Written by The Divine Revelation (Age 30)
“When he emerged, he received a vision of Vohu Manah. This vision radically transformed his view of the world.”
— Zoroastrian Tradition
One Morning By a River, Zarathustra Received the Idea That Would Become Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Western Ethics
“You are free. You choose. You are responsible.”
The Festival (Age 30, Spring)
At the age of 30, he attended the festival of the Rites of Spring (almost certainly the Nowruz Festival celebrating the New Year).
After 10 years of solitude, Zarathustra had come down from the mountain.
Not because he’d found the answer.
Because it was time to rejoin humanity and see if the answer would find him.
He attended the spring festival as a member of his family, and one of his duties was to draw water from the deepest and purest part of the stream for the morning ceremony.
A Haoma ceremony—the old religion’s ritual. The same polytheistic worship he’d rejected at age 20. The same blood-soaked tradition he’d spent 10 years trying to understand and transcend.
But on this day, everything would change.
The River Daitya (Daytia)
When Zoroaster was 30 years old, he went into the Daiti river to draw water for a Haoma ceremony.
Early morning. Spring. The Daitya River flowing cold and pure.
Zarathustra waded into the water, gathering the purest water from the deepest part of the stream.
He was saying prayers by the riverbank.
Not the old prayers of the daevas.
His own prayers—10 years of conversation with truth itself.
The sun was rising. The water was flowing. And Zarathustra, alone in the river, was still asking the question that had consumed him for a decade:
“Why does evil exist?”
And then—
The Shining Being
When he emerged, he received a vision of Vohu Manah.
On the riverbank before him, a celestial entity appeared in bright light.
Not human. Not earthly. Radiant.
He saw a “Shining Being” that revealed itself as Vohu Manah (“Good Mind” / “Good Purpose” / “Good Thought”).
The Being asked Zarathustra who he was and what was the most important thing in his life.
The test.
After 10 years of searching, after rejecting the priesthood, after walking away from everything—
What mattered most?
Zarathustra answered: “I want above all to be righteous, pure, and wise.”
Not power. Not wealth. Not certainty. Not even answers.
Righteousness. Purity. Wisdom.
With this answer, Vohu Manah smiled.
The Portal
Vohu Manah told Zarathustra that he had been sent by Ahura Mazda himself to deliver a message of vital importance.
And then Vohu Manah opened a portal.
After this, Vohu Manah took him to the other six Amesha Spentas, where he received the completion of his vision.
Zarathustra was taken beyond the physical world—into the presence of the divine itself.
He saw a vision of the seven Amesha Spenta.
What he witnessed there would become the foundation of monotheism.
The Presence of Ahura Mazda
In the vision, Zarathustra encountered:
Ahura Mazda — The Wise Lord, supreme creator deity
- All-good
- Uncreated
- Transcendent
- Universal
- The source of light, truth, order, wisdom
And surrounding Ahura Mazda:
The Seven Amesha Spentas (Holy Immortals):
- Vohu Manah — Good Mind / Good Purpose
- Asha Vahishta — Truth / Righteousness / Best Order
- Spenta Ameraiti — Holy Devotion / Serenity / Loving Kindness
- Khashatra Vairya — Power / Just Rule / Desirable Dominion
- Hauravatat — Wholeness / Health / Perfection
- Ameretat — Long Life / Immortality
- Spenta Mainyu — Holy Spirit (sometimes counted as Ahura Mazda himself)
These were not separate gods.
They were emanations of the One God—aspects of divine reality.
The Seven Revelations
During this vision—and subsequent visions over the following years—Zarathustra asked questions and received answers that would transform human understanding:
REVELATION 1: There Is One God
The religion of the people as it was being practiced was in error. There were not many gods requiring different types of sacrifice but only one god, Ahura Mazda.
Everything changed with this statement.
Not many gods. ONE.
Not a pantheon of competing deities demanding blood and appeasing fear.
One wise, good, all-powerful creator.
REVELATION 2: God Is All-Good (But Not Omnipotent)
Ahura Mazda existed in light and goodness above. Ahura Mazda is the supreme benevolent providence, the creator of only the good.
