Daena Vanguhi
ASHO ZARATHUSHTRA
When was Asho Zarathushtra born?
No one knows for sure. Dates range between 6,000 BCE to 630 BCE. Aristotle put it down as 6,000 BCE, other scholars suggest that he was born approximately 300 years before Alexander destroyed the ;libraries in Persia. The exact date is irrelevant. It is enough to know that he lived and revealed one of the most enlightened guidelines for human behaviour in the Gathas.
Why do we call him Asho Zarathushtra Spitama?
Asho is a title of respect derived from the Avestan word Asha meaning righteousness.
Zarathushtra was his given name meaning “one possessing a golden camel,” from the Avesta word zarat meaning "golden" combined with ushtra meaning "camel".
Spitama was the family name.
What was his life like?
Very little is known about him. You have to remember that the era was pre-recorded history; writing, as we know it today, hadn't been invented. What is definitely known and universally accepted is that he was born to Dughdova and Pourushaspa in Aryana Vaeja (land of the Aryans i.e. Central Asia). At the age of twenty years, he went to Mount Ushidaren to meditate. After ten years of self-study he received the revelation that there is only one universal source of wisdom Ahura Mazda, and that the aim of human life is to strive to be reunited with Him. It took Asho Zarathushtra many years of struggle before the superstitious and gods-fearing people accepted his word. And this acceptance happened largely through the support and patronage of Kai Vishtasp, the ruler at that time, and his consort Hutaosa. Nothing has been stated about Asho Zarathushtra passing away, leading one to believe that it must have been through natural causes.
Thousands of years later, dramatic embellishments were added to the story of Asho Zarathushtra's life. This includes the saga of Durasobrab's attempts on the life of baby Zarathushtra and his miraculous escapes; Zarathsuhtra's confrontation with the jealous sorcerers at Kai Vishtasp's courts; and his murder in the temple by Turi Bradosh.
Good Conscience
Asho Zartahuhstra's message is called daena vanghui or good conscience because he recognised that Ahura Mazda has endowed human beings with a powerful mind and an ability to distinguish what is right and what is wrong. It is up to us to choose between the progressive righteous mentality (spenta mainyu) or the angry, evil mentality (angra mainyu). The other side of the coin, therefore, is responsibility for one’s own actions.
Another essential of the daena vanghui is truth. In the scriptures, it is said that Rashna, or Truth receives our souls after our death. In other words, we will be judged by the integrity with which we live our lives. Lies and deceit are considered detestable. You can understand how much when you find out that hell is referred to as Druj-demana or the House of Lies (while heaven is Garo-demanaor House of Songs). The Achaemenian king Daryoush, one of the most fervent followers of Asho Zarathushtra, inscribed on his palaces a plea to Ahura Mazda to protect his kingdom from famine, floods and lies.