In his introductory article (see here), Cultural Chair of Yezidiska, Mr. Amo Şamsi described how the Yezidi religion was closely related to the Persian religions of Mithraism and Zoroastrianism rather than Hinduism. However, Mr. Hassan does not want people to come to the conclusion that the Yezidi are a sect of Zoroastrianism. In this article Mr. Şamsi explains why the two religions of Zoroastrianism and the Yezidi religion have so many similarities, it is because Zoroaster pulled from existing Persian theology when creating his religion, theology which was already practiced by the Yezidi people.
The Yezidi Not A Zoroastrian Sect
By Amo Şamsi, Cultural Chair Of Yezidiska
By Amo Şamsi, Cultural Chair Of Yezidiska
The existing similarities between Mithraism and Yazidis (before Zarathustra) as discussed previously can only be explained by the idea that both religions are from a same or very similar source, in the opinion of scholars of religion, an Indo-European origin. While Zarathustra undoubtedly had great influence on the Yezidis, their religion differs in many distinctive elements from his, such as at the burial of the dead, the future of the soul and – most importantly – in terms of their drastically different views of rebirth. Life in Zoroastrianism begins at one point and continues horizontally. But with the Yezidi it is circular because of the belief in reincarnation.
A closer comparison shows that the Yezidis were not Zoroastrians, as has been suggested by many politicians, and for political reasons. Despite the power and strength of Zarathustra’s religion, it was not accepted and practiced by all residents of Iran as their religion. Some oral traditions of the Yezidi religion prove the above proposition. Historical review shows that “Ahura Mazda” or “Asha”, ie “Truth”, was the name of the deity of the Aryans before Zarathustra and his Avesta was known. So the presence of similar concepts names in the Yezidi religion does not prove that the Yezidi are wholly a derivative of the Zoroastrian religion.
After Zoroaster’s religion became the state religion, many (Aryans, Medes) converted to the new faith. But the vast majority remained in their old faith, with the “Sky God” in the center of their religious imagination. This sky-god was not only the day God but also the God of the night. This aspect has much similarity with the Yezidi’s Ta’usi Melek, who had the same tasks as the “Sky God” or Ahura Mazda in the pre-Zoroastrian times. In many other tasks and works Ta’usi Melek is like Mithra himself. In this context, some religionists have made connections between Mithraism and Yezidis on purely theological (religious) levels.
In many aspects, Zoroaster’s Ahura Mazda, who was described in the Avesta was comparable to Ta’usi Melek, the prime intermediary of the Yezidi religion. Ahura Mazda is often referred to as the creator of all objects. His deeds done both in the dark and in the brightness of the light. He knows all the secrets of people who sin and future actions. He has absolute sovereignty. In the Yezidi oral traditions and other religious texts, Ta’usi Melek is similar to that described as Ahura Mazda and his power.
But remember, Ahura Mazda existed before the Zoroastrain religion, and so it is very likely that there were worshipers of Ta’usi Melek among the Aryans before Zoroaster’s time. But surely they had other names and these names were not the same as the Yezidis use now. It is obvious that Ta’usi Melek is the same as the “Sky God”, from which Zoroaster’s Ahura Mazda was also created. Many scholars interpret this concept without mentioning Ta’usi Melek’s name. It is likely that Zarathustra intentionally took up local Aryan myth, taking out popular religion and animistic ideas possessed by Ahura Mazda legend, drawing from it what suited him.
To conclude, while it has been stated that the Yezidi and Zoroastrian religion are related, it should not be said that the Yezidi are a derivative of Zoroastrianism but that Zoroaster pulled from theology that was already present in the old Iranian empire, religion from which the Yezidis are also crafted.
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