AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

Zoroastrianism: World Religion

Terms : Hide Images
51433368AhuraLord
51433369Ahura MazdaZarathustra's name for God, meaning "Lord of Wisdom"; the supreme diety, the power of good, the creator of the world, the guardian of humankind; also known as Ohrmazd
51433370Amesha Spentas"Holy Immortals"; six divine attributes, archangels, or lesser immortal beings who, along with Ahura Mazda, make up the Holy Heptad, the sacred seven. In Zoroastrian thought, the Amesha Spentas are heavenly beings created by Ahura Mazda and, combined, represent the sevenfold character of God.
51433371Angra MainyuZarathustra's name for the destructive spirit, the devil; also known as Ahriman.
51433372AryansA caucasoid branch of the Indo-European family that historically seperated into at least two groups, one migrating into Iran and another into India. Some of the Aryans of Iran originated Zoroastrianism, and the intrusive Aryans of India originated Vedic Hinduism.
51433373Asha"Order, truth, justice"; the governing principle of the world.
51433374AvestaThe sacred book of ancient Zoroastrianism. Only a quarter of the original survived.
51433375AvestanThe language of Zarathustra and the Avesta.
51433376ChinvatThe bridge of judgment which connects this world with the unseen afterlife. After death, it is a means by which people cross between the two. Humans are judged before they cross the bridge.
51433377DakhmaOriginally, "grave"; later, a walled tower open to the sky where Zoroastrians expose the dead to vultures and crows for disposal of the flesh; sometimes called tower of silence.
51433378FaroharThe winged symbol or emblem of Zoroastrianism, the precise meaning of which is open to some question. It is the most commonly used Zoroastrian symbol. The central figure is popularly believed to be either Ahura Mazda or the fravashi.
51433379FravashiPossibly a guardian spirit, but may also be a spirit which enters this life with a person and continues with him or her beyond death.
51433380GabarsA pejorative term used by Muslims in Iran for members of the Zoroastrian faith.
51433381GathasHymns or poems written by Zarathustra; considered to be the most authoritative expressions of the Zoroastrian religion.
51433382GayomartThe Primal Man; first progenitor of the human race and father of Mashye and Mashyane.
51433383HaomaThe sacred plant whose juice is used as an offering in the Yasna.
51433384KustiLiterally, "sacred cord"; girdle received by Zoroastrians at navjote and worn at all times. It is untied and retied several times a day to the accompaniment of prayers.
51433385MagiThe priestly caste ofancient Persia, in time associated with the Zoroastrian priesthood. The singular form, "magus," is the Greek version of the Old Persian word "magu," meaning priest.
51433386Mashye and MashyaneThe first human couple, male and female; the Adam and Eve of Zoroastrian tradition.
51433387MithraA "high god" of pre-Zoroastrian Iran that survived the advent of Zoroastrianism and also continues to have a presence in the Vedas of Hindu literature in India.
51433388NavjoteThe public ceremony of initiation into the Zoroastrian faith.
51433389NirangUrine of an ox or bull which has been consecrated by prayer and is used externally for cleansing and drunk for internal purification.
51433390PahlaviAlso called Middle Persian; the language of Sassanian and early Islamic times in which later Zoroastrian books are written.
51433391ParsisThe "Persians" who settled in India in 936 c.e. to seek a land of religious freedom away from oppression in Muslim Iran. Parsis today make up the largest community of Zoroastrians in the world.
51433392SaoshyantThe coming Savior; the messiah figure of Zoroastrianism.
51433393SudreA white cotton undershirt worn next to the skin at all times (except when bathing) as a religious symbol of commitment and protection.
51433394UrvanThe spirit or sould of man.
51433395Vendidad"Code against the demons"; a book of purification in the Avesta, read at night in a lengthy ritual.
51433396YashtA hymn to Ahura Mazda or some other immortal being. The yashts form an important part of the Avesta.
51433397ZarathustraThe name of the founder of Zoroastrianism in its original Avestan language form. The Greek form of the name is Zoroaster.

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!