beliefs about death, the soul, and the afterlife journey
Zoroastrianism teaches that every human is mortal, and death is a transformation for the soul—not total annihilation. The physical body is transmuted from one form to another, as the soul departs for the spiritual realm.
Death is seen as a temporary triumph of evil, but ultimately, it is a necessary and inevitable part of God's plan. Unnatural and untimely death is viewed as the work of evil, but in the broader context, death is a certainty for all.
in zoroastrian tradition, death is not the end of existence but rather a transition from the material world to the spiritual realm.
Zoroastrians understand death as part of the cosmic struggle between good and evil. While death represents a momentary victory for evil forces, the soul's journey continues, and ultimately good triumphs as the soul reaches its spiritual destination.
A human being is composed of three primary constituents:
The soul remains in the material world for three days and nights after death, in the care of the divine being Sraosha. During this time, it hovers near the body and requires protection through prayers and rituals.
On the dawn of the fourth day (Chahrom), the soul travels to the Chinvad Bridge, where it faces judgment. This bridge is said to widen for the righteous souls, allowing easy passage to the spiritual realm, but narrows to a razor's edge for the wicked, causing them to fall into the abyss.
the three-day period after death is considered crucial as the soul is believed to be vulnerable and in need of protection through prayers and rituals.
At the Chinvad Bridge, the soul meets its own conscience (Daena), which appears as a beautiful maiden for the righteous or as a hideous hag for the wicked. This encounter represents the soul's confrontation with the sum of its deeds in life.
The judgment is not arbitrary but based on the soul's own actions during its earthly existence. The principle of divine justice in Zoroastrianism is summarized by the phrase "As you sow, so shall you reap."
The righteous soul proceeds to Garothman (the highest heaven), while the wicked soul descends to temporary punishment proportionate to its evil deeds. Zoroastrianism teaches that no punishment is eternal; all souls will eventually be purified and reunited with Ahura Mazda at the time of Frashogird (Final Renovation).