Part 3/11:
These Gathas serve as the core of Zoroastrian ritual and belief, composed in a language known as Old Avestan. They contain profound insights into the dualistic worldview fundamental to Zoroastrian thought: the clear delineation between good and evil, represented by Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) and Angra Mainyu (the Destructive Spirit). This dualism is coupled with an ethical dimension that emphasizes human agency and moral responsibility, underscoring the belief that individuals are free to choose between good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and that their choices influence their fate in the afterlife.