a m i a Iran a n d e v e n p art s of the gre at Rom a n Empir e a n d
t h e r e for e a mo n a stic Ma n ich e i sm ill comp a r e d with a cqui si
tio n of m a t e ri a l powe r
the j ust a m bition of a fr e sh co n qu e ror
"
Our progre s s is but the s urf a c e turbu l e n ce of a s ea whic h
in its d e p ths i s ch a n ge l e ss a nd still
U topia s are the e th e re a l
p o e m s with which o ur s e n sitive so u l s a n a e sth e tiz e th e ms e lv e s
a ga i n st the c a ustic op e r a tio n s which life a n d d e a th p e rform
u po n us
But a stro n g powe r wi ll t a k e its W ou n ds witho u t
a n odyn e ; or if it n ee d s forge tf ul n e ss
it wi l l imm e rs e its e l f in
the pr e s e nt a n d its ro u tine d e t a i l s
t a kin g n o thought of
h um a n ity s to morrows
Wh a t i s ha s b e en a n d will b e On ly
-
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'
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‘
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-
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13
f a shio n s ch a n g e
M a n ich e ism w a s a n u topi a it l e nt but a
surfa ce turbul e n c e to the progr e ss of Z a r at hus tra s f a i th th a t
w a s slowly b e i n g u sh e re d in un d e r the so n s of S a ss a n
.
,
'
.
BEHRAM S RIGIDIT Y
'
Be hr a m
the
imp e ri a l ist s u cc e ssor 4ih in the dyna s ty
re a lis e d th a t a profe ssio n like th a t of hi s pred e ce ssor Horma s
d is in s e rious M a n ich e ism would r e v e rs e the a sc e n di n g d e s ti n y
of hi s glorious for e be a rs Ard a shir mus t k e e p b a ck Al e x a nd e r
S e ve ru s Sh a hpoor m u st bri n g V a l e ri an to hi s kn e e a nd still
m a ny re a l m s we r e to b e m a d e p a rt s of the Pe rsi a n Empire
a nd th a t cou l d b e
do n e o nl y with st e a dyi ng the mi n d of
Ir a n o n the pure doctri n e of Za ra thu s htra a n d so by b a n ish
in g Ma n i a n d a ll hi s ob n oxious p a ra ph e rn a l i a
It is Chri s
”
"
tia n is e d
Zoro a stri a n ism e xcl a im e d Be hra m
Zoro a s tri a n ism
i s e quiv a l e n t to Good Ahura is e n tir e l y Good ; Ahrim a n ha s
"
hi s provi n c e u n d e r the sh a d e of Evi l
M a ni w a s fou nd by
the M a gis in the ful n e ss of th e ir coun s e l a nd wisdom to b e
This giv e s
e ss e n ti a lly a n a dmixture of Light a n d D a rk n e ss
Ligh t a nd Da krn e s s c a nn o t
ris e to a m a te ri a l u n ive rs e
co e xi st
Light must fre e its e l f from D a rkn e s s
And Man i
mus t th e r e fore p a y by hi s ve ry life the si n s he ta u ght to
m a n ki n d striki ng a t the roo ts of a s a cre d Zoro a st ri a ni sm
An d M a n i w a s p u t to a mo s t e xcru c i a ti n g d e a th by imp e ri a l
ord e rs
M a n i pre a ch e d the n e ce ssi ty of f a s ti ng a n d of
birth co n tro l a s food a n d m a rri a g e we re to him the p ro p a
Za ra thus htra o ut of whos e doctri n e
ga tors o i vice in m an
w e e b or n e mpire build e rs lik e Gus hta s p a n d Lo hra s p like
Cyrus an d D a ri u s the First l ik e Ard a shir an d Sh a hpoor cou ld
Brown e j us tly
n o t a cc e pt M a n i e v e n o n the m a t e ri a l p l a n e
re m a rks in his fa mous Hi story of Pe rsi a The whol e u n ive rse
would coll a p s e a nd the fi na l co n fl a gr a tio n would m a rk the
R e d e mptio n of the Light a nd its fi n a l di ssoci a tio n from the
"
i rr e m e di a bl e a nd i nd e stru c tib l e D ark n e ss if Ma ni c a m e i n to
powe r
—
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,
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-
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-
o
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'
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.
M a zd a is the prim e i n a u gu ra tor a nd f a th e r of the e thic a l
ord e r o f cr e a tio n the c r e a tor of Voh u Ma n o the fa shio ne r of
,
,
1 43
love l y Arm a iti an d Kh sha thra ( Ga tha s ) In a n othe r so n g
of the Ga tha s wi th Arm a iti true b e li e f i s un i te d A sh a
right e ous n e s s
P l ut ar ch c a lls Arm a iti cre a tor o f w is d om
She i s a ccor di n g to tr a di tio n the gu a rdi a n spirit or d e ity of
"
the e a rth the
solici tous good Mo th e r E a rth
How could
"
M a n ich e ism a n a dmixture of Light with Da r kn e ss
a tch
t he s e r e n e purity of ori g i n a l sci e n c e of Zara thus htra a s he
t a u ght in the Ga tha s ?
the
.
:
z
,
,
.
.
,
,
m
,
A M a n i d e a d should n o t e xp e ct to shoot up the l igh tful
tr e ss of Zoro a str i a ni sm i n the swirli n g curl s of popul ar thought
Be hra m di e d the s a m e y e a r a s his Rom a n oppo ne n t A ure l i a n
who ha d pl a nn e d a n in v a sio n upo n Pe rsi a thro u gh By zan
tium which if s u cc e s sf ul a s l ik e ly it might h a v e b e e n d ue to
the
c rip p le d
milit a ry r e source s of Pe rsi a
wou l d h a v e
i mp e rill e d the r e viv a l of Zoro a stri a n ism a t the h a n d of
a n oth e r fo e lik e M a ni ch e i sm
in the form of n eo Rom a n cu lt
Be hr a m II foun d in the Rom a n s a n d Arm e ni a n s a comb in e d
e n e my who must b e b a ffl e d e re the st a n d a rd of Zar a thus htra
could b e hur l e d flyi n g in the f a c e of a n opposin g wor ld the
S a ss a n i a n s h a vi n g un iv e rs a lly de c ri e d the n a tio n a l r e l i gio n
of A m e n i a b a s e d a s it w a s upo n im a g e worship such a s of
the Sun a n d the Moo n
So lo n g a g o a s 2 0 0 B C Va la rs a c e s
the Arm e n i a n C hi e ft a i n ha d e r e ct e d this sort of d e vo tio n to
the e arthly god s a n d godd e s s e s ; a n d wh e n Tirid a te s w a s
support ed by the Rom a n s in hi s c l a im fo r Arm e n i a n thro n e,
he succ e d e d in his e ff ort un t il a t l a st N a rs e s the succ e s sor of
Be hr a m I II a n d a d e sc e n d a n t of Sh a hpoor I l ost a goo dl y
p art of a cq ui sitio n s of the pr e vio u s h e roi c S a s s a nia n p ri nc es
a t the h a n d of the Rom a n Ga le riu s
s
.
,
,
,
‘
-
.
,
,
r
-
,
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,
.
WARS AGAIN
Aga i n Pe rsi a fe ll a nd the Rom an pri n ce Diocl e ti a n ha d the
supre m e h a n d in the compl e x co n fli ct b e twe e n Pe rsi a a n d
The st a rs of Ir a n s d e sti n y w e r e s wa y e d by the
Rom e
c h a n gi n g gloom of Ch a n c e
a n d Bi sm a rck ha s writt e n wis e l y
"
t o Vo l t a ir e
The old e r o n e b e com e s the mor e o n e i s
,
,
'
.
