Zoroastrianism
Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.10
Zoroastrianism is an ancient monotheistic religion of Iran founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), who taught the worship of Ahura Mazda, the wise lord, and the struggle between truth (Asha) and falsehood (Druj). Its scripture is the Avesta, whose oldest part is the Gathas, and its sacred symbol is fire kept in temples called Agiary or Atash Behram. Followers called Parsis, the people from Persia, came to Gujarat at Sanjan between the eighth and tenth centuries CE, as told in the Qissa-i-Sanjan. India had 57,264 Parsis in Census 2011.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
At a Glance
- Founder Zarathustra, Persia
- God Ahura Mazda
- Scripture Avesta, with Gathas
- Arrival in India Sanjan, Gujarat, 8th to 10th century
- Population 57,264, Census 2011
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism
Where Does It Fit?
This is the tenth topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It covers one of the smallest religious communities of India and prepares for the topic on Judaism, another small community with an old presence. Previous topic: Christianity. Next topic: Judaism.
What Are the Main Features of Zoroastrianism?
| Feature | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | Zarathustra or Zoroaster | Prophet of ancient Iran; the date is debated, from about 1500 to 600 BCE |
| God | Ahura Mazda | The wise lord, the single creator. Opposed by the evil spirit Angra Mainyu or Ahriman |
| Scripture | Avesta | Parts are the Yasna (with the Gathas), Visperad, Vendidad and Khordeh Avesta. The Gathas are hymns attributed to Zarathustra |
| Ethics | Good thoughts, good words, good deeds | Humata, Hukhta and Hvarshta in the Avestan language |
| Fire | Symbol of purity | Kept in fire temples. The three grades are Atash Dadgah, Atash Adaran and Atash Behram. Iranshah Atash Behram is at Udvada in Gujarat |
| Funeral | Dokhma or Tower of Silence | The dead are exposed to vultures to avoid polluting earth, fire and water; this practice faces strain today with the decline of vultures |
How Did Zoroastrians Come to India?
- Cause: after the Arab conquest of the Sasanian empire of Persia in the seventh century CE, many Zoroastrians left Iran
- Landing at Sanjan: a group landed at Sanjan on the coast of Gujarat between the eighth and tenth centuries CE; the exact date is debated
- Jadi Rana: the local Hindu ruler allowed them to settle with conditions, according to the Qissa-i-Sanjan, a Persian verse chronicle written in 1600 CE by Bahman Kaikobad
- Language: the Parsis adopted Gujarati and kept Avestan and Pahlavi for worship
- Movement to cities: in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Parsis moved to Surat and then Bombay, where they became prominent in shipbuilding, trade and industry
- Sects by calendar: Shahenshahi, Kadmi and Fasli follow different calendars
- Navjote: the initiation ceremony in which a child receives the sudreh (sacred shirt) and the kusti (sacred thread)
- Navroz: the New Year festival, observed in India by most Parsis in August, while the vernal equinox Nawrouz is celebrated by many Iranian and Central Asian communities
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names and spellings: Parsi is also written Parsee; Zoroaster is the Greek form of Zarathustra; the religion is also called Mazdayasna and the followers Zoroastrians
- Nawrouz on UNESCO list: Nawrouz was inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 as a multinational element that includes India, as in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List (Kumbh Mela, Yoga, Durga Puja, Kutiyattam, Ramlila, Vedic Chanting, Chhau Dance, Sankirtana, Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh, Nawrouz)
- Parsi contribution: Parsis contributed disproportionately to industry, science and public life
- Dadabhai Naoroji: the Grand Old Man of India, three times president of the Indian National Congress, who put forward the drain theory
- Other leaders: Pherozeshah Mehta, Dinshaw Wacha and Bhikaiji Cama, who unfurled a flag at the Stuttgart Congress in 1907
- Industry and science: Jamsetji Tata founded the Tata group, and Homi Bhabha led India’s atomic energy programme
- Military: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw led India to victory in the 1971 war
- Policy: the Jiyo Parsi scheme, launched in 2013 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, supports fertility treatment and outreach to stop the decline in population
- Minority status: Zoroastrians were notified as a minority community at the national level in 1993
- Demographic decline: the Parsi population fell from 69,601 in Census 2001 to 57,264 in Census 2011, because of low birth rate, late marriage and migration
- Architecture: fire temples in Mumbai, Surat and Navsari are examples of the community’s building tradition
- Food: dishes such as dhansak and patra ni machhi are known Parsi cuisine
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Basics: Zarathustra, Ahura Mazda, Avesta and Gathas
- Arrival: Sanjan, Jadi Rana and Qissa-i-Sanjan
- People: Naoroji, Tata, Bhabha, Manekshaw and Bhikaiji Cama
- Policy: Jiyo Parsi scheme
- Common errors: calling Parsis the first group in Kerala, or giving Ahriman as the god
As an analytical point, the Parsi story shows how a very small migrant community can shape national life in industry, science, politics and philanthropy. Its demographic decline is a case study for the protection of small cultural communities.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Basics Terms and texts
- History Sanjan and Qissa
- Mains Small communities
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Judaism in India. Next topic: Judaism.
