Ahura Mazda
The Wise Lord — supreme deity of Zoroastrianism, creator of truth and cosmic order, and patron god of the Achaemenid Great Kings.
Ahura Mazda (“Wise Lord”) is the supreme, uncreated God of Zoroastrianism — the creator of the universe, the source of all goodness, and the champion of asha (truth, cosmic order) against druj (the lie, chaos). His theology, articulated in the Gathas of Zarathustra and expressed in the monumental inscriptions of the Achaemenid kings, represents one of the earliest systematic monotheistic or dualistic theologies in world history.[5]
In the Gathas
The Gathas are seventeen hymns in Old Avestan attributed to Zarathustra himself (Zoroaster in Greek). They present Ahura Mazda as:[5]
- The sole uncreated creator — distinct from the daevas (false gods / demons)
- The source of Asha Vahishta (“Best Truth”) — the cosmic principle of right order
- Opposed to Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) — the destructive spirit who chose the lie
- Surrounded by the Amesha Spentas (“Bountiful Immortals”) — seven divine beings who are both aspects of Ahura Mazda and independent entities[2]
The Amesha Spentas
| Name | Domain | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Vohu Manah | Good Mind | Cattle |
| Asha Vahishta | Best Truth | Fire |
| Khshathra Vairya | Desirable Dominion | Metals |
| Spenta Armaiti | Holy Devotion | Earth |
| Haurvatāt | Wholeness | Water |
| Ameretāt | Immortality | Plants |
Achaemenid Royal Theology
The Achaemenid Great Kings placed Ahura Mazda at the center of their monumental inscriptions:[7]
baga vazraka Auramazdā, hya imām būmīm adā, hya avam asmānam adā, hya martiyam adā
“A great god is Ahura Mazda, who created this earth, who created that sky, who created man”
— Darius I, Behistun Inscription (DB §1)[7]
The famous winged disc (faravahar) depicted above Achaemenid kings at Persepolis and Behistun is widely identified with Ahura Mazda, though scholars debate whether it represents the god himself, the royal xvarnah (divine glory), or Zarathustra’s fravashi (guardian spirit).
Xerxes’ Daiva Inscription records the destruction of a sanctuary of the daevas — suggesting active Zoroastrian reform of older Iranian polytheism.
Cosmic Dualism
Zoroastrian theology posits a fundamental conflict:
- Ahura Mazda → Spenta Mainyu (Beneficent Spirit) → Asha (Truth)
- Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) → Druj (The Lie) → demons and evil
This cosmic war is waged across history. Human beings must choose sides. At the end of time, a final renovation (frashokereti) will purify creation and permanently defeat evil.
Legacy
Zoroastrian concepts profoundly influenced later religions:
- Eschatology — Final judgment, bodily resurrection, cosmic renovation → Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- Angels and demons — The Amesha Spentas and daevas as prototypes
- Ethical dualism — The moral choice between truth and falsehood
- Messianism — The Saoshyant (“future savior”) tradition
Primary Sources
- Gathas (Yasna 28–34, 43–51, 53) — Zarathustra’s own hymns
- Younger Avesta — Yashts (hymns to individual deities), Vendidad (purity laws)
- Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions — Behistun (DB), Naqsh-e Rostam (DNa), Persepolis (DPe, XPh)
- Bundahishn — Zoroastrian creation myth (Middle Persian, 9th century CE)
Further Reading
- Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 2001.
- Skjærvø, Prods Oktor. The Spirit of Zoroastrianism. Yale University Press, 2011.
- Lincoln, Bruce. Religion, Empire, and Torture: The Case of Achaemenian Persia. University of Chicago Press, 2007.
- Rose, Jenny. Zoroastrianism: An Introduction. I.B. Tauris, 2011.
See also: Zoroastrianism · Mesopotamian Pantheon
References
- ↑ Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 2001.
- ↑ Skjærvø, Prods Oktor. The Spirit of Zoroastrianism. Yale University Press, 2011.
- ↑ Lincoln, Bruce. Religion, Empire, and Torture: The Case of Achaemenian Persia. University of Chicago Press, 2007.
- ↑ Rose, Jenny. Zoroastrianism: An Introduction. I.B. Tauris, 2011.
- ↑ Gathas (Yasna 28–34, 43–51, 53) — Zarathustra's own hymns
- ↑ Younger Avesta — Yashts (hymns to individual deities), Vendidad (purity laws)
- ↑ Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions — Behistun (DB), Naqsh-e Rostam (DNa), Persepolis (DPe, XPh)
- ↑ Bundahishn — Zoroastrian creation myth (Middle Persian, 9th century CE)