It also includes information about the avestan language, and other useful information for students of zoroastrian religion. The gathas documents, a set of hymns written in the old avestan language and attributed to zoroaster, are oldest part of the holy book of the zend avesta. The great avesta was too large to survive, especially since invading armies sometimes destroyed the books. The central core of the avesta, and the oldest truly zoroastrian part, is the gathas, the five hymns of zarathushtra.
Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Best android apps to read avesta zoroastrianism online. It is one of only two festivals mentioned by zoroaster in the avesta, the only holy zoroastrian scriptures written by zoroaster himself. Zoroastrian literature zoroastrian and ancient iranian. Avestan is the oldest known form of the languages in the iranian part of the indoiranian language family, part of the indoeuropean language family. Avesta, the bible of zoroaster wikisource, the free online. It must be noted that during the sassanian period the writing system used by the iranians was designed after an. The language is closely related to sanskrit and might have been mutually inteligible with it. It was similar to the language spoken in chorasmia until the 2nd century ad. Though this full scheme is from late zoroastrian books, it is.
Tile language of the avesta is best designated simply as avestan, not as zend, for the reasons given in the beginning of this. The principal text in the liturgical group is the yasna, which takes its name from the yasna ceremony, zoroastrianisms primary. For many centuries it was primarily transmitted orally. Zoroastrianism download books, sacred, spiritual texts. The videvdador vendidad is an ancient collection of zoroastrian myths, prayers, and religious observances, intended to defend against sources of infection and evil.
This book is useful for the later history of the zoroastrians. Avesta by zoroastrian scripture the greatest books. The avesta contains books written in various but related old indoiranian. The gathas, forming the oldest part, originated with zoroaster. Avestan was the language of iranian tribes to the east of iran but west of the indian frontier states. At the dawn of creation, twin primal spirits manifested themselves. Ancient iran the oldest texts are the gatha s, 16 or perhaps 17 short hymns written in an archaic form of an old iranian language called avestan, named for the avesta, the holy book of zoroastrianism. The gathas have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent texts. To eat and kill whatever animal imaginable without any. Survey of the history and contents o encyclopaedia. Avesta is considered to be a holy book of zoroastrianism which was founded by zarathustra who is a legendary bactrian prophet. Ancient iran the oldest texts are the gathas, 16 or perhaps 17 short hymns written in an archaic form of an old iranian language called avestan, named for the avesta, the holy book of zoroastrianism. The religious philosophy of zoroaster divided the early iranian gods of protoindoiranian tradition. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta the sacred books of zoroastrianism, book 3.
Avesta, also called zendavesta, sacred book of zoroastrianism containing its cosmogony, law, and liturgy, the teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathushtra. Religious texts are to be found in the avesta, which is the holy book of zoroastrianism. Avestan is named for the zend avesta, the sacred scriptures of the zoroastrians in which it appears. Yazidism is a belief system among the kurdish people, with a dualism similar to that found in zoroastrianism. Oct 02, 2009 this article examines zoroastrian beliefs about god, zoroaster and the immortals. Zoroastrian tradition holds that the original work of 21 books known as nasts was revealed by. Zoroastrianism, in spite of its small current number of adherents, has played a huge role in the study of comparative religion. The yasts and vendidad are said to compose the younger avesta. This is the holy book of zoroastrianism itself and its printed here in a book that is just way too small.
An old edition of the avesta with zand interspersed is called the zend avesta or zand avesta. Beyond all doubt, in iran, hundreds of years before christ died, a prophet arose whose life and teaching left an indelible but nowadays ignored impression. Zoroastrians believe in one god, called ahura mazda meaning wise lord. Vendidad sbe 4 translated by james darmesteter 1880 part i of the sbe avesta translation. Jul 07, 2019 there are two such android apps available to read avesta zoroastrianism holy book. There is also some later zoroastrian literature in modern persian, comprising works like the zartushtnamah book of zoroaster, the saddar hundred doors, or chapters, the rivayats traditional treatises. The videvdad is the only complete book nask of the sasanian avesta that has survived. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta the. The magus who prays over a falcon feather can empower the feather into a charm that will ward off evil, cure and cleanse one of evil possession. Jan 07, 2020 the zend avesta is the main texts used in the zoroastrian faith. In zoroastrianism, the creator ahura mazda, through the spenta mainyu good spirit, bounteous immortals is an allgood father of asha truth, order, justice, in. Zoroastrian tradition holds that the original work of 21 books known as nasts was revealed by ahura mazda, the one true god, to zoroaster who recited them to his benefactor king vishtaspa who had them inscribed on sheets of gold. The oldest texts are the gathas, 16 or perhaps 17 short hymns written in an archaic form of an old iranian language called avestan, named for the avesta, the holy book of zoroastrianism.