,
—
,
P
lo
th a t Hi s S a cr e d Ma j e sty Ch a n c e do e s
of the
"
work of thi s mis e r a bl e u nive rs e
Ch a n ce r a is e s the st ars of
I ra n o n ce a ga in a n d a ft e r Sh a hpoor I c om e s the s e co n d
Sha hpoor 3 0 9 3 80 a n d a g a i n w a rs if n o t of re ligio n y e t thos e
i n spir e d b y a spiritu a l c a us e a re w a ge d a g a i n st the Rom a n s
the
e
a
an
a n d n o w a g a n s t the risi n g r a c e of Ar a b s
M sopot mi s
Duri n g his lo n g r e ign he b a ttl e d a g a i n s t Chris ti a n ity so vigo
ro u s ly prop a g a t e d un d e r the powe rfu l p a tro n a g e of Co n s ta n
ti n e a n d Iuli a n a n d a ga in st I sl a m a mo n g who s e d e votee s he
ha d e a r n e d the ho n orific ti tl e of Zul Ak ta i the Lord of the
Should e rs for he ti e d the Ar a b s by the n e ck b y b ori n g hol e s
through th e ir should e rs through which a lo n g rop e could p a ss
Primu s e s t vive m e a n i n g life com e s first s a ys a L a ti n pro
v e rb a n d e v e ry n a tio n a s e v e ry i ndividu a l m a i n t a i n s its e l f
in h e a lthy lif e b e for e a n ythi n g e ls e
p e rsu a d e d
.
—
-
,
,
i
.
O
~
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,
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,
.
SHAH POO R II
How did the n a tio n re build u n d e r Sh a hpoor II? It
Zoro a stri a ni sm we re to b e re g e ne ra t e d in its origi na l purity it
must g e t st a t e a id j ust a s Co n st a n ti ne ha d a dopt e d Chri sti a n ity
a s St a t e r e ligio n a n d he w a s bold l y c a rryi n g out the po l i tic a l
b e h e sts s o fa r a s the Church w a s co n ce r n e d Un itin g the Church
with the St a t e Sh a hpoor followe d o ut his illustrious pr e d e
c e s sor Ard a s hir s a dmo n i tio n to hi s s o n The Roy a l Cour t
Sh a h N a m e h w a s to con si st of Mub a d a n
a ccordi n g to the
Muba d the High Pri e s t Buzurg Form a t a r Chi e f Mi n i s te r I a n
Comm a n d e r in Chi e f Ir a n Da p ira t Se cre ta ry of
Sip a hp at
S ta te Va s try o s a n p a t Mi n i ste r of Agricultu e La w w a s re c
ko n e d to b e a n i n t e gr a l p a rt of r e ligio n The pr e sidi n g j udge
Sra o s hv a re z w a s a r e ligious uphold e r of j us tic e Wh e n o a ths
we re t a k e n in the court both Roya l a nd Judici a l th e y w e r e
t a k e n in the n a m e s of Ho rm a zd Vo hum a n A rd e b e he s ht Za
S a ro sh Ra s hna e tc Ev e n Ard a shir I w a s a lw a ys
ra thu s htra
gu id e d by the a dvice give n by hi s trust e d High Pri e st Da s
toor Ta n s a r Ad a rb a d Ma ha re s p a n d a tt a i n e d to the Prim e
Min i st e rship of the St a t e in the d a ys of Sh a hpoor 1 1
His
ho l i n e ss w a s mir a culous l y prove d by the burn i ng molte n
-
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-
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r
—
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16
m e t a l poure d o n his br e a st to prove th a t the Z oro a stri a n
cr ee d he a dh e r e d to a n d he pr e a ch e d w a s Ahura i n spire d
—
.
Frob a Go s ha sp Burzin Me h e r ( a cc or d i ng to Mi noi Khira d)
we re bur n t a s the thr ee p a tron Fir e s for the Pri e st l y commun ity
n o n e could pr e t e n d the virtu e s he ta ught e v e ryo n e ha d to
prove th e m by hi s de e d s o gre a t w a s the discip l i ne of the
soul a n d of the mi n d A h ur a thro ugh Fir e w a s the una l t e ra b l e
cre e d n o t the M ithra ic fir e th a t w a s the g od its e l f Fird a u si
”
wa r n e d hum a n i ty th e r e fore tha t the y ( Pe rsia n s ) we re n o t
worshipp e rs of fire but the y we re worshipp e rs of the o ne
The court of the S a ss a n i a n s w a s n o t pri e st
tru e Ya zd a n
domin a t e d a s the Hin du c o u rt with the Bra hm a na s i n st a lled
the p a n th eo n of cl a s s worship ; b u t it w a s gu id e d by
as
re ligious co n ce pt s o n e v e ry St a t e m a tte r so th a t the high e s t
a n d b e st d e cis io n cou l d b e a rriv e d a t
Re a d Ard a vira f Ad a r
b a d Ma re sp a n d Buza ri M e h e r a n d yo u fi n d ho ne ye d go l d
droppi ng out of th e ir lip s wi sdom a n d truth The Mun i s the
G e e t a si n gs of we re the guid e s a n d dir e ctors of the St a t e s
So we r e the wi s e m e n of the court s of S a ss a n pri n ce s
“
,
,
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'
In the
o n l y p e rso n a lity coun ts
s a y s Go e th e a n d
the cl a ss e s we re a l so e qu a lly i n fl u e n c e d by the spiritu a lity o f
the wis e m e n of the cou rt of Sh a hpoor so th a t th e re w e r e
thr ee c l a ss e s Buza rg a n e ld e rs Aza ta n = g ra n d ee s Va sh
fe ud a l l ords
Fre e dom w a s e n sure d to a ll the s e
p uhrg a n
a nd e ve n
Wom a n w a s fre e Shire e n the wi fe of Khusra o
Pa rviz pl a y e d polo ; a n d th e n m a rri a g e w a s a compul sio n in
the soci a l l a ws of the S a ss a n i a n s
With a bro a d b a s e d an d
s u ch a highly l a id o ut soci e ty wh a t could n o t b e do n e by the
p e opl e for th e ir mo n a rchs ? Sh a hpoor w a s a ccordi n gly
”
"
the comp a n io n of the st ars
a ppl a ud e d a s
broth e r of the
"
s un a n d the moo n
Khusr a o Pa rviz w a s e xtoll e d a s the
"
"
immort a l m a n a mo n g the gods
Ya th a r a j a t a th a pra j a
i s a n o l d a d a ge a mo n g the po l iti c a l s ha s tris o f the A rya n s
a n d the S a ss a n i a n s a ft e r th e ir co n qu e sts upo n th e ir oppo n e n t s
m a d e the who l e cou ntry o ne u n ity b a s e d upo n the sci e n c e of
God
e nd
,
,
—
z
,
,
z
.
t—
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17
Mithra Ana hita
W it h S ha hp oor the ch ie f Yaza ta s we re
Sra o s ha
a nd
A s ha
'
m an s s oul
3 1
an d
D ru i
rul ed
the
,
tw o
Wh a te ve r op e n or s e cre t thin gs
.
"
c
o nt inen ts
ma y b e visit ed with j ud gm e n t or wh a t ma n for
de ma n d s the h ea vi e st p e na l ty —
th o u art obs e rvi ng t h e m with
of
s a ys the Ya sn a
"
,
.
