Mazdaznan
Encyclopedia
Mazdaznan is a syncretistic religious health movement based on Zoroastrian
and Christian
ideas with special focus on breathing exercises, vegetarian diet and body culture. It was founded at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century by Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish
, born Otto Hanisch. The word Mazdaznan is said to derive from the Persian
"Mazda" and "Znan", and is supposed to mean "master thought".
Besides emphasizing the importance of the individual decision, it proclaims personal responsibility for one's own fortune. The Cosmology rests upon three historical characters: Ainyahita
, Zarathustra and Jehoshua. Ainyahita, daughter of the divinely created couple (may be related to Anahita
), lived 9000 years ago and is supposed to be the origin of the white Aryan
race, which includes the Jews and therefore Jesus
of Nazareth
.
, California. Several scholars brought his teachings to other countries.
In Europe, Mazdaznan was spread by the former Californian farmers David and Frieda Ammann beginning in about 1907. David Ammann was expelled from Leipzig, Germany in 1914 due to the publication of the book Inner Studies. The main centre for Mazdaznan in Europe was the Lebensschule at Herrliberg
near Zurich
. One of the most famous European followers of the movement was the abstract painter Johannes Itten
, who taught at the Bauhaus
, who insisted on shaven heads, crimson robes and colonic irrigation.
In the 1930s, Mrs. Gloria Gasque, a wealthy follower of the movement, went to Bombay intending to restore the "true" message of Zoroaster
to the Parsis. Though met with hostility, she remained there for a number of years before she returned to the United States.
The Nazis proscribed Mazdaznan from 1935, a ban that remained in Germany until 1946. Today the movement has several thousand German followers.
In 1980 Mazdaznan's headquarters moved to Encinitas, California
, and in 2001 the last manager of the headquarters disappeared and the organized movement ceased to exist in the US, though it is possible that there are still isolated followers or practitioners in the US.
In 2007, the movement was revived in Canada by Peter deBoer.
Mainly Critical:
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
and Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
ideas with special focus on breathing exercises, vegetarian diet and body culture. It was founded at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century by Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish
Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish
Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish was the founder of the religious movement known as Mazdaznan. His origin is not verified, and differing birth dates are mentioned in various documents. According to some sources, he was born Otto Hanisch, a German immigrant from Poznan...
, born Otto Hanisch. The word Mazdaznan is said to derive from the Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
"Mazda" and "Znan", and is supposed to mean "master thought".
Teachings
Mazdaznan is mainly promoted as a dietary (vegetarian) movement with breathing, vowel and glandular exercises for physical, spiritual and mental development. In some ways it is similar to Yogic and Ayurvedic teachings.Besides emphasizing the importance of the individual decision, it proclaims personal responsibility for one's own fortune. The Cosmology rests upon three historical characters: Ainyahita
Anahita
Anahita is the Old Persian form of the name of an Iranian goddess and appears in complete and earlier form as ' ; the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure venerated as the divinity of 'the Waters' and hence associated with fertility, healing and wisdom...
, Zarathustra and Jehoshua. Ainyahita, daughter of the divinely created couple (may be related to Anahita
Anahita
Anahita is the Old Persian form of the name of an Iranian goddess and appears in complete and earlier form as ' ; the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure venerated as the divinity of 'the Waters' and hence associated with fertility, healing and wisdom...
), lived 9000 years ago and is supposed to be the origin of the white Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
race, which includes the Jews and therefore Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
of Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
.
Movement
The first centers were established in Chicago in 1890 and New York in 1902. Since 1917, Hanisch settled mainly in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California. Several scholars brought his teachings to other countries.
In Europe, Mazdaznan was spread by the former Californian farmers David and Frieda Ammann beginning in about 1907. David Ammann was expelled from Leipzig, Germany in 1914 due to the publication of the book Inner Studies. The main centre for Mazdaznan in Europe was the Lebensschule at Herrliberg
Herrliberg
Herrliberg is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- History :There are findings dating back to the Bronze age....
near Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. One of the most famous European followers of the movement was the abstract painter Johannes Itten
Johannes Itten
Johannes Itten was a Swiss expressionist painter, designer, teacher, writer and theorist associated with the Bauhaus school...
, who taught at the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
, who insisted on shaven heads, crimson robes and colonic irrigation.
In the 1930s, Mrs. Gloria Gasque, a wealthy follower of the movement, went to Bombay intending to restore the "true" message of Zoroaster
Zoroaster
Zoroaster , also known as Zarathustra , was a prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism who was either born in North Western or Eastern Iran. He is credited with the authorship of the Yasna Haptanghaiti as well as the Gathas, hymns which are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism...
to the Parsis. Though met with hostility, she remained there for a number of years before she returned to the United States.
The Nazis proscribed Mazdaznan from 1935, a ban that remained in Germany until 1946. Today the movement has several thousand German followers.
In 1980 Mazdaznan's headquarters moved to Encinitas, California
Encinitas, California
Encinitas is a coastal beach city in San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego in North County and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census. Encinitas is...
, and in 2001 the last manager of the headquarters disappeared and the organized movement ceased to exist in the US, though it is possible that there are still isolated followers or practitioners in the US.
In 2007, the movement was revived in Canada by Peter deBoer.
Literature
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Inner Studies: A Course of Twelve Lessons, 1902
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Ainyahita in Pearls (articles 1907–1909)
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Mazdaznan Dietetics and Cookery Book, 1913
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Mazdaznan Health and Breath Culture, 1914
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Jehoshua the Nazir, (describes mystical eastern sources on Jesus of Nazareth).
- Hanish, Otoman Zar-Adusht: Ever Creative Thought, 1931
External links
- Mazdaznan International
- German Mazdaznan Page
- about Mazdaznan Movement
- Rare synthesis of the phrenology of mazdaznan (in french) by Hanish and Martin
- Mazdaznan Association (North America)
Mainly Critical: