Characteristics

In Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazdā is the chief god of goodness within a dualistic universe where goodness, truth, and light are constantly in conflict with evil, deception, and darkness (Shaked, Zoroastrian Origins, 193). He is wise, good, and powerful, but his power is limited by Angra Mainyu, Ahura Mazdā’s evil adversary. Angra Mainyu is ignorant, evil, and malicious. Both Ahura Mazdā and Angra Mainyu command lesser deities, called yazatas and daevas, respectively. Zoroastrians do not worship Angra Mainyu or the daevas, though they can worship the yazatas along with Ahura Mazdā (Clark, Zoroastrianism, 52–53). The conflict between Ahura Mazdā and Angra Mainyu will continue until the end of time when Ahura Mazdā and the forces of good will ultimately triumph over Angra Mainyu and the forces of evil.

The Gāthās record that Ahura Mazdā and the seven manifestations or facets of himself (Amesha Spentas) created heaven and earth. In this scenario, Angra Mainyu is chaos and nothingness in opposition to the created, ordered world—he is the absence of Ahura Mazdā. In the Young Avesta, both gods take part in creation: Ahura Mazdā creates good things, while Angra Mainyu creates that which is evil (Skjærvø, “Zoroastrian Dualism,” 59–62).