a
li ttl e
s in
o f a ll
thi s thro ugh the righ t
"
"
a shin g e y e
T ha t be in g the
do c trine in de p t h o f va lue Sh a hpoor b e c a me the v e rit a b l e
e n e my o f Chri sti a n ity
Co n sta n ti ne the fo un de r of the im
m orta l Co ns t an tin op le o i m a ny a po l iti c a l quarre l b e twee n
n at io n s of thi s e a rth w a s the l ea din g l ight of C hr isti a nity th e n
co n te mpora ne ous wi th Sh a hpoor ; a nd u nl e s s Sh a hpoor d e fe a t
e d him Zara thus htra w ou l d n o t b e the suz e ra i n in the e mp ir e he
w a s stre n u o u s l y re vivin g But the gre a t Rom a n di e d a na
Tirid a te s the Arme ni an c onve rt to C hri s ti anity
tura l dea t h
too ha d d i e d in 3 1 4 A D Sh a hpoor i nva d e d the t e rritori e s of
the s u cce s sors of b o t h the a bo ve a nd af t e r vary i ng s uc c e ss e s o f
e ight yea rs of lon g wars he re turne d t o his na tive l a nd wh e n
he l a id d o wn rig i d l a ws for C hris ti a ns— in fa c t it wa s a po l i c y
o f p e rse c u tio n th a t he l a id out in o r de r t o g i ve a qu i c k p a c e d
imp e t u s t o a ll tha t ha d s o fa r b ee n re vive d by his p red ec es
sors in the dire ctio n of Zoro a stri a n ism a s we ll a s to d e ve lop
it n o w th a t som e of the mo st ob n oxious imp e dim e nts in the w a y
ha d b e e n s l ow l y a n d st e a dily m e lti n g a wa y Chri sti a n ity w a s
fa st b ec omi n g the c e n tra l co ngr eg a tion of a ll a n ti f orc e s po l iti
c a lly sp ea k ing in the e a s t an d if a b u i lder o f ne w civil isa ti o n
l ike S ha hpo o r ind i c a ted a ny s l a c kne s s his ve ry e mpire w ould
The re fore he m u st fight his
b e in a p re j udic ia l p o s iti on
e ll he mu st te rro ri se his
t
l
i
l
t
l
w
b
u
a
s
h
d
o
n
o
n
c
m
t
i
a
t
e
o
c
a
e
s
b
p
e n e m i e s o n the oth e r e ve n by goi ng the l e n gth of p e rs ec u tio n
o f C h risti anity
The Ro ma n s we re p a ss i ng through a c ris is
O s wa ld Sp e ngl e r has a t one p l a ce fore se e n the
o f de c ay
"
Y
u
o
h
sa
e
e
e
a
n
d
t
h
i
si
o
D
l
i
F
ll
o
W
st
s
f
a
n
ec
e
a
n
d
t
h
y
o
f
e
v
n
I se e in y o u a ll the ty p i ca l sti g m a t a o f dec ay
are dea d
Yo u r in s t it ution s yo ur de mo c r a c y yo u r corr upti on yo ur
gigan ti c c iti e s y o ur s c i e n ce y o ur an yo ur soc i a l ism yo u r
re p re
c
a
t
a
e
m
m
r
a
t
h
i
o
p
h
i
lo
o
h
y
v
ou
t
h
i
s
e
n
e
s
u
r
s
m
y
a e
p
y
i
n
f
c
e
o
a
n
a
e
s
i
t
n
h
o
h
z
d
g
t
g
s
t
d
r
i
e
e
c
t
ara
e
t
c
y
cis ely th se tha
.
,
.
,
,
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,
-
,
,
-
,
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,
,
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,
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,
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,
,
,
,
,
18
t
s ta e s
se at
An oth e r ce nt ury
.
fa r from you
s
and c i vil i a tio n
wil l h a ve fo un d he r
Thi s is yo ur A l e x an dri an a g e
.
.
Ho w a dap tibly true a bo u t Ho me of Sha hp o or s day s "
Wha t
A kib in his ce l e br a t e d A c t s q u ot e s Sh a hpoor e xc la im e l
“
The Chri sti a n s d e stroy o ur ho l y t e a chin g an d t ea ch m e n to
s e rve o ne Go d a n d n o t to ho n o ur the s un or fir e
Th e y t ea c h
t h e m too to d e fi l e wa t e r by th e ir a b lution s f to r e fr a i n fr o m m a r
ri a g e a n d the pro c r ea tio n of c hildre n ; a n d to re fu se to go o ut to
w a r with the Ki n g of Kin gs Th e y h a v e no s c r up l e s a bo u t the
s l a u ght e r a n d e a tin g of a n im a l s ; th e y b u ry the corps e s o f m e n
in the ea rth ; a nd a ttrib u t e the origin of s n a ke s a nd cree p in g
thi ngs to a good Go d Th e y d e spi s e m a n y s e rva n ts of the Ki n g
"
The phi l o sophy o f Zoro a stri a n i sm d iffe r
a n d t e a ch witchc r aft
e d from the a b ove in a s m uc h a s the l a tt e r con si d e re d A h ur a
a n d the u nive rs e a s s e p ara t e the w h o l e a d mi nistra tio n o f the
li vi n g s ub s t an c e v e stin g in the Ame s ha Sp e nta s opp o se d to
Ahri ma n s gro up ; Sra o s ha ob e d ie n c e m a st e ri n g A s ha De s
t in y ru lin g a s powe rfu l Ya za ta s The p e rso n a lity of m a n la y
n o t m F e e l i n g Re a so n a n d Wi l l a s Chri sti a n ity dict a t e d b u t it
a bi de d in Ahu
v ita lity Da e n a = e g o Ba o d ha = p e rc ep tio n A s
for the spirit a nd its d o c trine Sh a hpoor s upport e d the syst e m
o f Urw a n = s o ul so th a t th e re w a s a l so the Ge us h Urwa n
the o x soul
Ha urv a ta t m e a n i ng s a lv a tio n a nd Ame re ta t
m ea n i n g immort a l ity we r e t wo oth e r e n titi e s the S a ss a n ia n s
c on des ce n de d to a dh e re to a s s c i e n tifi c po we r s e n a b l i ng the
Z oro a stri a n mi n d to pur s u e the high e r p a th s of v irtu e Whil e
po n the Son the F a t h e r an d
C hri sti a n ity ta u ght de p e n de nc e u
the H ol y Ghost a s the trio o f s a l va tio n Zoro a s tri a ni s m in it s
d a ys of re viva l e mph a si s e d the n e ce s sity of O n e c an m a k e
"
o r m a r hi s o wn l ife
a d e p e n d e n c e upo n o n e s s e lf for e ith e r
I t corr e spo nds clo se l y to the
a w a y up ward or the r e v e rs e
d o c trin e of Karm a Yoga so highly e xpo u nd e d in the Hi n du
Bo oks of r e l igi o n prin c ip a ll y the Ge e t a
'
,
,
,
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,
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,
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,
,
'
z
z
.
,
,
z
,
,
,
,
-
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
'
—
,
.
,
mb a t b e twe e n the two p a r a ll el c re e ds cou ld
b u t re s ul t in vi ol e nt a c t s o f s up pre ssion a s a po l i c y o f
St a tes the ms e lve s
S hahpoo r inscrib e s the vi rtu e o f his :
A d ire ct
'
n ot
the
.
c oun try
co
.
3
as
follows
”
L
20
fl e d in a ll hi s t e rritori a l a mbitio n s by the H un s a i d in g Sha h
poor ; but the l att e r ha d e qu a l l y to c a rry f ir e a n d sword in to
the h ea rt o f the Hun c oun tri e s ti ll a t l a s t the five provi nc e s
be yon d the Ti g ri s a nd Ni sibi s fe ll to S h a hpoor a nd a s uc c e s s
ful p ea ce w a s sign ed w ith R o m e
thre e ye ars be fore
Sh ahpoor di e d A mmi an u s Ma r ce ll i nu s the Ro man his t o ri a n
c o mm e n ti n g o n the g re a t P e rsi a n mo n arch ha s the foll o wing
re m ark a b l e r e fe re nc e
,
.
,
The fort un e of the E a st so un d e d the t e rrib l e trump e t
of d a n ge r
For the Kin g o f Pe rsi a be in g str e ng the n
e d by the a id o i the fi e rc e n a tions who m he ha d
l a te l y s ubdu ed a nd b e in g a bo ve a ll m e n a mbitio u s
of e xt e nd in g his t e rrito ri e s b e g a n to pre p are me n
a n d a rm s a nd supp l i e s m in g l in g h e lli sh wi s d o m with
hi s h um an c o un se l s a nd co n s ul ti ng a ll kin d s o f soo th
"
s ay e rs a bo u t fu t urity
.
,
,
,
,
e
,
.
Zoro a s tri a ni sm n e ve r p e rm itte d s uc h s up e rs ti
"
tio n s ; it dis a l l owe d he l l i sh wi sdom a n d Sh a hpoor w a s the
fo re mo s t Zoro a s tri an o f the tim e
O n the oth e r han d s u c h
be l i e fs we re a dm itte d the oth e r w a y ro un d ; an yb od y w ho
ha s rea d the ma s te rful R oman p l ay s o f S ha ke sp ea re e g
Jul i u s Cea s a r w i ll ve rify fo r h im s e l f whe t he r the a b ove his
t o ri an is n o t pr op a ga ting a n un tr u th a bo u t o ne of the g rea te st
s u cc e s s or s o f the foun de r o f the S a s s a n i a n dyn a sty
Fa r from it
—
.
