Zarathustra's message to humanity-7

[To those not very familiar with blogs, one word of advice. In blogs, the posts run in reverse order; chronologically, the current post is placed first, the first/earliest post is at the bottom, (see the Archives on the left). It is necessary to point this because, as far as this blog is concerned, the contents will be better understood by reading the 'end' post first (which is the first/earliest post!), then read the next post above the post read; please read in 'reverse' order.]

The earlier post "An Interregnum from the posts 'Zarathustra's message to humanity" covered a very small portion of the broad and sweeping spectrum of beliefs and religious literature that make up this religion. It was a small exercise to give the reader an idea of the full range of things religious and secular covered by Zoroastrianism over several centuries, from around 1500 B.C to the 9th century A.D. with beliefs and ritual practices going back to earlier times.

In the earlier posts titled "Zarathustra's message to humanity" 1 to 6, we have covered Yasnas/chapters 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of Zarathustra's own composition, the Gathas-songs. Here, we continue now with Yasna 33.

(For those coming in now, the Gathas, Zarathustra's own songs, are part of the 72 Yasnas, which are the older portion of the Zoroastrian sacred book, the Avesta.)

The Gathas, in 5 sections, within the 72 chapters of the Yasna, comprise of:

Ahunavaity (Sacred Word) Gathas- Yasnas/chapters 28 to 34
Ushtavaity (Illumination)Gathas- Yasnas/ chapters 43 to 46
Spentomenid (Holy Spirit) Gathas-Yasnas/chapters 47 to 50
Vohu Xshathra (Best Dominion) Gathas-Yasna/chapter 51
Vahishta Isti (Best Wish) Gathas-Yasna/chapter 53 )

The Ahunavaity Gatha Yasna 33, Verses 1 to 14.

Zarathustra reveals this creation, this life, is the source of God's laws, needed to sustain good life by ensuring justice to all- the good will get their rewards, the wicked will be meted out their dues, and even those whose good actions are mixed with some bad deeds will get their justice:

(Thus) in accordance with these Laws of Existence,
the laws that spring from Life,
the Judge shall he dispense perfect justice
to the followers of falsehood as well as the truthful,
and even to those whose false deeds
are mingled with their merits!

But those who steadfastly frustrate the work of the wicked by words and deeds(good actions are paramount in Zoroastrianism,) and those who guide others to be good persons, then all these are fulfilling God's plan, out of love of Him!:

And whoso frustrates the followers of Untruth,
by their words and steadfast purpose,
and through actions with their own hands;
or instructs his companion onto the path of good,
they fulfill Thy Plan,
out of love for Thee, O Ahura Mazda!

Whoever befriends the good, whether of any position in society, these bring joy to life. Their reward is an eternal righteous life in a heaven filled with love:

And whoso is good to the righteous,
whether be he a great personage or a commoner,
or a friend, O Ahura;
who furthers Life with zeal,
such will dwell most endearingly with Righteousness,
and in the fair pastures of Love!

Zarathustra will fight evil, the false worshiper, the evil minded- he is not afraid of nobles and upper classes, they will get the same dues as common folk who espouse evil; he yearns to protect his friends from the corrupt and his settled folk whose possessions are at peril from thieves:- in ancient days neighboring marauding tribes would ruthlessly pillage good settled folk, a situation which greatly saddened Zarathustra:

Thus, O Mazda, from Thy worshiper, one who is wanting in faith,
and all with evil purpose, will I drive away;
from the nobles all corrupt thoughts,
from the commoners all those who disobey Thy Law,
from the friend the capricious slanderers,
and from the cattle those who defile the pastures!
(will I drive away!)

The great angel Sarosh Yazad(angel) stands as a personification of Obedience to God's Will; in later tradition he is the guardian of good folk. Zarathustra considers this angel God's best treasure, and calls on him to guide his path to heaven-God's Kingdom of Purity where God rules supreme; but all this needs to be done through righteous living, through righteous deeds:


Thus the greatest of all Thine own,
Sarosha,* shall I call upon, on my path to the goal,
of long enduring existence
in the Kingdom of Pure Mind;
through Righteousness I shall tread the straight path,
to where Mazda Ahura rules supreme!

(*Sarosha, the High Angel Obedience, personifies as the angel of all good obedience to God's Will/Divine Plan.

Note: to Zarathustra heaven is "the Kingdom of the Pure Mind"! As explained earlier, Pure Mind means much more, an infinite heightened state of pristine purity, represented as Bountiful Spirit Vohu Manah, Pure Mind.)

Thus, with my steadfast call to Asa*,
with all my being, from the best spirit within me,
I invoke Thee for Thine loving grace-
that I may fulfill my calling as ordained by Thee,
thus I beseech Thee, O Ahura Mazda,
a vision of Thee, and communion with Thee.

(*Asa, the Zoroastrian Bountiful Spirit/[Archangel] Righteousness.)

Come unto me, O Best One,
Your Vision before me, O Mazda, unmistakably,
O Righteousness, O Pure Mind, let me behold Thee;
in order that I be heard beyond this fellowship,
may there be revealed to us
our clear destiny, set aside for You!

Be the judge of my purpose,
which inspired by Pure Mind (Love) I pursue,
thy devoted worship, O Mazda,
and words of praise through Truth;
grant me Immortality when,
I renew life and bring it to blessed Perfection!

Thine indeed, O Mazda, are these Two Beings*,
these two are mighty promoters of Righteousness,
may I reach, through Enlightenment and Wisdom;
bring down O Best Pure Mind (Love,)
from the heavens the blessings of these Two
whose souls work as one.

*see earlier verse-the Two are Perfection and Eternity, the last two attributes of Ahura Mazda.

All those who lead lives with good purpose,
indeed those in the past, those who do so now,
and those, O Mazda, who will do so in the future;
through Thy grace let these partake,
a heightened state of enlightenment
through Pure Mind, through Thine Kingdom and through Truth.

Thou art the Almighty Ahura,
Through Mazda, through Holy Devotion,
through Truth who bless our Life;
O Pure Mind, O Bountiful Dominion (the Kingdom,)
take heed of my plea, show me compassion,
while apportioning your grace to each one of us.

Reveal Thyself in my heart, O Ahura,
through Devotion grant me spiritual strength,
through Thy Highest Spirit, O Mazda,
make me pure in goodness for my supplications;
through Truth grant me full vigour,
and all-embracing love through Pure Mind.

That I may be blest, O Far Seeing One,
reveal a vision to me, Your priceless gift,
of Thine Kingdom, O Ahura,
with the blessings of Pure Mind-
clearly, O Holy Devotion,
through Righteousness reveal this Faith.

Thus Zarathustra offers
his own life, his whole self,
dedicates the fruits of his efforts
and also his loving thoughts to Mazda;
all his best deeds to Righteousness
his words and his obedience with all his strength!

These last three verses above, are "borrowed" as the opening statements in the great hymn to Atash Yazad, the Angel(Yazad) of Fire(Atash), the prayer known as Atash-Niyash, meaning a Litany/Hymn to the Angel of Fire. This is not an exception, other verses from these Gathas are implanted in other daily prayers, and form part of daily prayers in the sacred book the Khorde Avesta, used both by priests and the laity in their daily personal prayers to the Supreme Being.

Any suggestion that Zoroastrians are fire worshippers, would be considered an affront, a sacrilege. Fire is sacred, an element that forms a great part of Ahura Mazda's creation, and is a living symbol of His majesty and grandeur.