Zarathushtra's Life Story for the Young ======================================= Dear Mazdayasni Zarathushtris, This is a life story of our Prophet Asho Zarathushtra written specially for children. This is based on the published life story of Asho Zarathushra by Faramroz Rustomjee. It was part of a Gwbasic progam that I wrote 10 years ago in 1986 that taught this story interactively, asking questions of children, and with music and animation, with a quiz and point score at the end. Perhaps the first Zoroastrian educational software program in the world, the gwbasic program is still available to anyone who wants it, however it needs a copy of Microsoft Gwbasic to run, which is now outdated. Perhaps someone can translate the program to Visual Basic? Thank you for your appreciation of the story. Many of you are reading the story to your children, and this is the way it should be, because our children must be brought up with full faith in the divine miraculous life of Asho Zarathushtra, just as we were. And so the tradition will continue, by the divine art of story telling. ----------------------------------------------------------- I will tell you about AHURA MAZDA, our GOD ! I am going to tell you a NICE LITTLE STORY ! Ready ? Right, HERE WE GO...........! Do you know THE STORY OF ZARATHUSTRA ? Well, I am going to tell you NOW ! Zarathustra was born in IRAN a long long time ago ! Zarathustra's MOMMA was DUGHDHOWA, a sweet young girl ! His POPPA was POURUSHASP !!! Before DUGHDHOWA married POURUSHASP, she was with her father! One day, her face started SHINING !!! The people who saw her were very AFRAID !!! They wanted to kill her because they couldn't understand it ! DUGHDHOWA's father FRAHIMURVA didnt want to see her killed!!! So, DUGHDHOWA's father sent her far away ! Dughdhowa's father sent her to his friend's PAITARASP'S house!!! There, Dughdhowa met POURUSHASP the son of Paitarasp......!!! Dughdhowa fell in love with Pourushasp !!! Pourushasp married Dughdhowa soon after !!! One happy day, their son was BORN !!! ZARATHUSTRA was his name......!!! Do you know, what ZARATHUSTRA did when he was born? Zarathustra did not CRY when he was born like everyone!!! Instead, Zarathustra LAUGHED sweetly...! He laughed because he knew HE was MAZDA'S special soldier !!! When he was born, the trees and plants and animals were very HAPPY!!! The whole of NATURE rejoiced at his birth !!! But, the BAD PEOPLE were very unhappy !!! They knew that ZARATHUSTRA had come to destroy them !!! AHURA MAZDA had sent him to fight every BAD person and help the GOOD ! So are you going to do GOOD or BAD in life ? (Tell me) IF GOOD, Then ZARATHUSTRA will love you ! IF BAD, Then ZARATHUSTRA will not love you and you will cry! DURASAROB was a big bad man who hated ZARATHUSTRA .....! DURASAROB went to where ZARATHUSTRA was sleeping......!!! DURASAROB raised his arm to strike a DAGGER into the child !!! But SUDDENLY he found he could not MOVE his ARM ! AHURA MAZDA had PARALYZED him so he could not move!!! This is how MAZDA protects you if you LOVE HIM......! The bad men now tried ANOTHER WAY to kill Zarathustra !!! They stole him from his house and placed him in a SMALL LANE!!! COWS used to pass everyday through this lane........! The BAD men wanted to get Zarathustra TRAMPLED beneath the cows...! The COWS were coming CLOSER & CLOSER.........!!! Suddenly, a large cow came & STOOD over ZARATHUSTRA ! She did'nt allow the other cows to trample ZARATHUSTRA ! So, Zarathustra was saved because MAZDA protected him......! The BAD MEN were very UNHAPPY & SAD !!! They now placed ZARATHUSTRA before RUNNING HORSES !!! They were sure that now, ZARATHUSTRA would be KILLED !!! Let us learn the ASHEM VOHU now !!! (What Fun!!) A S H E M V O H U V A H I S T E M A S T I! U S H T A A S T I U S H T A A H M A I H Y A T A S H A I V A H I S T A I A S H E M! Write down the Ashem Vohu on a paper ! Tell me YES when you are done ! I want you to study the ASHEM VOHU by heart ! Let's get back to the story, shall we ? HORSES were running towards ZARATHUSTRA !!! The BAD men were LAUGHING with GLEE !!! But SUDDENLY, AHURA MAZDA did SOMETHING !!! The FIRST HORSE came & stood over ZARATHUSTRA !!! He protected ZARATHUSTRA so all the other HORSES could not kill him ! The BAD men were now becoming MAD !!! They took ZARATHUSTRA & placed him in a FOREST !!! They knew that A FAMILY OF WOLVES was staying nearby... You must have heard of THE BIG BAD WOLF !!! A WOLF is a very bad animal which EATS men ........! The BAD men wanted to see ZARATHUSTRA eaten up !!! But the BIG BAD WOLVES lost their HUNGER !!! The wolves DID NOT MOVE forward to eat ZARATHUSTRA ! THIS WAS A GREAT MIRACLE DONE BY AHURA MAZDA !!! AHURA MAZDA IS THE GREATEST GOD !!! Zarathustra was found after many days by HIS PARENTS !!! He was fed by two SHE - GOATS so he didnt die of HUNGER....! The 2 SHE-GOATS were sent by AHURA MAZDA...! The BAD men were going CRAZEEEEEE !!! Now they took ZARATHUSTRA & threw him in FIRE ........!!! BUT AHURA MAZDA SAVED ZARATHUSTRA AGAIN !!! The FIRE changed to A BED OF LOVELY ROSES !!! THIS was another great MIRACLE of GOD !!! Zarathustra's mother found him lying HAPPILY