The Life Story of Zoroaster

THE LIFE STORY OF ZOROASTER

There was a time in ancient Persia when evil doers were on the rise. It was then that Zoroaster’s grandfather Frahimurva was born, glowing with a celestial light. This light was passed on to his daughter Dughdova, which emanated as a glow all around her body. The demons recognized that this was a divine happening and tried to kill her. Alas! To save her life, both, Frahimurva and his daughter had to part. Dughdova was sent to the home of her father’s friend who had a son called Pourushaspa. Soon, Dughdova married Pourushaspa . The divine light also entered Pourushaspa. One night when Dughdova was sleeping she had a terrible dream about wild ferocious animals being chased away by a powerful holy man. Next day the wise men interpreted the dream and said that Pourushaspa will have a son who will become a great man, a messenger of God, but , will suffer because of jealous men.

One fine day, a baby was born to Dughdova. The baby was named Zoroaster. Usually babies cry when they are born, but this baby was laughing. The head priest, who was really a demon, took baby Zoroaster and tried to kill him. First he threw the baby in the path of a herd of cattle and later in the path of horses. But Zoroaster was protected by divine forces and so remained unharmed. Next, the demon priest took Zoroaster to a forest and lay him in the den of a wolf, thinking that the animal would kill the baby, but once again he was protected . Later the priest threw Zoroaster on to a pile of burning embers. The baby was unscathed and the fire turned into a bed of fragrant roses! When Zoroaster was one year old he became ill. His father Pourushaspa asked the priest to help, not knowing that he was a demon. The priest made some poisonous medicine which baby Zoroaster spit instead of swallowing and his fever came down without any remedy.

Zoroaster grew up to be a strong, intelligent, handsome boy and was the best pupil his teacher ever had. One day, his father Pourushaspa who was becoming old, asked Zoroaster what he would like to have as a gift. Zoroaster replied that he would like Pourushaspa’s girdle – the belt he tied around his waist. When Zoroaster tied the girdle around his waist,he said that it made him feel confident and that he would always do what was righteous and proper. As an adult Zoroaster led a simple life, helping the poor, sick and needy. He was especially fond of animals and was kind to them. Every day he prayed for strength. One day, his father invited the demon priest to his house, who desired to say a prayer before eating food. Immediately Zoroaster objected to the prayer being said by the demon. The priest became furious and insulted Zoroaster . Later he fell dead while riding away on his horse.

One day, Zoroaster left home in search of truth. As he wandered through the countryside he came to a river ,where there was neither a bridge nor a boat to get to the other side. But this did not pose a problem for him as with the help of his Divine powers, he was able to walk across the surface of the water to the other side. However, when he came across another river, things happened differently. He walked slowly into the water until it was up to his neck, and when he stepped out onto the otherside, he was glowing with a new light. This miraculous event marked the birth of the new religion Zoroastrianism founded by Zoroaster. The angel of the Good Mind came to him and commanded him to go out and spread God’s message of truth, justice and respect for his creation. He was given the symbol of fire as it burns away all evil, keeping the rest pure. And so Zoroaster went back to the people to teach the new religion of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. He reminded everyone that God resides in their heart as pure divine love. Zoroastrians are also known as Parsees.

Ref : The Great Ones by Joy Lynette Parker