,
.
.
,
.
Grea t w a s the po we r S h a hpoor de le ga t ed a s l e ga c y t o
h i s suc ce s s or s— A r da shir I I Sh a hpoor III ( A D 3 7 9
b ut
"
Po we r lik e a de so la tin g p e sti l e n ce poiso n s wh a t e ve r it
t ouc he s
W e s cra tc h to it c h an d we it c h t o s cra tc h " So
s a id the w is e So cra t e s a nd v e ri l y it w a s tru e of the succe ss or s
of the g rea t c o nque ror I f Pe rsi a di d n o t m a ke furth e r pr og re s s
Rom e too ha d b e e n re n d e re d e q ua ll y wea k a s a r e s ul t o f
ne w foe s in the p e r s on of A ra b s a n d the Go th s the l a tte r o f
whom d ea l t the R o m a n s a gre a t b l o w a t Adri a n op l e in 3 84
A D
The Wh it e H un s a l so cro s se d the rive r O xu s a n d with
the Sa ka e s Chin e s e and o th e rs the R oman s we re wea kened
,
.
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
‘
.
.
,
2]
r e a t l y so th a t with p re vi sion ha d the succe ssors of Sha hpoor
g
i n t e nd e d a tot a l
d e ve l opm e n t of Zoroa s tri an ism o n the fi e l d
le ft op e n by C hr i sti an i ty th e y would h
a v e we ll n igh succ ee d ed
—
,
-
.
YEZDEZARD I 6 CH RI STIA N ITY
:
A ft e r Be hr a m IV ( 3 88
c a m e Ye zd e z a rd I who fe ll a
pre y to the f a ll in the c urve of imp e rm a n e n t e volutio n so th a t
,
,
in s te a d
of promo tin g the a dv a n ci n g c a us e o f Zoro a s tri a n ism
he so ft e n e d the a ttitude of the Sta te towa rd s Chris ti a n i ty
Though n o t a Chri sti a n e ith e r b y b ir th or b y i nh e ri tan ce he
imbib e d a na t ura l m e rcy to wa rds Christ a n d a llowe d th a t
fr ee dom to hi s followe rs for which the S a ss a n i a n s in ge n e r a l
we re n ot e d Th e re we re o th e r p e rso n a l r e a son s such a s
Marutha the Me sopot a mi a n C a tho l ic h a vi n g c ur e d him of a
virul e n t m a l a dy Ye zd e za rd first iss ue d a Roya l Firm a n throw
in g op e n the ba rs hith e rto c l o se d a ga i n st Chri sti a n ity the first
b e i n g op e n worship a n oth e r buildin g n e w ch urch e s a n d
r e n ov a ti n g the rui n e d o ne s
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
Ye zd e za rd in hi s z e a l for promotio n of th e re l igious in m an
forgot th a t r e ligio n ought to m e a n o nl y the Pa th of Za ra thus htra
,
"
wh a t was a l i e n to the spirit of Zoro a s tri a nism
A ll
the
t hi n gs a re e n du e d with a n a pp e tit e to two ki n ds of good
o ne U S thi s thi n g i s a who l e in its e lf ; the o th e r a s it i s p art
of som e gr e a t e r whol e
An d thi s l a tt e r i s mor e wor thy a n d
more powe rful th an the o th e r a s it te n d s to the co n s e rv a tio n
a lo ne
Zoro
stri
i
sm
a
n
a
h
r
o f a mor e a m pl e form
T ough
n
t
b
e
n
a
a
through
o
h
r
g
y
could
s
lv
io
fou
d
n
c
e
t e
a
a ny
no t
t
t
h
e
B
u
z
e
a
r
d
too
h
rd
dic
could
follow
out
z
Y
d
t
e
ta e
a
a
wa s
r e a lis a tio n w a s soo n to d a wn for the Chri sti an s imm e di a te ly
t
h
e
e
i
ssum
d
right
of
r
cog
itio
n
through
th
r
ch
u
rch
by
n
e
the
e
a
t
e
e
e
n
a
t
h
e
S ta te
All m a tt e rs p e rt a in i n g to
Christi s w r dir c ly
t
h
e
a
e
e
t
oti
t
d
by
wi
h
h
supr
m
church
Th
t
e
t
Ye zd e za rd
a e
n eg
Christi a n s we re rous e d to s e lf co n scious ne ss could b e
n
t
e
t
s
e
ee
d
w
n
e
d
d
from
f
c
th
t
e
fr
om
th
m
hi
k
t
h
a
t
a
h
e
t
e vi e n c e
n ce the d a ys of
a
p
u
tti
g
th
ir
hous
ord
r
si
e
s
i
n
e
e
n
in g a bo u t
ng
a
m
n
e
a
a
d
h
A
D
th
r
ris
o
e
e
25
3
)
e
a
(
h
a
N
i
c
Co
u
l
of
n ci
the
an d
n ot
.
—
.
,
.
.
.
—
,
,
.
-
,
.
.
22
the
Christi an s
th e ir r a n ks
as
the
'
za rd s
.
ccl e si a s tic a l d i ff e re n ce s givin g ri s e to sp l its
Th e y co n ve n e d wh a t i s kn own
Co u
n cil of S e l e uci a 4 1 0 A D o n ly
.
rec og n isi n g the Church
Chri sti a n s
the
e
.
Wh e n
.
a
Chri sti a n history
ye a r
a
ft e r Ye zd e
offici a l re pre s e n t a tive of
the
as
in
in
Gorgo n r a i s e d its hea d in p e ri l
the
ga i nst his a n ce str a l cre e d Ye zd e za rd s e ye s we r e op e ne d to
the r e a li ty of the situa tio n a n d he we n t ov e r to the oth e r
He d e spoil e d
e x tr e m e
ha rra s s m e nt first a nd p e rs e utio n th e n
hi s co nn e ctio n s wi th the Chri sti an s n ow a s he ha d do n e tho s e
wi th the Pe rsi a n s by coun t e ri n g the progre s s of Zoroa stri a n ism
a lr ea dy s e t a foot by his pr e d e c e ssors
D e a th s a v e d him ho w
e v e r from furth e r ign omi n y
Fird a u si ha s som e ve ry ch a stisi ng
"
Pe rh a p s
r e m a rks a bout the con cludi n g p e riod of his rul e
tru th i s o n l y the comm o n d e n omin a tor of our d e lusio n s a n d
c e rt a i nty i s a n e rror in which a ll m e n a gr e e
s a ys a
Ye zd e za rd
c e l e bra t e d
Am e ric an
phi l o sophe r ;
w a ve re d
b e twee n the un c e rt a in ti e s of b e li e fs so th a t o nc e it i s st a t e d
he thought of b e in g b ap ti s e d ; but a t l a st the b e li e f born of
hi s blood sup e rve n e d cmd he p a id b a ck wh e n it w a s too
l a t e to for g i v e him
How r e p e n t an t m u s t b e thu s the he art s
of co nve rt s from o ne fa ith in to a noth e r "
'
a
,
,
—
.
.
.
,
.
,
.
.
BEH RA M
,
GOOR A N D THE RO MANS
Hi s s ucc e ssor Be hr a m Goor ha d to s ta rt a w ar with the
Rom a n s which ha d t e mpor a ri l y c l o se d in the pr e vio u s r e i g n
o n ly b e c a us e the l e g a cy l e ft by Ye zd e zard comp e ll e d Be hra m
to b e more vigi l a n t i f n o t a ct ua l ly ty rra n o us to wa r d s C hr i s
ti a n s Wh e n som e of the Christi a n s cro ss e d ove r to the
t e rritori e s of Rom e a s r e ligio u s re fu ge e s the Rom a n s fo un d
a j ustifi a b l e rea so n to d ec l are w ca upo n Pe rsi a
a l so w ith the
u lt e rior obj e ct of r e ga in i n g th e ir lo st po ss e ssio n s wh e n the
In the fight th a t e n s ue d
gre a t Sh a hpoor rul e d a n d fought
the Christi a n s b e g a n to ga i n a n a sc e n d a n cy
s o tha t a
b a l a n ce d e qu ity w a s brought a bout b e twe e n the riva l c ree d s
by a p ea ce th a t a l l owe d fr e ed om to bot h o n the sid e of th e ir
opposit e
,
,
,
.
