Ahura

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A divine presence in Zoroastrianism known for representing knowledge and morality
2. A celestial being within Zoroastrianism that symbolizes wisdom and righteousness
3. A sacred figure in Zoroastrian belief embodying insight and virtue

Etymology: Ahura is a transliteration of the Avestan word for "lord," spelled out in the script of the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism. The Avestan form appears in the Gathas and other scriptures of the faith, where it names the supreme divine power and, in later usage, a whole class of beings who serve or embody his qualities. English speakers meet it almost exclusively in religious and scholarly writing about Zoroastrian belief, where it preserves the older Iranian vocabulary rather than translating it. The reason the word needs no translation for those who study the religion is that its meaning shifted in a way that is easy to miss. "Lord" describes a position of authority, but in Zoroastrian thought the authority belongs to a being who stands for truth and order, so a term that once meant only "lord" came to carry moral weight as well. The celestial beings the definition describes are therefore understood less as rulers and more as embodiments of wisdom and righteousness.

Synonyms: spirit, deity, divine being, immortal, god