Encyclopedia of Zoroastrianism. Heaven and Hell.

In Zoroastrianism, what happens after death is a vivid journey tied to the faith’s core beliefs in free will, morality, and the cosmic battle between good and evil. When a person dies, their soul (urvan) lingers near the body for three days, reflecting on their life’s deeds. On the fourth day, it faces judgment at the Chinvat Bridge, a mystical span between the physical and spiritual realms.

Here, the soul’s actions—measured by “good thoughts, good words, good deeds”—are weighed by Rashnu, the angel of justice, alongside Mithra and Sraosha. If the balance tips toward righteousness (asha), the bridge widens, and the soul crosses into the House of Song, a paradise of light and joy under Ahura Mazda’s care. If evil (druj) prevails, the bridge narrows to a blade’s edge, and the soul plummets into the House of Lies, a dark, torment-filled abyss ruled by Angra Mainyu.

For the righteous, paradise isn’t static—souls aid in the world’s renewal. At the end of time, during Frashokereti, all souls are resurrected, purified in a fiery ordeal, and reunited in a perfected world. Even the wicked are redeemed, reflecting Zoroastrianism’s ultimate optimism: good triumphs, and all return to Ahura Mazda’s harmony.