,
.
23
Imm e di a t e l y th e r e a ft e r the E a st e rn an d the We ste rn
Ch urch th a t ha d f a l l e n fou l of e a ch o th e r so fa r re so l ve d
to c l os e up th e ir r a n ks a n d a ccordin g l y in A D 42 4 a
Co unc il of Da d I shu w a s h e ld to disso lve the e c c le s is tic a l
diff e r e n ce s : The obj e ct of such co nfe r e n ce s w a s a l wa ys a t
bottom to dis e n ch a i n the Chri sti a n s
from the loya lty a nd
ob e d i e n ce th e y owe d to the Pe rsi an s in whi c h the Rom an s
ve ry we l l utili s e d the Christi an s for th e ir poli tic a l e nd s
,
,
.
,
.
-
,
.
It w a s a w a r of id e a s th a t w a s r a gi n g b e twee n P e rsi a
a n d Rom e ; a n d in the fuln e ss of God s wi sdom h um an so c i e ty
ha s b e e n so orga n is e d th a t se n s a tio n a t on e or the
o th e r st a ge of our life re fus e s to b e the t e s t of tru th
Al l
th a t w e k n ow i s id e a s of our o w n W e ca n n ot t e st th e s e by
for the world too i s m a de by our own
a n e xt e rn a l world
"
"
s e n s at io n s
How c an w e
a sks
phi l o soph e r
e ve r
a
"
di scove r the obj ec t woul d look l ik e ha d it n o t b e e n force d
ta c tuary
to di sgu is e its e l f i n to tho s e vis ua l
a ud itory
olfa c to ry a nd g u st a tory s e n s a tio n s through which a l o n e w e
"
kn ow it ?
Ev e ry thi n g w e suppo s e i s the j u dge of tho u ght
It i s the i de a which W e
a n d a re co n stru c ts of thought its e l f
form af t e r combin i n g in to a n a rbitrary an d co nf u s e d mos a i c
the multip l e s e n s a tio n s tha t h a ve c om e to u s so d iv e r se l y
thr ough our ne rv e s
W e p u t tog e th e r a ll o ur s e n s e s an d
The Zoro a stri a ni sm
n a m e the re su l ti n g co n str u ct this or th a t
or the Chri sti an ity the tw o warrin g p arti e s c r e a t e d w a s the
th e ologic a l s ub st a n ce of th e ir mut ua l p e rc e ptio n s
Ve ri l y
the o nl y world th a t e xi sts i s the world of Mi n d of Id e a s :
e v e rythi n g e ls e i s a suppo s itio n
'
,
,
.
.
,
,
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,
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,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
.
CONFLICT OF SUPPOSITI ONS
H a lf the S a ss an i an p e riod v a ca t e d its e lf in thi s co n f l i ct
of s uppo sitio n s ; id ea ha s a ch an g e fu l n e s s o f n a ture a nd s o
a t tim e s som e Ir a n i a n pri n ce s in c l i ne d towa rds Chri sti a n ity
a n d som e Ro m cm Chri sti a n s a cc e pt e d the Zoro a stri a n sha p e s
form s which th e y c o n c e ive d a s in the na t ur e o f
an d
wa s
Chri sti a n ity
Pea c e
th e r e for e
m a de b e twee n the
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
24
Pe rsi a n s a nd the Rom an s an d Me s opot amian s to give a
bre ath in g tim e to both the riv a l cr ee ds to a s se s s the va lue s
o f the two re j uv in a te d th e ori e s of l if e a n d b e li e f
.
Wh a t cou ld A sia n o t provid e by w a y of d iv e rsiti e s of
Thi s ha s b e e n an a ge l o n g
f a ith s r e so lv ed i n to a u nity ?
With Pe rsia un ifi e d in to on e imp e ri a l
p e rs u a sio n in hi sto ry
ce m e n tin g po we r of the ho l y id eo logy o f
s tock un d e r the
s u ch opp osi n g u n iti e s b e ga n to show th eir
Zara thus htra
h e a d s a ga in st the S a ss an i a n s whom o ne a fte r the oth e r th e y
Chri sti a n s Rom an s s ub due d
ha d the cl e a r duty to s ubdu e
or r e mov e d from the fi e ld of dire c t oppo sitio n the Whit e
Hun s a s th e y we re c a ll ed the Ha y ta ls a cc ordi n g "to the
cro s s e d the Oxu s in 42 5 A D an d Be hra m Go or
S a s s a n i an s
Th e y we re a comb i
a rm e d him se lf to fight the n e w p e ril
n a tio n o i Mo ngo l s
Rom an s C hi ne s e with a l oos e form o f
Chri st a s th e ir ba sic g uid el a n d gen e r a l Co n f uc i a n ism a s the
Be hr a m drov e the m a way from
th e o ry of l ife a nd b e l i e f
a cro s s the bord e rs of Oxu s
so th at a t the tim e of his dea th
(A D 440 ) he l e ft the Sa ss a n i a n e mp ir e free from the da n ge r of
the
White H uns
He w a s im mort a l : Om ar e Kh ay ya m
prop e rly si n gs him do wn to e t e rn ity a s fo ll o w s :
.
-
,
,
,
,
.
,
‘
—
,
—
.
.
.
,
,
,
'
‘
.
.
,
.
.
-
-
.
An d Be hr a m
the Wild A s s
gr e at H un t e r
( Goor)
St a mp s o e r hi s h ea d but ca nn ot br e a k his s l ee p
With the
a cce ssio n of Ye zd e zard I I Zoro a stri an i sm d e fi ni t e ly t urn e d a
c orn e r
towa rds a ssumptio n of comp l e t e powe r ove r the
b e wi l d e rin g so u l of the S a ss an i an ki n gdom ; it w a s the st a g e
o f d e v e lopm e n t of Zoro a stri a n ism in the h e art of A si a
Id ea s
ha d grown a n d r e n de re d more so li d a nd rip e in the di re c ti o n
of Tim e Fa t e gove rned by the P l a n e ts ; Zarv a ne Akarn e the
e te rn a l Tim e Y u ga of the Ary a n co n c e pt w a s c o nc e n tra tin g o n
the str e n g t h of m a n in the c ommo n fo rm of F a t a li sm h o we v e r
The Mob ed s we r e n o t fr ee of this
p a ssin g the ph a s e w a s
c omp e l lin g do c tri n e
So l a te a s the day s of No s herw an
Buzarj a m e he r us e d to pr e a ch th a t F a t e a nd m an s e ffort s we r e
clos e l y l in k e d t og e th e r a n d th e ir re l a tio n s we re i n a li e n a b l e
Thi s o u ght to rous e the ire of re l igio u s oppon e nts lik e the
A rm e ni a n s whos e l e a d e r Eznik pick e d up the s o c a l l e d d o c
,
the
.
,
'
,
.
”
.
,
—
.
.
,
'
.
.
—
,
25
trin e
f the Pe rsi a n s — Fa t a lism—
d e gra di n g forc e in the
c o n c e pt of Zoro a stri a n i sm
The Mo b ed s did n o t fo un d Zoro
a s triari i s m o n the soi l of F a t a lism
so a n out cry wa s
a nd
r a is e d th a t w a r m u st b e d e cl a r e d upo n the Arm e ni a n s a n d
t h e ir t e rrito ry must b e w o n b a ck
o
as
the
.
-
,
.
