Place of worship Temple (Mandir) Dar-e Mehr (Persian) or Agiyari (Gujarati) or Fire temple

Place of origin Indian Subcontinent Persia (Iran)

Practices Meditation, yoga, contemplation, yagna (communal worship), offerings in the temple. Fire is used in Zoroastrian worship. Zoroastrians also pray 5 times a day.

Belief of God Many gods, but realize that they all come from Atman. One God.

Use of statues and pictures Common Permitted, there are several drawings regarding Prophet Zoroaster and symbolic images of God (Ahura Mazda).

Goal of religion To break the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, and attain salvation. To serve God, by good deeds towards others. To acquire and cultivate divine attributes, particularly “ good mind and righteousness; to elevate themselves in harmony with God and to listen to God’s guiding voice within them.

Means of Salvation Reaching enlightenment by the Path of Knowledge, the Path of devotion, or the Path of Good Deeds. Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

Founder Not credited to a particular founder. Zarathustra Haechataspa Spitama or Zoroaster (Greek) or Zartosht (Parsi)

Life after death A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached. Eternal life in Heaven, or in Hell.

Human Nature Depends on sects. equal ability to do good or evil.

Literal Meaning The followers of Vedas are called as Arya, noble person. Arya is not a dynasty, ethnicity or race. Anyone who follows the teachings of Vedas is considered Arya. Follower of Zoroaster.

Followers Hindus. Zoroastrians.

About Devotion to the various gods & goddesses of Hinduism. Zoroastrianism is one of the most earliest monotheistic faith, in a concept of the one creator God (Known as Ahura Mazda)

Clergy No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis, Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns. Priests.

View of the Buddha Some Hindu sects claim Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. Others believe he was a holy man. N/A

Scriptures Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, Gita. Smrti and Sruti are oral scriptures. The Zend Avesta.

God's role in salvation Beliefs vary by sect. Upanishads (scripture) say God chooses who gets salvation. Salvation is attained via good deeds and righteousness (following the "dharma" and avoiding sin) Follow God's Commands to do good deeds.

Geographical distribution and predominance Mainly in India, Nepal and Mauritius. Has significant population in Fiji, Bhutan, UAE, etc. Middle East, Central Asia and Northern India.

Second coming of Jesus N/A. N/A

Belief Diverse beliefs depending on sects. There is a cosmic battle between the Good God, Ahura Mazda, and the evil god, Ahriman.

Prophets No prophets, but Rishis could be considered equivalent in Vedic times. Avataras of Vedic God are different from human reincarnations, but could be considered equivalent to Christian idea of God in flesh. Zarathustra (Zoroaster)

Abrahamic Lineage N/A. N/A.

View of other Dharmic religions They believe that Buddhists, Jains, & Sikhs should reunite with Hinduism (which is the original Dharmic religion). Zoroastrianism was founded in protest of worshipping numerous Aryan/Hindu deities.

Population 1 Billion. Approx. 100,000 Zoroastrians in the world.

Holy days/Official Holidays Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. Nowruz, Zartusht-no-diso, Jamshid nowruz

Rites Some Hindus believe in a "thread ceremony" for men. Generally common.

Authority of Dalai Lama N/A. N/A.

Names of God Brahman and many other names in other languages Ahura Mazda.

Branches Shaivism and Vaishnavism Conservative Parsi, Conservative Irani, Gathas-only, modernists.

Birth of Jesus N/A. N/A. They believe that Zarathustra was virgin born.

Promised Holy one. Kalki, the 10'th avatar of Vishnu. Saoshyant

Death of Jesus N/A. N/A.

Status of women Women can become priestesses or nuns. Women are given equal rights as men. Equal to men

Identity of Jesus N/A. Denied

Place and Time of origin Indian Subcontinent, beginning with the Vedic civilization circa 3000 BC Priests

View of God Monists believe only Brahman exists, Pantheists believe all things/entities are God, Monotheistic sects consider God as immanent and transcendent and different from others. The Nasadiya Sukta even explores creation-ex-nihilo. God is All Good.

Principle To follow dharma, i.e. eternal laws Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.

Definition The word Hindu has geographical significance and was used originally for those people who lived beyond the river Sindhu or the region watered by the river Indus. Hindus themselves, call their religion "Sanatana Dharma, " meaning "Eternal Law." Follower of Zoroaster.

Angels The concept of angels does not apply in Hinduism. Some mythological stories include rishis, who sometimes serve as the messengers of God. Angels serve Ahura Mazda.

Concept of God God is in everything and everything is God. One God

Authority of Pope N/A. N/A.

Virtue on which religion is based upon Follow righteousness. Kindness.

View of Oriental religions Buddhism and Jainism were considered sister religions by traditional Hindu schools. Buddhists do not consider Buddha an avatar of Vishnu and believe that Hindu priests made that claim to stem the spread of Buddhism, which threatened Hinduism. N/A

Views on the afterlife A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached after which moksha is attained. Heaven and Hell.

Time of origin circa 3000 B.C.E 2000 B.C.