Bundahisn

Bundahisn. ‘Creation’ in Zoroastrianism, and a text with this title which assumed its final form 9th/10th cents. CE in the Pahlavi language. It starts with the ‘event’ of creation (a Zoroastrian counterpart to Genesis); much of the central section is dedicated to priestly schematic classifications of types of creation (types of mountains, rivers, birds, animals, etc.) and concludes with an account of the end of history (Frasokereti).

The Zoroastrian cosmology, as expounded in the Bundahisn and other Pahlavi works, encapsulates Zoroastrian belief about God (Ahura Mazda), the world, human nature, and destiny.

Zoroastrian ethics are founded on this understanding of cosmogony. By nature men and women are perfect, free of all suffering, and sinless. As evil is in essence destructive, it is humanity's duty to expand the Good Creation both through expanding the world (e.g. in farming), and by having children. It is a religious obligation to enjoy the Good Creation, and to refrain from despoiling or abusing it.