DEVOTION TO PEACE
Pra ise i s d ue to the S a ss ani a n prin c e s for the ir de vo tio n
to the c a u s e of p ea ce th e y a lwa ys e mph a si s e d upo n
So
Ye zd e za rd s e n t Me h e r N a rsi o n a mi ssio n of p e a ce ful win
”
“
Ze rw a n
ove r of the A rm e n i a n s toward s Pe rsi a
s a id
"
N arsi is the prim e origi na tor of A hur a a n d A hr im an
Eve n
Ta ns a r s a id to Ia s n a f kin g of Ta b aris ta n a l most the s a m e
thi n g a nd ga v e to Tim e a n d F a t e the pow e r of Go d
Ah ura
Ta n s ar to Ia s n a f z
A wi s e m a n b a l a n c e s b e twe e n F a te
"
cmd Fre e Wi ll
a n d the Ki n g of Ta b a ri s ta n r e ward e d him f o r
the tr u th b e utt e re d
But p e rs u a sio n f a il e d a nd b a ttl e s ha d to
b e fo u ght a s a re s u lt of which the Chri sti a n s o n c e a g ain
s u ff e r e d l o ss e s
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
,
:
.
,
.
.
The Whit e H un s
si de a n d the Zoro a stri a n s on the
oth e r w a s a sit u a ti o n Phiruz the su c c e ssor of Ye zd eza rd ha d to
fa ce on his a cc e s sio n to the th ro ne A D 45 9 It w a s n o t p ure
h e r e sy the Pe rsi a n s ha d to co n t e n d a ga i n st but r a th e r it wa s
a c umbrous mixture of Christi a n ity with the Mithr a ic forms of
Z or oa stri a n i sm a nd e ve n Ma n ich e ism
Mo n a st e ri e s flo uri sh e d
a n d the vo w s of po ve rty we re e st e e m e d high Ev e n the Din kard
Wea lth i s give n to a ssu a ge the wr o n gs of suffe rin g
s a ys
"
The A ssyri a n church w a s domi n a te d b y the
h um a n ity
de gr a d a tion s of
c hurchm e n who d e vot e d th e m se lv e s to the
l if e such a s no n a cqu isitio n of m a te ri a l g a i n s l a w fu lly e a rn e d
And arz e
w hich i s n e v e r e n co ur a ge d by Zoro a stri a ni sm
We a l th ch a n ge s its m a st e rs
A ta rp at e Mara s p an d re cords
l ik e a bird th a t fli e s from o n e tre e to an oth e r o n l y to l ea ve
th a t in t u rn for sti ll a n oth e r
This wi ll e xpl a i n how Zoro a s
tri an s a i n ts a n d writ e rs a nd e ve n pri e st s we re i n fl u e nc e d by
the d octri ne s which s atur a te d the phi l osophy of Zoro a stri an
l ife
on
one
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,
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—
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-
-
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26
Phiruz a tta ck e d the H un s from S a a d e Sikan d a r b ut he d id
n o t succee d in his pl a n s a s we ll a s he d id n o t in hi s a tt e mp t
a n d he
a t prop a ga t i n g Zoro a stri a n ism a m o n g the Arm e n i a n s
di e d o n the b a ttle p la in a m a rtyr to the ca us e of the fa ith he
A D 483
Vo la g a s e s hi s broth e r co ul d
e nd e a r e d so much
for the r e ligi ou s
n o t hold hi s o w n a ga i n st the Arm e n i a n s
po l ici e s th e ms e lve s we re we a k e ni n g a n d the orthodox typ e
o f b e li e f ha d b ee n co n sid e r a bly sh a k e n o n the an vi l o f
combi na tio n a n d a gree m e n t b e tw e e n Chri sti a n ity a nd Zoro"
-
,
,
.
.
.
,
s tria ni s m
.
s a m e cl a sh of co n trove rsi e s aro s e b e twee n the
s e ctio n s of Christi an s a s it a lwa ys h ap p e n s in the c a se o f
politica l re l igio u s so c i a l
Wha t
e v e ry growin g mov e m e n t
w a s the qu e stio n th a t d e m a nd e d
i s the n a tur e of God ?
solu tio n from the Church a nd whi l e hith e rto Zoro a st ri a n s ha d
s crupulously a void e d in t e rfe re n c e with such for e ign c ontrove r
si e s the Pe rsi a of Phiruz v e n t ure d i nto the s a c r e d prec i nc t s
a n d o ff e r e d to Chris ti a n s a solutio n which w a s a ll Zo ro a s tricm
It w a s at the l a st omd Fo urth Coun c il of the Ch urch h e l d a t
Ch a l ce don A D 45 1 th a t Rom e w a s fix e d to b e the Prim a t e
God w a s a nn o in te d with tw o n a t ure s Though the
an d
do c tri n e s a t diff e re n t p l a ce s s u ch a s Pe rsi a a n d A rm e nia
di ff e re d y e t a ll we re tin ge d with i n cr e a si n g in fl ue n ce s o f
Z oro a stri a n ism The b e li e f propo un d e d in the s a cr e d s cript ure s
of the Pe rsi a n s l a id down Ah ur a M az d a a s the c re a tor o f
Am e s ha s p a n d a s His col l ea gu e s such a s the Bund a his hn a
Zara thus htra re c e iv e d the highe st Kn owl ed ge by the forc e o f
whi ch n e ith e r fire nor mo l t e n m e t a l n or kn ife c o uld h arm him
O rm a zd w a s the fa th e r of Vohu M a n o who i s a l so the prot e c tor
of c a ttl e Pa ha la v i Iza d s Ave st an Ya za ta s we re the gua rdi an
a n g e l s ; Fa ro ha r P
a ha la vi Av e st a n Fr a v a shi
Th e s e form e d
the hiea ra rc hy of Zoro a stri a n th e ology
Th e y di d n o t offe r a n
in vi n cibl e oppo sitio n to Christi a n ity b u t th e y pre s e n t e d a
p a nth e o n from whos e co n c e pt the pre va i li n g Christi a n ity w a s
n o t free
Fa rv a rdi g a n O bs e rva n ce s we r e ch e ri sh e d w ith a
re li gious z e st so th at o n ce in 5 65 wh e n th e s e c e l e br a tio n s
we re h e l d in Nis ib us in the po ss e ssio n of the Pe rsi an s the
j ust
the
—
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,
,
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,
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-
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28
d
iff e re nt
tio na lly ,
Rom a n s
th inkings a mo ngs t the
but
e
,
.
g
in l i n e with the
.
Bar
-
en
the
Som a
inte n
n ot
m ity with the
fo ste re d politi ca l
Phiruz h e lp e d
,
Chri sti a n s tho u gh
Arc hbi shop
of
"
Nis ib us in e sta b l ishi n g the doctri ne of tw o na tur e s in God
corre spo ndin g wi th the Zoro a stri a n f a ith in Orm a z d b e in g the
Phiruz de sir e d a s e p ara tio n
C rea tor of both Good a n d Evil
from the Mo n ophysitic Church by the Chri stia n s a nd so a i de d
Ba r Som a s fight a ga in st a n t a goni sti c th e ori st s L a te r Chri stian
pri e sts we r e a llowe d to m a rry un lik e b e fore d ue p ure l y to
the i n flue n ce s of Zor oa stri a n a s socia tio n by the Chri sti an s
The e a st e rn h a lf of Rom e w a s mo n ophysiti c from C h ristian
poi nt of vi e w Un d e r Iust in the Rom an mon arch th e r e wa s a
The Pe rsi an s a s si st e d in the
re t urn to dyophysitic b e li e f
Mar Ab a the
s olutio n s of th e probl e m s fa cin g the C hr i sti a n s
grea t w a s a Chri sti a n co nve rt to Zoro a strian i sm cmd he se rve d
Pa tri a rch
Mis sio ns to I n di a a nd Chin a we r e led by
a s
C hristi a n Zoro a stri an s
.
.
,
'
-
,
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,
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,
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,
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-
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.
OR I GIN OF ST IVE S
.
