Selections from Zoroastrianism’s Bundahishn: Chapters 1-2, Part 1 of 2

Zoroaster was a vegetarian and out of respect for all life, He forbade animal sacrifice. He also prophesied an ultimate Savior of the world who would come at a future time to restore a Heavenly existence on Earth.

“Bundahishn,” which means “creation of the beginning,” is an encyclopedic work which draws from the Avesta, the sacred religious texts of Zoroastrianism, focusing on the concepts of creation and the nature of earthy creatures.

Chapter 1 In the name of the creator Ahura Mazda.

“The region of light is the place of Ahura Mazda, which they call ‘endless light,’ and the omniscience and goodness of the unrivalled Ahura Mazda is what they call ‘revelation.’ Revelation is the explanation of both spirits together; one is he who is independent of unlimited time, because Ahura Mazda and the region, religion, and time of Ahura Mazda were and are and ever will be; while Ahriman in darkness, with backward understanding and desire for destruction, was in the abyss, and it is he who will not be; and the place of that destruction, and also of that darkness, is what they call the ‘endlessly dark.’ And between them was empty space, that is, what they call ‘air,’ in which is now their meeting.”

“Then Ahura Mazda, with a knowledge of which way the end of the matter would be, went to meet the evil spirit, and proposed peace to him, and spoke thus: ‘Evil spirit! bring assistance unto my creatures, and offer praise! so that, in reward for it, ye (you and your creatures) may become immortal and undecaying, hungerless and thirstless.’ And the evil spirit shouted thus: ‘I will not depart, I will not provide assistance for thy creatures, I will not offer praise among thy creatures, and I am not of the same opinion with thee as to good things. I will destroy thy creatures forever and everlasting; moreover, I will force all thy creatures into disaffection to thee and affection for myself.’”

“Then Ahura Mazda, through omniscience, knew that: If I do not grant a period of contest, then it will be possible for him to act so that he may be able to cause the seduction of my creatures to himself. As even now there are many of the intermixture of mankind who practice wrong more than right. And Ahura Mazda spoke to the evil spirit thus: ‘Appoint a period! So that the intermingling of the conflict may be for nine thousand years.’ For he knew that by appointing this period the evil spirit would be undone.”