MITHRAISM
(Zoroasterism)
OVERVIEW
Mithraism dates back over 4,000 years and is likely much older .It is one of the most ancient religions predating most all of the other living religions on Earth. If for only that reason it is necessary to study it. It arguably has had the tremendous influence on other later religions of the World. In antiquity there were at least three Mithras gods: 1.Mitra, the Vedic god; 2. Mithra, the Persian deity; and 3. Mithras, god of the Greco-Roman Empires. Today the religion known as Zoroastrianism appears to be the only direct descendant of the Mithraic religion remaining.
When Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in about 330 BC, the old structure of society appears to have broken down completely and about the worship of Mithra in Persia no more is heard. However, local aristocrats in the western part of the former Persian Empire retained their devotion to Mithra. The kings and nobles of the border region between the Greco-Roman and the Iranian world still worshipped him. The worship of Mithra, however, never became popular in the Greek world, because the Greeks never forgot that Mithra had been the god of their enemies the Persians.
There is little notice of the Persian god in the Roman world until the beginning of the 2nd century, but, from the year AD 136 onward, there are hundreds of dedicatory inscriptions to Mithra. This renewal of interest is not easily explained. The most plausible hypothesis seems to be that Roman Mithraism was practically a new creation, wrought by a religious genius who may have lived as late as 100 AD and who gave the old traditional Persian ceremonies a new Platonic interpretation that enabled Mithraism to become acceptable to the Roman world.
Mithra appears suddenly in Roman archaeology in the last quarter of the 1st century AD. Mithra was the most widely venerated god in the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus. Mithraism was essentially a soldier’s religion: Mithra, its hero, was a divinity of fidelity, manliness, and bravery; the stress it laid on good fellowship and brotherliness, its exclusion of women. Known as Mithras in the Roman Empire during the 2nd and 3rd century’s AD, this deity was honored as the patron of loyalty to the emperor. After the acceptance of Christianity by the emperor Constantine in the early 4th century, Mithraism rapidly declined.
The temples of Mithras were always an underground cave, featuring a relief of Mithras killing the bull. In a Roman context, Mithras was a sun god (called sol invictus, "the invincible sun"), a "bull-slayer," "cattle-thief" and the savior of initiates of his cult. He was probably also the god of kings and of war (which explains the religion's popularity among soldiers) and the secret bond amongst its members have suggested the idea that Mithraism was Masonry amongst the Roman soldiers.
Mithraism, in Roman times, was never a very large religion .Even if all were in service contemporaneously they would accommodate no more than 1 percent of the population. The Roman deity Mithras appears in the historical record in the late 1st century A.D., and disappears from it in the late 4th century A.D. Unlike the major mythological figures of Greco-Roman religion, such as Jupiter and Hercules, no ancient source preserves the mythology of the god.
By the Roman legionnaires, Mithra—or Mithras, as he began to be known in the Greco-Roman world—was called "the divine Sun, the Unconquered Sun." He was said to be "Mighty in strength, mighty ruler, and greatest king of gods! O Sun, lord of heaven and earth, God of Gods!" Mithra was also deemed "the mediator" between heaven and earth, a role often ascribed to the god of the sun.
CENTRAL ORGANIZATION
The chief of the Paters (fathers), was a sort of Pope who always lived in Rome and was called "Pater Patrum" or “Pater Patratus." The members below the degree of pater called one another "Brother," and social distinctions were forgotten in Mithraic unity.
Mithraic congregations were tightly knit groups that met in private to progress through spiritual, esoteric knowledge and celebrate the god in communal meals. The cult was organized along a hierarchy of seven grades, and advancement through the cult was contingent on mastering various physical and spiritual trials.
The initiates were organized in seven grades: corax, Raven- nymphus, Bridegroom;-miles, Soldier-leo, Lion- Perses, Persian- heliodromus- Courier of (and to) the Sun-pater. To each rank belonged a particular mask (Raven, Persian and Lion) or dress (Bridegroom). The rising of the Mithraist in grade prefigured the ascent of the soul after death. The series of the seven initiations seems to have been enacted by passing through seven gates and climbing a ladder of seven steps. Each grade was attributed to one of the seven planetary gods. The zealous Mithraist gradually passed the spheres of these minor deities and finally reached the region of the fixed stars.
CREATIONIST BELIEF
The creation of the world is the central episode of Mithraic mythology. According to the myths, the Sun God sent his messenger, the Raven, to Mithra and ordered him to sacrifice the Bull. Mithra executed the order reluctantly; in many reliefs he is seen turning aside his face in sorrow. But at the very moment of the death of the bull, a great miracle happened.
The White Bull was metamorphosed into the Moon; the cloak of Mithra was transformed into the vault of the sky, with the shining planets and fixed stars; from the tail of the bull and from his blood sprang the first ears of grain and the grape; from the genitals of the animal ran the holy seed which was received by a mixing bowl. Every creature on earth was shaped with an admixture of the holy seed. One Mithraic hymn begins: “Thou hast redeemed us too by shedding the eternal blood.”
The plants and the trees were created. Day and Night began to alternate, the Moon started her monthly cycle, the Seasons took up their round dance through the Year, and thus Time was created. But, awakened by the sudden light, the creatures of the dark emerged from earth. A serpent licked the bull’s blood. A scorpion tried to suck the holy seed from the genitals. On the reliefs, a lion often is also seen. With the bull’s death and the creation of the world, the struggle between Good and Evil began: thus is the condition of man’s life. The raven symbolizes Air, the lion Fire, the serpent Earth, and the mixing bowl Water. So the four elements (air, fire, earth, and water) came into being, and from them all things were created.
After the sacrifice, Mithra and the sun god banqueted together, ate meat and bread, and drank wine. Then Mithra mounted the chariot of the sun god and drove with him across the ocean, through the air to the end of the world.
VISION OF GOD
The Indian Mitra was essentially a solar deity, representing the "friendly" aspect of the sun like so many gods, Mithra was the light and power behind the sun. So too was the Persian derivative Mithra, who was a "benevolent god" and the bestower of health, wealth and food. Mithra also seems to have been looked upon as a sort of Prometheus, for the gift of fire. His worship purified and freed the devotee from sin and disease. Eventually, Mithra became more militant, and he is best known as a warrior.
The Mithraic doctrine of the soul is intimately linked with the myth of creation and with Platonic philosophy. The soul of man came down from heaven. It crossed the seven spheres of the planets, taking on their vices (e.g., those of Mars and of Venus) and was finally caught within the body. The task of man is to liberate his divine part (the soul) from the shackles of the body and to rescind through the seven spheres to the eternal, unchanging realm of the fixed stars. This ascension to the sky was prefigured by Mithra himself, when he left the earth in the chariot of the sun god. An inscription by a "T. Flavius Hyginus" dating to around 80 to 100 AD/CE in Rome dedicates an altar to "Sol Invictus Mithras"—"The Unconquered Sun Mithra".
Mithras was not a jealous god, and other gods can be found honored alongside Mithras. Members of the Mithraic cult sometimes doubled as members of other Mystery cults, as well as practicing the more mainstream religions of the Greco-Roman world.
DENOMINATIONS
Over the Milena the story of the life of Mithra appears to have been adopted by many other religions and the Mithra story may have been adopted by Mithraism from an even older religion. Listed below are a possible few religions, and religious figures, that did adopt all or part of the story of Mithra.
ATTIS – Phrygia (ancient city in NW Asia Minor): Born of the virgin Nana on December 25. He was both the Father and the Divine Son. He was a savior crucified on a tree for the salvation of mankind. He was buried but on the third day the priests found the tomb empty -- He had arisen from the dead (on March 25th). He followers were baptized in blood, thereby washing away their sins -- after which they declared themselves "born again." His followers ate a sacred meal of bread, which they believed became the body of the savoir.
BUDDIAH – INDIA: Born of the Virgin Maya on December 25th. He was announced by a star and attended by wise men presenting costly gifts. At birth angles sing heavenly songs. He taught in temple at age 12. Tempted by Mara, the Evil One (Satan), while fasting. He was baptized in water with the Spirit of God present. (Buddiah intentionally spelled this way instead of as" Buddha') healed the sick and fed 500 from a small basket of cakes and even walked on water. He came to fulfill the law and preached the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness and obliged followers to poverty and to renounce the world. He transfigured on a mount. Ascended into heaven (Nirvana). Will return in later days to judge the dead. Buddiah was called: "Good Shepherd," "Carpenter," "Alpha and Omega," "Sin Bearer," "Master," "Light of the World," "Redeemer," etc.
Horus- of Egypt. Horus was born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men. He was a child teacher in the Temple and was baptized when he was 30 years old. Horus was also baptized by "Anup the Baptizer," who becomes "John the Baptist." He had 12 disciples. He performed miracles and raised one man, El-Azar-us, from the dead. He walked on water. Horus was transfigured on the Mount. He was crucified, buried in a tomb and resurrected. He was also the "Way, the Truth, the Light, the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the Word" etc. He was "the Fisher," and was associated with the Lamb, Lion and Fish ("Ichthys"). Horus's personal epithet was "Iusa," the "ever-becoming son" of "Ptah," the "Father." Horus was called "the KRST," or "Anointed One," long before the Christians duplicated the story.
In fact, in the catacombs at Rome are pictures of the baby Horus being held by the virgin mother Isis - the original "Madonna and Child" - and the Vatican itself is built upon the papacy of Mithra, who shares many qualities with Jesus and who existed as a deity long before the Jesus character was formalized. The Christian hierarchy is nearly identical to the Mithraic version it replaced. Virtually all of the elements of the Catholic ritual, from miter to wafer, to water to altar, to doxology, are directly taken from earlier pagan mystery religions.
DIONYSUS - GREECE: Born of a Virgin on December 25th, placed in a manger. He was a traveling teacher who performed many miracles. Turned water into wine. Followers ate sacred meal that became the body of the god. He rose from the dead March 25th. Identified with the ram and lamb's and was called "King of Kings," "Only Begotten Son," "Savior," "Redeemer," "Sin bearer," "Anointed One," the "Alpha and Omega."
HERACLES – GREECE: Born at the winter equinox of a virgin who refrained from sex with her until her god-begotten child was born and was sacrificed at the spring equinox. He too, was called "Savior," "Only begotten," "Prince of Peace," "Son of Righteousness."