History a lso s a ys th a t d u
rin g the 6th ce n t ury a Pe rsi an
Bi shop n a m e d I vo n vi sit e d En g l an d from W hom the t erm St
I ve s ha s com e He pr ea c h e d a mixe d d o c trine of Zoro a s tri an
Chri sti a n ity Just a s m e n d ic cmc y w a s d i s co ur a ge d a ccordin g
to Zoro a stri an ism idl e n e s s w a s l e g a ll y pun ish e d
un de r the
The
Khu d a i N a m a k r e m a rks th a t the
Chri sti a n cod e
phi l osophy of j ustice w a s a dopt e d a s the m a i n politica l
The
voca bul a ry for the guid a n ce of the rul e rs of the St a t e
Sh a h N a m e h b e a rs e vid e n c e to the fa ct th at Buzarj a Me he r
b e l i e v e d in Chri stia n ity He w a s put to de a th o nly for ho ld i ng
s uch b e li e f by Na o s hirw a n s s o n K
h urs ra o Parv iz to s a ve the
rot th a t som e tim e ha d s e t in d ue to the i nf l ue n ce s of the p owe r
ful a n t a go n ist in the St a t e Ye t Khusra o Pa rviz m a rri e s a Chri s
i f e whom he p ro s y le tis e d in to Zoro a stri a ni sm Ev e n Ye z
ti a n w
d e zard who fe ll a t the h a nd of the Ara b s an d wa n de r e d hi s l a st
d ay s of l ife a n d w a s crue l l y m ur de re d by a tr e a ch e rou s fo e
w a s give n a n ho n oura b l e buri a l by Chri sti a ns a t Me rv
,
.
,
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,
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29
AFF IL IA TION BETWEEN THE TW O
ffil i a ti o n of Chri sti a n i ty to Zoro a s tri a ni s m wa s d ue
to the un a l te r a bl e la w of a ssoci a tive i n flue n c e s fro m wh i ch
n o r e l igio n ha s e sca p e d d uri n g the c y c l e s of h u m an ra c e
The k e rn e l ha s re m a in e d ; the form s ha ve ha d a n e te rna l
ch a n ge
Wh a t ? Sha ll the da t e l e ss wor ld in du st b e blown ?
The
a
.
Ba ck
to the un r e m e mb e re d an d un kn own
An d thi s fr a i l Thou
this fl a m e o f y e st e rda y
Bur n o n for l orn immo rt a l a n d a l o ne ?
-
,
,
Th a t w a s wh a t Ma llo c k s cmg o nl y h a l f a c e n t u ry a g o a nd
th a t ha s b ee n true of ge n e r a tio n s s in c e m a n b eg a n to wr ite
the hi story of m a n
,
.
succ e ssor of Phiruz ha d b itte r l y Chri sti an
comp l e x
e xp e ri e n c e a t th e h a n d o f a c ommu n i st s a i n t
a
of Chri st a n d Pl a to
n o t a comm un i sm o f the Le n i n i st typ e
r e vo l utio n i si n g the Russi a s of the w or ld b u t a so un d philo
S ophy of life tha t if followe d wo ul d c e rt a inl y ov e rthr ow e v e n
Ko b a d s e mpire ; b u t doctrin a l l y so a d a p tib le to the Chri sti a n
th a t if Zoro a stri an i sm did n o t comp e l
n e c e ssiti e s o f the tim e
its e lf to it it might e i the r h a v e to fight thro u gh to l iv e a n d
su rvive or p e ris h Th a t w a s M a zd a k
Kob a d
the
,
,
,
,
'
,
,
.
.
A l l m e n a re e qua l in birth a n d in l ife
Al l priv a t e
prop e rty shou l d be e n j oye d by the Sta t e to b e in pos s e s sio n o f
e v e n w om e n c o ul d no t e s c a pe c o mmo n po s s e s s io n o f a ll
a ll
Mazd a k a dd ed to thi s his ba sic pri nc ip l e s the i dea s o f
a bst e miousn e ss a nd d e v otio n t o G od ; a n d he h e l d a n im a l
Ma zda k c a pt ur ed
life a s s a c re d in ve st me n t of God to ma n
the y out hful f a n c y of Koba d s o t ha t he b ec am e hi s d i s c ip l e
Ma zda k re sort e d to the pra c tisin g o f ma gic whic h he terme d to
the
ign ora n t a s mira cl e s A s ud de n f l a s h o f fan at i c i sm
c a p t u r e d the so ul o f P e rs ia a nd Maz d a k g o t a n a sc e nda nc y
which ro u s e d fe ar in the min d s o f the Z oroa s tri a n s w ho
s u spec t e d tha t a ga in the wrath of Ma ni ha d o ve rc o m e the
s e n s e of Pe rsi an s cmd the re would be an o the r c onvul si o n
.
—
.
,
.
.
,
.
.
,
3 0
St a t e un l e ss imm edi a t e l y ha n d l e d a nd Ma zd a k tot a lly
suppre ss e d So Kob a d w a s comp e ll e d to give up his offi c i a l
The Whit e
support to commun ism n e wly b e i ng pr e a ch e d
Hun s h a vin g pr ove d a dan ge ro u s imp e dim e n t to the gr owth
Kob a d l o st hims e lf in hi s h an dl in g of the
o f Zoro a stri a n ism
c ommu n st p e ril
in the
,
.
.
,
i
.
ENTER
—
THE ARA BS
M e a nwhil e the Ara bs e n t e re d the sce n e of history a n d
Th a t
t he Ch ri stia n r e vi v a l w a s da n ge ro u sly j e op a rdi s e d
w a s so much to the ga in of Pe rsi a howe ve r co stly it u l tim a e ly
prove d to b e The Sa ra c e ne s s a crific e d 40 0 n un s to the god
d e ss Ve n u s out of r a ge a ga i ns t ido la try a n d it s e n t a thrill of
It is n ot e worthy
h orror in the umv e rs a l h ea rt of Chri sti a n ity
in the hi story of the tim e s th a t whil e Zoro a stri a n ism c o
tim e s with Chri sti an i ty the Pe rsi a n s unde r
o p e ra t e d
at
Sa s s cmian guid a n c e no t o n l y oppo s e d but a l so fought a ga i n st
the risin g force s of I sl a m un d e r the l e a d e rship of the A ra b s
The Chi n e s e a l so a pp e a r o n the th e ologi c a l st a ge an d th e re i s
Pe s z = Pe rsi a a n d th e r e a re r e fe r e n c e s to Mo hu t an
Mob ed s a n d to the Towe rs of Sil e n ce wh e r e e xpo s ure of the
a va d
d ea d i s n o t f a vour e d by the Chin e s e writ e rs Ko b a d
Ka wa t Ku hw o tu i s h e l d in d e e p r e sp ec t
,
,
.
t
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
—
-
z
,
,
.
—
-
.
Zoro a stri an i sm a t this tim e o f it s ra dic a l d e ve lopm e n t
t hough n o w n o l o n g e r a tt a ck e d w a s e n t e r i n g i n to a ph as e of
commix e d progre ss This ha s h a pp e n e d to a ll n a ti o n a l
i
But th a t w a s the p urific a tio n of the r e lig o n
d e ve l opm e n ts
a n d a fi rm n e s s towa rds wh a t w a s r e cord e d to b e the m od e rn
Na o s hirw an e xtirp a t e d the cre ed of
ch a ra ct e r of the f a ith
Maz da k an d he r e a lis e d th a t a ny f urth e r free d om giv e n to
th e n e w mora l ity of ma n ki nd w ou ld irre tri e v a b l y l ea d to the
do wn fa ll of the e mp ir e its e l f by withdra wi n g fro m the s o ul
of Pe rsi a m u ch th a t wa s simpl e Zoro a stri ani sm o n whos e
pi ll a rs w a s r a i s e d the n ew fab ric of S a ss a n i a n commo n
w ea lt h
,
.
