Eschatological Points in Gathas

Accepting resurrection and events beyond life is one of the basic Zoroastrian beliefs. It is central to Zoroastrianism, and colors almost all aspect of their religious life. It also seems to have had a deep impact on neighboring religions, notably on Judaism and through it on Christianity, as well as on Manichaeism. The concept of eschatology in Zoroastrianism consists of two views. First, fate of individual’s soul after death, judgment of souls, allotting of reward and punishment to the righteous and the wicked and second, the resurrection of the dead affected by future saviours and the ultimate fate of the word and its reconstitution. The author reviews Gāthās, the oldest Avestan text presumably composed by Zoroaster, and surveys eschatological concepts and notes which deal with resurrection, saviours, judgment and life after death.