in the ROSES !!! The BAD men tried ONE LAST TIME !!! They waited until Zarathustra fell SICK one day....! Then they told the DOCTOR to give Zarathustra POISON !!! The DOCTOR took the CUP OF POISON to Zarathustra.... Zarathustra was only a BABY, so HOW could he KNOW ? But Zarathustra, through MAZDA's help, KNEW !!! Zarathustra caught the CUP OF POISON in his hand ! Zarathustra THREW the cup of poison AWAY !!! SO THE BAD MEN failed again !!! Now Zarathustra started GROWING UP......! When he was 7, Zarathustra started his STUDIES...! His TEACHER was BORZIN KOOROOS....! When Zarathustra was 15, his FATHER called him near one day. His father asked him to choose what Zarathustra wanted ! Zarathustra told his father,......... Dear Father, I only want your SACRED KUSTI. Zarathustra's father was SURPRISED.......!!! His father asked him,....... My Son, of all my belongings, why did you choose my KUSTI ? Zarathustra answered........ When I wear your Kusti, I feel so STRONG...so HAPPY... I feel so CONFIDENT of defeating the FORCES OF EVIL !!! Remember that Zarathustra chose only his father's KUSTI for himself. So YOU must also LOVE your own KUSTI and wear it ALWAYS ! IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE, you should never throw it away !!! If you wear the KUSTI & SADRA daily...... Then you will be CONFIDENT of defeating THE FORCES OF EVIL ...! Then you will be always LOVED by AHURA MAZDA & ZARATHUSTRA...!!! Zarathustra always helped the POOR people ! He gave food, clothing and other things to the poor ! Zarathustra also helped ANIMALS !!! It is our duty to protect the animals and trees ! Zarathustra didnt want any MATERIAL POSSESSIONS ! He only wanted to serve AHURA MAZDA !!! One day his FATHER invited 2 bad people to his house ! His father didnt KNOW they were bad people ! The 2 bad men were DURASAROB & BORATROKRESH ! Zarathustra saw the 2 bad men seated with his father....! Zarathustra went up to his father...! Father, you SHOULD NOT have invited these people !!! BORATROKRESH was very angry at Zarathustra !!! Boratrokresh stood up and said bad things to Zarathustra !!! Zarathustra smiled at him and said....... The EVIL you speak about me only shows the EVIL in you..! Whereas I have spoken only THE TRUTH about you ! Everyone in the house was amazed at Zarathustra ! Ashamed, the evil men had to GO AWAY ! This is how ZARATHUSTRA put down the BAD MEN !!! At the age of fifteen, Zarathustra left his home ! Zarathustra wanted to find out the TRUTH from GOD ! First he went to the mountain USHIDAREN and stayed there. Then He started walking across the land ! One day, Zarathustra found the river ABAHI before him ! He had to cross the river, but there was no BRIDGE ! There was neither any BOAT which could take him to the other side ! Zarathustra prayed for AHURA MAZDA's HELP !!! He began to WALK OVER the water as if it were a bridge ! This was a MIRACLE WHICH SHOWS THE POWER OF GOD !!! Zarathustra kept on walking....! All the time he was praising AHURA MAZDA for his goodness ! Soon Zarathustra came to another river, the DAITI ! This was a very big and LARGE river, one of the largest in IRAN ! Zarathustra prayed to AHURA MAZDA & started walking across it ! First the water reached HIS ANKLES ! Then the water covered HIS KNEES ! Then as he kept on walking, the water CAME UP ! The water now covered HIS WAIST ! After a few minutes, the water CAME UP TO HIS NECK !!! Any man would have been SCARED !!! But Zarathustra was not AFRAID ! He had FAITH in GOD'S POWER, so he kept on walking !!! The water came up NO FURTHER !!! This happened though the RIVER was very DEEP !!! So Zarathustra could cross SAFELY !!! This was because of his DEEP FAITH in AHURA MAZDA !!! When Zarathustra reached the other bank,...... His body was shining like GOLD !!! Zarathustra was able to understand that..... THE WATER WHICH COVERED HIM IN 4 STAGES MEANS THAT.... THE RELIGION OF AHURA MAZDA WILL BE TAUGHT 4 TIMES TO IRAN.....! FIRST IT WILL BE TAUGHT BY ZARATHUSTRA !!! THEN THE SECOND TIME, IT WILL BE TAUGHT BY HOSHEDAR !!! THE THIRD TIME, IT WILL BE TAUGHT BY HOSHEDAR-MAH !!! THE FOURTH TIME, IT WILL BE TAUGHT BY SAOSHYANT !!! Zarathustra now saw the shining VOHU MANO before him !!! VOHU MANO meaning GOOD MIND was a HOLY HELPER OF GOD !!! VOHU MANO is an AMESHASPAND, meaning a HOLY IMMORTALBEING !!! VOHU MANO asked Zarathustra,........ WHAT DO YOU WANT, O HOLY ZARATHUSTRA ? Zarathustra answered him,........ I wish to discover AHURA MAZDA & SEE him ! VOHU MANO said, CLOSE YOUR EYES, O HOLY ZARATHUSTRA !!! When Zarathustra closed his eyes he saw LIGHT everywhere !!! He was in the HOUSE OF LIGHT where MAZDA is !!! AHURA MAZDA THE LORD was before him....!!! Zarathustra asked AHURA MAZDA,.........!!! OH AHURA MAZDA, WHOM DO YOU LOVE ? AHURA MAZDA SPOKE........! I L O V E T H E R I G H T E O U S P E R S O N !!! Zarathustra asked AHURA MAZDA,..... O AHURA MAZDA, WHOM DO YOU CONSIDER RIGHTEOUS ? AHURA MAZDA SPOKE........! H E W H O S P E A K S T H E T R U T H !!! H E W H O S E C H A R I T Y M A K E S O T H E R S H A P P Y !!! H E W H O L O O K S A F T E R F I R E A N D W A T E R !!! H E W H O L O O K S A F T E R A N I M A L S !!! W I T H R E G A R D A N D R E V E R A N C E !!! H E W H O A C T S A S T H E I R P R O T E C T O R !!! I C O N S I D E R S U C H A M A N A S R I G H T E O U S !!! Zarathustra had a long talk with AHURA MAZDA !!! The talk he had, he later told the people in the GATHAS....! The GATHAS are the holiest books of our religion !!! You should read and understand the GATHAS when you grow up !!! Zarathustra now saw a BURNING MOUNTAIN !!! MAZDA told Zarathustra to WALK through the MOUNTAIN OF FIRE !!! Zarathustra walked through this mountain without hurt !!! MAZDA was very PLEASED with Zarathustra !!! MAZDA told Zarathustra to go & TEACH to IRAN !!! Zarathustra said,...I WILL DO SO, BUT GIVE ME A SYMBOL !!! GIVE ME A SYMBOL TO REMIND THE PEOPLE OF YOU !!! AHURA MAZDA told Zarathustra,......... F I R E I S A P E R F E C T S Y M B O L O F M YS E L F !!! I, A H U R A M A Z D A A M L I G H T I T S E L F !!! I S T A Y I N T H E H O U S E O F L I G H T !!! EVERY SHINING OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE WILL TELL MAN THAT....... AHURA MAZDA STAYS IN THE HOUSE OF LIGHT !!! THE FIRE SHOWS MY GLORY, THEREFORE WORSHIP IT !!! AHURA MAZDA now taught Zarathustra the YATHA AHU VAIRYO PRAYER !!! The YATHA AHU VAIRYO is our most ancient & POWERFUL prayer !!! The YATHA AHU VAIRYO was made by AHURA MAZDA HIMSELF !!! AHURA MAZDA spoke the YATHA AHU VAIRYO before the WORLD was there ! With its help, AHURA MAZDA created the UNIVERSE !!! AHURA MAZDA taught the YATHA AHU VAIRYO first to ZARATHUSTRA !!! Zarathustra then taught it to EVERYONE ELSE !!! You should always pray the YATHA AHU VAIRYO EVERY DAY !!! Now Zarathustra went to teach people THE AVESTA !!! THE AVESTA is the word of AHURA MAZDA !!! THE BAD PEOPLE in IRAN were very angry at Zarathustra !!! The BAD PEOPLE made a HUGE ARMY & came before Zarathustra !!! On one side was Zarathustra.......! On the other side was the BIG MEAN ARMY...........!!! The GENERAL of the BAD ARMY told Zarathustra,....... ZARATHUSTRA, WE WARN YOU !!! DO NOT TEACH THE AVESTA !!! IF YOU DO, WE WILL KILL YOU !!! Zarathustra was NOT AFRAID !!! Zarathustra UTTERED THE YATHA AHU VAIRYO IN A STRONG VOICE !!! The soldiers of the BIG BAD ARMY dropped their SWORDS & SPEARS ! The soldiers of the army TURNED & RAN AWAY !!! This was the power of the YATHA AHU VAIRYO..........!!! And Zarathustra thanked AHURA MAZDA in his heart & walked on. Now Zarathustra started teaching to others what MAZDA had told him. His first disciple was his cousin MEDIYOMAH. In those days there was a MIGHTY KING !!! He was KING GUSHTASP, the ruler of BALKH in IRAN. KING GUSHTASP had a DREAM one night..... He DREAMT that he was seated in his COURT.... SUDDENLY the ROOF was torn into pieces......!!! From the HEAVENS, Holy Zarathustra CAME FLOATING DOWN !!! Zarathustra gave Gushtasp a PLANT in his dream ! On EACH LEAF of the plant was written,........ GUSHTASP - ACCEPT THOU THE NOBLE DAENA (RELIGION) !!! THE DAENA (RELIGION) WHICH ZARATHUSTRA BRINGS TO YOU !!! Zarathustra had A BALL OF FIRE IN HIS HAND !!! This was the SACRED FIRE called BOORZIN MEHER !!! BOORZIN MEHER FIRE was so nice and good,...... You could touch it & keep it in your hand WITHOUT BEING BURNT !!! THE FIRE could also not be put out by either water or earth !!! Zarathushtra gave this fire to King Gushtasp !!! Then Zarathushtra gave the AVESTA to the King.......! In the book of the AVESTA were GOD's words (called SASNAO) !!! The DREAM of the King now ended.........! The King now waited for Zarathushtra to come. One day Zarathushtra came to his COURT !!! King Gushtasp was seated with his courtiers ! The King recognized Zarathushtra as THE MAN IN HIS DREAM !!! The King was astonished to see Zarathushtra ! King Gushtasp now asked Zarathushtra to sit near him. The courtiers of the King now asked Zarathushtra many questions. Zarathushtra answered all the Questions !!! The King was very PLEASED. He liked the look of Zarathushtra who seemed so RADIANT !!! Zarathushtra was asked questions by many religious teachers ! He was asked questions for THREE FULL DAYS !!! Zarathushtra answered all the Questions........! Zarathushtra even told the teachers what they DID NOT KNOW !!! King Gushtasp was VERY PLEASED with Zarathushtra ! The King gave Zarathushtra A HOME beside HIS OWN ROYAL PALACE ! The Courtiers were VERY JEALOUS of Zarathushtra now !!! Zarathushtra now told King Gushtasp,........ AHURA MAZDA has SENT ME TO YOU, O GOOD KING....! I HAVE TO GIVE YOU THE MESSAGE OF AHURA MAZDA !!! Zarathushtra now placed in the King's hands THE AVESTA ! Zarathushtra said, AHURA MAZDA HAS COMMANDED ME TO TEACH,... ALL LIVING BEINGS HIS SACRED WORDS, WHICH ARE IN THE AVESTA ! King Gushtasp told Zarathushtra,......... O ZARATHUSHTRA, FIRST SHOW ME A MIRACLE !!! Zarathushtra replied,......... O GOOD KING ! YOU ASK FOR A MIRACLE !!! BUT THE AVESTA IS THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF THE WORLD !!! FOR IF YOU PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE AVESTA & LIVE BY IT,... EVIL SHALL ENTIRELY DISAPPEAR ONE DAY FROM THE WORLD !!! THE AVESTA CONTAINS SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT LIFE IN THIS WORLD... AND ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH........ THIS INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN BEFORE TO MAN !!! King Gushtasp told Zarathushtra,........ O DEAR ZARATHUSHTRA, EXPLAIN THE AVESTA TO ME EVERY DAY ! COME EVERY MORNING TO ME TO DO THIS !!! Seeing all this, the Courtiers in the court were very JEALOUS !!! They thought of AN EVIL PLAN !!! They decided that they would tell the King that,....... That Zarathushtra was an BLACK MAGICIAN !!! Now a BLACK MAGICIAN uses dirty things such as....... BONES, HAIR & DEAD BODIES OF ANIMALS !!! The courtiers went to the KEEPER of Zarathushtra's HOUSE ! The Keeper had the KEY of Zarathushtra's house ! The courtiers forced the keeper to OPEN THE DOOR ! They placed beneath Zarathushtra's bed DIRTY THINGS like...... BONES, HAIR & DEAD BODIES OF ANIMALS !!! They locked the door & then told the keeper,...... KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT OR ELSE.........! Now the courtiers went to the King's Court. Zarathushtra was seated besides the King. The courtiers now told King Gushtasp,..... O KING GUSHTASP ! ZARATHUSHTRA IS NOT A PROPHET OF GOD !!! ZARATHUSHTRA IS A BLACK MAGICIAN !!! King Gushtasp was shocked ! O Courtiers ! What are you SAYING ??? How can you call Zarathushtra a MAGICIAN ?!! O KING ! Zarathushtra in the night does BLACK MAGIC in his house ! If you dont BELIEVE us, you may SEARCH his house ! O KING, be careful...first find out who Zarathushtra really is ! The King ordered his soldiers,.......... GO ! SEARCH ZARATHUSHTRA'S HOUSE !!! BRING ALL THAT YOU FIND IN THE HOUSE TO ME !!! The soldiers went running to Zarathushtra's house !!! When the soldiers searched the house, they found the bad things ! The soldiers came running & showed the things to the King ! King Gushtasp was HORRIFIED !!! The King shouted at Zarathushtra..............! O BAD ZARATHUSHTRA, YOU ARE AN EVIL MAGICIAN !!! THESE THINGS FOUND IN YOUR HOUSE PROVE IT ! YOU ARE NOT FROM GOD....YOU FOOLED ME !!! Zarathushtra said very calmly,.............. O King ! This is not my doing. Somebody has placed these things in my room. I love GOD and hate all such dirty things. The King called the keeper of the apartments of Zarathushtra ! The King asked the keeper.........! WHEN LAST DID YOU ENTER INTO ZARATHUSHTRA'S HOUSE ! The keeper replied............ O Lord, after Zarathushtra left his apartments,..... I did not allow even the WIND that blows to enter !!! This was a TOTAL LIE...............!!! But the King believed THE LIE ! The King was now convinced that Zarathushtra was a MAGICIAN ! He got VERY ANGRY at Zarathushtra & said.... O EVIL MAN ! YOU SHOULD BE HANGED & KILLED !!! THESE DIRTY THINGS BELONG TO YOU ONLY !!! King Gushtasp now THREW away THE SACRED AVESTA from him !!! He then ordered his soldiers to throw Zarathushtra to PRISON ! The King wanted Zarathushtra to be STARVED to DEATH !!! So Zarathushtra was given only ONE loaf of bread,.... Only ONE goblet of water,..... ONCE in FIVE days................!!! Holy Zarathushtra trusted in GOD ! He ate NO FOOD at all............! Throughout the DAY & NIGHT he prayed the AVESTA to GOD !!! In this way he passed FULL 7 DAYS in the prison !!! It so happened that King Gushtasp had a BLACK HORSE. The name of the horse was ASP-I-SIYAH ! Let us call him ASPI the horse from now on ! The King LOVED his ASPI the horse very DEEPLY !!! ASPI the horse was very Handsome & Strong !!! Whenever the King rode to WAR, he rode on ASPI the horse !!! Then he would fight his enemies RIDING on ASPI's back !!! ASPI the horse was very famous throughout IRAN !!! But ALAS.....! Do you know what happened ? One fine morn, after Zarathushtra's imprisionment.... ASPI's keeper found ASPI on the floor.....! ASPI's four legs were EMBEDDED INSIDE HIS BODY !!! ASPI's keeper ran to the King & told him this !!! The King was utterly dejected.......! He could not BELIEVE it !!! He called ALL THE DOCTORS in his kingdom ! He told them to cure ASPI the horse ! All the doctors tried one by one.......! But NO ONE could do anything ! The King became VERY sad...........! He was not able to take his FOOD either. It was one morning SOON after. Zarathushtra was in his cell, praying to God. SUDDENLY he stood up & walked to the cell bars ! Zarathushtra, in a STRONG voice said.........! O SOLDIER, GUARDING MY PRISON ! GO TO THE KING & TELL HIM DO NOT WORRY ! TELL HIM THE COMPASSION OF GOD IS BOUNDLESS !!! TELL HIM HIS HORSE CAN BE CURED THROUGH GOD'S POWER ! The soldier was astonished at these words ! He looked at Zarathushtra with AWE !!! Zarathushtra was shining like a SUN in the dark prison ! The soldier ran to King Gushtasp ! The soldier told the King what Zarathushtra had said ! King Gushtasp remembered at once HOW he had TREATED Zarathushtra ! Still, Zarathushtra had NO complaints, and was READY to HELP him ! This is how YOU should also act in YOUR LIFE !!! Never hold anyone's BAD acts or words to heart !!! Be always ready to FORGIVE & forget ! For that was the WAY of Zarathushtra !!! Gushtasp, with tears in his eyes, ordered the soldier...! GO ! BRING ZARATHUSHTRA TO ME ! Zarathushtra came to the King. His RADIANT expression filled Gushtasp with AMAZEMENT ! The King thought within his mind,....... Truly this man is holy ! For he has suffered so much... And yet he looks so calm & happy ! Zarathushtra blessed him,........ O GREAT KING ! MAY YOU TRUST IN GOD !!! HAVE FAITH IN GOD, WHOSE MERCY IS BOUNDLESS !!! Gushtasp asked Zarathushtra to sit by his side. The King then told him what had happened to ASPI the horse ! The King said......O ZARATHUSHTRA ! NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOUR TEST ! IF TRULY YOU WISH ME TO BELIEVE IN YOU,......... THEN CURE MY HORSE, MY BELOVED ASPI !!! IF TRULY GOD IS POWERFUL, THEN SHOW ME HIS POWER ! FOR I HAVE BEGUN TO DOUBT THAT THERE IS A GOD ! Zarathushtra told the King softly,......... O King ! Cast away this DOUBT from your mind ! GOD EXISTS, & IS THE MIGHTIEST KING OF KINGS !!! HE HAS CREATED THIS EARTH, THIS HEAVEN, YONDER STARS & EVEN YOU ! HIS POWER IS IMMENSE, WITH ONE BREATH HE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS... HE CAN TURN THE SEAS DRY, HE CAN PUT OUT THE SUN !!! THE POWER OF GOD CAN CURE YOUR HORSE ! But only when you are CONVINCED in him,..... And convinced that I am FROM HIM,... And you agree to fulfill FOUR conditions,.... Then the four legs of ASP-I-SIYAH will come forth ! The King answered Zarathushtra,..... ZARATHUSHTRA ! NOT 4 BUT 20 CONDITIONS WILL I FULFILL ! I WILL OBEY ALL THAT YOU SAY ! PRAY, NAME THE CONDITIONS YOU DESIRE ! Zarathushtra told the King ,......... Bring the horse ASP-I-SIYAH to the court. The King ordered his soldiers,.... To carry ASPI the horse to court ! The soldiers brought ASPI the horse,...... And placed him in the centre of the COURT ! Zarathushtra beheld ASPI the horse with love in his eyes. Zarathushtra now turned to the King & said,.... The FIRST condition is............! That you believe with all your MIND & HEART..... That I bring you the WORD of GOD........ The same GOD who has made you the King !!! But, if you DOUBT this even so slightly....... Then ASP-I-SIYAH will not be cured by GOD ! When the King heard these words of Zarathushtra,.... He was deeply TOUCHED ! He was filled with remorse at the way he had TREATED Zarathushtra ! He was now convinced that Zarathushtra could do,.... That which NO ONE else could do.........! In the presence of the whole COURT, King Gushtasp said... I ACCEPT YOU AS THE MESSENGER OF GOD, O ZARATHUSHTRA !!! I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF GOD ! I WILL SPREAD YOUR RELIGION IN THE WHOLE OF IRAN ! IN THIS, O HOLY MAN ! I SHALL NOT FAIL ! Instantaneously, Zarathushtra prayed to GOD in his mind,..... O GOD ! YOU ARE ALWAYS TRIUMPHANT ! S H O W Y O U R P O W E R T O A L L H E R E ! And Lo ! What a MIRACLE ! The Right Front Leg of Aspi was slowly COMING OUT from his body !! Everyone was AWE-STRUCK ! The King said with TEARS in his eyes,....... PRAISE be to you, o holy man ! For, you are doing what NO ONE ELSE could do ! INDEED, YOU ARE FROM GOD ! Zarathushtra now told King Gushtasp,.... O King ! Call your son ASPHANDIAR ! ASPHANDIAR who is noted THROUGHOUT Iran for his Bravery ! ASPHANDIAR arrived in the court. Zarathushtra told ASPHANDIAR,....... Brave ASPHANDIAR ! You must accept my Religion..... The Noble Religion (DAENA) of GOD.... And spread the knowledge of God's religion....... Among ALL MEN & WOMEN in the land of the Aryans, Iran!!! You must fight EVIL, if need be with ARMS....... With your shining SWORD & LANCE ! ASPHANDIAR placed his hand within the palms of Zarathushtra.. And promised Zarathushtra HE WOULD !!! GREAT PROPHET ! MY HAND, BODY & TONGUE....... SHALL BE DEDICATED TOWARDS THE SERVICE OF GOD'S RELIGION ! Zarathushtra blessed Asphandiar, saying.... By God's grace, your BODY will be as IRON !!! Through God's Power your FLESH will never be INJURED... By SWORD or LANCE or DAGGER......!!! People will call you ROHINTON(THE BODY OF IRON) !!! Using this IRON body, you will........ Spread my religion FAR & WIDE throughout Iran !!! ASPHANDIAR bowed to Zarathushtra. And LO ! What a M I R A C L E ! The SECOND leg of the horse had COME FORTH !!! The King & Asphandiar & the whole court EXCLAIMED,.....! WHAT A WONDERFUL POWER GOD HAS !!! Zarathushtra now told the King softly,........ O KING ! Permit me to talk to your Queen ! I wish to reveal to your QUEEN the GLORIES of GOD's religion ! So that she may accept the RELIGION of GOD....... And SPREAD the same among all the WOMEN of Iran ! Zarathushtra was taken to meet the Queen. He said to her,.... O THOU, WHO ART GLORIOUS AMONG WOMANKIND ! God has gifted thee with a wise & noble husband GUSHTASP,.... And a brave son such as ASPHANDIAR ! I as the MESSENGER of GOD, am commanded by GOD..... To teach to the people of the ARYAN land of IRAN,..... The ONE TRUE religion of GOD....... Which is the MAZDAYASNI ZARATHUSHTRI religion ! And the One & Only Path of Righteousness (ASHA). Please remove from your mind all previous false beliefs,... And accept with your heart & mind the NOBLE religion of GOD ! You must spread it's knowledge among all WOMEN of this land! The Queen answered,.......... O HOLY ZARATHUSHTRA ! I ACCEPT thy noble religion ! I shall spread this TRUE religion among the