Zoroaster on the Good Ahura Mazda and Evil Angra Mainyu

In Zoroastrianism, Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu are commonly construed as two gods or powers that are equal and opposite, identical in every respect, except that Ahura Mazda is depicted as all good and Angra Mainyu is depicted as all evil. Zoroastrians believe the good spirit will eventually triumph, but as of this moment, they balance each other out in every respect.

Zoroaster also taught the good Ahura Mazda’s victory will be due not to his superior power, but due to the people who follow his ways of truth and light instead of lies and darkness. Yasna 30 (Sacred Books of the East 31:29–33), one of the Gathas (the hymns supposedly composed by Zoroaster), appears to support this view and the overall theological viewpoint of general opposing forces being at work in the world.

Yasna 30 describes the emergence of two spirits at the beginning of time and their opposite characters and actions. For example, the good spirit created life, while the evil one created death. Although the text makes clear right away that the evil spirit is eventually bound for perdition, both spirits start to collect adherents from the many other spirits that exist already. The spirits inclined to evil, the daevas, line up on the side of the evil spirit, while the good spirit chooses for himself those who are righteous, including those who have obeyed Ahura Mazda faithfully.

The Armaiti, one of the six Amesha Spentas, comes along and gives physical bodies to all of the human spirits on both sides. Then the warfare begins. Another one of the Amesha Spentas, Vohu Mana, receives particular honor for bringing the evil spirit to his eventual defeat.

Although there are inconsistencies in the narrative of Yasna 30 and in respect to other hymns of the Gathas, the narrative can be read to imply that Ahura Mazda already existed when the two spirits appeared. The good spirit would then be Spenta Mainyu, who is viewed as emanating from Ahura Mazda and representing him. He is subsequently assisted by the other Amesha Spentas, all of whom hold secondary rank to Ahura Mazda himself. Vohu Mana (Good Thought) is then singled out in particular among the Amesha Spentas for his specific contribution.

However, Yasna 30 does not indicate how the evil spirit originated, but since earlier passages claim Ahura Mazda as the creator of all, it is likely the evil spirit was somehow a result of Ahura Mazda’s creation act. It also seems reasonable to conclude that the evil spirit in this text is the standard chief evil spirit Angra Mainyu.

Yasna 30 then seems to be primarily about the struggle between two spirits (Spenta Mainyu, who is representing the ultimate good, and the evil Angra Mainyu), both of whom are inferior to Ahura Mazda. Therefore the outcome of this struggle can be guaranteed to end in favor of Ahura Mazda.