God doesn’t create evil. God doesn’t will suffering. God doesn’t demand blood sacrifice.
God is light. God is truth. God is order.
But—and this was revolutionary—
Zoroaster also proclaims that Ahura Mazda is omniscient but not omnipotent.
God knows everything. But God cannot (or will not) override human free will.
REVELATION 3: Evil Exists Independently
Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit, existed in darkness and ignorance below. They have existed independently of each other for all time, and manifest contrary substances.
The answer to the 10-year question: “Why does evil exist?”
Evil exists because it must.
Not because God created it—but because freedom requires it.
Angra Mainyu (Ahriman):
- The Destructive Spirit
- Source of death, decay, lies, chaos
- Not created by Ahura Mazda
- Independent force of opposition
- The first “Satan” in religious history
Some of the deities of the old religion, the Daevas, appeared to delight in war and strife and were condemned as evil workers of Angra Mainyu by Zoroaster.
The old gods weren’t gods at all. They were demons.
REVELATION 4: You Are Free to Choose
The Early Iranian Religion emphasized the primacy of free will in choosing which side one would ally one’s self with.
One could choose the path of light and love by submitting to the will of Ahura Mazda or one could join in rebellion and mischief with Angra Mainyu.
This was the most revolutionary concept in human history:
You choose.
Not the gods. Not fate. Not priests. Not kings.
You.
Whichever path one chose, it was entirely one’s own responsibility as Ahura Mazda had granted humans the power of choice and there was nothing more potent than human free will as not even Ahura Mazda could (or would) try to subvert it.
Even God won’t violate your freedom.
REVELATION 5: Your Choices Have Eternal Consequences
One would then live well on earth and be assured of an afterlife in paradise or one could corrupt whatever was good for one’s own selfish delights, and spend one’s life vainly attempting to find happiness in the misery of others and, finally, pass on to a dark hell after death.
Heaven and Hell.
Not Sheol (the neutral underworld of early Judaism).
Not reincarnation (the cycle of birth/death in Indian religion).
Heaven for the righteous. Hell for the wicked.
Based entirely on your choices.
REVELATION 6: The Cosmic Battle Has a Purpose
All physical creation (geti) was thus determined to run according to a master plan — inherent to Ahura Mazda.
History isn’t cyclical. History isn’t random.
History is moving toward a goal: Frashokereti.
The “Making Wonderful” — the final renovation of the universe when:
- Angra Mainyu will be utterly destroyed
- The dead will be resurrected
- A final judgment will occur
- Good will triumph permanently
- The world will be restored to original perfection
Linear time. Historical purpose. Ultimate victory of good.
REVELATION 7: Ethics Matter More Than Ritual
Ahura Mazda was not interested in animal sacrifice but in moral behavior.
Not rituals. Not prayers to multiple gods. Not blood on altars.
Moral behavior. Ethical living. Personal responsibility.
The teaching would become: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”
That’s it. The entire religion in six words.
The Transformation
This vision radically transformed his view of the world, and he tried to teach this view to others.
Zarathustra emerged from the river—and from the vision—forever changed.
For 10 years he’d asked: “Why does evil exist?”
Now he knew:
- Evil exists because freedom exists
- God gives humans choice
- Your choices determine your fate
- History moves toward the triumph of good
- Ethics—not ritual—is what matters
He had the answer.
Now he had to give it to the world.
The First Response
Zarathustra accepted this vision as legitimate and began his mission instantly.
No hesitation. No doubt. No “let me think about it.”
Instant commitment.
Vohu Manah told Zarathustra that he had been chosen by the One True God to preach this news and bring the people to proper understanding of their relationship with the Divine.
The mission: Correct the error. Spread the truth. Transform humanity.
He received further revelations and saw a vision of the seven Amesha Spenta, and his teachings were collected in the Gathas and the Avesta.
Over the following years, more visions would come. More questions would be answered. More details would be revealed.
But the core message—received at age 30 by the Daitya River—would never change:
One God. Free will. Moral choice. Heaven and hell. Good will win.
