recently read an interesting article on Zoroastrianism. i was amazed at the similarities between zoroastrianism and hinduism!
zoroastrianism is a religion based on the teachings of Zarathushtra, and was the religion of ancient Persia. the teachings of this religion are recorded in the ancient language Pahlavi. the religion was more or less wiped out by Alexander’s troops and later on, by the Arabs. today, zoroastrians can be mainly found in small communities in Iran, Russia and India.
coming to the similarities with hinduism, it is worth noting that both these religions are Aryan ones - both originated in central asia. the language Pahlavi is very similar to Sanskrith. the hymns of zoroastrians are called gathas, which mean tales in sanskrith! in hinduism, there are the vedas. in the Gathas and the Vedas, the Sun is worshipped not only as the primordial source of life but as spiritual light, standing for Wisdom, Order and Truth. Fire, its emblem, is sacred witness at ritual ceremonies. the Cow, too, is holy in both cultures, though it has a wider significance in Zorastrianism, representing cattle in general and all living, suffering things, the poor and the downtrodden, who Zarathushtra alone, according to the legend, can save. in one passage Creation itself is symbolised by “the joy-giving Cow.”
The linguistic convergences between Pahlavi and Sanskrit are even more striking and could open up an entire field of collaborative research between Avestan and Vedic scholars. The cow was Gava, or Gaush in ancient Persia, Gau or Gai in modern India, and milk in Sanskrit is dughda derived from Zarathustra’s mother, a milkmaid named Dughdova. The sacred word of power is manthra in one language, mantra in the other, and the prophet calls himself ereshi (Vedic rishi). Deva and Asura however represent an interesting reversal, for Daevas in the Avestha are false gods. In retaliation for this demonisation, Ahuras, the Persian gods of truth and justice, became Asuras, evil giants in post-Vedic literature.
so, what do you think? 
