Religions in India- Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism in the 1991 census represented 79,382 members accounting as 79 percent to be living in Mumbai and the remaining in Gujarat.

This religion is the descendants of the immigrants from Persia and is preserving the Zoroastrianism religion.

Zoroaster is an Iran Prophet and the Parsis numbers are declining in the recent days owing to the emigration as well as least birth rates.

This religion is significant as they have great influence of finance and represent the world with a large surviving group.

The Parsis represented originally the traders and shipbuilders situated in the towns and ports of Gujarat. Their occupational restriction and their food were totally based on the caste affiliation and allowed them to take liberty of the various commercial opportunities.

The substantial numbers served as an expanding base to business activities. The western commercial contacts as well as the combination of English education made the Zoroastrianism religion the highest cosmopolitan Indian community.

They were socially equal with westerners and Indians. The women belonging to the Parsi community enjoyed the freedom of movement than all the high cast Hindu communities or even the upper class Muslim women.

Parsis are the elite, urban and wealthy community of the other religious groups in the nation. The role of industry, trade, philanthropy and finance earned important place in the social and economic life.

They also accomplished high rank in all the government sectors. Avesta is the body of texts and is the main source for Parsi religion.

This comprises of numerous sections that are attributed to Zoroaster. This preserves the fire sacrifice cult as the focus for ritual life. The spirit manifests the world through bountiful immortal actions and good spiritual attributes to encourage the love and life.

The supreme spirit is the evil force that is believed to cause destruction as well as corruption in the universe. They believe that people doing good deeds reach heaven and the others committing evil reach the hell.

The cosmic forces battle through and the final judgment time and the dead resurrection are certain to a perfect world.

The devout Parsis believe in sacred fires and their grades vary based on ceremonial preparation. The main two grades of fire are maintained in fire temple.

This undergoes purificatory rites and the special face masks are worn in the aim of preventing the pollution of flames as well as the breath or saliva. The grade third fire exists in the house.

Marriage or death is considered to be an important rite. The dead are exposed to vultures however and the rituals always are done at home or in private pavilions.