Key People and Terms
- Avesta Zoroastrian scripture
- Gathas Oldest hymns
- Agiary Fire temple
- Dokhma Tower of Silence
- Navjote Initiation rite
- Ahriman Evil spirit
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- God: Ahura Mazda; text: Avesta.
- Landing: Sanjan, Gujarat.
- Chronicle: Qissa-i-Sanjan, 1600.
- Fire temple at Udvada.
- Jiyo Parsi: 2013.
Do Not Confuse With
- Ahura Mazda and Ahriman Good wise lord versus evil spirit
- Navroz and Nawrouz Parsi New Year in August versus equinox New Year
- Parsi and Irani Earlier migrants to Gujarat versus later arrivals from Iran
Memory Hook
One wise lord, one holy book, one landing at Sanjan.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about small minorities and their role in national development. These points give a balanced frame.
- Contribution Industry and politics
- Decline Population fall
- Support Jiyo Parsi and heritage
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the contribution of the Parsi community to modern India and the challenges it faces.”
How to Answer
- Arrival Sanjan and settlement.
- Role Industry, politics.
- Challenge Falling numbers.
- Way Scheme and heritage care.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zoroastrianism?
Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion of Iran, founded by the prophet Zarathustra, that teaches belief in one supreme god, Ahura Mazda, and the moral struggle between truth and falsehood. Its scripture is the Avesta, and its followers in India are called Parsis. It is regarded as one of the oldest monotheistic faiths.
Who founded Zoroastrianism?
Zoroastrianism was founded by Zarathustra, also called Zoroaster, a prophet of ancient Iran. The date of his life is uncertain and is placed by scholars anywhere from about 1500 BCE to 600 BCE. The Gathas, the oldest hymns of the Avesta, are attributed to him.
How did the Parsis come to India?
The Parsis came from Persia after the Arab conquest of the Sasanian empire and landed at Sanjan on the Gujarat coast between the eighth and tenth centuries CE. The Qissa-i-Sanjan of 1600 records that the local ruler Jadi Rana allowed them to settle on conditions, including adopting Gujarati.
What is the difference between Navroz and Nawrouz?
Navroz is the Parsi New Year celebrated in India by many Parsis in August by the Shahenshahi calendar. Nawrouz is the spring equinox new year in March celebrated across Iran and Central Asia and inscribed by UNESCO as intangible heritage in 2016. Both mean new day.
Why are the Parsis important for UPSC?
Parsis appear in Prelims through the Avesta, Sanjan, Navroz and notable persons such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamsetji Tata and Homi Bhabha, and in Mains through the topic of small minorities, the Jiyo Parsi scheme and the role of communities in industry and nationalism.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Parsis first landed at Sanjan in Gujarat.
As told in the Qissa-i-Sanjan.
2 Ahura Mazda is the evil spirit in Zoroastrianism.
He is the supreme good god; Angra Mainyu is evil.
3 The Jiyo Parsi scheme aims to stop the decline of the Parsi population.
Started in 2013.
4 The Avesta is the scripture of Zoroastrians.
It includes the Gathas.
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