REAL

‘Forgiveness is Goodness’: Mercy as an Enduring Virtue in Zoroastrianism

Choksy, Jamsheed K. (2024) ‘Forgiveness is Goodness’: Mercy as an Enduring Virtue in Zoroastrianism. ACTA ORIENTALIA ACADEMIAE SCIENTIARUM HUNGARICAE, 77 (4). pp. 541-556. ISSN 0001-6446

[img]
Preview
Text
062-article-p541.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Download (561kB) | Preview

Abstract

This article traces the concept of forgiveness and related displays of mercy as enjoined by Zoroastrian scrip- ture and exegesis and as displayed through the writings and actions of rulers and clerics. It connects those Zoroastrian themes to similar ones among ancient Greeks and medieval Manichaeans. Forgiveness emerges through this investigation as a central aspect of Zoroastrian piety and praxis, which the faith’s followers attributed back to Ahura Mazdā in his ascribed role as their creator deity. Therefore, as this analysis eluci- dates, Zoroastrians consistently held, exercised, and extolled forgiveness and mercy from ancient through medieval and even modern times, in their communities of Central Asia, Iran, and the Indian subcontinent.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Zoroastrianism; forgiveness; mercy; goodness; Avestan scriptures; Old and Middle Persian inscriptions; Pahlavi exegeses; Persian and Gujarati commentaries
Subjects: D History General and Old World / történelem > D0 History (General) / történelem általában
D History General and Old World / történelem > DS Asia / Ázsia
P Language and Literature / nyelvészet és irodalom > PI Oriental languages and literatures / keleti nyelvek és irodalmak
Depositing User: Zsolt Baráth
Date Deposited: 24 Feb 2025 14:51
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2025 14:51
URI: https://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/216016

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item