,
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,
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,
-
,
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3 1
With the r a pi d f a ll of Rom e Na o s hirwa n ha d to f a ce the
,
cri sis of
an
e
.
qu a l ly r a pid
Moh a mm e d born in 5 7 0 A D
.
ad
e
,
ch a nge the fa c e of the world
v an c e of T urk e y
st ab lish e d
a
a nd
Isl am
.
viol e n t doctri ne to
I sl a m w a s born in the d e s e rts
.
of Ar a bi a with Ara b Sa b e a nis m
Iud a is m
an d
as
its
l a wfu l
p are n ts E dwi n Arn o l d s a ys th a t I s l a m s fo ste r nurs e w a s
E a st e rn Chri sti an ity
Zoro a stri an i sm w a s it s si n gl e dr ea d in
tho s e e arly d a ys of its birt h Th e re w a s mutu a l h a tr e d i nbr e d
in both a ga i n st ea ch oth e r
Ye zde zard II wou l d ca ll the
”
Mos le m s e a t e rs of l iz a r d s out of co n t e mpt for th e ir w a y of
l ivin g Na o s hirw a n le d virul e n t c a mp a ign s of de a th a nd
d e structio n a ga in st the Mosl e m s (A D 5 7 6) a n d c arri e d fir e
But the n e w
a n d sword i n to r e gio n s a s fa r a s Abys si n i a
"
spirit cou l d h ard l y b e s ubd ue d Pe rsi a a rive r l e s s de s e rt 1 0
"
in the n orth a n d 5
in the south offe r e d to the Turks a florid
gro un d for co n qu e st a n d a s tim e a dv an ced I s l a m b e ca m e a s
gr e a t a p e ri l to the Zoro a stri a n S a ss a ni a n dyn a sty a s to Rom a n
Chri sti an ity
j ust a s S a ss a ni a n prin ce s h a ve b e e n n ot e d to
ha ve a l l owe d th e m s e lv e s the in dulge n c e of mi n gli n g th e m
s e l ve s wi th Chri sti a n ity th e re h a ve be e n a l so i n sta n c e s in
which som e pri n ce or two a ccord e d c r ed e nce to I s l a m a s
we ll for i n st an ce Ho rm a za n a succe ssor of Na o s hirw a n
e mbr a c e d
is
r e cord e d
to
h a ve
I sl a m
It
wa s
life
i ts e l f
th a t
I sl a m
d e m an d e d
th e
of
in
e ve n t
b a tt l e a nd the d ec a d e n t p e riod of S a ssa n i a n dyn a s ty furn ish e d
i n st a n ce s in which we a kn e ss d e c l a r e d its e lf to b e the fri e n d of
It w a s
the Prin c e r a th e r th a n v a lour of the st a t e a s of yor e
thus th at at the b a ttl e of Ra m Ho rm a z Kha le e f Om a r the
gre a te st prot a go n i st of I s l a m offe re d to s a ve the S a ss a n i an
Pri n c e s life if o n ly he e spous e d the doctri n e of Moh a mm e d
Wh e n the Pri nc e tr e mb l e d l e st he might b e poi so n ed wh e n
give n wa te r the Kha lee f s a id F e a r n othi n g : Your life i s s a fe
u ntil you h a v e dr un k the w a t e r
Ka de s e y a cmd th e n
N e h a v a n d s e a l e d the doom of Ir a n an d though I sl am
s up e rve ne d the imp e ri a l force s of the l an d y e t w ith the fa ll
4 Ye zd e za rd the prosp e rity of Zoro a stri
a ni sm did n o t dim its
lu str e
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-
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3 2
-
SUBTLE DIFFERENCES
Just a s a mo n g Chri sti an ity th e re we re de b a t e s a s to the
origi n of go dhood a nd a bo u t the birth of Chri st th e re aro s e
s imil a r s ub t l e d iff e re n c e s e v e n a m o n g the Zoro a stri a n s o f the
la t e r S a ss a ni a n e xiste n c e o n the soil of I ran
For e x a mp l e
the Zarv a n itis m from Za rv a n = time whic h l a t e r migra te d to
the we st ro s e high e r th a n the Mithra ic c ul t It prea ch e d Zarv om
to b e the prim e origi na tor of Orma zd a nd Ahrim a n Al s o
an oth e r e x a m p l e ; a s ort of mysticism w a s d e ve lo p e d a ro un d
the Zoro a stri a n c re e d whi c h i s the pi nna c l e of a f a it h s e so t e ri c
"
the so u l of a ra c e
Whe n
se tt l e m e nt in
Ard a vira f s ay s
Vira f i s t a k e n to Orm a zd s co urt he h e a r s hi s voice b u t s ee s
him n o t e t e rn a l in v is ib l e i n t a n gibl e o mn i sci e n t omnipote n t
c r ea tor of goo d
a n d m e rciful
Th e n th e re a ro s e c l a s se s o f
prop a g a tors of the d o c tri n e of Ave st a n Sp e n a Ma iny u a nd
Pa ha la vi Sp e na Me n u a s oppo s e d to Ga n a Me n u Som e ga v e
Evi l a n i nd e p e n de n t bi rth a nd d e a th a nd a s s e rte d th a t Ab ri
m a n w a s n o t c re a t e d by God
Othe r s d i d n ot fa vour s uc h a
b e l i e f This indi c a te s the full rip e n e s s of de ve l op me n t o f the
re l igio n of Zara thus htra in the t ime s o f the Sa s sa n i an s
Re l i
The
g io n s a re bo rn a mo n g the p o or a n d d ie a mo n g the ric h
Pe rsi an s a ft e r N e h a van d pre s e rv e d the fa ith in wha te v e r d is
p uta t io us f o rm you m a y choo s e to put it down a s
,
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Na o s hirw a n we the
re mna nt s br ou gh t the fla m e h e r e in In dia a nd first so wed the
s ee d s an d th e n de ve l op e d the tr e e W e ha d o ur l ooke rs a t the
b a c k l o o k e rs to the fore b u t a ll the s a m e w e m a in ta i ne d the
”
Sa s sa n i a n re vi va l Ec ke rm ann s a ys The d e ve l opm e n t of hu
"
manity s e e m s to b e a m a tte r of tho u s a n ds of yea rs Go e th e
go e s one be tte r a nd unf o ld s Wh o kno w s ? Pe rhap s mi ll i on s
T here h a v e b ee n h i n dra n ce s in o ur w a y th e s e a nd a ll ki nd s o f
di s tres s h a ve m a de Zo r oa s trianis m de ve lop its p owe rs Ha ve
we not see n th a t in the a bove h i st ori ca l n arra ti on? W e are
wit h th i s Zo r o a stri an ism
now e ffe c ti n g a re j u ve nat ed c re a tio n
A fte r the
g re a t
pe ri od of Sha hpoo r
a nd
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The Ethical Conceptions of the G
a
ath
By
Ja tin dra
Mohon
MA
C h a t te rj i ,
Co n te n ts
.
.
( 1 ) V ohu Ma n ah; ( 2 ) V ahis te m Man ah; ( 3 ) H aurvta t;
( 4 ) S p e n ta Ma n yu; ( 5 ) Khs ha threm o r The Law o f
Se lf C on trol; ( 6 ) Ar m a iti; ( 7 ) As ha— The Pa th o f
Re c t itu de ; ( 8 ) Se ra o she m — Pa t h o f Th eo log y; ( 9 ) Am e
re t a t ;
( 1 0 ) Im po rta n c e o f Ga tha a s a Sc rip ture o f
‘
a
Na t ion al
(1
)
In d ia
A va s t a
Pa th
of
The F if th Ve d a
or
Sab a s
tw o
Als o
.
a d ditio n al
an d
chap t e rs ,
— Th e
2
S
u
h
i
s
m
( )
p
.
2 n d Re vi s e d Editi on
Pag es R s 2 4—0
5 97
.
-
.
C ULTS AND LEGENDS
OF
An c ie n t Ira n
an
d C hin a
By La te Sir J C C O YA JEE Kt
.
W e ha ve
to
be
C o y a j e e f o r this
e x tre
"
ne
g re a t
a
s t ep
.
3 08
B
.
t he I ran ian
of
f o rw ard
D e m i O c ta vo
”
ESTD
.
,
Sir P
.
Mehta
m y th
Pro f J Kyp ka
C
.
.
.
an d
.
Pa g e s Rs 3 8 0
-
.
-
KARANI S
’
B oo ks e lle rs , Pub lishe rs ,
1 28
.
p ub lic a t io n , b ec au se he un d oub
'
JEHANGIR
.
m ely than kful t o Sir J
re se arc h
t e dly p us he s the
le g e n ds
.
SO NS
Prin ters,
R oa d , F o rt, B om b ay
.