Ahura Mazda

Ahura Mazda, also known as Oromasdes, Ohrmazd, Ormusd, Ahuramazda, Hoormazd, Harzoo, Hormazd, Hormaz and Hurmuz, is the creator deity and god of the sky in Zoroastrianism. He 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".

Biography

Ahura Mazda is the supreme lord in ancient pre Islamic Iranian or Persian mythology. The word Ahura, which literally means wise lord, refers to Ormizd, the supreme god of Zoroastrianism and the religious system of Iranian prophet Zarathustra. In ancient Iran, Ahura was regarded as the king’s protector and greatest of all gods and was worshipped by Darius I who reigned from 522 to 486 BCE.

According to Zarathustra, Ahura created the universe and its cosmic order. He created the two spirits known as Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu, which were both good and evil respectively. The struggle between good and evil is reflected in the choices that humanity makes. In Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda is all-wise, bounteous, undeceiving, and the creator of everything good, while Angra Mainyu is the opposite. Both of these spirits are regarded as beings that are mutually limiting with the world between them as their battleground.

Physical Traits

In many of the available images of the god, the bearded Ahura Mazda emerges from a winged ring or disk accompanied by a bird’s tail and a pair of paws. Although there are various interpretations of these images, most scholars believe that the disk represents Ahura Mazda himself. Some other images that depict “Ohrmazd” show a male figure wearing a crown. As aniconic as these images are, rejection of other anthropomorphic entities such as Ahura Mazda became common in Zoroastrianism.

Family

Ahura Mazda is said to have existed before anything and everything that was created came from him include the universe and all living forms on it, however he did not have a family as such.

Powers and Abilities

Like all supreme deities, Ahura Mazda has a long list of characteristics and titles. Aside from being the supreme being in Garothman, which is the uncreated spirit, he is also known to be the only one who can move all while not being moved by anyone. He has no equal on earth or in the heavens and is also a good and righteous man who upholds the proper behaviour and conduct. Most importantly, beyond, apart and without him, there is nothing in existence.