wrote that the holy prophet spent twenty years in such barren places where there was no sign of civilization and ate only cheese. Some other Greek writers remarked that Zarathustra sat in meditation in a cave of a high mountain, which was carved out miraculously by divine fire. Mir Khund refers to a mountainous region near Ardbil city. A place near Darej river has also been said to be the place where Zarathustra engrossed himself in deep meditation. A mention here can be made of Herodotus, who wrote referring to the great Magis that they used to spend many years in meditation and prayer in lonely spots on the high mountains.

The Saints, Rishis and Prophets of old, who retained their divine characteristics even though taking a human form, could not live long in the ignorance of individualized consciousness and developed a great thirst for divine enlightenment and realization of God. Such ones, whether of past or of present, want to know as to who they are and what their relation with God is. Nay, more than that, they want to be merged in divine consciousness. Their deep longing for God removes their relatives, and a moment comes when a burning desire to have direct perception of God removes them from their worldly entanglements, and takes them to complete solitude to devote all their time and energy in prayer, contemplation and meditation. The question of selfishness on their part of running away from the world does not arise in such devotees, as theirs is a completely changed consciousness and their mind cannot think or be aware of anyone or anything but God. They become unaware of even their own existence. To them neither the world exists nor the individuals and what exists is God and God alone, and thus on being lost in the thought of God they unawarely, thoughtlessly and spontaneously leave their homes and all their earthly slender attachments or possessions to have darshan of God, to be with God, to be of God.

Zarathustra passed through such a stage and for ten years, indulged in intense struggle to throw off the last veil of individualized consciousness. Ordained to be the Divine Messenger, the Divine Grace, after making Him pass through a period of struggle, bestowed on Him God-consciousness and armed Him with divine enlightenment. At the age of thirty, He had a vision of Vohu Manah coming to Him and taking Him to Ahura Mazda, and here He gets enlightened of His divine mission. He now became a soldier of God and held the divine banner as a commander to wage war against corruption and all that was of evil existence, to establish the enlightened religion of Ahura Mazda.

Ahura Mazda said: "The one who alone heard Me and perceived Me here is Spitama Zarathustra, who has desired to spread righteousness though Me and to proclaim in the world the rightful duties; to Him because of this mission, I bestow Self-commanding Authority:" — Ahnavad Gatha (29:8).

Pahlavi books regarded this year as the year of the religion, the beginning year of the religion which was preached and offered to His followers. Of the beginning period of His prophethood, "Dinkard", "Zad-Sparam" and Zarathosht Nama mentioned many miraculous happenings.

A few words about "Dinkard". This Pahlavi book was originally in nine volumes of which first two have been lost and the rest are still existing. In the third volume it is stated that after Iran lost her independence many libraries were destroyed and the writings which escaped destruction were gathered and compiled by one, named Aderbade Ader Farobage Farookhzadan. With the passing of time, even these were lost. In about 900 AD., according to Dr. West, Dastoor Aderbade Admitan gathered as much as he could from the lost compilation and wrote them in Pahalavi language and named his book "Dinkard", which means what were mentioned in the book of injunctions as enjoined in Din and Din means religion.

"Zarathosht Nama" was written in 1277 A.D. by a citizen of Rae city named Zarathosht Behram Mazdoo. He also wrote in the Persian language a book named Changraghanch Nama. Changraghanch was a Hindu who became a disciple of Zarathustra.