A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z
A
Adar Burzin One of Zoroastrianism’s greatest, most sacred fires. The other two are Adar Farnbag and Adar Gushasp.
Ahriman The Devil. Literally a hostile and destructive spirit.
Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) The name Zoroastrians give to their supreme being. Ahura Mazda is all good, and created the world and all good things, including people.
Ameshaspand The highest spiritual beings created by Ahura Mazda, sometimes referred to as archangels. Their names are Bahman, Ardibehst, Shahrevar, Aspandarmad, Khordad, Amardad.
Anghra Mainyu (Destructive Spirit) The personification of evil, the creator of all evil things – and Ahura Mazda’s opposite. The cosmic battle between the two will ultimately bring about the destruction of all evil.
Asha A key concept in the Gathas and throughout Zoroastrian scripture, but too complex to translate into a single term. Common translations include: truth, righteousness, world-order, eternal law, fitness.
Avesta (The Holy Book) Central scripture of the Zoroastrian faith. The most sacred – and enigmatic – sections of the Avesta are the Gathas, or Zarathushtra’s hymns. Later sacred literature includes the Pahlavi texts, containing extensive quotations and paraphrases from lost Avesta texts.
B
C
D
E
F
Fasli One of the three movements within Zoroastrianism, each observing different religious calendars. The other two are Kadmi and Shehanshahi.
Fire Fire – symbol of Asha and the original light of God – commands particular respect in among Zoroastrians. They often pray in front of a fire, and consecrated fires are kept perpetually burning in the major temples.
G
H
Hell Hell is a temporary place of suffering for dead sinners. When evil is finally defeated, sinners’ souls will be released from hell. They will be purified through a ritual involving molten metal then join the congregation of God and the saints.
I
J
K
Kay Vishtasp King of ancient Iran, patron of Zarathushtra.
Khordeh Avesta (Book of Common Prayer) Includes Yashts (hymns to the sacred beings), Niyayeshes (litanies to the sun, Mithra, Water, Fire, and the Moon), Gahs (prayers for the five watches of the day), Afringans (ceremonies of blessing), and other prayers
L
M
Mashye-Mashyane The first human couple, born from the seed of Gayomard, the first man.
N
Nahn Ritual washing of the entire body.
Nama karana Ceremony for naming a newborn child, usually 10-12 days after birth.
Navjote Initiation into the Zoroastrian religion, also called sudreh pushun.
O
P
Padan White cloth mask used by a priest during ritual ceremonies to keep his breath from reaching the fire.
Padyab Ritual washing of the exposed parts of the body. Compare with nahn.
Pahlavi Middle Persian language, used between 300 BC and 950 AC, in which many Zoroastrian writings are preserved. Many are exegetical commentaries (called Zend) which translate, summarise and explain the Avesta. The Pahlavi texts also preserve large summaries and translations of lost Avestan texts. They are considered to have less authority than the Avesta.
Panchayat Local association of Zoroastrians.
Parsis/Parsees Zoroastrians who settled in India.
Q
R
Rituals Zoroastrians always wear two sacred garments as emblems of their religion: the sudreh (shirt) and kusti (cord). As a sign of their faith, Zoroastrians perform a short cleansing ritual (padyab), and retie the kusti several times a day with another short ritual, Nirang-I Kusti. Additionally, they recite other prayers from the Khordeh Avesta. Followers participate in seasonal communal festivals (gahambars) during the year.
S
Satum Meal offering ritual prayer for dead.
T
Tishn Demon of thirst.
U
Urvan Soul.
V
Vispa Humata Short prayer from the Khordeh Avesta focussing on good thoughts, words, and deeds.
W
Wahisht Paradise.
X
Y
Yenghe hatam One of the Zoroastrian faith’s talismanic prayers.
Z
Zarathushtra Founder of the Zoroastrian faith. Although not definite, he probably lived and preached around 1200 BC on the Inner Asian steppes. Zarathushtra received his revelations directly from Ahura Mazda, and from his archangels (Amesha Spentas).