The Avesta Gathas are a compilation of all Zoroastrian prayers, refered to as The Songs of Zoroastra (Zarathustra), which were composed over several centuries. Some date back 4000 years. The Avesta is also known as the Holy Book or the Prayer Book of the Zarathustrians (Zoroastrians).

Zoroaster was the first to teach the doctrines of an individual judgment, Heaven and Hell, the future resurrection of the body, the general Last Judgment, and life everlasting for the reunited soul and body.

The Avesta Gathas were composed in two languages: Avestan and Pahalavi. Avestan is a very ancient language and is similar to Sanskrit, the language of the Rig Vedas. The similarity between Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit is due only to common heritage. More than 4000 years ago, the Indo-Iranians used to live together in Southern Asia, a group called Aryans. Around 2000 yearsago the Aryans split into two groups: one group went southwest towards modern day Iran (Iranians) and the other group went southeast towards India (the Vedic Indians). The Indians developed the Sanskrit language while the Iranians independently developed the Avestan language.

Hundreds of years later, the language of the Iranians changed and Pahalavi and became the religious language of Persia. Pahalavi is a Middle Persian language. Many prayers in the Avesta, which were composed after the 5th century, are in Pahalavi. The term Pazend has also been mentioned as one of the languages of the Zoroastrian religious scriptures. Pazend is not a language. Over the centuries, many Zoroastrian scriptures were destroyed due to the invasion of Persia by the Greeks, Arabs and Mongols. However, all the original teachings of Zarathushtra (called Gathas) have survived because they were memorized by each generation of Zoroastrian Priests and transmitted orally from one generation to the next, for thousands of years.

Prior to Zarathushtra, the Indo-Iranians worshiped many Gods, called Ahuras in Avestan and Asuras in Vedic Sanskrit. Both words come from the root Asu, which means vital force or the life giving force. Zarathushtra taught that there is only one God whom he called Ahura Mazda or Mazda Ahura. Since Mazda means the wise one, many scholars have translated the term Ahura Mazda as Lord of Wisdom.

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About Zoroastrianism

The Zoroastrian Creed

1. I curse the Daevas.

I declare myself a Mazda worshipper, a supporter of Zarathushtra, hostile to the Daevas, fond of Ahura's teaching, a praiser of the Amesha Spentas, a worshipper of the Amesha Spentas. I ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda, 'and all the best,' the Asha owning one, splendid, xwarena owning, whose is the cow, whose is Asha, whose is the light, 'may whose blissful areas be filled with light'.

2. I choose the good Spenta Armaiti for myself; let her be mine. renounce the theft and robbery of the cow, and the damaging and plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements.

3. I want freedom of movement and freedom of dwelling for those with homesteads, to those who dwell upon this earth with their cattle. With reverence for Asha, and offerings offered up, I vow this: I shall nevermore damage or plunder the Mazdayasnian settlements, even if I have to risk life and limb.

4. I reject the authority of the Daevas, the wicked, no good, lawless, evil knowing, the most druj like of beings, the foulest of beings, the most damaging of beings. I reject the Daevas and their comrades, I reject the demons, yatu, and their comrades; I reject any who harm beings. I reject them with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I reject them publicly. Even as I reject the head, authorities, so too do I reject the hostile followers of the druj.

5. As Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all discussions, at all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed;

6. as Ahura Mazda taught Zarathushtra at all discussions, at all meetings, at which Mazda and Zarathushtra conversed even as Zarathushtra rejected the authority of the Daevas, so I also reject, as Mazda worshipper and supporter of Zarathushtra, the authority of the Daevas, even as he, the Asha owning Zarathushtra, has rejected them.

7. As the belief of the waters, the belief of the plants, the belief of the well made Cow; as the belief of Ahura Mazda who created the cow and the Asha owning Man; as the belief of Zarathushtra, the belief of Kavi Vishtaspa, the belief of both Frashaostra and Jamaspa; as the belief of each of the Saoshyants (saviors) fulfilling destiny and Asha owning so I am a Mazda worshipper of this belief and teaching.

8. I profess myself a Mazda worshipper, a Zoroastrian, having vowed it and professed it. I pledge myself to the well thought thought, I pledge myself to the well spoken word, I pledge myself to the well done action.

9. I pledge myself to the Mazdayasnian religion, which causes the attack to be put off and weapons put down; which upholds khvaetvadatha, "kin marriage", which possesses Asha; which of all religions that exist or shall be, is the greatest, the best, and the most beautiful:Ahuric, Zoroastrian. I ascribe all good to Ahura Mazda. This is the creed of the Mazdayasnian religion.

About Zarathustra, "In Greek, Zoroaster"
Very little is known about Zarathustra's life.