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![]() ContentsAvestan Texts |
Suggested Prior Reading:» Overview page: Zoroastrian Religious TextsIntroduction
The Zoroastrian scriptures are called the Avesta and the classical explanations, interpretations and commentaries are called the Zend or Zand. An old edition of the Avesta with Zand interspersed is called the Zend Avesta or Zand Avesta.
Avesta Texts & Translations
The surviving Avestan texts are available for reading on the web and the following links are to sites that maintain translations and in many cases, the original text in Latin script.
Gatha Text & Translations
At our site: Organization of the AvestaThe Avesta that has survived destruction is organized in different ways. System One - Five SectionsOne system organizes them as five books and miscellaneous fragments - the manner in which they are published in print. And this can vary from one edition to the next, especially in the composition of the Khordeh Avesta selections. The five books are the Yasna (including the Gathas), Visperad, Vendidad, Yashts and Khordeh Avesta. System Two - Two Sections
Another system divides the Avesta into two sections:
Avesta ContentsYasnaYasna (also spelt izeshne in later texts) means service, prayers and dedications - the words of worship (cf. Sanskrit yajna and yana). Priests recite the Yasna as part of the liturgy when performing their priestly duties and functions. The gathas or hymns of Zarathushtra are part of the book of Yasna. VisperadThe Visperad is recited as part of the liturgy used to solemnize Gahambars (seasonal gatherings and feasts) and Nowruz (New Year's Day). The Visperad is always recited with the Yasna. VendidadThe name Vendidad is a later form of Videvdat, which is in turn a contraction of Vi-Daevo-Data, the law against devas or evil. They are the prayers used by priests in purification ceremonies. The Vendidad is also a store of Zoroastrian history. YashtThe Yasht (yasht is commonly translated as worship) are hymns dedicated to Zoroastrian ideals together with the related angel (such as the ideals of friendship, the word as bond, and kindness, and the guardian of these ideals - the angel Mithra), and Zoroastrian concepts such as the fravashi. Originally there were thirty Yashts, one dedicated to each named day of the month. Today only twenty one survive. The Yashts are sometimes recited by the laity as prayers on the named day of the month or on an specific occasion (for instance the Farvardin Yasht, dedicated to the Fravashis, is recited during memorials). Khordeh Avesta
The Khordeh Avesta, or concise Avesta, are selections of the Avesta used by the laity for daily prayers or when performing certain tasks. The Yashts, either in their entirety or selected Yashts, are sometimes included in the Khordeh Avesta since both are recited as prayers by the laity.
Fragments
Included in the Avestan fragments are the afringans which are liturgies of the outer circle - blessings offered during a Jashne / Jashan (thanksgiving) ceremony, and the Siroozeh or Sirozah (also called Siroja Yasht in India), short dedications to the thirty days of the month.
Zoroastrian Scripture pages:» Avesta / Scriptures: Texts, Translations, Content Description» History: Composition, Transmission, Compilation, Destruction» Avestan Manuscripts» Scripture Selections: Choosing the PathAdditional Reading» Avestan, Iranian, Persian Languages. Scripts |
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