Is Zoroastrianism an extinct religion?

Recent estimates place the current number of Zoroastrians at around 110,000–120,000 at most, with the majority living in India, Iran, and North America; their number has been thought to be declining.

How did Zoroastrianism diffuse?

The beliefs of Zoroastrianism were spread across Asia via the Silk Road, a network of trading routes that spread from China to the Middle East and into Europe.

When did Zoroastrianism emerge?

Zoroastrianism, the dominant pre-Islamic religious tradition of the Iranian peoples, was founded by the prophetic reformer Zoroaster in the 6th or 7th century BCE (if not earlier).

What is death according to Zoroastrianism?

According to Zoroastrian beliefs, death is a result of the spirit leaving the body. The sanctity and purity of the body are lost once the spirit leaves it. Having left the body the soul would remain on earth for three days and nights, hovering near the body.

What happened to the Zoroastrians in Gujarat?

Some Zoroastrians who refused to convert fled, and ended up in Gujarat in western India, where they became known as Parsis after their Persian origins. They built new temples to house their sacred fires, which were tended to by priests and could never be extinguished.

How is Zoroastrianism similar to Hinduism?

This religion was likely similar to early forms of Hinduism. According to Zoroastrian tradition, Zoroaster had a divine vision of a supreme being while partaking in a pagan purification rite at age 30. Zoroaster began teaching followers to worship a single god called Ahura Mazda.

How did Zoroastrians resist the Arab invasion of Iran?

The first voice of protest came from Piruz Nahavandi, an enslaved Persian artisan, who assassinated Umar. When the city of Estakhr in the south, a Zoroastrian religious center, put up stiff resistance against the Arab invaders, 40,000 residents were slaughtered or hanged.