Prometheus - Greece-The Greek god Prometheus has been claimed to have come from Egypt, but his drama took place in the Caucasus Mountains. Prometheus shares a number of striking similarities with the Christ character. Prometheus descended from heaven as God incarnate as man, to save mankind. He was crucified, suffered and rose from the dead. He was called the Logos or Word.
KRISHNA - INDIA: Krishna was born while his foster-father Nanda was in the city to pay his tax to the king. His nativity heralded by a star, Krishna was born of the virgin Devaki in a cave, which at the time of his birth was miraculously illuminated. The cow-herds adored his birth. King Kansa sought the life of the Indian Christ by ordering the massacre of all male children born during the same night at he. Krishna traveled widely, performing miracles -- raising the dead, healing lepers, the deaf and the blind. The crucified Krishna is pictured on the cross with arms extended. Pierced by an arrow while hanging on the cross, Krishna died, but descended into Hell from which He rose again on the third day and ascended into Heaven. (The Gospel of Nicodemus tell of Jesus' descent into Hell.) He will return on the last day to judge the living and the dead. Krishna is the second person of the Hindu trinity of Vishnu, Krishna and Shiva, three persons in one God.
OSIRIS – EGYPT: He came to fulfill the law. Called "KRST," the "Anointed One." Born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth announced by a star and attended by three wise men. Earthly father named "Seb" (translates to "Joseph.") At age 12 he was a child teacher in the Temple and at 30 he was baptized, having disappeared for 18 years. Osiris was baptized in the river Iarutana -- the river Jordan -- by "Anup the Baptizer," who was beheaded. (Anup translates to John.) He performed miracles, exorcised demons, raised El-Osiris from the dead. Walked on water and was betrayed by Typhon, crucified between two thieves on the 17th day of the month of Athyr. Buried in a tomb from which he arose on the third day (19th of Athyr) and was resurrected. His suffering, death, and resurrection celebrated each year by His disciples on the Vernal Equinox -- Easter. Called "The Way, the Truth, the Light," "Messiah," "god's Anointed Son,' the "Son of Man," the "Word made Flesh," the "word of truth." Expected to reign a thousand years.
Zoroastrian religion- Persia. It is the only form of the Mithraic religion which still survives to the present day. Before Zoroaster (6th century BC or earlier), the Iranians had a polytheistic religion, and Mithra was the most important of their gods. First of all, he was the god of contract and mutual obligation. In a cuneiform tablet of the 15th century BC that contains a treaty between the Hittites and the Mitanni, Mithra is invoked as the god of oath. Furthermore, in some Indian Vedic texts the god Mitra (the Indian form of Mithra) appears both as “friend” and as “contract.” The word mitra may be translated in either way, because contracts and mutual obligation make friends. In short, Mithra may signify any kind of communication between men and whatever establishes good relations between them. Mithra was called the Mediator.
Mithra was also the god of the sun, of the shining light that beholds everything, and, hence, was invoked in oaths. The Greeks and Romans considered Mithra as a sun god. He was probably also the god of kings. He was the god of mutual obligation between the king and his warriors, and, hence, the god of war. He was also the god of justice, which was guaranteed by the king. Whenever men observed justice and contract, they venerated Mithra.
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Common elements in many ancient religions are:
Trinity―Trinities were popular in pagan sects before Christianity was introduced to the world. Some of the more well-known trinity gods included Mithra-Vohu Mana-Rashnu, Amen-Mut-Khonsu, and Osiris-Isis-Horus, Vishnu-Brahma-Shiva.
Virgin Birth―Among the pagan cultures that preceded Christianity, virgin birth stories abounded. The long list of pagan gods born of virgins includes: Romulus and Remus, Zoroaster, Buddha, Mithras, Krishna, Osiris-Aion, Agdistis, Attis, Tammuz, Adonis, Korybas, Perseus, and Dionysus.
Disciples―In the following 'saviors' cases, a grouping of disciples was present, just as they were present in Jesus' story: Horus, Buddha, Krishna, Dionysus, Mithra. Interestingly enough, in the case of Dionysus, his disciple Acoetes was a boatman, just as Jesus' disciple Peter. And just as Peter was freed from jail when the doors miraculously flew open, so was Dionysus' disciple Acoetes. In Buddha's case, he, like Jesus, demanded that his disciples renounce all worldly possessions. Yet another instance of similarity is that the disciples of both Jesus and Buddha were said to have been arrested for preaching, as well as witnessed to have "walked on water."
Miracles―Among those 'saviors' who, like Jesus, performed countless miracles include: Horus, Krishna, Buddha, Dionysus, Mithra, Osirus, and Adonis. Horus was said to have walked on water, just as Jesus did. In addition, Horus raised one man, El-Azarus, from the dead in front of countless witnesses. In the case of Buddha, it was told that he fed five hundred men with one loaf of bread, that he cured lepers, and that he caused the blind to see. Dionysus rescued a person from dying when the person was utterly desolate and placed them among the stars. And he gave food and drink, herbs and berries, to the starving people -- not to mention turning water into wine.
The Sun (or Son) ―Here is another common theory, quoted from S. Acharya's "The Origins of Christianity and the Quest for the Historical Jesus:" "The reason why all these pagan narratives are so similar to a "god-man" is that these stories were based on the movements of the sun through the heavens, an astro-theological development that can be found throughout the planet because the sun and the 12 zodiac signs can be observed around the globe.
December25th birth- The brightest star in the night sky is Sirius. It aligns with the three stars in Orion’s Belt ( known as the “Three Kings’) on December 25th .The stars together point to the place where the Sun rises (is born) on December 25th. The claim that Mithra's birth was on "Christmas" is apparently based on the Calendar of Filocalus or Philocalian Calendar (c. 354 AD/CE), which mentions that December 25th represents the "Birthday of the Unconquered," understood to refer to the Sun and taken to indicate Mithras as” Sol Invictus”.
"Christmas" is the birth, not of the "son of God" but, of the Sun. Indeed, there is much evidence—including many ancient monumental alignments—to demonstrate that this highly noticeable and cherished event of the winter solstice was celebrated beginning hundreds to thousands of years before the Common Era in numerous parts of the world. The observation was thus provably taken over by Christianity, not as biblical doctrine but as a later tradition in order to compete with the Pagan cults, a move we contend occurred with numerous other "Christian" motifs, including many that are in the New Testament.
The following are the characteristics of the "Sun" of God: a.) The sun "dies" for three days on December 22, the winter solstice, when it stops in its movement south, to be born again or resurrected on December 25, it resumes its movement north. b.) In some areas, the calendar originally began in the constellation of Virgo, and the sun would therefore be "born of a Virgin." c.) The sun is the "Light of the World." d.) The sun "cometh on clouds, and every eye shall see him." e.) The sun rising in the morning is the "Savior of mankind." f.) The sun wears a corona ("crown of thorns") or a halo. g.) The sun "walks on water." h.) The sun's "followers" or "disciples" are the 12 months and the 12 signs of the Zodiac, through which the sun must pass. i. ) The Sun is "crucified," which represents it's passing through the Equinoxes, the Vernal Equinox being Easter, at which time it is then resurrected.
RELIGIOUS TEXTS
Because of the lack of written sources due to the destruction of records in the past 2000 years, little is known about the beliefs of Mithraism. But they clearly centered on the god Mithras, who was based on the pre-Zoroastrian Persian god Mithra. Mithra was the most important god in Persian polytheism. What survives are mainly stories told in pictures on the walls of temples.
The event “Tauroctony” (sacrifice of the bull) takes place in a cavern, into which Mithras has carried the bull, after having hunted it, ridden it and overwhelmed its strength. Sometimes the cavern is surrounded by a circle, on which the twelve signs of the zodiac appear. Outside the cavern, top left, is Sol the sun, with his flaming crown, often driving a four wheeler cart. A ray of light often reaches down from the sun to touch Mithras. Top right is Luna, with her crescent moon, who may be depicted driving a chariot.
The sacrifice of the bull was the most important Mithraic ceremony . On the Roman monuments, Mithra reluctantly sacrifices the white bull, who is then transformed into the moon. Contract and sacrifice are connected, since treaties in ancient times were sanctioned by a common meal.
In some depictions, the central “Tauroctony” is framed by a series of subsidiary scenes to the left, top and right, illustrating events in the Mithras narrative; Mithras being born from the rock, the water miracle, the hunting and riding of the bull, meeting Sol who kneels to him, shaking hands with Sol and sharing a meal of bull-parts with him, and ascending to the heavens in a chariot.
A unique feature of the Mithraeum is the naked lion-headed figure sometimes found in Mithraic temples .He is entwined by a serpent, with the snake's head often resting on the lion's head. The lion's mouth is often open. He is usually represented having four wings, two keys (sometimes a single key) and a scepter in his hand. Sometimes the figure is standing on a globe inscribed with a diagonal cross. A more scarcely represented variant of the figure with a human head is also found. The image may be a relief, or free-standing, and side details may be present or omitted. The center-piece is Mithras clothed in Anatolian costume and wearing a Phrygian cap; who is kneeling on the exhausted bull, holding it by the nostrils with his left hand, and stabbing it with his right. As he does so, he looks over his shoulder towards the figure of Sol. A dog and a snake reach up towards the blood. A scorpion seizes the bull's genitals. The two torch-bearers are on either side, dressed like Mithras, Cautes with his torch pointing up and Cautopates with his torch pointing down.
A Few Specifics Abort Zoroasterism
Apparently Mitra was a comparatively minor deity until the reformer Zoroaster revised Persian religion. In his view the cosmos was divided between a clash of light and darkness, good and evil. Zoroaster was essentially a monotheist, with Ahura Mazda as his one god. But unofficial cults sprung out of Zoroaster's teachings which gave the Old Persian gods a new place in the Zoraster's cosmic struggle. In these cults Mitra became the champion of the good god Ahura Mazda, a force of light and salvation against demons and darkness. Mitra ruled over the earth and vegetation, and was the judge of the souls of the dead. He was omniscient, ever present, and his birth was celebrated on the eve of the winter solstice, about December 25th.
Zoroastrianism originated in ancient Iran sometime around 2000 B.C.E. Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest, and at one time most powerful religions, "combining a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique... among the major religions of the world." Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian Prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), he exalted their deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda, as its Supreme Being.
