<p>There is no known mention of Zoroastrianism or Zoroaster in Buddhist texts, as far as I know, but there is a mention of "Gotama" in a Zoroastrian text.</p>

<p>According to a letter published in 1898 (from <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/2B475187CC1D9471AB2F34CA2E178EF2/S0035869X00025417a.pdf/17_gotama_in_the_avesta.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>), the reference to Gotama in a Zoroastrian text likely refers to the Vedic sage <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Maharishi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gautama Maharishi</a>, and not Gautama Buddha.</p>

<p>From the letter:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I am able to discover an important identification of the Avestic
  Gaotema with the Vedic Gotama. In the Rig-veda, Nodhas is Gotama's
  son, who is called Naidhyangho  Gaotemahe in the Avesta. Hence it is
  probable that the controversies  referred to in the Farvardin Yasht
  was carried on by Zoroastrians against the Vedic poet Nodhas, and not
  against Gaotama Buddha.</p>
  
  <p>... The  Avesta  text  runs  thus:— "Through
  their brightness and glory a man is born  who is a chief in assemblies
  and meetings, who listens well to the holy words, who wishes for
  wisdom, and who returns a victor from discussions with Gaotema,  the 
  heretic." ...  Now  there  are  two  Gotamas  who  are  principally
  familiar to us in the Vedic and the Buddhistic literature. One is
  Rishi Gotama and the other Gotama Buddha. The latter is very well
  known to us as  the  founder  of  Buddhism. The  former is one of the
  seven rishis or sages mentioned in the Rig-veda.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Zoroaster seems to have lived before the time of the Buddha, far away in Persia, so it is unlikely that they have met each other. There is also no known record of that, as far as I know.</p>

<p>According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Buddhists#Sassanids" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this Wikipedia page</a>, there was some persecution against Buddhists in Persia and Afghanistan by the Sassanids after Zoroastrianism became the official religion of Persia in 224 CE. Apart from this, I am not aware of other Buddhist-Zoroastrian encounters.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-19T18:48:26.847Z
2018-12-19T18:59:52.990Z
2018-12-19T18:59:52.990Z
ruben2020
<p>I have never read Zoroastrianism mentioned in the Pali suttas. Since the Buddha called the lineage of Brahmin teachers a "string of blind men" because of none them had ever seen "God" or "Brahma", obviously he would have held the same view of any superstitious doctrine the believes in a creator god</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-20T02:15:26.277Z
2018-12-20T02:15:26.277Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Do any of the Buddhist texts mention anything about Zoroastrianism?</p>

<p>Has the Buddha ever met Zoroaster?</p>

<comparative-religion><scripture><deva>
Does Buddhist scripture mention Zoroastrianism?
# Does Buddhist scripture mention Zoroastrianism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-18)

Do any of the Buddhist texts mention anything about Zoroastrianism?

Has the Buddha ever met Zoroaster?

**Tags:** comparative-religion, scripture, deva


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-12-19. Score: 1

There is no known mention of Zoroastrianism or Zoroaster in Buddhist texts, as far as I know, but there is a mention of "Gotama" in a Zoroastrian text.

According to a letter published in 1898 (from [here](https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/2B475187CC1D9471AB2F34CA2E178EF2/S0035869X00025417a.pdf/17_gotama_in_the_avesta.pdf)), the reference to Gotama in a Zoroastrian text likely refers to the Vedic sage [Gautama Maharishi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Maharishi), and not Gautama Buddha.

From the letter:

> I am able to discover an important identification of the Avestic
> Gaotema with the Vedic Gotama. In the Rig-veda, Nodhas is Gotama's
> son, who is called Naidhyangho Gaotemahe in the Avesta. Hence it is
> probable that the controversies referred to in the Farvardin Yasht
> was carried on by Zoroastrians against the Vedic poet Nodhas, and not
> against Gaotama Buddha.
>
> ... The Avesta text runs thus:— "Through
> their brightness and glory a man is born who is a chief in assemblies
> and meetings, who listens well to the holy words, who wishes for
> wisdom, and who returns a victor from discussions with Gaotema, the
> heretic." ... Now there are two Gotamas who are principally
> familiar to us in the Vedic and the Buddhistic literature. One is
> Rishi Gotama and the other Gotama Buddha. The latter is very well
> known to us as the founder of Buddhism. The former is one of the
> seven rishis or sages mentioned in the Rig-veda.

Zoroaster seems to have lived before the time of the Buddha, far away in Persia, so it is unlikely that they have met each other. There is also no known record of that, as far as I know.

According to [this Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Buddhists#Sassanids), there was some persecution against Buddhists in Persia and Afghanistan by the Sassanids after Zoroastrianism became the official religion of Persia in 224 CE. Apart from this, I am not aware of other Buddhist-Zoroastrian encounters.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-12-20. Score: 0

I have never read Zoroastrianism mentioned in the Pali suttas. Since the Buddha called the lineage of Brahmin teachers a "string of blind men" because of none them had ever seen "God" or "Brahma", obviously he would have held the same view of any superstitious doctrine the believes in a creator god


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