women ! Zarathushtra blessed the Queen & returned to the Court. And LO ! What a WONDER ! The Third Leg of ASPI the Horse had COME FORTH !!! WHAT A WONDERFUL POWER GOD HAS ! Zarathushtra now told the King the LAST CONDITION ! O KING ! Send for the keeper of my Apartments ! And ask him to answer TRUTHFULLY whether,...... Anyone had entered my Apartments after I had left ! If he speaks the TRUTH,...... The FOURTH LEG of ASPI the horse will be HEALED ! If he DOES NOT speak the TRUTH,...... The horse will STAY three-legged ! The King shouted to his Soldiers,......! BRING THE KEEPER HERE AT ONCE ! The Soldiers brought the trembling Keeper ! The King said STERNLY,..... SPEAK THE TRUTH TO ME ! IF YOU DON'T,...... YOU WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED ! IF YOU TELL THE TRUTH, I WILL PARDON YOU !!! The Keeper FELL to his feet..........! With uplifted arms, he CRIED out....... O GREAT KING ! FORGIVE ME ! YOUR COURTIERS ARE THE GUILTY ONES......! It is they who have put those things in Zarathushtra's room ! I was afraid of them, so I remained silent.... But now they can do me no harm,..... And so I DENOUNCE them !!! They are GUILTY !!! The King turned to his courtiers ANGRILY !!! His face was FURIOUS ! S C O U N D R E L S! He screamed ! H O W D A R E Y O U D O T H I S! H O W D A R E Y O U M I S L E A D Y O U R K I N G !!! YOU DESERVE TO BE PUT TO DEATH ! SOLDIERS ! TAKE THEM TO PRISON ! PUT THEM TO DEATH AT ONCE !!! When Zarathushtra heard this, he was sad for the courtiers. Zarathushtra said softly,............. NO, King Gushtasp ! Evil must not be answered with EVIL ! GOD is full of MERCY, likewise you should be ! As one SOWS, so shall he REAP ! For good, one gets GOOD in return,...... And for BAD, bad is always the reward ! Retribution will inevitably follow in the wake of all evil done ! The King, on hearing Zarathushtra, said to his evil courtiers.... LISTEN to this holy man, you who are full of evil ! Today you OWE him your LIVES, though..... You have never wished him anything but HARM !!! Learn a LESSON from Zarathushtra,... Who does not consider ANYONE as his enemy ! The courtiers cast their heads down in SHAME. The King told his soldiers,...... TAKE THEM OUT OF MY SIGHT...........! TAKE THEM OUT OF MY COUNTRY, & SEE THEY DO NOT COME BACK ! Thus did Truth & Justice triumph...........!!! The Fourth leg of Aspi the horse immediately burst forth ! The Horse SPRANG up on it's feet & started PRANCING in the court ! Everyone in the court was ASTONISHED !!! The King & all his valiant men ROSE & said.... G O D I S G R E A T ! H I S P R O P H E T Z A R A T H U S H T R A I S G R E A T The King asked Zarathushtra to sit with him next to his throne. The King said with tears in his eyes,... O ZARATHUSHTRA ! FORGIVE ME FOR HOW I TREATED YOU. Zarathushtra replied,...... O KING ! I forgave you from the day I went to your prison. Because I knew that one day your BETTER mind would WIN,... And YOU would destroy the DOUBT & ignorance in your own self ! Holy Zarathushtra's RENOWN now spread FAR & WIDE ! Zarathushtra became known in the REMOTEST parts of Iran. What Zarathushtra taught, became the PRINCIPLES on which... All the LATER RELIGIONS of the world were found ! Zarathushtra taught that MAN MUST BE PURE. He must live CLEAN, both in MIND & BODY. Zarathushtra said AHURA MAZDA was the ALL WISE RULER... And the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE ! Zarathushtra called AHURA MAZDA the UNEQUALLED ( A D U I ). AHURA MAZDA has Seven Great Qualities ! AHURA MAZDA is full of THE DIVINE SPIRIT (SPENTAA MAINYU). AHURA MAZDA is full of THE GOOD MIND (VOHU MANO). AHURA MAZDA is full of THE BEST RIGHTEOUSNESS (ASHA VAHISTA). AHURA MAZDA is full of SPLENDOUROUS POWER (KHSHATHRA VAIRYA). AHURA MAZDA has LOVE FOR THE WHOLE CREATION (SPENTA ARMAITI). AHURA MAZDA is full of PERFECTION (HAURVATAT). AHURA MAZDA is IMMORTAL (AMERETAT). These are the SEVEN great QUALITIES of GOD ! They will exist as long as GOD exists, which is FOREVER ! So Zarathushtra called them the AMESHAA SPENTAAS. AMESHAA SPENTAAS MEAN THE HOLY IMMORTALS ! Zarathushtra said GOD has placed DIVINE FORCES in NATURE... Which he called as YAZATAS (THE ADORABLE FORCES) !!! The DIVINE SPIRIT of GOD is SPENTAA MAINYU !!! GOD'S SPENTAA MAINYU watches over & protects the whole world ! Zarathushtra said the MIND in human beings was ESSENTIALLY GOOD ! But the MIND could become BAD at times, due to man's weakness ! Then the MAN did EVIL THINGS ! The BAD MIND Zarathushtra called as ANGRAA MAINYU ! The GOOD MIND he called as SPANYAAO MAINYU ! Zarathushtra said that ONE DAY, man would..... Ultimately CONQUER his weakness,... And REMOVE the EVIL aspect from HIS MIND! On such a day, NO EVIL would be there;....... There would be perfect BLISS & HAPPINESS ALL AROUND !!! This beautiful day Zarathushtra called as FRASHO - KERETI. FRASHO - KERETI means MAKING FRESH & WONDERFUL ! On this day, would GOD defeat DEATH itself......! And so ALL DEAD PEOPLE would LIVE again !!! GOD will give them back their BODIES ! This GREAT EVENT is called RISTAKHIZ !!! RISTAKHIZ means the RESURRECTION. Zarathushtra was the FIRST person to reveal these things ! So MIGHTY & INCOMPARABLE was the MIND of Holy Zarathushtra. Zarathushtra was the TRUE TEACHER OF IRAN!!! King Gushtasp bestowed all his love & trust upon Zarathushtra ! Zarathushtra, ONE DAY soon after,.... Prayed to Ahura Mazda with sanctified Bread (DAROON), Milk, Flowers, Pomegranate & the juice of the HAOMA plant. Gushtasp was asked to drink the juice of the HAOMA plant ! Gushtasp fell into a TRANCE in which he remained for THREE DAYS ! In this condition, Gushtasp had a GRAND experience ! His SOUL travelled to the SPIRITUAL realms ! The splendours of the SPIRIT WORLD which he saw,.... Created a PROFOUND impression upon Gushtasp. Gushtasp had another son, called PESHOTAN. Zarathushtra gave him the MILK with which he had prayed. On drinking the milk, PESHOTAN became IMMORTAL !!! By GOD's POWER, it was IMPOSSIBLE for him to DIE ! GOD is A L L - P O W E R F U L ! PESHOTAN, we say, is STILL LIVING ON ! He lives HIDDEN in the mountains in IRAN,... Away from the world of MODERN MAN ! PESHOTAN will come out when it is TIME for the World to E N D....! When finally the day of FRASHO - KERETI arrives ! Gushtasp had a wise, learned & pious Prime Minister JAMASP. Zarathushtr gave him the FLOWERS with which he had prayed. Zarathushtra told JAMASP to smell the flowers. The DIVINE fragnance of the flowers reached JAMASP'S mind ! By GOD's power, Jamasp was now able to see the PAST & the FUTURE ! It was as CLEAR to him as DAYLIGHT ! Jamasp had now become a SEER.......!!! Later on, Jamasp wrote a BOOK called the JAMASPI ! In this book, he predicted many things about TODAY'S world !!! He described the AIRPLANE & the ELECTRIC BULB..... THOUSANDS of years before they were discovered ! This was all due to GOD's POWER ! Zarathushtra now gave ASPHANDIAR, the King's son... The sanctified POMEGRANATE with which he had prayed,... And LO ! ASPHANDIAR'S body became as IRON !!! Not even the MOST DEADLY WEAPONS in the world could destroy him. Gushtasp narrated to Zarathushtra what he had seen,..... During his trance when his soul had travelled... To the Celestial Regions ! Gushtasp now truly became a follower of GOD ! With his WHOLE HEART, he said........! O ALMIGHTY GOD ! THOU ART THE ONLY TRUE KING..... OVER ALL PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL DOMAINS ! BE THOU MY SOUL'S GUIDE IN THIS LIFE & AFTER !!! Zarathushtra now explained the MYSTICAL PORTIONS of the AVESTA to him. As a result, all EVILDOERS were DEFEATED in their evil works ! Gushtasp became a GREAT and RIGHTEOUS KING ! Many Years passed by..... Zarathushtra's religion spread throughout... The entire mighty country of IRAN! At DAWN one day, when Gushtasp was seated on his throne..... And Zarathushtra was by his side,.... The GATE-KEEPER of the palace RUSHED before the King ! The Gate-keeper looked EXCITED & FRIGHTENED.......!!! The King asked him,...WHAT IS THE MATTER ?! The gate-keeper told the King breathlessly,.... O KING ! FOUR RIDERS HAVE SUDDENLY ARRIVED AT THE GATES !!! They are ARMED with DAZZLING WEAPONS !!! I have never seen such SHINING & MAJESTIC WARRIORS before !!! They overwhelmed me with AWE ! The King looked at Zarathushtra.Zarathushtra smiled, & nodded. The King said,...BRING THEM IN !!! The FOUR RIDERS in their RADIANT COSTUMES came before the King ! They SHONE so BRIGHTLY that the King had to COVER HIS EYES ! The King exclaimed,...... O DIVINE MEN ! WHO ARE YOU !? The FIRST horseman said,..... I A M V O H U M A N O ( T H E G O O D M I N D ) ! The SECOND horseman said,..... I A M A S H A V A H I S T A (RIGHTEOUS LAW & ORDER) ! The THIRD horseman said,...... I A M H A U R V A T A T (Perfection & Perfectness) ! The FOURTH horseman said,...... I A M A D A R G U S H A S P (THE SACRED FIRE OF GOD) ! I A M T H E I N D W E L L I N G F I R E O F G O D I N M A N! Gushtasap fell on his KNEES before them ! The FOUR RIDERS now said to Gushtasp, W E A R E T H E A N G E L S O F A H U R A M A Z D A ! W E C O M E O N T H E C O M M A N D O F G O D ! R E M E M B E R , O G U S H T A S P , T H A T....... G O D H A S S E N T Z A R A T H U S H T R A A S H I S D I V I N E M E S S E N G E R ! A N D A L L T H E P E O P L E O F I R A N A R E ... C O M M A N D E D T O F O L L O W ZARATHUSHTRA'S DIRECTIONS !!! SO KEEP ZARATHUSHTRA SAFE & FREE FROM INJURY, ACCEPT HIS RELIGION IMPLICITLY, FOLLOW HIS RULES OF ETHICS, AND DRINK DEEP FROM THE WATERS OF KNOWLEDGE ! Gushtasp SWOONED at the RADIANCE of the four riders ! When he recovered consciousness he cried out,.... O ALMIGHTY BENEFACTOR, AHURA MAZDA !!! I am the HUMBLEST of all THY SERVANTS, I shall do THY COMMANDS as long as I LIVE ! When these words were uttered,... The FOUR RIDERS disappeared! In this way the AMESHA SPENTAS & the FIRE of GOD.... were seen by Righteous & Noble Gushtasp ! King Gushtasp now ordered FIRE TEMPLES to be built in his Kingdom ! Priests were trained in the understanding of the AVESTA ! These learned priests tended the ATAR (FIRE) ! They are known as ATHRAVANS ! Gushtasp, after accepting the religion of Zarathushtra, Spent 57 years on earth in spreading the religion !!! The religion was then spread among men & women... In the ENTIRE COUNTRY of Iran! Gushtasp sent his