Creation and the Nature of the World
Zoroastrian cosmology, or teachings on the nature of the world, posits three progressive phases: the creation of the physical world; the mixing in the physical world of the embodied spirits of evil forces with those of good forces; and the final transformation, in which the world will be cleansed of all evil.
According to Zoroastrianism’s most prominent creation myth, in the beginning Ahura Mazda conceived a plan for creation and also secured the support of the fravashis, preexisting higher souls and guardian spirits of individual human beings. Distinct from the lower souls that exist together with human bodies, the fravashis were to descend into the material world once it was created, where they combat the forces of evil and gently guide human beings toward ethical lives and the realization of their true nature. After Ahura Mazda had taken these initial steps, he overcame Angra Mainyu, who fell into a kind of stupor for 3,000 years and then created the Amesha Spentas (“Beneficial Immortals”). He also created asha, the cosmic order that underlies the universe, intended to serve as a bulwark against the destructive actions of Angra Mainyu.
During this period of 3,000 years, Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas created the physical world. As the primary textual account makes clear, the process of creation—the first of the three progressive cosmological phases—took place in seven stages:
When the Evil Spirit was helpless in prostration, he lay prostrate for 3,000 years. During the helplessness of the Evil Spirit, Ohrmazd created the creation materially. First, He created the Sty as a defence; second, He created Water, to defeat the demon of thirst; third, He created the allsolid Earth; fourth, He created the Plant, to help the beneficient Animal; fifth, He created the beneficent Animal, to help the Just Man; sixth, He created the Just Man, to smite the Evil Spirit together with the devs and to make them powerless. And then He created Fire and linked its brilliance to the Endless Light.
—Bundahishn ia.1-4-
The best-known symbol of Zoroastrianism, the Faravahar is believed to represent the fravashis. This example is from Yazd, Iran.
The “Just Man” is the first human being. (The “devs” are the daevas we have already discussed.) The “Fire” of the seventh stage is represented by the sun.
According to the same account, the entire span of time between creation and the final triumph of good over evil will be 12,000 years. After the 3,000-year period during which the physical world was created comes the period of the Mixture, during which Angra Mainyu is again active and the evil spirit forces are mixed together with the spirit forces of good—hence the cosmic struggle that currently is ongoing. Angra Mainyu and the evil forces destroyed the primordial Plant, Animal (a bull), and Just Man. But these victories would prove to be only temporary.
Eventually, there will ensue the period leading up to the final triumph of good over evil. This will be achieved through separation of the evil from the good, culminating in complete purification. The ultimate purpose of human life is to help bring about this purification through leading virtuous lives according to Zoroastrian teachings.