North London Interfaith Events

Who are the Zoroastrians?

This was a talk by Malcolm Deboo of the Zoroastrian Centre, Harrow and the Faith Based Regeneration Network.

Malcolm Deboo began by letting us hear an invocation from the Gathas. These are oral compositions composed by the prophet Zarathustra three and a half thousand years ago. They were composed in Old Iranian, which is related to Vedic Sanskrit. It was only in the 19th century that German linguistic specialists were able to analyse the language in which they are written and date it with any accuracy.

The Gathas are still recited in the same way as they were 3,500 years ago.

The priest who gave the recitation we listened to learned to recite the Gathas from the age of 9 when he was in a priestly seminary in Bombay.

Priesthood is hereditary through the male line. The texts have been memorised and recited orally ever since they were composed. They were first written down in the 6th -7th century CE.

Zarathustra was born in the Bronze Age, when many pagan gods and goddesses were regarded with reverence and fear. In the Gathas Zarathustra revealed to mankind that there is one all knowing supreme eternal God of the good creation, Ahura Mazda, the lord of wisdom, who is wholly wise, good and just, a friend to all, never to be feared by man, who in turn should worship him. Anything that is negative, or brings about destruction does not come from God.

Today other religions also have the concept of one God but when Zarathustra started to preach it was an extremely radical idea. He was preaching in what is now the border of Afghanistan, N E Iraq and Tajikhistan which even today is still a turbulent area. The geography of the region brings about a harsh way of living.

There are two primordial spirits in the world – Spenta Mainyu, the holy spirit of Ahura Mazda, and Angra Mainyu, the hostile spirit. The omniscient Ahura Mazda created an immaculate material world of the seven creations (these are the skies, waters, earth, plants, cattle, man and fire.) to trap the Hostile Spirit, knowing that Angra Mainyu was inherently destructive and would attack the world, bringing disease, sorrow, cruelty, death etc.

Humankind is central in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. During this period of conflict, human beings, through free will, should choose the path of Asha, which is founded on order, truth and righteousness. Through the ethical framework of good thoughts, good words and good deeds human beings should follow the path of Ahura Mazda and fight evil until the end of time when evil will be annihilated.

Mankind’s unique spiritual quest is bound up with the recognition of, and reverence for, the Wise Lord’s seven creations which are a physical representation of Asha and a source of light, warmth and life. (the skies, waters, earth, plants, cattle, man and fire.) Fire is a potent symbol and all Zoroastrian religious rituals are solemnized in the presence of fire. Once lit, the sacred fire is never permitted to go out.

Zarasthustra taught that the world as created by Ahura Mazda is essentially good so we should live well and enjoy its bounty, although in moderation. We should affirm what is good in life so monasticism, fasting, mortification of the body and so on, should not be practised, because if the body is weak it is less able to fight evil. Similarly, pessimism and despair are seen as sins which lead to evil. We should be active, industrious, honest and charitable.

At the time of physical death, which is seen as a temporary triumph of evil, the soul will be judged and receive its reward or punishment, depending on the balance of thoughts, words and deeds. The righteous soul will ascend to the abode of joy and light; the wicked will descend into darkness and gloom. At the end of time even the wicked soul will be cleansed, Saoshyant, the saviour, will appear, good will triumph over evil. At the Last Judgment time will cease to be and the seven creations of Ahura Mazda will be gathered together in eternal blessedness. Beauty, peace and joy will prevail in the kingdom of God.

From circa 560 BCE to 652 CE the religion taught by Zarathustra flourished as the state religion during three mighty Iranian empires. During this time Jews living in Iran adopted some of the prophet’s teachings and in due course they were transmitted first to Christianity and later to Islam.

When the Arabs conquered Iran in the 7th century CE they began to impose Islam on the inhabitants. In the tenth century a group of Zoroastrians seeking freedom of worship left Iran and settled in Sanjan, western India, which is in modern day Gujarat. Here they flourished and became known as Parsis (Persians). Despite bitter persecution in Iran a few Zoroastrians have remained there.