The First Convert
Zoroaster’s ideas did not take off quickly, and, at first, he only had one convert: his cousin Maidhyoimanha.
One person.
After 10 years of preparation.
After the most profound vision in human history.
After receiving the answer to existence itself.
One convert.
His own cousin.
Why?
Because truth is threatening.
The local religious authorities opposed his ideas.
Of course they did.
Because Zarathustra was saying:
- “Your gods are demons”
- “Your sacrifices are unnecessary”
- “Your rituals are meaningless”
- “Your power is illegitimate”
He was declaring war on the entire religious establishment.
And they would spend the next 12 years trying to kill him for it.
What This Vision Created
1. Monotheism
Zoroaster believed in one creator God, teaching that only one God was worthy of worship.
Before Zarathustra: Polytheism everywhere.
After Zarathustra: The concept of ONE supreme God enters human consciousness.
Judaism would adopt it (post-Exile, 539 BCE).
Christianity would inherit it.
Islam would perfect it (according to Muslims).
But Zarathustra invented it. 1700 BCE.
2. Free Will
The primacy of free will in choosing which side one would ally one’s self with.
Before Zarathustra: Fate controls everything. Gods control humans. No real choice.
After Zarathustra: Humans are free to choose. Even God won’t override your will.
This becomes:
- Jewish concept of moral choice
- Christian doctrine of salvation through choice
- Islamic emphasis on submission as voluntary choice
- Western concept of individual freedom
All from this vision.
3. Heaven and Hell
An afterlife in paradise or pass on to a dark hell after death.
Before Zarathustra (Early Judaism): Sheol—a neutral underworld for all.
After Zarathustra’s vision: Eternal reward or eternal punishment based on your choices.
Where do we see this now?
- Jewish Gan Eden and Gehenna (post-Exile only)
- Christian Heaven and Hell
- Islamic Jannah and Jahannam
All adopted after contact with Zoroastrianism.
4. Satan / The Devil
Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), the destructive spirit.
Before Zarathustra: No cosmic force of evil. No adversary of God.
After Zarathustra: The first “devil” in religious history—an independent force of evil.
This becomes:
- Satan in Judaism (appears only post-Exile)
- Satan/Devil in Christianity
- Iblis/Shaytan in Islam
All traceable to Angra Mainyu.
5. Resurrection and Final Judgment
The dead will be resurrected and a final judgment will occur.
Before Zarathustra: No concept of resurrection. Death is final.
After Zarathustra: The dead will rise. All will be judged. Good rewarded, evil punished.
Where now?
- Jewish belief in resurrection (post-Exile, absent before)
- Christian resurrection doctrine
- Islamic Day of Judgment
All from this vision by the river.
6. Linear Time / Historical Purpose
History is moving toward a master plan — inherent to Ahura Mazda.
Before Zarathustra: Cyclical time. History repeats. No ultimate goal.
After Zarathustra: Time is linear. History has purpose. Good will triumph in the end (Frashokereti).
This becomes:
- Jewish Messianic Age
- Christian Second Coming / Kingdom of God
- Islamic Day of Judgment
- Western concept of “progress”
All from Zarathustra’s vision of linear time.
7. Ethics Over Ritual
Ahura Mazda was not interested in animal sacrifice but in moral behavior.
Before Zarathustra: Religion = ritual, sacrifice, priestly mediation.
After Zarathustra: Religion = ethics. “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.”
This becomes:
- Jewish ethical monotheism (post-Exile)
- Christian “love your neighbor”
- Islamic emphasis on righteous deeds
- Western secular ethics
All from this moment in the river.
The Irony of History
Every major religion that came after Zarathustra practices concepts he received in this vision:
Judaism (post-Exile, 539 BCE+):
- One God ✓
- Heaven and hell ✓
- Satan as adversary ✓
- Resurrection ✓
- Final judgment ✓
- Messianic age ✓
Christianity:
- Monotheism ✓
- Free will and choice ✓
- Heaven and hell ✓
- Satan/Devil ✓
- Resurrection ✓
- Second Coming ✓
- Ethics over ritual ✓
Islam:
- One God (Allah) ✓
- Free will ✓
- Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam) ✓
- Satan (Iblis/Shaytan) ✓
- Resurrection and judgment ✓
- Historical culmination ✓
- Ethical behavior ✓
Greek Philosophy:
- One supreme principle ✓
- Ethics as central to philosophy ✓
- Free will and moral responsibility ✓
- The examined life ✓
4.3 billion people practice theology born from this vision.
