>>19912492Buddhism emerged from the Sramanic philosophies and beliefs of Vedism, from Vedism also came Zoroastrianism, which greatly influenced Gnosticism as well as Judaism and Christianity.
The Persian Zoroastrians believed that Judaism have been created under the 1000 year reign of Zahhak (aka Sultan Sahâk), a dark, mythical tyrant reminding of Nimrod. Zahhak was a serpent king appearing in the 11th century AD Persian epic Shahnameh. He was said to have ruled the world during an age of chaos. He entered into an evil pact with Angra Mainyu (Iranian Satan). In exchange for ruling the world, the wicked spirit of Angra Mainyu was allowed to enter into Zahhak. As this took place, black snakes grew from each of the king's shoulders, and thereafter these had to be satisfied each day with the brains of young men kidnapped from villages far and wide. He tried to cut them away but they simply grew back again and demanded more sacrifices.
http://www.avesta.org/denkard/dk3s218.html#chap227>This, too, is declared in the good religion that the source of demons (Ahriman) had arrayed with deceits Zohak, the descendant of Taj, the diminisher of creations; hence the laws of Zohak deteriorated his own nature, worked for the immoral and blemished (Ahriman), and caused destruction by tyranny and apostasy, so that the habits of men were corrupted, the world distressed, and there was increase of mortality among the creatures>The Jewish scriptures were first composed by him (i.e. Zohak), and deposited in the fortress of Jerusalem. And through Zohak men adhered unto the Jewish high-priest Abraham, and through Abraham they adhered unto Moses, whom the Jews accepted as their prophet and messenger of faith, and unto whom they ascribe the salvation of sins committed, and regarded his acquirements as being necessary for the final propagation of their faith. -- Thus Zohak cherished (dôshitê) demoniac deceptions to harm his people 