Today there are about 130,000 Zoroastrians living in India, Iran and various parts of the English-speaking world. Despite declining numbers and the threat of assimilation in a secular world, some members of the community continue to study and practice their religion, maintaining optimism about the future and guided by the light of Ahura Mazda.

Following his talk, Malcolm Deboo answered questions, which included:

Q. Did you have the freedom to be anything other than Zoroastrian?

A. Yes, although my parents would not have been happy if I had changed. But to be frank I am also a Zoroastrian by conviction. I believe God knows everything and so he knows what is best for me.

Q. Where does evil come from?

A. Zoroastrians believe evil does not come from God. Only God knows where it comes from; our role is to defeat evil. Our sacred texts are warrior-like yet Zoroastrians have never gone to war in the name of religion. They have had discourse with Jews, Manicheeans, with Islam and Buddhists.

Q. Can you convert to Zoroastrianism?

A. Not usually, but even in Judaism and Hinduism conversion is difficult. However, conversion is being debated now. In North America people do convert. The primary reason is that Zoroastrians are dying out and some people think that if there are conversions everything will be OK. Historically Zoroastrians have not permitted conversion as Christians and Muslims have done, neither have they ever persecuted other religions. My belief is that if all creation comes from God, then God has made a decision to have other religions. By converting you are saying God shouldn’t have allowed other religions. Often the central focus behind conversion is that if you convert you will go to heaven. Why should I convert? My faith is older. Zoroastrians shared their philosophical and religious insights. Some concepts you find were passed on to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Another point is that until the 20th century Zoroastrians lived only in parts of Iran and North West India. They were persecuted in Iran but accepted in India. To go to another country and then start converting people would not have been a good idea.

Q. Is there a mystical side to Zoroastrianism?

A. Yes, the scriptures are divided into 7 groups of 3 (3x7) the three = good thoughts good words, good deeds. The 7 represent the 7 primary creations. There are some mystical concepts around these numbers. Today the mystical are very much a fringe group of 19th century origin. Most people continue to practise their ancient faith as it was taught to them. In the 20th century, during the time of persecution in Iran, only a 10th of the 21 original volumes of the Gathas survived (and the reason you have the Gathas still extant is because the priests practised saying them orally). Much of the stuff they were not using was lost.

Q. One member of the audience attended a mixed marriage service, the Zoroastrian part being performed by a lay Zoroastrian person, not a priest. Does that count?

A. Marriage services don’t have to be delivered by a priest. It’s what we call an “outer” ceremony but for “inner” ceremonies you must have a priest. Traditionally at a wedding there are two priests, one for the bridgeroom’s side and one for the bride’s side. They perform the rites which are of Sassanian origin. (2nd to 7th C) In the actual ceremony which lasts 35 minutes, certain relatives from each side are expected to be present. The priest asks the woman three times if she is freely marrying the man. Then the groom is asked the same question. Then the two witnesses (not the parents). Only if all say YES does the wedding proceed.

But mixed faith marriages are not permitted by traditionalists, especially in Iran and in Pakistan because in these countries if a Zoroastrian marries a Muslim they must convert.

Q. What about living in a Zoroastrian community?

A. Ideas of goodness is passed down orally through practice. eg Zoroastrians won’t blow out a candle. We tend to see things in black and white – good or bad, We are taught to accept responsibility. A lie is a lie, although it may be justified by performing a greater good. Do good, lead a moral life, give to charity. Consume alcohol but in moderation. Everything should be done in moderation. Therefore gluttony is bad but you should eat well. Continue the faith by marrying a Zoroastrian. Study well. Both girls and boys should have a good education. The community has a high literacy rate and has long been Westernised.

Q. How do Zoroastrians deal with persecution?

A. It hasn’t been a good time to be a Zoroastrian in Iran for a very long time, yet some have stayed. You aren’t alive for the purpose of creature comforts. People don’t like to leave their home country. All Iranians have a strong sense of the greatness of their own culture.

The community has produced a disproportionate number of bright, intellectual people and business people such as the Tatas, Dadabhai Navroji (the first British MP of Indian origin), Freddie Mercury, and many others.