There are many views on the timeline for Zoroaster's life. Greek sources placed him as early as 6000 BC. The traditional Zoroastrian date for Zarathushtra's birth and ministry is around 600 B.C. This is derived from a Greek source that places him "300 years before Alexander" which would give that date; other rationales for the 600 BC date identify the King Vishtaspa of Zarathushtra's Gathas with the father of the Persian King Darius, who lived around that time. According to the Zend Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, Zoroaster was born in Azerbaijan, in northern Persia.
Again, no one knows how Zarathushtra died, allegedly at age 77. Many legends, and Zoroastrian tradition, say that he was killed, while praying in the sanctuary, by a foreign enemy of the king. His birthday is celebrated on March 21, as part of the Persian New Year Festival. Scholars believe Zoroaster was a priest and a prophet. Linked to the Magi, he was considered a magician. His spiritual influences have always affected human thought and reasoning; his goal, to show humans their connection to one source of light and consciousness.
Beginning with Darius (522–486), the Persian kings of the Achaemenid dynasty were Zoroastrians. But Darius and his successors did not intend to create political difficulties by attempting to eradicate the old beliefs still dear to the heart of many nobles. Thus, the religion of Zoroaster was gradually contaminated with elements of the old, polytheistic worship. Hymns (the Yashts) were composed in honor of the old gods. There is a Yasht dedicated to Mithra, in which the god is depicted as the all-observing god of heavenly light, the guardian of oaths, the protector of the righteous in this world and the next, and, above all, as the archfoe of the powers of evil and darkness—hence, the god of battles and victory.
In the mixed religion of the later Achaemenid period, however, the Zoroastrian aspects clearly dominate the heathen aspects. The sacrifice of the bull, abhorred by every Zoroastrian, is never mentioned.
The Zoroastrian or Persian system was based on the assumption that there existed two original and independent powers of good and evil, of light and darkness, Ormuzd (Ahura-Mazda), the wise Lord, and Ahriman (Angra-Mainyu), the wicked spirit. These powers were believed to be equal, and each supreme in his own domain. The earth, which was created by Ormuzd, became the battlefield of the two powers. Ahriman led away the first man and woman from their allegiance to Ormuzd, and so all evils result to mankind.
The Zoroastrian holy book is called the Avesta. This includes the original words of their founder Zarathustra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the Gathas. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. The Gathas are abstract sacred poetry, directed towards the worship of the One God, understanding of righteousness and cosmic order, promotion of social justice and individual choice between good and evil.
The Gathas have a general and even universal vision. They believe in a single god Ahura Mazda who is supreme. Communication between Himself and humans is by a number of Attributes, called Amesha Spentas or Bounteous Immortals. Within the Gathasthese Immortals are sometimes described as concepts, and are sometimes personified.Members are dedicated to a three-fold path, as shown in their motto: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds." Members can pray at home instead of going to a temple if they wish.Zoroastrians do not generally accept converts. Many Zoroastrians actively discourage and do not recognize inter-faith marriages.They do not proselytize.
Just as the Hindus chant Gayatri mantra and consider it as very sacred, the Parsis chant Ahuna Vairya Mantra which is considered to be very sacred by them. The mantra is as follows:
The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness.
The gifts of Vohu-mano to the deeds done in this world for Mazda.
He who relieves the poor makes Ahura king.
Ancient Zoroastrian society was organized more or less like the Vedic society into four classes consisting of priests, warriors, husbandmen and artisans.The following vices of the four classes are listed in the Menog-i Khrad (Chp.59)
The Gathas describes the main constituents of a human being as body ( Tanu ) and soul ( Urvan ), which live for only a limited time in the world. At the time of death, the body transforms (or perishes) and the soul goes on to live its second existence.There is consensus that Zarathushtra was the first to introduce the idea of an afterlife that was based on morality, with rewards for the good and suffering for the evil. In the biblical period the Jews believed that the dead would continue to exist in a shadowy form in sheol, the abyss of the earth. After their liberation from captivity by Cyrus the Great in Babylon and their contact with Zoroastrians, the Jews gradually adopted eschatological divine plan of salvation. This concept eventually appeared in Christianity and Islam.
Zoroastrians believe in the survival of the soul after bodily death. The nature of the individual's other life is determined by the Law of Consequences, a corollary of the Law of Asha. The Law of Consequences is generally known as the principle of reward and punishment, whereby righteous acts in the world are rewarded with sustained happiness and evil acts, with misery.
Fleeing religious persecution from Muslims in Persia sometime between the 7th and 10th centuries, the Zoroastrians settled in India, where they came to be called “Parsis.” No one is certain when Zoroaster lived, though some say it was around 1200 B.C. He is thought to have composed the Gathas, the hymns that make up a significant portion of the Yasna, which are the liturgical texts of the Zoroastrians.
According to the Zoroastrian tradition, Ahura Mazda is the supreme lord and creator; he represents all that is good. In this aspect, the religion is one of the oldest examples of monotheism, or the belief in one god.
The main tenets of the faith center on the opposition between Ahura Mazda and the forces of evil which are embodied by Angra Mainyu, the spirit of destruction, malignancy and chaos. This evil spirit creates a serpent named Azi Dahaka, a symbol of the underworld, not unlike the Biblical serpents of Judeo-Christian traditions.Within this cosmic battle we see the tension between “asha,” which roughly translates to “truth,” “righteousness,” “justice” or “good things,” and “druj,” or deceit.
Truth is represented by light, and Parsis will always turn to a source of light when they pray, with fire, the sun and the moon all symbolizing this spiritual light. Scholars have noted the strong historical influence that Zoroastrianism has had on concepts seen in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, whether it’s monotheism, the duality of good and evil, or Satan
Today Zoroastrianism has a small but devout following, though it’s been shrinking.In 2004, it was estimated that there were between 128,000 and 190,000 Zoroastrians living around the world, with 18,000 residing in the United States.
The “Qissa e Sanjan,” which translates to “The Story of Sanjan,” was composed around the 17th century. It describes how the Zoroastrians, fleeing religious persecution from Muslim invasions in their Persian homeland many centuries earlier, head to Gujarat, in western India.
Once they arrive, they reach out to the local king, whom they call “Jadi Rana.” He agrees to give them land if they adopt local dress, language and some customs. However there is never any question about religious faith: They still practice their religion, and Jadi Rana is elated that these newcomers worship as they please.
Parsi history has two versions of what took place.
In one, when the Zoroastrian refugees arrived in Gujarat, the king sends them a jar of milk filled to the top – his way of saying that his kingdom is full and there’s no room for any more people. In response, the newcomers stir in a spoonful of sugar and send it back to the king. In other words, not only do they promise to integrate with the local population, but that they’ll also enhance it with their presence.
In the other version, they drop a gold ring into the bowl to show they’ll retain their identity and culture, but they’ll nonetheless add immense value to the region.
These are both compelling narratives, though they make slightly different points. One extols the integration of immigrants, while the other highlights the value of different cultures living together but in harmony.
Parsis in India – and wherever they have gone – have done both. They’ve adopted some of the customs of the land they live in, while maintaining their distinctive culture, religious rituals, and beliefs.They’ve also made more cultural contributions than the initial wave of refugees to Gujarat could have ever imagined.
Despite their small numbers, Parsis can count a number of famous musicians, scientists, scholars, artists and entrepreneurs among their ranks.In both Iran and India, the number of priests has declined sharply in modern times.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Mithras is sometimes depicted as a man being born (or reborn) from a rock (the 'petra genetrix), typically with the snake Ouroboros wrapped around it. It is commonly believed that the cave in Mithraism imagery represents the cosmos, and the rock is the cosmos seen from the outside; hence the description of this god as “rising from the dead”. According to some accounts, Mithras died, was buried in a rock tomb, and was resurrected.
Roman Mithraism, like Iranian Mithraism, was a religion of loyalty toward the king. It seems to have been encouraged by the emperors, especially Commodus (180–192 AD), Septimius Severus (193–211 AD), and Caracalla (211–217 AD). Most adherents of Mithra known to us from inscriptions are soldiers of both low and high rank, officials in the service of the emperor, imperial slaves, and freedmen (who quite often were very influential people)—persons who probably knew which god would lead them to quick promotion.
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
The most important Mithraic ceremony was the sacrifice of the bull. In every Mithraeum the centerpiece was a representation of Mithras killing a sacred bull; the so-called” tauroctony”. Opinion is divided as to whether this ceremony was pre-Zoroastrian or not. Zoroaster denounced the sacrifice of the bull, so it seems likely that the ceremony was a part of the old Iranian paganism. This inference is corroborated by an Indian text in which Mitra reluctantly participates in the sacrifice of a god named Soma, who often appears in the shape of a white bull or of the moon. On the Roman monuments, Mithra reluctantly sacrifices the white bull, who is then transformed into the moon. This detailed parallel seems to prove that the sacrifice must have been pre-Zoroastrian.
The myth was interpreted by the Roman Mithraists in terms of Platonic philosophy. The sacrifice took place in a cave, an image of the world, as in the simile of the cave in Plato’s Republic. Mithra himself was equated with the creator (demiurge) of the Timaeus: he was called “demiurge and father of all things,” like the Platonic demiurge. The four elements, the mixing bowl, the creation of Time, and the attack of the wicked animals upon the newborn creature are well-known features of the Timaeus. The Mithraic doctrine of the soul is intimately linked with the myth of creation and with Platonic philosophy. As in the Timaeus, the soul of man came down from heaven. It crossed the seven spheres of the planets, taking on their vices (e.g., those of Mars and of Venus) and was finally caught within the body. The task of man is to liberate his divine part (the soul) from the shackles of the body and to reascend through the seven spheres to the eternal, unchanging realm of the fixed stars. After the sacrifice, Mithra and the Sun god banqueted together, ate meat and bread, and drank wine. Then Mithra mounted the chariot of the sun god and drove with him across the ocean, through the air to the end of the world.
Mithraea (temples) are commonly located close to springs or streams; fresh water appears to have been required for some Mithraic rituals, and a basin is often incorporated into the structure. There is usually an ante-chamber at the entrance, and often other ancillary rooms for storage and the preparation of food.
The Mithraic sanctuaries were subterranean caverns, which presented obvious limitations of size. None of the many excavated shrines could receive more than a hundred persons, and most even fewer. All ceremonies were of necessity enacted in artificial light. The cavern always contained a well. Access to the cavern often consisted of a system of subterranean passages, which were used in the initiation ceremonies. Men only were admitted to this religion of soldiers, and no organizational hierarchy seems to have existed.
