Zurvan (disambiguation): Difference between revisions

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	'''Zurvan''' is the name of the first principle (creator deity) in several different religious systems:
			{{Zoroastrianism}}
			'''Zurvan''' is the ] ] of ] ], ], and ]. In ancient times the deity was worshipped among other ancient ] as well.

			==Etymology and derivatives==
	* In ] (Zurvanite Zoroastrianism) as ''Zurwān Akarāna'', the progenitor of ] and ].
			Zurvan represents ] ''zurwān'', "time", corresponding to ] ''zruvā'', stem ''zruvan-''. In the ] the name is not used as the name of a deity. Zurwān was also called ''Akanārag'', meaning "boundless" or "unlimited" in Middle Persian.
	* In ], where ''Zurvan'' is the Middle Persian name that ] used in his ''Shapurgan'' to signify his "Father of Greatness" (]: ''{{Unicode\|Abbā dəRabbūṯā}}''), the primordial deity of light.
	* In ] ], as ''ʔzrwʔ'' (where both instances of ''ʔ'' represent some vowel) referred to the high deity '']''.
	* In ], where the adherents of the Roman cult applied the Persian word for 'time' to their ''Causa Prima'' (creator god). The Mithraic use of ''Zurvan'' is a translation of Greek ''Cronus''/''Aeon'' - conceptually, the Mithraic deity was a conflation of Hellenic ] and Roman ].
	* In ], which incorporated elements of Zurvanite Zoroastrianism.

			Among the East Iranian ], Zurvan's name was written with characters corresponding to ''ʔzrwʔ'' (where both instances of ''ʔ'' represent some vowel). This seems to have been the name of the highest deity among the Sogdians, for it was used by the ] Sogdians to refer to the high deity '']'' and by the ] Sogdians to refer to their ultimate deity ''Abbā dəRabbūthā'' ("the Father of Greatness"). In both of these systems, ''ʔzrwʔ'' was senior to ''xwrmztʔ'' (the Sogdian equivalent of ]).
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	<div class="notice metadata" id="disambig">''This is a ] page: a list of articles that refer to ''Zurvan''. If an ] referred you to this page, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.''</div>
			The Sogdian name was borrowed into Old Turkish as ''Äzrua'', from which it passed into ] as ''Esrua'', where it is still used today by Mongolian Buddhists as a name for Brahmā.
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			==Characteristics==
			The deity is represented as being nameless (the name ''Zurvan'' being an appellative title), ] and passions, and neutral in regard to ] and ]. In certain strains of ], Zurvan is also the father of the good deity, ], and the evil deity, ].

			Zurvan is often depicted as a winged figure with the head of a lion and a serpent wrapped around the body.

			There are three different opinions among scholars regarding the origin of this teaching:

			* Some assert that Zurvan was part of the original teachings of Zoroastrianism
			* Some assert that Zurvan was a local deity who predated the Zoroastrian religion
			* Some assert that Zurvan was a later addition to Zoroastrian belief

			The earliest solid evidence for a belief in Zurvan seems to date from the ], which ruled ] from ] to ].

			Historians who differentiate between orthodox Zoroastrianism and the "Zurvanite heresy" sometimes refer to the latter as '''Zurvanism'''. Other scholars question whether or not "Zurvanism" can be considered a separate faith.

			==Zurvan in Western esoteric thought==

			The ] ] asserted that ] taught that Zurvan was the father of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.

			==External links==

			*

			==Additional Reading==
			*Zaehner, Robert Charles. ''Zurvan: A Zoroastrian Dilemma.'' Biblo-Moser (1972), ISBN 0819602809. The classic work examining the uncertain history of belief in Zurvan.
			*Cumont, Franz. ''The Mysteries of Mithra''. ISBN 0486203239

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Revision as of 09:49, 3 August 2006

File:Zurvan.jpg

A typical representation of Zurvan

v t e Zoroastrianism
Primary topics	Ahura Mazda Zarathustra Asha Vohu Manah Persia/Iran Faravahar Avestan
Divine entities	Amesha Spentas Yazatas Ahuras Daevas Angra Mainyu
Scripture and worship	Avesta Gathas Ashem Vohu Ahuna Vairya Yenghe hatam Airyaman ishya Fire Temples 101 Names of Ahura Mazda Udvada Atash Behram Adur Burzen-Mihr Adur Farnbag Adur Gushnasp Cypress of Kashmar Yasna Vendidad Visperad Yashts Khordeh Avesta The Revayats Ab-Zohr Atash Behram Magi
Accounts and legends	Dēnkard Bundahišn Book of Arda Viraf Book of Jamasp Story of Sanjan Chinvat Bridge Frashokereti Xrafstar Hamistagan Duzakh
Cities	Balkh Kashmar Yazd
History and culture	Parsis Zurvanism Mazdakism Khurramites Three Persian religions Calendar Festivals Marriage Burial
Adherents	Persecution in Afghanistan in Armenia in Azerbaijan in China in Sichuan in India Irani Parsis in Iran in Iraq in Pakistan in Russia in United States in Uzbekistan
Lists	Fire temples in Iran Fire temples in India
Category

Zurvan is the Persian god of infinite time, space, and fate. In ancient times the deity was worshipped among other ancient Iranian peoples as well.

Etymology and derivatives

Zurvan represents Middle Persian zurwān, "time", corresponding to Avestan zruvā, stem zruvan-. In the Avesta the name is not used as the name of a deity. Zurwān was also called Akanārag, meaning "boundless" or "unlimited" in Middle Persian.

Among the East Iranian Sogdians, Zurvan's name was written with characters corresponding to ʔzrwʔ (where both instances of ʔ represent some vowel). This seems to have been the name of the highest deity among the Sogdians, for it was used by the Buddhist Sogdians to refer to the high deity Brahmā and by the Manichaean Sogdians to refer to their ultimate deity Abbā dəRabbūthā ("the Father of Greatness"). In both of these systems, ʔzrwʔ was senior to xwrmztʔ (the Sogdian equivalent of Ahura Mazda).

The Sogdian name was borrowed into Old Turkish as Äzrua, from which it passed into Mongolian as Esrua, where it is still used today by Mongolian Buddhists as a name for Brahmā.

Characteristics

The deity is represented as being nameless (the name Zurvan being an appellative title), without gender and passions, and neutral in regard to good and evil. In certain strains of Zoroastrianism, Zurvan is also the father of the good deity, Ahura Mazda, and the evil deity, Angra Mainyu.

Zurvan is often depicted as a winged figure with the head of a lion and a serpent wrapped around the body.

There are three different opinions among scholars regarding the origin of this teaching:

Some assert that Zurvan was part of the original teachings of Zoroastrianism
Some assert that Zurvan was a local deity who predated the Zoroastrian religion
Some assert that Zurvan was a later addition to Zoroastrian belief

The earliest solid evidence for a belief in Zurvan seems to date from the Sassanid dynasty, which ruled Persia from 224 to 651.

Historians who differentiate between orthodox Zoroastrianism and the "Zurvanite heresy" sometimes refer to the latter as Zurvanism. Other scholars question whether or not "Zurvanism" can be considered a separate faith.

Zurvan in Western esoteric thought

The theosophist Helena Blavatsky asserted that Zoroaster taught that Zurvan was the father of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.

External links

The Varieties of Zurvanism

Additional Reading

Zaehner, Robert Charles. Zurvan: A Zoroastrian Dilemma. Biblo-Moser (1972), ISBN 0819602809. The classic work examining the uncertain history of belief in Zurvan.
Cumont, Franz. The Mysteries of Mithra. ISBN 0486203239

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