User:Warrior4321/articles/ahura mazda

Ahura Mazdā (also known as Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hormazd, Aramazd) is the Avestan name for a divinity of the Indo-Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreatedGod by Zoroaster. In the Avesta, Ahura Mazda is described as the highest deity of worship, along with being the first and most frequently invoked deity in the Yasna.

Ahura Mazda is an omnipresent, but not an omnipotent God. Ahura Mazda has put humans along with the 6 other creations, and their Amesha Spentas to fight the evil forces, headed by Angra Mainyu.

Characteristics
Even though Ahura Mazda was a deity in the Old Iranian religion, he had not yet been given the title of a "uncreated God". This title was given by Zoroaster who proclaimed Ahura Mazda as the uncreated God wholly wise, benevolent and good, as well as the creator and upholder of asha. As Ahura Mazda is described as the creator and upholder of asha, he is a supporter and guardian of justice, and the friend of the just man. Zoroaster stated that Ahura Mazda was not an omnipotent God, but one that could destroy evil eventually.

Zoroaster also spoke of an rival to Ahura Mazda, who was similarly uncreated. This rival was the evil spirit, Angra Mainyu. One of Ahura Mazda's objectives is to destroy Angra Mainyu and create a universe which is completely good. To acheieve such an universe, Ahura Mazda initially offered Angra Mainyu peace, which Angra Mainyu refused. Ahura Mazda then set out to establish a spiritual army. One of his first acts was the creation of the seven Amesha Spentas, who were to monitor and protect each of the seven creations.

Zoroaster's relevation
Zoroaster was born into a religious world worshipping many gods named daveas along with three greater gods, each bearing the title Ahura. Zoroaster proclaimed that only one of these three gods, Ahura Mazda was the sole uncreated creator of the universe. He stated that this source of all goodness was the only Ahura worthy of the highest worship. He further stated that Ahura Mazda created spirits known as yazatas to aid him, who also merited devotion. Zoroaster proclaimed that all of the Iranian daevas were demons and deserved no worship. These demons were created by another uncreated entity, Angra Mainyu, the hostile spirit. The existence of Angra Mainyu was the source of all sin and misery in the universe. Zoroaster claimed that Ahura Mazda was not an omnipotent God, but used the aid of humans in the cosmic struggle agaisnt Angra Mainyu. Nonetheless, Ahura Mazda is not Angra Mainyu's equal. Angra Mainyu and his daevas which attempt to afflict humans away from the path of righteousness would eventually be destroyed.

Achaemenid Empire
There are many references to Ahura Mazda in royal Achameneid inscriptions, especially those of Darius I such as his Behistun Inscription. On the Persepolis tablets, Ahura Mazda is usually invoked alone, although there are tablets which refer to mutliple dieties. On Persepolis Fortification Tablet 377, Ahura Mazda is invoked along with Baga and Voruna. Under Artaxerxes II, the royal inscription began invoking a triad : Ahura Mazda, Anahita, and Mithra. There are no recorded representations of Ahura Mazda in the Achamenid period. It was formerly believed by European scholars that a winged symbol with male figure twas Ahura Mazda. It has been shown to represent the royal xvarenah. However, it was customary for every Achaemenid emperor to have an empty chariot drawn by white horses accompany the Persian army during battles.

Parthian Empire
Very little is known about religion during the Parthian Empire due to poor documentation. However, what is known is the reverence for Ahura Mazda, as well as Anahita and Mithra continued with the same traditions during the Achaemenid era. The worship of Ahura Mazda with images is seen in the Parthian era, but is stopped with the beggining of the Sassanid period. Zoroastrian iconoclasm which can be traced to the end of the Parthian period and the beggining of the Sassanid eventually put an end to the use of all images of Ahura Mazda in worship. However, Ahura Mazda remained a dignified male figure, standing or on horseback which is found in Sasanian investiture.

Sassanid Empire/Zurvanism
During the time period of the Sassanid Empire, a heretic form of Zoroastrianism had emerged. It enjoyed adherents belong to the royal lineage of Sassanian emperors. Under Shapur I, it became a widespread cult. In Zurvanism, Ahura Mazda loses the title of a "uncreated creator" and is just one of two twin sons of Zurvan, their father and the primary deity. Zurvanism also makes Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu of equal strength but only opposite divinities. Zurvanism revokes Zoroaster's original message of Ahura Mazda as the uncreated God, and the uncreated creator of all. Zurvanism also reduced Ahura Mazda from the uncreated creator to just a created deity.