The Mithraic caverns were decorated with frescoes, reliefs, and statues of minor deities and of the planetary gods. A narrow aisle was flanked on both sides by a broad, raised bench on which the worshippers kneeled or reclined. At one end of the aisle there was always a relief or fresco representing the sacrifice of the bull. Sometimes, the relief could be turned on a pivot; the back of the stone represented the repast of Mithra and the sun god. While it is unlikely that the ceremony of the bull’s sacrifice was frequently performed.
Mithras is often depicted by two smaller figures, dressed like himself, bearing torches. These torchbearers are named on the monuments as Cautes and Cautopates.
Mithras (the Roman god) was born from a rock. He is depicted in his temples hunting down and slaying a bull in the tauroctony . He then meets with the sun, who kneels to him. The two then shake hands, and dine on bull parts. The mysteries of Mithras were not practiced until the 1st century AD. The unique underground temples or Mithraea appear suddenly in the archaeology in the last quarter of the 1st century AD.
HOLIDAYS
In ancient cultures the Sun's great festivals were observed in the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox—Christmas and Easter. Later religions adopted these dates for their major holidays.
Persian or Zoroastrian winter celebration called "Yalda," which is the festival of the Longest Night of the Year, taking place on December 20th or the day before the Winter solstice.
The Easter story originally came from the Sumerian legend of Damuzi (Tammuz) and his wife Inanna (Ishtar), in an epic myth called “The Descent of Inanna” found inscribed on cuneiform clay tablets dating back to 2100 BC. In that story when Tammuz dies, Ishtar is grief stricken and follows him to the underworld. In the underworld, she enters through seven gates, and her worldly attire is removed. "Naked and bowed low" she is judged, killed, and then hung on display. In her absence, the earth loses its fertility, crops cease to grow and animals stop reproducing. Unless something is done, all life on earth will end. The Vernal Equinox, celebrated at Easter, then rings in the new fertile growing season.
Sunday was kept holy in honor of Mithra, and the sixteenth of each month was sacred to him as mediator. The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigors of the season.
HEAVEN AND HELL
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Mithras with Mitra, a mythic figure of the Aryan peoples who invaded northern India around the l600 B.C. Mitra, the god of friendship, was associated with the sun and served as one of the judges of the dead. He was supposed to bring worthy people back to life after the universe ended. Some of Mitra's functions lingered in the developing mythology of Mithras.
The worshippers of Mithras held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell. They believed that the benevolent powers of the god would sympathize with their suffering and grant them the final justice of immortality and eternal salvation in the world to come. They looked forward to a final day of Judgment in which the dead would resurrect, and to a final conflict that would destroy the existing order of all things to bring about the triumph of light over darkness.
The Mithraic religion appears to have best preserved in modern day Zoroasterism , therefore we can learn from Zoroastianism what the beliefs of Heaven and Hell may have been in Mithraism. Zoroastrians believe that after life on earth, the human soul is judged by God as to whether it did more good or evil in its life. Those who chose good over evil go heaven, and those who chose evil go to the hell. Zoroastrianism was one of the first religions to give the afterlife a moral dimension
Zoroastrianism describes the heaven as lofty, exalted, supreme, most brilliant ,fragrant ,pure ,filled with beautiful existences, most desirable and most good which is the place and abode of the sacred beings where is found all comfort, pleasure, joy, happiness and welfare, better even than the greatest and most supreme welfare and pleasure in the world. The hell is a place of chaos. In it there is no comfort, pleasantness, or joy but stench, filth, pain, punishment, distress, profound evil and discomfort. So much more grievous is the evil in the hell than even the most grievous evil on earth and more grievous is the terror of the punishment on the soul than that of the vileness of the demons on the body.
There the sinful soul is punished by the wicked demons and darkness, the head of who is Ahriman the deadly. The hell is a place of chaos. In it there is no comfort, pleasantness, or joy but stench, filth, pain, punishment, distress, profound evil and discomfort
So much more grievous is the evil in the hell than even the most grievous evil on earth and more grievous is the terror of the punishment on the soul than that of the vileness of the demons on the body. There the sinful soul is punished by the wicked demons and darkness, the head of who is Ahriman the deadly.
In the oldest Zoroastrian scriptures, heaven and hell are not places, but states of mind that result from right or wrong choices. Zoroaster spoke of the “drujo demana” or “House of Lies” and the “garo demana”or “House of Song,” to which souls are sent. Some say that the fall of the soul into the House of Lies means a return of the soul to earth, the realm of unreality or lies.
SOCIAL ORDER
A Mithraic community was not merely a religious congregation; it was a social and legal body with its decemprimi, magistri, curatores, defensores, and patroni. These communities allowed no women as members. Women might console themselves by forming associations to worship Anaitis-Cybele; but whether these were associated with Mithraism seems doubtful. No proof of immorality or obscene practices, so often connected with esoteric pagan cults, has ever been established against Mithraism; and as far as can be ascertained, or rather conjectured it had an elevating and invigorating effect on its followers.
From a chance remark of Tertullian we learn that their "Pater Patrum" was only allowed to be married once, and that Mithraism had its virgines and continentes; such at least seems the best interpretation of the passage.
INITIATION
The ceremonies of initiation for each degree must have been elaborate, but they are only vaguely known, i.e. - lustrations and bathings, branding with red-hot metal, anointing with honey, and others. A sacred meal was celebrated of bread and haoma juice for which in the West wine was substituted. This meal was supposed to give the participants super-natural virtue.
Seven grades of initiation into the mysteries of Mithras are listed by St. Jerome. There is probably a connection between the number of grades and the seven planets, and there is evidence commending the priests to the protection of the god for each planet. A mosaic in the Ostia Mithraeum of Felicissimus depicts these grades, with heraldic emblems that are connected either to the grades, although they may just be symbols of the planets. It has been suggested, however, that most followers of Mithras were simply initiated, and the seven grades are in fact grades of priests.
Admission into the community was completed with a handshake with the Pater, just as Mithras and Sol shook hands. The initiates were thus referred to as syndexioi, or those "united by the handshake".
PURPOSE OF LIFE
Although we know little of Mithraism rituals and beliefs. We believe that it was closely related to Zoroastrian tradition.
In the Gathas, Zoroaster sees the human condition as the mental struggle between asa (truth) and druj (lie). The cardinal concept of asa - which is highly nuanced and only vaguely translatable - is at the foundation of all Zoroastrian doctrine, including that of Ahura Mazda (who is asa), creation (that is asa), existence (that is asa) and as the condition for Free Will, which is arguably Zoroaster's greatest contribution to religious philosophy.
The purpose of humankind, like that of all other creation, is to sustain asa. For humankind, this occurs through active participation in life and the exercise of constructive thoughts, words and deeds.
Elements of Zoroastrian philosophy entered the West through their influence on Judaism and Middle Platonism and have been identified as one of the key early events in the development of philosophy. Among the classic Greek philosophers, Heraclitus is often referred to as inspired by Zoroaster's thinking. Contemporary Zoroastrians often point to the similarities between Zoroaster's philosophy and the ideas of Baruch Spinoza. He was very influential.
Mithras with Mitra, a mythic figure of the Aryan peoples who invaded northern India around the l600’s B.C. Mitra, the god of friendship, was associated with the sun and served as one of the judges of the dead. He was supposed to bring worthy people back to life after the universe ended. Some of Mitra's functions lingered in the developing mythology of Mithras.
CONCLUSION
It is important to study and analyze the story of Mithra in relation to modern religion, particularly that of Christianity. When drawing parallels between the life of Jesus and the story of Mithra and other Pagan gods herein, it does not mean that there was never a real historic person named Jesus, but rather that the story of his life may have been embellished by later writers after his death in accordance with a pattern that was ancient, widespread and well known in the Pagan world.
The same may be said for the Buddha and many other religious figures. Historically we know that such things did occur. Many ancient Biblical writers worked alone or in isolated groups without very sophisticated libraries or research resources. They often drew insight from the stories they had head or from their own imagination based on what they knew.
The Apostle Paul, and other Church fathers, consciously or unconsciously incorporated parts of the life story of Mithra into the life story of Jesus and then, because of the human habit of erring, fantasizing, sensationalizing, - romanticized it into the story of the life of Jesus they later told.
One such thing is the December 25th birth-date of Jesus. The date of Jesus’ birth is never mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, nor was it celebrated by Jesus’ followers. Some biblical scholars believe Jesus was born around March or April, but the specific date is unknown. It wasn’t until around A. D. 200 (two centuries after the death of Jesus) when December 25th became the day Jesus’ birth was actually celebrated, possibly to coincide with Roman pagan festivals. There are other such similarities.
The original Persian God, Mithra, has the following in common with the Jesus life story: Mithra was born on December 25th of the virgin Anahita. The baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in a manger and attended by shepherds. He was considered a great traveling teacher and master. He had 12 companions or "disciples." He performed miracles. As the "great bull of the Sun," Mithra sacrificed himself for world peace. Mithra ascending to heaven in his solar cart, with sun symbol .He ascended to heaven.
Mithra was viewed as the Good Shepherd, the "Way, the Truth and the Light," the Redeemer, the Savior, the Messiah. Mithra as omniscient, as he "hears all, sees all and knows all " none can deceive him. He was identified with both the Lion and the Lamb. His sacred day was Sunday, "the Lord's Day," hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ. His religion had a Eucharist or "Lord's Supper." Mithra "sets his marks on the foreheads of his soldiers. The Magi, or 4 wise men from the East that visited Jesus at his birth, were most likely priest of an Esoteric Persian Mythic cult.
Mithraism continues into modern times with the religion of Zoroastrianism, from which much can be learned. Also, it may be that Mithraism is just a continuation of a much earlier religion since parts of it can be found in India, the Middle East and the ancient Mediterranean world.
It was a simple religion based on a Sun god and followed astrological signs. All of which we can still see today.
Scott Ramsey
May 10, 2016
For modern day Zoroastrianism in America-SEE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-rare-glimpse-inside-a-zoroastrian-temple-in-new-york_us_570563d6e4b0537661888a74
(Zoroasterism)
OVERVIEW
Mithraism dates back over 4,000 years and is likely much older .It is one of the most ancient religions predating most all of the other living religions on Earth. If for only that reason it is necessary to study it. It arguably has had the tremendous influence on other later religions of the World. In antiquity there were at least three Mithras gods: 1.Mitra, the Vedic god; 2. Mithra, the Persian deity; and 3. Mithras, god of the Greco-Roman Empires. Today the religion known as Zoroastrianism appears to be the only direct descendant of the Mithraic religion remaining.
When Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire in about 330 BC, the old structure of society appears to have broken down completely and about the worship of Mithra in Persia no more is heard. However, local aristocrats in the western part of the former Persian Empire retained their devotion to Mithra. The kings and nobles of the border region between the Greco-Roman and the Iranian world still worshipped him. The worship of Mithra, however, never became popular in the Greek world, because the Greeks never forgot that Mithra had been the god of their enemies the Persians.
There is little notice of the Persian god in the Roman world until the beginning of the 2nd century, but, from the year AD 136 onward, there are hundreds of dedicatory inscriptions to Mithra. This renewal of interest is not easily explained. The most plausible hypothesis seems to be that Roman Mithraism was practically a new creation, wrought by a religious genius who may have lived as late as 100 AD and who gave the old traditional Persian ceremonies a new Platonic interpretation that enabled Mithraism to become acceptable to the Roman world.
Mithra appears suddenly in Roman archaeology in the last quarter of the 1st century AD. Mithra was the most widely venerated god in the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus. Mithraism was essentially a soldier’s religion: Mithra, its hero, was a divinity of fidelity, manliness, and bravery; the stress it laid on good fellowship and brotherliness, its exclusion of women. Known as Mithras in the Roman Empire during the 2nd and 3rd century’s AD, this deity was honored as the patron of loyalty to the emperor. After the acceptance of Christianity by the emperor Constantine in the early 4th century, Mithraism rapidly declined.
The temples of Mithras were always an underground cave, featuring a relief of Mithras killing the bull. In a Roman context, Mithras was a sun god (called sol invictus, "the invincible sun"), a "bull-slayer," "cattle-thief" and the savior of initiates of his cult. He was probably also the god of kings and of war (which explains the religion's popularity among soldiers) and the secret bond amongst its members have suggested the idea that Mithraism was Masonry amongst the Roman soldiers.
Mithraism, in Roman times, was never a very large religion .Even if all were in service contemporaneously they would accommodate no more than 1 percent of the population. The Roman deity Mithras appears in the historical record in the late 1st century A.D., and disappears from it in the late 4th century A.D. Unlike the major mythological figures of Greco-Roman religion, such as Jupiter and Hercules, no ancient source preserves the mythology of the god.
By the Roman legionnaires, Mithra—or Mithras, as he began to be known in the Greco-Roman world—was called "the divine Sun, the Unconquered Sun." He was said to be "Mighty in strength, mighty ruler, and greatest king of gods! O Sun, lord of heaven and earth, God of Gods!" Mithra was also deemed "the mediator" between heaven and earth, a role often ascribed to the god of the sun.
CENTRAL ORGANIZATION
The chief of the Paters (fathers), was a sort of Pope who always lived in Rome and was called "Pater Patrum" or “Pater Patratus." The members below the degree of pater called one another "Brother," and social distinctions were forgotten in Mithraic unity.
Mithraic congregations were tightly knit groups that met in private to progress through spiritual, esoteric knowledge and celebrate the god in communal meals. The cult was organized along a hierarchy of seven grades, and advancement through the cult was contingent on mastering various physical and spiritual trials.
The initiates were organized in seven grades: corax, Raven- nymphus, Bridegroom;-miles, Soldier-leo, Lion- Perses, Persian- heliodromus- Courier of (and to) the Sun-pater. To each rank belonged a particular mask (Raven, Persian and Lion) or dress (Bridegroom). The rising of the Mithraist in grade prefigured the ascent of the soul after death. The series of the seven initiations seems to have been enacted by passing through seven gates and climbing a ladder of seven steps. Each grade was attributed to one of the seven planetary gods. The zealous Mithraist gradually passed the spheres of these minor deities and finally reached the region of the fixed stars.
CREATIONIST BELIEF
The creation of the world is the central episode of Mithraic mythology. According to the myths, the Sun God sent his messenger, the Raven, to Mithra and ordered him to sacrifice the Bull. Mithra executed the order reluctantly; in many reliefs he is seen turning aside his face in sorrow. But at the very moment of the death of the bull, a great miracle happened.
The White Bull was metamorphosed into the Moon; the cloak of Mithra was transformed into the vault of the sky, with the shining planets and fixed stars; from the tail of the bull and from his blood sprang the first ears of grain and the grape; from the genitals of the animal ran the holy seed which was received by a mixing bowl. Every creature on earth was shaped with an admixture of the holy seed. One Mithraic hymn begins: “Thou hast redeemed us too by shedding the eternal blood.”
The plants and the trees were created. Day and Night began to alternate, the Moon started her monthly cycle, the Seasons took up their round dance through the Year, and thus Time was created. But, awakened by the sudden light, the creatures of the dark emerged from earth. A serpent licked the bull’s blood. A scorpion tried to suck the holy seed from the genitals. On the reliefs, a lion often is also seen. With the bull’s death and the creation of the world, the struggle between Good and Evil began: thus is the condition of man’s life. The raven symbolizes Air, the lion Fire, the serpent Earth, and the mixing bowl Water. So the four elements (air, fire, earth, and water) came into being, and from them all things were created.
After the sacrifice, Mithra and the sun god banqueted together, ate meat and bread, and drank wine. Then Mithra mounted the chariot of the sun god and drove with him across the ocean, through the air to the end of the world.
VISION OF GOD
The Indian Mitra was essentially a solar deity, representing the "friendly" aspect of the sun like so many gods, Mithra was the light and power behind the sun. So too was the Persian derivative Mithra, who was a "benevolent god" and the bestower of health, wealth and food. Mithra also seems to have been looked upon as a sort of Prometheus, for the gift of fire. His worship purified and freed the devotee from sin and disease. Eventually, Mithra became more militant, and he is best known as a warrior.
The Mithraic doctrine of the soul is intimately linked with the myth of creation and with Platonic philosophy. The soul of man came down from heaven. It crossed the seven spheres of the planets, taking on their vices (e.g., those of Mars and of Venus) and was finally caught within the body. The task of man is to liberate his divine part (the soul) from the shackles of the body and to rescind through the seven spheres to the eternal, unchanging realm of the fixed stars. This ascension to the sky was prefigured by Mithra himself, when he left the earth in the chariot of the sun god. An inscription by a "T. Flavius Hyginus" dating to around 80 to 100 AD/CE in Rome dedicates an altar to "Sol Invictus Mithras"—"The Unconquered Sun Mithra".
Mithras was not a jealous god, and other gods can be found honored alongside Mithras. Members of the Mithraic cult sometimes doubled as members of other Mystery cults, as well as practicing the more mainstream religions of the Greco-Roman world.
DENOMINATIONS
Over the Milena the story of the life of Mithra appears to have been adopted by many other religions and the Mithra story may have been adopted by Mithraism from an even older religion. Listed below are a possible few religions, and religious figures, that did adopt all or part of the story of Mithra.
ATTIS – Phrygia (ancient city in NW Asia Minor): Born of the virgin Nana on December 25. He was both the Father and the Divine Son. He was a savior crucified on a tree for the salvation of mankind. He was buried but on the third day the priests found the tomb empty -- He had arisen from the dead (on March 25th). He followers were baptized in blood, thereby washing away their sins -- after which they declared themselves "born again." His followers ate a sacred meal of bread, which they believed became the body of the savoir.
BUDDIAH – INDIA: Born of the Virgin Maya on December 25th. He was announced by a star and attended by wise men presenting costly gifts. At birth angles sing heavenly songs. He taught in temple at age 12. Tempted by Mara, the Evil One (Satan), while fasting. He was baptized in water with the Spirit of God present. (Buddiah intentionally spelled this way instead of as" Buddha') healed the sick and fed 500 from a small basket of cakes and even walked on water. He came to fulfill the law and preached the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness and obliged followers to poverty and to renounce the world. He transfigured on a mount. Ascended into heaven (Nirvana). Will return in later days to judge the dead. Buddiah was called: "Good Shepherd," "Carpenter," "Alpha and Omega," "Sin Bearer," "Master," "Light of the World," "Redeemer," etc.
Horus- of Egypt. Horus was born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men. He was a child teacher in the Temple and was baptized when he was 30 years old. Horus was also baptized by "Anup the Baptizer," who becomes "John the Baptist." He had 12 disciples. He performed miracles and raised one man, El-Azar-us, from the dead. He walked on water. Horus was transfigured on the Mount. He was crucified, buried in a tomb and resurrected. He was also the "Way, the Truth, the Light, the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the Word" etc. He was "the Fisher," and was associated with the Lamb, Lion and Fish ("Ichthys"). Horus's personal epithet was "Iusa," the "ever-becoming son" of "Ptah," the "Father." Horus was called "the KRST," or "Anointed One," long before the Christians duplicated the story.
In fact, in the catacombs at Rome are pictures of the baby Horus being held by the virgin mother Isis - the original "Madonna and Child" - and the Vatican itself is built upon the papacy of Mithra, who shares many qualities with Jesus and who existed as a deity long before the Jesus character was formalized. The Christian hierarchy is nearly identical to the Mithraic version it replaced. Virtually all of the elements of the Catholic ritual, from miter to wafer, to water to altar, to doxology, are directly taken from earlier pagan mystery religions.
DIONYSUS - GREECE: Born of a Virgin on December 25th, placed in a manger. He was a traveling teacher who performed many miracles. Turned water into wine. Followers ate sacred meal that became the body of the god. He rose from the dead March 25th. Identified with the ram and lamb's and was called "King of Kings," "Only Begotten Son," "Savior," "Redeemer," "Sin bearer," "Anointed One," the "Alpha and Omega."
HERACLES – GREECE: Born at the winter equinox of a virgin who refrained from sex with her until her god-begotten child was born and was sacrificed at the spring equinox. He too, was called "Savior," "Only begotten," "Prince of Peace," "Son of Righteousness."
Prometheus - Greece-The Greek god Prometheus has been claimed to have come from Egypt, but his drama took place in the Caucasus Mountains. Prometheus shares a number of striking similarities with the Christ character. Prometheus descended from heaven as God incarnate as man, to save mankind. He was crucified, suffered and rose from the dead. He was called the Logos or Word.
