| Part ofa series on |
| Zoroastrianism |
|---|
 |
Divine entities |
 Religion portal |
Ahura (Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀) is anAvestan language designation of a type of deity inherited by Zoroastrianism from the prehistoric Indo-Iranian religion,[1] and denotes a particular class ofZoroastrian divinities. The term is assumed to be linguistically related to theAsuras of IndianVedic era.[2][3][4]
Avestanahura "lord" derives fromProto-Indo-Iranian language*Hásuras, also attested in an Indian context asRigvedicasura.[5] As suggested by the similarity to theOld Norseæsir, Indo-Iranian*Hásuras may have an even earlierProto-Indo-European language root.
TheRigveda says that Asura such as the “Father Asura”,Varuṇa, andMitra, are “older gods” who originally ruled over the primeval undifferentiated Chaos.[1]
It is commonly supposed[6][7][8] that Indo-Iranian*Hásuras was the proper name of a specific divinity with whom other divinities were later identified.
In theGathas, the oldest hymns of Zoroastrianism and thought to have been composed byZoroaster, followers are exhorted to pay reverence to only theahuras and to rebuff thedaevas and others who act "at Lie's command". That should not, however, be construed to reflect a view of a primordial opposition. Although thedaevas would, in later Zoroastrian tradition, appear as malign creatures, in the Gathas thedaevas are (collectively) gods that are to be rejected.[9]
The Gathas do not specify which of the divinities other thanAhura Mazda are considered to beahuras but does mention other ahuras in the collective sense.[10]
In theFravaraneh, the traditional name for the Zoroastrian credo summarized inYasna 12.1, the adherent declares: "I profess myself a Mazda worshiper, a follower of the teachings of Zoroaster, rejecting thedaevas ... " This effectively definesahura by defining whatahura is not.
In the YoungerAvesta, three divinities of the Zoroastrian pantheon are repeatedly identified as ahuric. These three areAhura Mazda,Mithra, andApam Napat, the "Ahuric triad". Other divinities with whom the term "Ahuric" is associated include the sixAmesha Spentas, and (notable among theyazatas)Anahita of the Waters andAshi of Reward and Recompense.