1.1: Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu

Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu (Bundahishn Ch. 1, verses 1-10)

This text discusses the high God of Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda, as well as the “Mazdayasnians,” which is another name for Zoroastrians, as this word translates to the “mazda worshippers”. This passage introduces the goodness, eternal nature, and omniscience of Ahura Mazda. But it also introduces the “evil spirit” of Zoroastrianism, who is known as “Angra Mainyu. ”

The text discusses the differences between Ahura Mazda, whose main characteristic is light and everything that symbolically goes along with light – revelation, purity, etc. Angra Mainyu, on the other hand, is associated with darkness and everything that goes along with that quality – evil, temporality, emptiness, etc.

The passage wants to make very clear that Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu are completely separate from each other, although Ahura Mazda is more powerful and actually created Angra Mainyu.

Starting in Verse 8 the passage begins to tell part of the origin story of Zoroastrianism.

In Zoroastrian cosmology, it is believed that Angra Mainyu was created by Ahura Mazda, then remained at bay, in a “spiritual state” as the text describes, for three thousand years. Afterwards, he escaped from this state, which we could call hell as that is a term we may be more familiar with. Angra Mainyu and his creations, other evil spirits, are free to release evil and temptation on the world for a period of several thousand years, the time in which we are now living.

Ultimately, however, Zoroastrians believe that Ahura Mazda and his goodness will win out over Angra Mainyu. It is the responsibility of every human being to choose good over evil in this world, which helps to bring closer the ultimate conquering of evil in the world, and the ushering in of a perfect future state free from any evil and temptation.

Zoroastrianism believes that our world is a battleground between good and evil – it is our responsibility to work for the good in order to help goodness ultimately win and usher in the “future state,” which will be an eternal paradise once Angra Mainyu and his evil demons are defeated. Note the similarities between Angra Mainyu and the Christian and Muslim conceptions of the devil/shaytan – many scholars believe that Angra Mainyu influenced early Christian and Muslim conceptions of Satan.

It is important to note, however, that some Zoroastrians today see Angra Mainyu as a literal devil-like figure, while some Zoroastrians understand it to be a symbol of evil and temptation, not a real being.

Access the reading here:

I. https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/05.SacredBooksEast.VarOrSch.v5.Muller.Zor_.West_.PahlaviTxts.p1.Oxf_.1880..pdf

i. Our passage is located on pages 3-6

The Bundahishn Chapter One

In the name of the creator Ahura Mazda

The Zand-akas (Zand-knowing or tradition informed), which is first about Ahura Mazda’s original creation and the antagonism of the evil spirit, and afterwards about the nature of the creatures from the original creation till the end, which is the future existence.

As revealed by the religion of the Mazdayasnians (Zoroastrians), so it is declared that Ahura Mazda is supreme in omniscience and goodness, and unrivalled in splendour; the region of light is the place of Ahura Mazda, which they call ‘endless light,’ and the omniscience and goodness of the unrivalled Ahura Mazda they call revelation.

Revelation is the explanation of both spirits together; one is he who is independent of unlimited time, because Ahura Mazda were and are and ever will be’ while Angra Mainyu in darkness, with backward understanding and desire for destruction, was in the abyss, and it is he who will not be; and the place of that destruction, and also of that darkness, is what they call the ‘endlessly dark’.

And between them was empty space, that is, what they call ‘air,’ in which is now their meeting.

Both are limited and unlimited spirits, for the supreme is that which they call endless light, and the abyss that which is endlessly dark, so that between them is a void, and one is not connected with the other; and, again, both spirits are limited as to their own selves.

And, secondly, on account of the omniscience of Ahura Mazda, both things are in the creation of Ahura Mazda, the finite and the infinite; for this they know is that which is in the covenant of both spirits.

And, again, the complete sovereignty of the creatures of Ahura Mazda is in the future existence, and that also is unlimited for ever and everlasting; and the creatures of Angra Mainyu will perish at the time when the future existence occurs, and that also is eternity.

Ahura Mazda, through omniscience, knew that Angra Mainyu exists, and whatever he schemes he infuses with malice and greediness till the end; and because He accomplishes the end by many means, He also produced spiritually the creatures which were necessary for those means, and they remained three thousand years in a spiritual state, so that they were unthinking and unmoving, with intangible bodies.

The evil spirit, on account of backward knowledge, was not aware of the existence of Ahura Mazda; and, afterwards, he arose from the abyss, and came in unto the light which he saw. Desirous of destroying, and because of his malicious nature, he rushed in to destroy that light of Ahura Mazda and he saw its bravery and glory were greater than his own; so he fled back to the gloomy darkness, and formed many demons and fiends; and the creatures of the destroyer arose for violence.