Proper noun

1. General usage: Religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster. Also referred to as Zoroastrism and
   • Mazdaism: religion in which Ahura Mazda is the supreme divinity;
   • Parseeism (archaic): religion of the Parsees of the Indian subcontinent, for centuries believed to be the only surviving community of Zoroastrians.
2. Scholastic usage: identifies the religion as it exists today, as distinguished from earlier forms of the religion. (see Related terms, below).

Related terms

• Zoroastrian
• Zarathustrianism, a term coined by Hermann Lommel (and popularized by Ilya Gershevitch) to denote the prophet's own doctrine as distinguished from later accretions. From Zarathustra, Avestan language name of Zoroaster. Similarly,
• Zarathustricism: distinguishes the teachings of Younger Avestan texts from Zarathustrianism and also from later accretions