Zoroaster had been in spiritual form since the beginning of the second period. After Zoroaster's death, every thousand years till the end of this three thousand year period, a prophet will arise. This prophet will come from a virgin who is fertilized by remnants of Zoroaster's seed, which is preserved in a lake. The prophet will bring about an improvement in society for a short period of time. The last of these prophets, Saoshyant, or "helper", will bring about a resurrection of the dead. The final fight will then occur and the death of Ahriman will take place. All evil will disappear and a fiery stream of metal, which will bring about a complete transformation, will cleanse the world or Frashokereti and Ahura Mazda will rule for all eternity. .
Zoroaster was a priest of a certain Ahura with the epithet Mazda. According to some writings, people who belonged to that religion are called Zarathustri; the system he taught is called Mazdaism. The present day followers are called Parsees. Zoroaster removed the multiplicity of deities from religion and created a faith in which there were two, or perhaps, one God. All other higher beings were regarded as demons, or evil spirits. No one knows for sure the different stages of popularity that Zoroastrianism experienced. We do know that royalty protected the religion at the time of Darius I (558 - 486 B.C.). Later, however, the members of the Islamic religion continually chased Zoroastrians through India. They later were able to settle in Bombay. .
Zoroaster had a very non-conforming mind and was forced to flee his parents' house because of the rebuking he gave to those who sacrificed cattle or drank intoxicating haoma. He fled to the mountains and gave himself to God. Sometime between the ages of thirty and forty an angel appeared to him and brought him to the throne of the highest God, Ahura Mazda. .
After this occurred, the prophet tried for twelve years to convert people.