KRISHNA - INDIA: Krishna was born while his foster-father Nanda was in the city to pay his tax to the king. His nativity heralded by a star, Krishna was born of the virgin Devaki in a cave, which at the time of his birth was miraculously illuminated. The cow-herds adored his birth. King Kansa sought the life of the Indian Christ by ordering the massacre of all male children born during the same night at he. Krishna traveled widely, performing miracles -- raising the dead, healing lepers, the deaf and the blind. The crucified Krishna is pictured on the cross with arms extended. Pierced by an arrow while hanging on the cross, Krishna died, but descended into Hell from which He rose again on the third day and ascended into Heaven. (The Gospel of Nicodemus tell of Jesus' descent into Hell.) He will return on the last day to judge the living and the dead. Krishna is the second person of the Hindu trinity of Vishnu, Krishna and Shiva, three persons in one God.
OSIRIS – EGYPT: He came to fulfill the law. Called "KRST," the "Anointed One." Born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth announced by a star and attended by three wise men. Earthly father named "Seb" (translates to "Joseph.") At age 12 he was a child teacher in the Temple and at 30 he was baptized, having disappeared for 18 years. Osiris was baptized in the river Iarutana -- the river Jordan -- by "Anup the Baptizer," who was beheaded. (Anup translates to John.) He performed miracles, exorcised demons, raised El-Osiris from the dead. Walked on water and was betrayed by Typhon, crucified between two thieves on the 17th day of the month of Athyr. Buried in a tomb from which he arose on the third day (19th of Athyr) and was resurrected. His suffering, death, and resurrection celebrated each year by His disciples on the Vernal Equinox -- Easter. Called "The Way, the Truth, the Light," "Messiah," "god's Anointed Son,' the "Son of Man," the "Word made Flesh," the "word of truth." Expected to reign a thousand years.
Zoroastrian religion- Persia. It is the only form of the Mithraic religion which still survives to the present day. Before Zoroaster (6th century BC or earlier), the Iranians had a polytheistic religion, and Mithra was the most important of their gods. First of all, he was the god of contract and mutual obligation. In a cuneiform tablet of the 15th century BC that contains a treaty between the Hittites and the Mitanni, Mithra is invoked as the god of oath. Furthermore, in some Indian Vedic texts the god Mitra (the Indian form of Mithra) appears both as “friend” and as “contract.” The word mitra may be translated in either way, because contracts and mutual obligation make friends. In short, Mithra may signify any kind of communication between men and whatever establishes good relations between them. Mithra was called the Mediator.
Mithra was also the god of the sun, of the shining light that beholds everything, and, hence, was invoked in oaths. The Greeks and Romans considered Mithra as a sun god. He was probably also the god of kings. He was the god of mutual obligation between the king and his warriors, and, hence, the god of war. He was also the god of justice, which was guaranteed by the king. Whenever men observed justice and contract, they venerated Mithra.
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Common elements in many ancient religions are:
Trinity―Trinities were popular in pagan sects before Christianity was introduced to the world. Some of the more well-known trinity gods included Mithra-Vohu Mana-Rashnu, Amen-Mut-Khonsu, and Osiris-Isis-Horus, Vishnu-Brahma-Shiva.
Virgin Birth―Among the pagan cultures that preceded Christianity, virgin birth stories abounded. The long list of pagan gods born of virgins includes: Romulus and Remus, Zoroaster, Buddha, Mithras, Krishna, Osiris-Aion, Agdistis, Attis, Tammuz, Adonis, Korybas, Perseus, and Dionysus.
Disciples―In the following 'saviors' cases, a grouping of disciples was present, just as they were present in Jesus' story: Horus, Buddha, Krishna, Dionysus, Mithra. Interestingly enough, in the case of Dionysus, his disciple Acoetes was a boatman, just as Jesus' disciple Peter. And just as Peter was freed from jail when the doors miraculously flew open, so was Dionysus' disciple Acoetes. In Buddha's case, he, like Jesus, demanded that his disciples renounce all worldly possessions. Yet another instance of similarity is that the disciples of both Jesus and Buddha were said to have been arrested for preaching, as well as witnessed to have "walked on water."
Miracles―Among those 'saviors' who, like Jesus, performed countless miracles include: Horus, Krishna, Buddha, Dionysus, Mithra, Osirus, and Adonis. Horus was said to have walked on water, just as Jesus did. In addition, Horus raised one man, El-Azarus, from the dead in front of countless witnesses. In the case of Buddha, it was told that he fed five hundred men with one loaf of bread, that he cured lepers, and that he caused the blind to see. Dionysus rescued a person from dying when the person was utterly desolate and placed them among the stars. And he gave food and drink, herbs and berries, to the starving people -- not to mention turning water into wine.
The Sun (or Son) ―Here is another common theory, quoted from S. Acharya's "The Origins of Christianity and the Quest for the Historical Jesus:" "The reason why all these pagan narratives are so similar to a "god-man" is that these stories were based on the movements of the sun through the heavens, an astro-theological development that can be found throughout the planet because the sun and the 12 zodiac signs can be observed around the globe.
December25th birth- The brightest star in the night sky is Sirius. It aligns with the three stars in Orion’s Belt ( known as the “Three Kings’) on December 25th .The stars together point to the place where the Sun rises (is born) on December 25th. The claim that Mithra's birth was on "Christmas" is apparently based on the Calendar of Filocalus or Philocalian Calendar (c. 354 AD/CE), which mentions that December 25th represents the "Birthday of the Unconquered," understood to refer to the Sun and taken to indicate Mithras as” Sol Invictus”.
"Christmas" is the birth, not of the "son of God" but, of the Sun. Indeed, there is much evidence—including many ancient monumental alignments—to demonstrate that this highly noticeable and cherished event of the winter solstice was celebrated beginning hundreds to thousands of years before the Common Era in numerous parts of the world. The observation was thus provably taken over by Christianity, not as biblical doctrine but as a later tradition in order to compete with the Pagan cults, a move we contend occurred with numerous other "Christian" motifs, including many that are in the New Testament.
The following are the characteristics of the "Sun" of God: a.) The sun "dies" for three days on December 22, the winter solstice, when it stops in its movement south, to be born again or resurrected on December 25, it resumes its movement north. b.) In some areas, the calendar originally began in the constellation of Virgo, and the sun would therefore be "born of a Virgin." c.) The sun is the "Light of the World." d.) The sun "cometh on clouds, and every eye shall see him." e.) The sun rising in the morning is the "Savior of mankind." f.) The sun wears a corona ("crown of thorns") or a halo. g.) The sun "walks on water." h.) The sun's "followers" or "disciples" are the 12 months and the 12 signs of the Zodiac, through which the sun must pass. i. ) The Sun is "crucified," which represents it's passing through the Equinoxes, the Vernal Equinox being Easter, at which time it is then resurrected.
RELIGIOUS TEXTS
Because of the lack of written sources due to the destruction of records in the past 2000 years, little is known about the beliefs of Mithraism. But they clearly centered on the god Mithras, who was based on the pre-Zoroastrian Persian god Mithra. Mithra was the most important god in Persian polytheism. What survives are mainly stories told in pictures on the walls of temples.
The event “Tauroctony” (sacrifice of the bull) takes place in a cavern, into which Mithras has carried the bull, after having hunted it, ridden it and overwhelmed its strength. Sometimes the cavern is surrounded by a circle, on which the twelve signs of the zodiac appear. Outside the cavern, top left, is Sol the sun, with his flaming crown, often driving a four wheeler cart. A ray of light often reaches down from the sun to touch Mithras. Top right is Luna, with her crescent moon, who may be depicted driving a chariot.
The sacrifice of the bull was the most important Mithraic ceremony . On the Roman monuments, Mithra reluctantly sacrifices the white bull, who is then transformed into the moon. Contract and sacrifice are connected, since treaties in ancient times were sanctioned by a common meal.
In some depictions, the central “Tauroctony” is framed by a series of subsidiary scenes to the left, top and right, illustrating events in the Mithras narrative; Mithras being born from the rock, the water miracle, the hunting and riding of the bull, meeting Sol who kneels to him, shaking hands with Sol and sharing a meal of bull-parts with him, and ascending to the heavens in a chariot.
A unique feature of the Mithraeum is the naked lion-headed figure sometimes found in Mithraic temples .He is entwined by a serpent, with the snake's head often resting on the lion's head. The lion's mouth is often open. He is usually represented having four wings, two keys (sometimes a single key) and a scepter in his hand. Sometimes the figure is standing on a globe inscribed with a diagonal cross. A more scarcely represented variant of the figure with a human head is also found. The image may be a relief, or free-standing, and side details may be present or omitted. The center-piece is Mithras clothed in Anatolian costume and wearing a Phrygian cap; who is kneeling on the exhausted bull, holding it by the nostrils with his left hand, and stabbing it with his right. As he does so, he looks over his shoulder towards the figure of Sol. A dog and a snake reach up towards the blood. A scorpion seizes the bull's genitals. The two torch-bearers are on either side, dressed like Mithras, Cautes with his torch pointing up and Cautopates with his torch pointing down.
A Few Specifics Abort Zoroasterism
Apparently Mitra was a comparatively minor deity until the reformer Zoroaster revised Persian religion. In his view the cosmos was divided between a clash of light and darkness, good and evil. Zoroaster was essentially a monotheist, with Ahura Mazda as his one god. But unofficial cults sprung out of Zoroaster's teachings which gave the Old Persian gods a new place in the Zoraster's cosmic struggle. In these cults Mitra became the champion of the good god Ahura Mazda, a force of light and salvation against demons and darkness. Mitra ruled over the earth and vegetation, and was the judge of the souls of the dead. He was omniscient, ever present, and his birth was celebrated on the eve of the winter solstice, about December 25th.
Zoroastrianism originated in ancient Iran sometime around 2000 B.C.E. Zoroastrianism, or more natively Mazdayasna, is one of the world's oldest, and at one time most powerful religions, "combining a cosmogonic dualism and eschatological monotheism in a manner unique... among the major religions of the world." Ascribed to the teachings of the Iranian Prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra), he exalted their deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda, as its Supreme Being.
There are many views on the timeline for Zoroaster's life. Greek sources placed him as early as 6000 BC. The traditional Zoroastrian date for Zarathushtra's birth and ministry is around 600 B.C. This is derived from a Greek source that places him "300 years before Alexander" which would give that date; other rationales for the 600 BC date identify the King Vishtaspa of Zarathushtra's Gathas with the father of the Persian King Darius, who lived around that time. According to the Zend Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, Zoroaster was born in Azerbaijan, in northern Persia.
