zoroastrianism

[English zoroastrian; Compar. Relig.: The religious system said to have understands a series of religious teachers rather been taught by Zoroaster, by which term Dr. Haug than a single person bearing the name. The old Persians and the Brahmans continued one people after they had separated from the primitive Aryan stock, their faith being Nature-worship. For the subsequent religious schisms between them see BRAHMANISM. The first Zoroaster, if there was more than one, is believed by Dr. Haug to have lived as early as Moses, or, at least, not later than Solon. He was the reformer rather than the orig. mon. in at or of the faith called after his name. The Zoroastrian sacred book is the Zend Avesta (q. v.). The creed founded on it was profe ed by the old Persians, as it is by their succe ors the modern Parsees, sometimes called Fire-worshipers. It teaches that there always has existed a certain entity, whose name, Zarúána Akarana, has been translated "Time without bounds." This entity is represented as having simultaneously brought into existence two exceedingly powerful beings: One, Hormuzd, the creator and patron of all good; the other, Ahriman, the author and supporter of all evil. Hormuzd created light, and Ahriman darkne . The two beings are in perpetual conflict; and each has under him a hierarchy of angels. This system is denounced in Isaiah xlv. 5-7. With it another creed that of fire-worship-po ibly derived through the Magi from the Turanians, became commingled; there is allusion to it in Ezekiel viii. 16-18. Both beliefs go to constitute the modern Parsee faith. Profe or Haug believes that the teaching of the primitive Zoroaster was misunderstood, and that it was much purer than the system of doctrine which has long pa ed current in his name. [FIRE-WORSHIPER, GUEBRE, PARSEE.] zõşma, s. [Corrupt. Arabic.] Astron.: A fixed star of magnitude 24. Called also Delta Leonis.