Yasht - Citizendia

The Yashts (Yašts) are a collection of twenty-one hymns in Younger Avestan. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator Zoroaster ( Latinized from Greek variants) or Zarathushtra (from Avestan Zaraθuštra) also referred to as Zartosht (زرتشت Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept ae Amesha Spenta ( ae Aməša Spənta) is an Avestan language term for a class of divinity/divine concepts in Zoroastrianism, and literally means "Bounteous Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept For the fictional character in the Marvel Universe series see Ahura (comics; for the river see Akhurian River. Daeva ( daēuua, daāua, daēva) is the Avestan language term for a particular sort of supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics "Ahriman" redirects here For other uses see Ahriman (disambiguation. The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. The word "Gātha" means a "hymn of praise" in the earliest Indo-Iranian poetry The Vendidad or Videvdat is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. Ahuna Vairya is the Avestan language name of the most sacred of the Gathic hymns of the Avesta, the revered texts of Zoroastrianism. A Zoroastrian Fire Temple is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. The Dēnkard or Dēnkart ( Middle Persian: "Acts of Religion" is a 10th century compendium of the Mazdaen Zoroastrian beliefs and customs The Bundahishn, meaning "Primal Creation" is an account of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology and reflects ancient Zoroastrian and even pre-Zoroastrian beliefs The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text that describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian (the 'Viraf' of the story through the next world The Jamasp Nameh (var Jāmāsp Nāmag, Jāmāsp Nāmeh, "Story of Jamasp" is a Middle Persian book of revelations The Story of Sanjan (also Qissa-i Sanjan or Kisse-i Sanjan) is an account of the early years of Zoroastrian settlers on the Indian subcontinent Zurvanism is a now-extinct branch of Zoroastrianism that had the divinity Zurvan as its First The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious Calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith and it is an approximation of the (tropical Solar calendar. Zoroastrianism has numerous festivals and holy days all of which are bound to the Zoroastrian calendar. In the Zoroastrian faith marriage is encouraged an institution greatly favoured by the religious texts. Zoroastrianism eschatology is the oldest Eschatology in recorded history Zoroastrians in Iran have had a long history being the oldest religious community of that nation to survive to the present-day The Iranis are an ethno-religious community of the Indian subcontinent; descendants of Zoroastrians who emigrated from Greater Iran (in the main from Zoroastrians have faced much religious discrimination including forced conversions harassments as well as being identified as Najis "ritually impure" Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. Each of these hymns invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Yasht chapter and verse pointers are traditionally abbreviated as Yt.

The word yasht derives from Avestan yešti, "worship by praise," and several hymns of the Yasna liturgy that "worship by praise" are - in tradition - also nominally called yashts. Yasna ( Avestan: 'oblation' or 'worship' is the name of the primary liturgical collection of texts of the Avesta as well as the name of the These "hidden" Yashts are: the Barsom Yasht (Yasna 2), another Hom Yasht in Yasna 9-11, the Bhagan Yasht of Yasna 19-21, a hymn to Ashi in Yasna 52, another Sarosh Yasht in Yasna 57, the praise of the (hypostasis of) "prayer" in Yasna 58, and a hymn to the Ahurani in Yasna 68. A barsom is a ritual implement used by Zoroastrian priests to solemnize certain sacred ceremonies Haoma is the Avestan language name of a plant and its divinity both of which play a role in Zoroastrian doctrine and in later Persian culture and mythology Ashi ( aši) is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "that which is attained Sraosha is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of "Obedience" or "Observance" which Ahurani is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian (class of divinity associated with "the waters" ( ''āpō'') Since these are a part of the primary litury, they do not count among the twenty-one hymns of the Yasht collection.

All the hymns of the Yasht collection "are written in what appears to be prose, but which, for a large part, may originally have been a (basically) eight-syllable verse, oscillating between four and thirteen syllables, and most often between seven and nine. "^[1]

Most of the yazatas that the individual Yashts are in praise of also have a dedication in the Zoroastrian calendar. Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept The Zoroastrian calendar is a religious Calendar used by members of the Zoroastrian faith and it is an approximation of the (tropical Solar calendar. The exceptions are Drvaspa and Vanant. Drvaspa ( druuāspā, drvāspā, drwāspā) is the Avestan language name of an "enigmatic" and "strangely discreet" Zoroastrian Vanant is the Avestan language name of a minor Zoroastrian divinity

The twenty-one yashts of the collection are: (notes follow)