trusted men to all provinces,.. He sent his brother ZARIR, his son ASPHANDIAR,... His Prime Minister JAMASP & his Friend FRASHOTAR. The faith of Zarathushtra became established in IRAN. Many SCHOLARS & SCIENTISTS came to meet Zarathushtra ! These scientists were ASTONISHED by... The POWER & HOLY PERSONALITY of Prophet Zarathushtra. Zarathushtra's teachings were now understood in ALL Iran. People erected FIRE TEMPLES in even the... MOST DISTANT PROVINCES to propagate the HOLY FLAME !!! SUCH was the TRIUMPH of the GREAT ZARATHUSHTRI RELIGION !!! MANY years passed. Zarathushtra now gave his FINAL MESSAGE to mankind. His words of wisdom have withstood the RAVAGES of time...! These word are of the greatest importance to ALL men. Standing before the SACRED FIRE, Zarathushtra..... PROCLAIMED his stirring message !!! AHURA MAZDA (GOD) IS THE LORD & MASTER OF THE WORLD. HE, THE ALL-WISE, IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE. BY HIS FIXED UNCHANGING LAWS, SHALL....... THE UNIVERSE REACH HIS ULTIMATE GOAL. THE FIRMAMENT ABOVE, THE ETHER THAT SURROUNDS US - THE DAZZLING STARS THAT SHED THEIR RADIANCE OVER US - ARE THE WORKS OF THAT ALL-MIGHTY, ALL-WISE LORD MAZDA ! O MIGHTY KING, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE ! IF THOU WERE TO LIVE IN PEACE & AMITY WITH ALL GOD'S CREATION.. THEN YOU WOULD FIND YOUR HOME IN HEAVEN (WHERE GOD IS). THE POWER OF EVIL IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO...... THWART THE VIRTUES OF A GOOD MIND. SO I BID THEE, RESIST THE POWERS THAT MAKE MAN'S LIFE A HELL. UPON THEE & THEE ALONE RESTS THINE FUTURE HAPPINESS. THOU SHALL REAP BUT THE FRUITS OF.... THAT WHICH THOU HAST SOWN.........! IF YOU ACT, THINK & SPEAK WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS (ASHOI)...... THEN YOU WILL FIND HAPPINESS IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, GARODEMAN! BUT IF YOU DO, THINK & SPEAK EVIL..... THAN YOU WILL SUFFER WHEN YOU CANNOT ENTER THE HOUSE OF GOD ! Zarathushtra now spoke to the ATHRAVANS (FIRE-PRIESTS)... Remember well the RELEVATIONS of GOD which I have told you. These Relevations have been heard by no one before ! They are the AGUSTO VACHAO (SECRET WORDS) of GOD !!! The AVESTA contains the Relevations of God to Iran. In the AVESTA, is the secret knowledge of... The CREATION of the UNIVERSE from the primordial stage... Upto the END of life & the time of the FINAL RESURRECTION ! Never before has there been a pure system of Religion... So replete with explanations of Life, God, & the Universe, Made known to men & women anywhere in the World ! Ahura Mazda has made it the MOST GLORIOUS in the world today ! I charge all of you & your DESCENDENTS, to PRESERVE my religion.. In times of PEACE, in times of WAR... In times of PLENTY, & in times of NEED... DO NOT LET THE ANCIENT FLAME I HAVE LIGHTED, DIE OUT....! This, the ANCIENT ARYAN RELIGION,..... Will ONE DAY reach the height of it's GLORY ! This will be when every one PERFECTS himself by following... The teachings & the rules of this religion.... The FINAL Saviour, the Saoshyant will arrive And the WHOLE WORLD will say proudly,... I AM A FOLLOWER OF GOD, AND I REJECT ALL EVIL !!! That will be the ULTIMATE TRIUMPH of GOOD over EVIL !!! Everyone will be ressurected, man and woman Everyone will be judged, and the earth will become a paradise, Kshthremchai Ahurai Ayim, The KINGDOM of GOD will arrive on this earth! I WILL COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT DAY...!!! Such was the FINAL MESSAGE of Zarathushtra to his followers. HOLY Zarathushtra now reached the age of 77 years & 40 days. It was the SIXTY SEVENTH year of KING GUSHTASP's reign. King Gushtasp was away from his country at that time,... Since the TURANIANS, enemies of IRAN waged WAR with Gushtasp. On that FATEFUL day, Zarathushtra was praying in the FIRE-TEMPLE. Suddenly, a RUFFIAN Turanian soldier CAME !!! He FORCED his way into the SACRED TEMPLE. His name was Tur Baratur the Cursed !!! He knew that Zarathushtra was praying INSIDE ! He went up slowly BEHIND Zarathushtra,..... AND STABBED ZARATHUSHTRA WITH A DAGGER IN HIS BACK !!! Zarathushtra said with his last breath,... I LOVE THE ONE GOD AHURA MAZDA ! MAY EVIL BE EVER THWARTED IN IT'S EFFORTS...!!! So saying, Zarathushtra cast over his KILLER,... The STRING of Beads which he had been praying with ! The POWER of his PRAYERS was so great that,... The Turanian ruffian TUR BARATUR died on the spot ! He fell DEAD at the feet of Zarathushtra. Zarathushtra turned to the SACRED FIRE.... And BOWED to it the LAST time !!! Then the PROPHET OF PROPHETS left his Earthly Body.... And travelled to the SIDE of AHURA MAZDA. His MISSION on Earth was over. HE had done what God had sent him for. He had shown MISGUIDED humanity the ONE TRUE PATH... THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ! THE PATH BY WHICH MAN COULD PERFECT HIMSELF & THE WORLD. LIVING SIMPLY, PURELY & IN HARMONY... WITH NATURE & IT'S LAWS OF ECOLOGY & PURITY... MAN, BY DEVELOPING THE HIGHER QUALITIES IN HIM... BECOMES A HIGHER, NOBLER BEING THAN WHAT HE WAS BORN AS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF ZARATHUSHTRA, THE FIRST PROPHET.