Ahura Mazdā (/ahura mazdaː/ anglicised as /əˌhʊərə ˈmazdə/; also known as Oromasdes, Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hourmazd, Hormazd, and Hurmuz) is the creator and highest Deity of Zoroastrianism. Ahura Mazda is the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the Yasna. The literal meaning of the word Ahura is "lord", and that of Mazda is "wisdom". "Ahura" is synonymous with the Vedic word "Asura" which means "lord".[1]
Ahura Mazda first appeared in the Achaemenid period (c. 550 – 330 BCE) under Darius I's Behistun Inscription. Until Artaxerxes II of Persia (405–04 to 359–58 BCE), Ahura Mazda was worshipped and invoked alone in all extant royal inscriptions. With Artaxerxes II, Ahura Mazda was invoked in a triad, with Mithra and Anahita. In the Achaemenid period, there are no known representations of Ahura Mazda at the royal court other than the custom for every emperor to have an empty chariot drawn by white horses, to invite Ahura Mazda to accompany the Persian army in battles. Images of Ahura Mazda, however, were present from the 5th century BCE, but were stopped and replaced with stone carved figures in the Sassanid period and later removed altogether through an iconoclastic movement supported by the Sassanid dynasty. Greeks often equate Ahura Mazda with Hermes (Hurmuz) and Zeus, Romans do the same with Mercury and Jupiter. But he is not even close to Zeus and Jupiter, and he is rather a fusion of Hermes, Hephaestus, and Ouranós.
History[]
At the beginning, existed absolutely nothing, just a powerful being called Zurvan, Zurvan created the universe and all the cosmos, in a moment Zurvan wanted to have sons, so Zurvan made a blood sacrifice, but Zurvan doubt. In Zurvan's belly Ahura Mazda told his twin brother Ahriman about who was the first son will be the king of the universe, and Ahriman came out Zurvan's belly, and later Ahriman disguised as Ahura Mazda told to Zurvan that was Ahura Mazda.
Zurvan replied you are not Ahura Mazda, Ahura Mazda is a light being with a good presence, you are Ahriman, because you are a dark being with a malevolent presence.
But likewise Ahriman becomes the king of the universe, but Zurvan conditioned that Ahura Mazda was a co-ruler in the universe.
At some point after, He then spoke to Zoroaster, a man who existed at some point during either the 15th or 10th centuries BCE where he then founded the religion of Zoroastrianism which is said to be one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.
In Popular Culture[]
Video games.[]
- Ahura Mazada is a semi-recurrent demon in the Megami Series.
- In Megami Tensei II and its remake for SNES Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei, Ahura Mazda is the true/divine form of Ashura.
- In some Megami Games Ahura Mazda is mentioned in the profiles of Asura and Virochana.
- In Megami Tensei II and its remake for SNES Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei, Ahura Mazda is the true/divine form of Ashura.
Card games.[]
- Ahura Mazda is present in Sid story.
Others.[]
- Ahura Mazda have a cameo in the Simpsons.
- The Japanese Company Mazda was named for Ahura Mazda.
- In the novel series Shinza Bansho Ahura Mazda is a locaration.
- The character Primus from Transformers is likely based on Ahura Mazda.
References[]
- ↑ A History of the World's Religions|David S. Noss