According to a legend preserved in the book of arda viraf, a 3rd or 4th century work, a written version of the zend avesta had existed in the. Zoroastrian dietary laws, animal friendship and stewardship to say that dietary laws are not part of the original zoroastrian teachings and that all kind food is allowed in zoroastrianism is nothing more than unsubstantiated sheer nonsense. It was founded about 3500 years ago by the prophet zarathushtra. The translations in most widespread circulation are the english language and farsi language versions, although it was originally in the avestan language. What is the name of the holy book of zoroastrianism. The avesta, the holy book of the zoroastrian religion, was last edited at the end of the 90s of the 19th century by the german scholar k. Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed worldreligions, and it has probably had.
Zoroastrianism is also known as mazdaism, after the being who is most revered by its adherents ahura mazda the wise. The avesta texts fall into several different categories, arranged either by dialect, or by usage. This part of the site has complete online editions of the sacred books of the easts zoroastrian texts. Marjan measured bahars unpredictable temperament according to the ancient and treasured zoroastrian practice of gastronomic balancing, which pitted light and against dark, good against evil, hot against cold. Avesta is a repository of oral texts, transmitted orally in fixed linguistic form until it was written down. The language of the avesta is best designated simply as avestan, not as zend, for the reasons given in the beginning of this article. Avesta texts zoroastrian scriptures zoroastrian heritage. The avestan language is an indogermanic tongue and belongs more specifically to. In some zoroastrian thought, the amesha spentas are heavenly beings created by ahura mazda and, combined, represent the sevenfold character of god. February 1, 2007 zoroastrian texts translated with notes by prods oktor skj. Vendidad videvdad or laws against the demons avesta. Apr 03, 2016 it is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayerbook of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran.
Jehangirji sohrabji chiniwala saheb opined that, since the survivor lady was not found eligible to use the secrets of jamaspe, it must have, so to say, ehtherialised and got restored to one such astral library. The most important texts of the religion are those of the avesta, the zoroastrians holy book. Most people would naturally expect that avesta is simply a set of prophecie. A section of this avesta is known as the khordehavesta which means the smaller or selected avesta. Zoroastrian scriptures presentation at north american mobed council july 30, 2005 new york introduction zoroastrianism, like other religions is a religion with a book or rather a religion possessing written texts. This work of antiquity, dating back some centuries before the christian era, still forms, with the supplementary writings in the pahlavi. The zorastrian holy book is called the avesta and it is a compilation of all zoroastrian prayers, which were composed over several centuries, some dating back to more than 3500 years. The avesta has also been translated into other languages including farsi and english.
The gatha s have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. Zoroastrianism the zendavesta pahlavi texts links not only was it a cohort of the ancient vedic hinduism, but also had a huge influence on the development of judaism and christianity. The description of zoroastrianism reflects the authors personal. Avestan is like latin and hebrew, a holy language kept in sacred usage. Old avestan spoken in the 2nd millennium bce and younger avestan spoken in the 1st millennium bce. It is a library containing sacred texts composed in avestan language, which was later translated into different other languages. Nawruz, also spelled nowruz as well as other variants, is an ancient persian holiday celebrating the new year.
This includes the original words of their founder zarathushtra, preserved in a series of five hymns, called the gathas. It is generally accepted that they contain the original teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathustra, who lived in the first half. In an avestan text dated to the 9th and 10th centuries, ahura mazda reveals to zoroaster the magical powers of the falcon feather. A high god of prezoroastrian iran that survived the advent of zoroastrianism and also continues to have a presence in the vedas of hindu literature in india. The zoroastrian biblical connections influence of zoroastrianism in other religions. Avestan falls into two strata, the older being that of the gathas, which reflects a linguistic stage dating from c. Avestan is the language in which the zoroastrian holy book, the avesta, has been composed. Zoroastrian dietary laws, animal friendship and stewardship.
Here lie some astral libraries where holy books of all the divinely revealed religions are kept. The zoroastrianbiblical connections influence of zoroastrianism in other religions. Avesta is the name the mazdean mazdayasnian religious tradition gives to the collection of its sacred texts. It is written in an eastern iranian dialectlanguage that is called avestan for the lack of more suitable terms. Persiandna avesta the sacred scripture of zoroastrianism. Holy book or creative rhthyms of verse, vision and discovery posted on september 26, 2010 by orthodoxzoroastrian the question of what are the sacred sounds, melodies and songs of the mazdyasni religion and if we are dealing with a closed canon or not.
Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. Avestan language, eastern iranian language of the avesta, the sacred book of zoroastrianism. It is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayer book of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. Zoroastrianism or mazdayasna is one of the worlds oldest continuously practiced religions. In the present day, the parsees are considered the primary custodians of the avestan tradition although zoroastrianism is practiced by people around the world. Zoroastrianism the phenomenon of death, or nonlife as it is called in the zoroastrian holy scripture the gathas, is a concept accompanying the advent of creation. The earliest form of zoroastrianism, known as gathic zarathustrianism, was founded during zoroasters lifetime, perhaps as early as 1500 bce. The zoroastrian book of holy scriptures is called the avesta. During zarathushtras time, avestan was only a spoken language because it did not have a script. We provide the complete text of the extant avesta, the most ancient scriptures of zoroastrianism, as well as many pahlavi scriptures. The gathas, the most ancient, describe zoroasters followers often as depressed and endangered. Ahura means lord, and mazda means wise, so zoroastrians call. It is centered in a dualistic cosmology of good and evil and an eschatology predicting the ultimate conquest of evil with theological elements of henotheism, monotheismmonism, and polytheism. The oldest zoroastrian religious scripture, as preserved at present, is known as the avesta.
Zarathushtra preached that there was one god, whom he called ahura mazda. Navjote the public ceremony of inititation into the zoroastrian faith into the zoroastrian faith. The central ritual of zoroastrianism is the yasna, which is a recitation of the eponymous book of the avesta and sacrificial ritual ceremony involving haoma. These gathas are universally acknowledged to be the actual words of the prophet. Properly speaking avesta is the collection of texts in avestan, and zand their translation and commentary in book pahlavi. The extant avesta is all that remains of a much larger body of scripture, apparently zoroaster s transformation of a very ancient tradition. The avesta, the sacred scripture of zoroastrianism, is like a great pearl, in which layers and layers of material are added around a central core. Zoroaster composed the most important portion of this book, the gathas. Most of the original was apparently lost when alexander the great burned persepolis, the capital of ancient persia, in 331 bc. The avesta is the scripture of zoroastrianism which developed from an oral tradition founded by the prophet zoroaster zarathustra, zartosht sometime between c. Only texts preserved in the avestan language count as scripture and are. Extensions to the yasna ritual are possible through use of the visperad and vendidad, but such an extended ritual is rare in modern zoroastrianism.
The languages are known only from their use as the language of zoroastrian scripture the avesta, from which they derive their name. The avesta is the main holy book in zoroastrianism. The gathas have been handed down as a part of the avesta along with several more recent. Arising out of the polytheistic traditions of ancient india and iran, he was one of the first monotheists in human history. Well, the easy answer would be that the holy book of zoroastrianism is primarily the avesta, and then some other traditional scriptures. As a rule, they were not intolerant towards zoroastrianism and some avestan works were translated into arabic, the originals being lost. Eirciv 102a, spring 2006 vi february 7, 2006 basic bibliography some useful literature boyce, m.
Particular attention is given to disposal of the dead and other dead matter nasu, to keep disease from spreading, as well as avoid polluting the earth, water, etc. It is generally accepted that they contain the original teachings of the prophet zoroaster zarathustra, who. Zoroastrian influences on judaism and christianity part iii zoroastrianism. The avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of zoroastrianism, composed in the avestan language. And forget about any increased price for doing that it would be worth it to have a truly readable book. Selections of zadspram, a summary of zoroastrian legend and beliefs. Many prayers in the avesta are in avestan language. The daevas in zoroastrian scripture presented by chris ghan a candidate for the degree of master of arts, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. It is hardly more than a century ago that the western world, already often enriched by the treasures of the east, received another gift, a contribution from persia, and a new text deciphered was added to our list of sacred books of ancient nations this was the avesta, or zendavesta, the bible and prayerbook of zoroaster, the prophet of ancient iran. The avestan digital archive ada, supervised by alberto cantera, seeks to be a digital archive containing all avestan manuscripts spread all over the world. Discover a zoroastrian lawbook on the british library website. The literature appears to designate the period and condition of the church. Avesta simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The oldest portion, the ghathas, are the religious songs composed by zoroaster himself. The holy book of zoroastrianism, the avesta, is written in avestan, a language related to old persian and sanskrit, and more distantly to latin and ancient greek. The other remaining parts are the yashts, yasna, and vendidad and prayers. The earliest surviving avestan manuscript the avesta being the zoroastrian scriptures, is a the 10th century ce fragment found in dunhuang, china. This is the book of daily prayers of the zoroastrians. The next earliest extant avestan texts come from iran and india and date from the end of the th century ace three hundred years after the sogdian manuscript was written. Zoroastrian scriptures presentation at north american mobed. There are two such android apps available to read avesta zoroastrianism holy book. Nor is old bactrian a desirable term, since it is by no means proved that the language of the avesta was spoken in ancient bactria. Avesta texts zoroastrian scriptures heritage institute. Translated by james darmesteter from sacred books of the east, american edition, 1898. These many different texts are believed to have been transmitted orally for centuries before they were written down in the 3rd century. The zoroastrian scriptures are called the avesta and the classical explanations, interpretations and commentaries are called the zend or zand. It is composed in the avestan language and it is only known and attested because of that.
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