Again, no one knows how Zarathushtra died, allegedly at age 77. Many legends, and Zoroastrian tradition, say that he was killed, while praying in the sanctuary, by a foreign enemy of the king. His birthday is celebrated on March 21, as part of the Persian New Year Festival. Scholars believe Zoroaster was a priest and a prophet. Linked to the Magi, he was considered a magician. His spiritual influences have always affected human thought and reasoning; his goal, to show humans their connection to one source of light and consciousness.
Beginning with Darius (522–486), the Persian kings of the Achaemenid dynasty were Zoroastrians. But Darius and his successors did not intend to create political difficulties by attempting to eradicate the old beliefs still dear to the heart of many nobles. Thus, the religion of Zoroaster was gradually contaminated with elements of the old, polytheistic worship. Hymns (the Yashts) were composed in honor of the old gods. There is a Yasht dedicated to Mithra, in which the god is depicted as the all-observing god of heavenly light, the guardian of oaths, the protector of the righteous in this world and the next, and, above all, as the archfoe of the powers of evil and darkness—hence, the god of battles and victory.
In the mixed religion of the later Achaemenid period, however, the Zoroastrian aspects clearly dominate the heathen aspects. The sacrifice of the bull, abhorred by every Zoroastrian, is never mentioned.
The Zoroastrian or Persian system was based on the assumption that there existed two original and independent powers of good and evil, of light and darkness, Ormuzd (Ahura-Mazda), the wise Lord, and Ahriman (Angra-Mainyu), the wicked spirit. These powers were believed to be equal, and each supreme in his own domain. The earth, which was created by Ormuzd, became the battlefield of the two powers. Ahriman led away the first man and woman from their allegiance to Ormuzd, and so all evils result to mankind.
The Zoroastrian holy book is called the Avesta. This includes the original words of their founder Zarathustra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the Gathas. The latter represent the basic source of the religion. The Gathas are abstract sacred poetry, directed towards the worship of the One God, understanding of righteousness and cosmic order, promotion of social justice and individual choice between good and evil.
The Gathas have a general and even universal vision. They believe in a single god Ahura Mazda who is supreme. Communication between Himself and humans is by a number of Attributes, called Amesha Spentas or Bounteous Immortals. Within the Gathasthese Immortals are sometimes described as concepts, and are sometimes personified.Members are dedicated to a three-fold path, as shown in their motto: "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds." Members can pray at home instead of going to a temple if they wish.Zoroastrians do not generally accept converts. Many Zoroastrians actively discourage and do not recognize inter-faith marriages.They do not proselytize.
Just as the Hindus chant Gayatri mantra and consider it as very sacred, the Parsis chant Ahuna Vairya Mantra which is considered to be very sacred by them. The mantra is as follows:
The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness.
The gifts of Vohu-mano to the deeds done in this world for Mazda.
He who relieves the poor makes Ahura king.
Ancient Zoroastrian society was organized more or less like the Vedic society into four classes consisting of priests, warriors, husbandmen and artisans.The following vices of the four classes are listed in the Menog-i Khrad (Chp.59)
- The vices of priests are heresy, covetousness, negligence, trafficking (sudakih), attention to trifles, and unbelief in the religion.
- The vices of warriors are oppression, violence, promise-breaking, unmercifulness (an-avokhshaga-vandih), ostentation (dakhshih), haughtiness, and arrogance.
- The vices of husbandmen are ignorance, enviousness, ill-will, and maliciousness.
- And the vices of artisans are unbelief, want of thanksgiving, improper muttering of prayers, moroseness, and abusiveness.
The Gathas describes the main constituents of a human being as body ( Tanu ) and soul ( Urvan ), which live for only a limited time in the world. At the time of death, the body transforms (or perishes) and the soul goes on to live its second existence.There is consensus that Zarathushtra was the first to introduce the idea of an afterlife that was based on morality, with rewards for the good and suffering for the evil. In the biblical period the Jews believed that the dead would continue to exist in a shadowy form in sheol, the abyss of the earth. After their liberation from captivity by Cyrus the Great in Babylon and their contact with Zoroastrians, the Jews gradually adopted eschatological divine plan of salvation. This concept eventually appeared in Christianity and Islam.
Zoroastrians believe in the survival of the soul after bodily death. The nature of the individual's other life is determined by the Law of Consequences, a corollary of the Law of Asha. The Law of Consequences is generally known as the principle of reward and punishment, whereby righteous acts in the world are rewarded with sustained happiness and evil acts, with misery.
Fleeing religious persecution from Muslims in Persia sometime between the 7th and 10th centuries, the Zoroastrians settled in India, where they came to be called “Parsis.” No one is certain when Zoroaster lived, though some say it was around 1200 B.C. He is thought to have composed the Gathas, the hymns that make up a significant portion of the Yasna, which are the liturgical texts of the Zoroastrians.
According to the Zoroastrian tradition, Ahura Mazda is the supreme lord and creator; he represents all that is good. In this aspect, the religion is one of the oldest examples of monotheism, or the belief in one god.
The main tenets of the faith center on the opposition between Ahura Mazda and the forces of evil which are embodied by Angra Mainyu, the spirit of destruction, malignancy and chaos. This evil spirit creates a serpent named Azi Dahaka, a symbol of the underworld, not unlike the Biblical serpents of Judeo-Christian traditions.Within this cosmic battle we see the tension between “asha,” which roughly translates to “truth,” “righteousness,” “justice” or “good things,” and “druj,” or deceit.
Truth is represented by light, and Parsis will always turn to a source of light when they pray, with fire, the sun and the moon all symbolizing this spiritual light. Scholars have noted the strong historical influence that Zoroastrianism has had on concepts seen in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, whether it’s monotheism, the duality of good and evil, or Satan
Today Zoroastrianism has a small but devout following, though it’s been shrinking.In 2004, it was estimated that there were between 128,000 and 190,000 Zoroastrians living around the world, with 18,000 residing in the United States.
The “Qissa e Sanjan,” which translates to “The Story of Sanjan,” was composed around the 17th century. It describes how the Zoroastrians, fleeing religious persecution from Muslim invasions in their Persian homeland many centuries earlier, head to Gujarat, in western India.
Once they arrive, they reach out to the local king, whom they call “Jadi Rana.” He agrees to give them land if they adopt local dress, language and some customs. However there is never any question about religious faith: They still practice their religion, and Jadi Rana is elated that these newcomers worship as they please.
Parsi history has two versions of what took place.
In one, when the Zoroastrian refugees arrived in Gujarat, the king sends them a jar of milk filled to the top – his way of saying that his kingdom is full and there’s no room for any more people. In response, the newcomers stir in a spoonful of sugar and send it back to the king. In other words, not only do they promise to integrate with the local population, but that they’ll also enhance it with their presence.
In the other version, they drop a gold ring into the bowl to show they’ll retain their identity and culture, but they’ll nonetheless add immense value to the region.
These are both compelling narratives, though they make slightly different points. One extols the integration of immigrants, while the other highlights the value of different cultures living together but in harmony.
Parsis in India – and wherever they have gone – have done both. They’ve adopted some of the customs of the land they live in, while maintaining their distinctive culture, religious rituals, and beliefs.They’ve also made more cultural contributions than the initial wave of refugees to Gujarat could have ever imagined.
Despite their small numbers, Parsis can count a number of famous musicians, scientists, scholars, artists and entrepreneurs among their ranks.In both Iran and India, the number of priests has declined sharply in modern times.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Mithras is sometimes depicted as a man being born (or reborn) from a rock (the 'petra genetrix), typically with the snake Ouroboros wrapped around it. It is commonly believed that the cave in Mithraism imagery represents the cosmos, and the rock is the cosmos seen from the outside; hence the description of this god as “rising from the dead”. According to some accounts, Mithras died, was buried in a rock tomb, and was resurrected.
Roman Mithraism, like Iranian Mithraism, was a religion of loyalty toward the king. It seems to have been encouraged by the emperors, especially Commodus (180–192 AD), Septimius Severus (193–211 AD), and Caracalla (211–217 AD). Most adherents of Mithra known to us from inscriptions are soldiers of both low and high rank, officials in the service of the emperor, imperial slaves, and freedmen (who quite often were very influential people)—persons who probably knew which god would lead them to quick promotion.
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
The most important Mithraic ceremony was the sacrifice of the bull. In every Mithraeum the centerpiece was a representation of Mithras killing a sacred bull; the so-called” tauroctony”. Opinion is divided as to whether this ceremony was pre-Zoroastrian or not. Zoroaster denounced the sacrifice of the bull, so it seems likely that the ceremony was a part of the old Iranian paganism. This inference is corroborated by an Indian text in which Mitra reluctantly participates in the sacrifice of a god named Soma, who often appears in the shape of a white bull or of the moon. On the Roman monuments, Mithra reluctantly sacrifices the white bull, who is then transformed into the moon. This detailed parallel seems to prove that the sacrifice must have been pre-Zoroastrian.
The myth was interpreted by the Roman Mithraists in terms of Platonic philosophy. The sacrifice took place in a cave, an image of the world, as in the simile of the cave in Plato’s Republic. Mithra himself was equated with the creator (demiurge) of the Timaeus: he was called “demiurge and father of all things,” like the Platonic demiurge. The four elements, the mixing bowl, the creation of Time, and the attack of the wicked animals upon the newborn creature are well-known features of the Timaeus. The Mithraic doctrine of the soul is intimately linked with the myth of creation and with Platonic philosophy. As in the Timaeus, the soul of man came down from heaven. It crossed the seven spheres of the planets, taking on their vices (e.g., those of Mars and of Venus) and was finally caught within the body. The task of man is to liberate his divine part (the soul) from the shackles of the body and to reascend through the seven spheres to the eternal, unchanging realm of the fixed stars. After the sacrifice, Mithra and the Sun god banqueted together, ate meat and bread, and drank wine. Then Mithra mounted the chariot of the sun god and drove with him across the ocean, through the air to the end of the world.
Mithraea (temples) are commonly located close to springs or streams; fresh water appears to have been required for some Mithraic rituals, and a basin is often incorporated into the structure. There is usually an ante-chamber at the entrance, and often other ancillary rooms for storage and the preparation of food.