Almost none of them know it happened.
The Timeline of Theft
1700 BCE: Zarathustra receives the vision at the Daitya River
586 BCE: Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, exile Jews to Babylon
539 BCE: Cyrus the Great (Zoroastrian) conquers Babylon, frees Jews
539-400 BCE: Jews live under Persian rule for 150+ years, adopting Zoroastrian concepts
Evidence:
- Pre-Exile Judaism: No Satan, no heaven/hell, no resurrection, no angels, no apocalypse
- Post-Exile Judaism: ALL of these concepts suddenly appear
30 CE: Jesus teaches heaven/hell, Satan, resurrection, final judgment, ethical living
- Never mentions Zarathustra
- Believes he’s revealing “new” truth
- Actually teaching concepts 1,700 years old
610 CE: Muhammad receives revelation with heaven/hell, Satan, judgment, monotheism
- Claims to be final prophet
- Teaching concepts 2,300 years old
- Source forgotten
600-300 BCE: Greek philosophers (Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Plato) learn from Zoroastrian Magi
- “Invent” Western philosophy
- Actually learning from Persians
- Get credited with “originating” ideas
Present Day:
- 2.4 billion Christians practice Zarathustra’s vision
- 1.9 billion Muslims practice Zarathustra’s vision
- 15 million Jews practice Zarathustra’s vision
- Western ethics based on Zarathustra’s vision
Total: 4.3+ billion people
Zoroastrians remaining: 100,000-200,000
The man who received the vision? Almost no one knows his name.
Why This Matters
Because Truth Deserves Acknowledgment
One morning in 1700 BCE, a 30-year-old Persian priest waded into a river to gather water for a ceremony.
He emerged having received the most important vision in human history:
- The concept of ONE God
- The reality of free will
- The existence of heaven and hell
- The nature of good and evil
- The purpose of history
- The triumph of righteousness
Every time someone believes in heaven or hell → That’s Zarathustra’s vision
Every time someone believes they’re free to choose → That’s Zarathustra’s vision
Every time someone believes good will ultimately triumph → That’s Zarathustra’s vision
Every time someone believes in a final judgment → That’s Zarathustra’s vision
Every time someone values ethics over ritual → That’s Zarathustra’s vision
Half of humanity practices theology that came from one moment by one river 3,700 years ago.
And almost no one knows it happened.
The Question
If this vision by the Daitya River gave humanity:
- Monotheism
- Free will
- Heaven and hell
- Satan/the devil concept
- Resurrection and judgment
- Linear time and historical purpose
- Ethics over ritual
Why don’t the billions who believe these concepts know where they came from?
Answer: Because acknowledging Zarathustra means acknowledging Persia.
And acknowledging Persia means admitting that:
- The “Abrahamic” religions aren’t original—they’re Persian
- “Western philosophy” learned from Zoroastrian Magi
- Modern civilization’s ethical foundation came from Iran
- Everything we were taught about religious history is backwards
So the vision is adopted. The source is erased.
But the fire still burns.
In every prayer. In every moral choice. In every belief in justice.
The light Zarathustra saw by the river still illuminates the world.
They just stopped saying where it came from.
NEXT: Episode 5 – Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds
Three words that would build civilization. For 12 years, the world tried to kill him for teaching them.
“When he emerged, he received a vision of Vohu Manah. This vision radically transformed his view of the world, and he tried to teach this view to others.”
One vision. One message. 4.3 billion followers.
Zero acknowledgment.
For the complete Zarathustra series and more on the systematic theft of Persian contributions to human civilization, visit efiretemple.com
The man who received the vision by the river gave you everything you believe about God, choice, and eternity.
The least we can do is know his name.