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The
Iranis had a deep reverence for Mithra, as is proved by their reception
of the prophet, Zarathustra. Zarathustra is the most important person
in the recorded history of religion, bar none. The first man to promulgate
a divinely revealed religion. He influenced the religions of Judaism,
Christianity, Mithrasism, Islam, Northern (Mahayana) Buddhism, Manicheism,
and the pagan Norse myths. Over half the world has accepted a significant
portion of his precepts under the guise of one or another of these faiths
Mithra
was a moral god, upholding the sanctity of the contract even when the
contract was made with one who was sure to break it. His primary responsibility
was to the rightness of the action. In this he stood above the various
national gods of the time, who had little function other than to look
after the welfare of the state and its wealthiest members. In fact, Mithra
was the first such moral deity and stands above the notions of many worshippers
of many gods today...
Since pastoral life begins at dawn, later Mithra became associated
with light - an association that consequently made him synonymous with
the sun. In Middle Persian and modern Persian, Mehr (for this is the contracted
form now) stands for both friendship and the sun. And since a contract
breaker (mithra-druj) was punished by the society in the name of Mithra,
he evolved into a judge also. When a tribe broke a contract, it was a
punitive war that could correct the tribe. This evolved Mithra into a
warlord. Love, light, lordship, judgment, and war combined to raise him
as the most popular god, a god much revered and much feared. He was, the
Avesta shows, very kind and generous to those who kept the contract but
very harsh and ruthless to those who broke it. He was all- kindness to
friends and no-mercy to enemies.
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