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Why did Zarathushtra’s teachings face opposition from civil and religious authorities?

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religious sites of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples — ancient Iranian religion Significant religious sites and sites containing religious artifacts of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples, including those of peoples of adjacent areas and modern Zoroastrians.

Zarathushtra’s teachings initially faced opposition from civil and religious authorities because he sought to reform the established ancient Iranian religion, which was polytheistic.1

As a priest of this tradition, Zarathushtra introduced a new vision centered on Ahura Mazd\u0101 as the highest god and the only deity worthy of worship. By emphasizing the importance of his god and portraying him in opposition to the forces of evil—specifically the daevas, who were prominent old Indo-Iranian gods—his message challenged the existing religious order and the authority of those who maintained the traditional cults.12

While Zarathushtra did not explicitly attempt to overthrow the older religion, his efforts to reshape it based on his own ethical values and visions created friction with the prevailing religious and civil power structures in the regions where he preached.1