The Mithraic sanctuaries were subterranean caverns, which presented obvious limitations of size. None of the many excavated shrines could receive more than a hundred persons, and most even fewer. All ceremonies were of necessity enacted in artificial light. The cavern always contained a well. Access to the cavern often consisted of a system of subterranean passages, which were used in the initiation ceremonies. Men only were admitted to this religion of soldiers, and no organizational hierarchy seems to have existed.
The Mithraic caverns were decorated with frescoes, reliefs, and statues of minor deities and of the planetary gods. A narrow aisle was flanked on both sides by a broad, raised bench on which the worshippers kneeled or reclined. At one end of the aisle there was always a relief or fresco representing the sacrifice of the bull. Sometimes, the relief could be turned on a pivot; the back of the stone represented the repast of Mithra and the sun god. While it is unlikely that the ceremony of the bull’s sacrifice was frequently performed.
Mithras is often depicted by two smaller figures, dressed like himself, bearing torches. These torchbearers are named on the monuments as Cautes and Cautopates.
Mithras (the Roman god) was born from a rock. He is depicted in his temples hunting down and slaying a bull in the tauroctony . He then meets with the sun, who kneels to him. The two then shake hands, and dine on bull parts. The mysteries of Mithras were not practiced until the 1st century AD. The unique underground temples or Mithraea appear suddenly in the archaeology in the last quarter of the 1st century AD.
HOLIDAYS
In ancient cultures the Sun's great festivals were observed in the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox—Christmas and Easter. Later religions adopted these dates for their major holidays.
Persian or Zoroastrian winter celebration called "Yalda," which is the festival of the Longest Night of the Year, taking place on December 20th or the day before the Winter solstice.
The Easter story originally came from the Sumerian legend of Damuzi (Tammuz) and his wife Inanna (Ishtar), in an epic myth called “The Descent of Inanna” found inscribed on cuneiform clay tablets dating back to 2100 BC. In that story when Tammuz dies, Ishtar is grief stricken and follows him to the underworld. In the underworld, she enters through seven gates, and her worldly attire is removed. "Naked and bowed low" she is judged, killed, and then hung on display. In her absence, the earth loses its fertility, crops cease to grow and animals stop reproducing. Unless something is done, all life on earth will end. The Vernal Equinox, celebrated at Easter, then rings in the new fertile growing season.
Sunday was kept holy in honor of Mithra, and the sixteenth of each month was sacred to him as mediator. The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigors of the season.
HEAVEN AND HELL
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Mithras with Mitra, a mythic figure of the Aryan peoples who invaded northern India around the l600 B.C. Mitra, the god of friendship, was associated with the sun and served as one of the judges of the dead. He was supposed to bring worthy people back to life after the universe ended. Some of Mitra's functions lingered in the developing mythology of Mithras.
The worshippers of Mithras held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell. They believed that the benevolent powers of the god would sympathize with their suffering and grant them the final justice of immortality and eternal salvation in the world to come. They looked forward to a final day of Judgment in which the dead would resurrect, and to a final conflict that would destroy the existing order of all things to bring about the triumph of light over darkness.
The Mithraic religion appears to have best preserved in modern day Zoroasterism , therefore we can learn from Zoroastianism what the beliefs of Heaven and Hell may have been in Mithraism. Zoroastrians believe that after life on earth, the human soul is judged by God as to whether it did more good or evil in its life. Those who chose good over evil go heaven, and those who chose evil go to the hell. Zoroastrianism was one of the first religions to give the afterlife a moral dimension
Zoroastrianism describes the heaven as lofty, exalted, supreme, most brilliant ,fragrant ,pure ,filled with beautiful existences, most desirable and most good which is the place and abode of the sacred beings where is found all comfort, pleasure, joy, happiness and welfare, better even than the greatest and most supreme welfare and pleasure in the world. The hell is a place of chaos. In it there is no comfort, pleasantness, or joy but stench, filth, pain, punishment, distress, profound evil and discomfort. So much more grievous is the evil in the hell than even the most grievous evil on earth and more grievous is the terror of the punishment on the soul than that of the vileness of the demons on the body.
There the sinful soul is punished by the wicked demons and darkness, the head of who is Ahriman the deadly. The hell is a place of chaos. In it there is no comfort, pleasantness, or joy but stench, filth, pain, punishment, distress, profound evil and discomfort
So much more grievous is the evil in the hell than even the most grievous evil on earth and more grievous is the terror of the punishment on the soul than that of the vileness of the demons on the body. There the sinful soul is punished by the wicked demons and darkness, the head of who is Ahriman the deadly.
In the oldest Zoroastrian scriptures, heaven and hell are not places, but states of mind that result from right or wrong choices. Zoroaster spoke of the “drujo demana” or “House of Lies” and the “garo demana”or “House of Song,” to which souls are sent. Some say that the fall of the soul into the House of Lies means a return of the soul to earth, the realm of unreality or lies.
SOCIAL ORDER
A Mithraic community was not merely a religious congregation; it was a social and legal body with its decemprimi, magistri, curatores, defensores, and patroni. These communities allowed no women as members. Women might console themselves by forming associations to worship Anaitis-Cybele; but whether these were associated with Mithraism seems doubtful. No proof of immorality or obscene practices, so often connected with esoteric pagan cults, has ever been established against Mithraism; and as far as can be ascertained, or rather conjectured it had an elevating and invigorating effect on its followers.
From a chance remark of Tertullian we learn that their "Pater Patrum" was only allowed to be married once, and that Mithraism had its virgines and continentes; such at least seems the best interpretation of the passage.
INITIATION
The ceremonies of initiation for each degree must have been elaborate, but they are only vaguely known, i.e. - lustrations and bathings, branding with red-hot metal, anointing with honey, and others. A sacred meal was celebrated of bread and haoma juice for which in the West wine was substituted. This meal was supposed to give the participants super-natural virtue.
Seven grades of initiation into the mysteries of Mithras are listed by St. Jerome. There is probably a connection between the number of grades and the seven planets, and there is evidence commending the priests to the protection of the god for each planet. A mosaic in the Ostia Mithraeum of Felicissimus depicts these grades, with heraldic emblems that are connected either to the grades, although they may just be symbols of the planets. It has been suggested, however, that most followers of Mithras were simply initiated, and the seven grades are in fact grades of priests.
Admission into the community was completed with a handshake with the Pater, just as Mithras and Sol shook hands. The initiates were thus referred to as syndexioi, or those "united by the handshake".
PURPOSE OF LIFE
Although we know little of Mithraism rituals and beliefs. We believe that it was closely related to Zoroastrian tradition.
In the Gathas, Zoroaster sees the human condition as the mental struggle between asa (truth) and druj (lie). The cardinal concept of asa - which is highly nuanced and only vaguely translatable - is at the foundation of all Zoroastrian doctrine, including that of Ahura Mazda (who is asa), creation (that is asa), existence (that is asa) and as the condition for Free Will, which is arguably Zoroaster's greatest contribution to religious philosophy.
The purpose of humankind, like that of all other creation, is to sustain asa. For humankind, this occurs through active participation in life and the exercise of constructive thoughts, words and deeds.
Elements of Zoroastrian philosophy entered the West through their influence on Judaism and Middle Platonism and have been identified as one of the key early events in the development of philosophy. Among the classic Greek philosophers, Heraclitus is often referred to as inspired by Zoroaster's thinking. Contemporary Zoroastrians often point to the similarities between Zoroaster's philosophy and the ideas of Baruch Spinoza. He was very influential.
Mithras with Mitra, a mythic figure of the Aryan peoples who invaded northern India around the l600’s B.C. Mitra, the god of friendship, was associated with the sun and served as one of the judges of the dead. He was supposed to bring worthy people back to life after the universe ended. Some of Mitra's functions lingered in the developing mythology of Mithras.
CONCLUSION
It is important to study and analyze the story of Mithra in relation to modern religion, particularly that of Christianity. When drawing parallels between the life of Jesus and the story of Mithra and other Pagan gods herein, it does not mean that there was never a real historic person named Jesus, but rather that the story of his life may have been embellished by later writers after his death in accordance with a pattern that was ancient, widespread and well known in the Pagan world.
The same may be said for the Buddha and many other religious figures. Historically we know that such things did occur. Many ancient Biblical writers worked alone or in isolated groups without very sophisticated libraries or research resources. They often drew insight from the stories they had head or from their own imagination based on what they knew.
The Apostle Paul, and other Church fathers, consciously or unconsciously incorporated parts of the life story of Mithra into the life story of Jesus and then, because of the human habit of erring, fantasizing, sensationalizing, - romanticized it into the story of the life of Jesus they later told.
One such thing is the December 25th birth-date of Jesus. The date of Jesus’ birth is never mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, nor was it celebrated by Jesus’ followers. Some biblical scholars believe Jesus was born around March or April, but the specific date is unknown. It wasn’t until around A. D. 200 (two centuries after the death of Jesus) when December 25th became the day Jesus’ birth was actually celebrated, possibly to coincide with Roman pagan festivals. There are other such similarities.
The original Persian God, Mithra, has the following in common with the Jesus life story: Mithra was born on December 25th of the virgin Anahita. The baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in a manger and attended by shepherds. He was considered a great traveling teacher and master. He had 12 companions or "disciples." He performed miracles. As the "great bull of the Sun," Mithra sacrificed himself for world peace. Mithra ascending to heaven in his solar cart, with sun symbol .He ascended to heaven.
Mithra was viewed as the Good Shepherd, the "Way, the Truth and the Light," the Redeemer, the Savior, the Messiah. Mithra as omniscient, as he "hears all, sees all and knows all " none can deceive him. He was identified with both the Lion and the Lamb. His sacred day was Sunday, "the Lord's Day," hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ. His religion had a Eucharist or "Lord's Supper." Mithra "sets his marks on the foreheads of his soldiers. The Magi, or 4 wise men from the East that visited Jesus at his birth, were most likely priest of an Esoteric Persian Mythic cult.
Mithraism continues into modern times with the religion of Zoroastrianism, from which much can be learned. Also, it may be that Mithraism is just a continuation of a much earlier religion since parts of it can be found in India, the Middle East and the ancient Mediterranean world.
It was a simple religion based on a Sun god and followed astrological signs. All of which we can still see today.
Scott Ramsey
May 10, 2016
For modern day Zoroastrianism in America-SEE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-rare-glimpse-inside-a-zoroastrian-temple-in-new-york_us_570563d6e4b0537661888a74