In the earliest days of the cosmos, the universe was divided into two realms by a vast, empty expanse known as Vayu. To the north resided Angra Mainyu, also called Ahriman, the embodiment of destruction, deceit, and absolute darkness, consumed by ignorance and hatred. To the south ruled Ahura Mazda, the divine embodiment of light, truth, and infinite wisdom, whose insight foresaw the threat that Ahriman posed. Ahura Mazda conceived the world as a battlefield, a place where good and evil would meet, intending to trap and ultimately destroy darkness once and for all.
During the first three thousand years, Ahura Mazda created the world in a purely spiritual state known as Menog. Everything existed as perfect ideas, untouched by matter. From this divine vision, he fashioned the Amesha Spentas, six guardian spirits representing virtues such as justice, devotion, and immortality. When Ahriman caught sight of this radiance, he tried to attack, but Ahura Mazda recited the sacred Ahunwar prayer, a power so mighty that it sent Ahriman into a three-thousand-year coma, unable to harm the newly formed world.
While Ahriman lay dormant, Ahura Mazda brought the spiritual world into reality through seven stages of material creation, each corresponding to a fundamental element. He crafted the sky as a sparkling stone dome encasing all life, followed by water, pure and life-giving. The earth was made flat and uniform, without mountains or valleys. A single tree contained the seeds of every plant species. He created the primeval animal, the One Cow (Gavyodad), ancestor to all creatures, and then the first human, Gayomard, radiant like the sun. Finally, he infused fire into all creation, giving warmth and vitality to the world.
After three thousand years, Ahriman awoke and unleashed chaos upon this perfect creation. He pierced the dome of the sky, bringing death, disease, drought, and darkness. He salted the seas, created deserts, and killed Gavyodad and Gayomard. Yet Ahura Mazda turned tragedy into transformation: from the cow’s remains sprang all animals and plants, and from Gayomard’s essence grew the first great rhubarb plant, which in turn gave rise to the first man and woman, Mashya and Mashyana, ancestors of humanity.
This myth symbolizes the ongoing twelve-thousand-year cosmic struggle, with each epoch lasting three thousand years. Humanity currently exists in the third stage, the Age of Chaos (Gumezishn), where light and darkness intermingle. Every individual carries the responsibility to aid Ahura Mazda by following the guiding principle: Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta, which means to think good thoughts, speak good words, and do good deeds. Ultimately, a savior, Saoshyant, will appear, vanquishing evil and restoring the world to its original perfection, a state called Frashokereti where harmony and light reign once again.