An exhaust gas purifying composition containing zirconium and comprising BEA zeolite containing phosphorous, wherein the exhaust gas purifying composition has the following configuration or: an amount of phosphorus contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (P/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is 0.5 or greater, and an amount of zirconium contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (Zr/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.25 to 1, and when A represents a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition after heating at 980°C for 25 hours, and B represents a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition before the heating, a maintaining factor Rs of a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition represented by A/B × 100 (%) is 35% or greater, wherein the specific surface areas are obtained according to the 3-point BET method using helium gas for the measurements; an amount of phosphorus contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (P/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.5 to 8, and an amount of zirconium contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (Zr/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.25 to 1, and when X represents a crystallite diameter after heating the exhaust gas purifying composition at 980°C for 25 hours, and Y represents a crystallite diameter before the heating, X is 25 nm or less, and a maintaining factor R d of a crystallite diameter represented by X/Y × 100 (%) is 50% or greater, wherein the crystallite diameters are determined by performing X-ray diffraction measurement using a Cu tube at a tube voltage of 40 kV, a tube current of 15 mA in a scanning range of 21 to 24° and at a scanning speed of 10°/min, using the half width of a main peak of the zeolite, and using the Scherrer equation D = K λ / (β cos θ), wherein λ is the X-ray wavelength, β is the diffraction line broadening, θ is the diffraction angle, and K is a constant set at 0.94. an amount of phosphorus contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (P/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is 0.5 or greater, and an amount of zirconium contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (Zr/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.25 to 1, and when A represents a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition after heating at 980°C for 25 hours, and B represents a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition before the heating, a maintaining factor Rs of a specific surface area of the exhaust gas purifying composition represented by A/B × 100 (%) is 35% or greater, wherein the specific surface areas are obtained according to the 3-point BET method using helium gas for the measurements; an amount of phosphorus contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (P/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.5 to 8, and an amount of zirconium contained in the exhaust gas purifying composition is such that the molar ratio (Zr/Al) thereof with respect to Al in the zeolite is from 0.25 to 1, and when X represents a crystallite diameter after heating the exhaust gas purifying composition at 980°C for 25 hours, and Y represents a crystallite diameter before the heating, X is 25 nm or less, and a maintaining factor R d of a crystallite diameter represented by X/Y × 100 (%) is 50% or greater, wherein the crystallite diameters are determined by performing X-ray diffraction measurement using a Cu tube at a tube voltage of 40 kV, a tube current of 15 mA in a scanning range of 21 to 24° and at a scanning speed of 10°/min, using the half width of a main peak of the zeolite, and using the Scherrer equation D = K λ / (β cos θ), wherein λ is the X-ray wavelength, β is the diffraction line broadening, θ is the diffraction angle, and K is a constant set at 0.94.