Yasht #	title / nominally invokes ^[a]	in praise of ^[b]	extent
1.	Ohrmazd Yasht^[c]	Ahura Mazda	33 verses
2. Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator	Haft Amahraspand Yasht^[c]	the seven Amesha Spentas	15 verses
3. ae Amesha Spenta ( ae Aməša Spənta) is an Avestan language term for a class of divinity/divine concepts in Zoroastrianism, and literally means "Bounteous ae Amesha Spenta ( ae Aməša Spənta) is an Avestan language term for a class of divinity/divine concepts in Zoroastrianism, and literally means "Bounteous	Ardawahisht Yasht^[c]	Asha Vahishta of "Best Truth"	19 verses
4. Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine Asha ( aša) or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine	Hordad Yasht^[c]	Haurvatat of "Wholeness" and "Perfection"	11 verses
5.	Aban Yasht^[b]	Aredvi Sura Anahita of the waters^[f]^[g]	132 verses
6. Apas ( ae-Latn āpas) is the Avestan language term for "the waters" which&mdashin its innumerable ae Aredvi Sura Anahita ( ae Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā) is the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian Cosmological figure venerated as the divinity Apas ( ae-Latn āpas) is the Avestan language term for "the waters" which&mdashin its innumerable	Kwarshed Yasht	Hvare-khshaeta of the "Radiant Sun"	7 verses
7. Hvarekhshaeta ( ae Hvarəxšaēta, ae Huuarəxšaēta) is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of the "Radiant Sun Hvarekhshaeta ( ae Hvarəxšaēta, ae Huuarəxšaēta) is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of the "Radiant Sun	Mah Yasht	Maonghah of the "Moon"	7 verses
8. ae Mah or ae Maonghah is the Avestan language word for both the moon and for the Zoroastrian divinity that presides over and is the hypostasis ae Mah or ae Maonghah is the Avestan language word for both the moon and for the Zoroastrian divinity that presides over and is the hypostasis	Tishtar Yasht	Tishtrya, the star Sirius	62 verses
9. Tishtrya (Tištrya is the Avestan language name of an Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility Tishtrya (Tištrya is the Avestan language name of an Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky with a visual Apparent magnitude of &minus1	Drvasp Yasht	Drvaspa, guardian of horses^[d]	33 verses
10. Drvaspa ( druuāspā, drvāspā, drwāspā) is the Avestan language name of an "enigmatic" and "strangely discreet" Zoroastrian Drvaspa ( druuāspā, drvāspā, drwāspā) is the Avestan language name of an "enigmatic" and "strangely discreet" Zoroastrian	Mihr Yasht	Mithra of "Covenant"	145 verses
11. This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra. This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra.	Srosh Yasht	Sraosha of "Obedience"^[e]	23 verses
12. Sraosha is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of "Obedience" or "Observance" which Sraosha is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of "Obedience" or "Observance" which	Rashn Yasht	Rashnu of "Justice"^[e]	47 verses
13. Rashnu is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian Yazata of justice Rashnu is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian Yazata of justice	Fravardin Yasht	the Fravashis	158 verses
14. In Zoroastrian doctrine a fravashi ( Avestan fravaši; Middle Persian fraward, frawahr, frohar, frawash In Zoroastrian doctrine a fravashi ( Avestan fravaši; Middle Persian fraward, frawahr, frohar, frawash	Warharan Yasht	Verethragna, "Smiter of resistance"	64 verses
15.	Ram Yasht^[b]	the "good"^[i] Vayu	58 verses
16. Vayu-Vata (or Vata-Vayu) is the Avestan language name of a dual-natured Zoroastrian divinity of the wind (Vayu and of the atmosphere (Vata	Den Yasht^[b]	Chista, "Wisdom"	20 verses
17. Daena is a Zoroastrian concept representing insight and revelation	Ard Yasht	Ashi of "Recompense"^[g]	62 verses
18. Ashi ( aši) is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "that which is attained Ashi ( aši) is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "that which is attained	Ashtad Yasht^[b]	khvarenah, the "(divine) glory"	9 verses
19. Arshtat ( ae arštāt) is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian principle and signifies either "justice" or "honesty ae Khvarenah or ae khwarenah ( ae xvarənah) is an Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept literally denoting	Zam Yasht	see note^[b] below	97 verses
20. Zam (Zām is the Avestan language term for the Zoroastrian concept of "earth" in both the sense of land and soil and in the sense of the world	Hom Yasht	Haoma^[h]	3 verses
21. Haoma is the Avestan language name of a plant and its divinity both of which play a role in Zoroastrian doctrine and in later Persian culture and mythology Haoma is the Avestan language name of a plant and its divinity both of which play a role in Zoroastrian doctrine and in later Persian culture and mythology	Vanant Yasht	Vanant, the star Vega	2 verses

Notes:

a. Vanant is the Avestan language name of a minor Zoroastrian divinity Vanant is the Avestan language name of a minor Zoroastrian divinity Vega (α Lyr / α Lyrae / Alpha Lyrae ( or) is the brightest Star in the Constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night ^{^}	The Yashts did not originally have titles. These were assigned at some time during the Common Era, and hence reflect the Middle Persian forms of the divinities' names. Middle Persian is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE became a Prestige dialect
b. ^{^}	Several Yashts are - despite their names - hymns to other divinities or concepts. These are: Yasht 5 is nominally to the waters but primarily addresses Aredvi Sura Anahita, who is (also) a divinity of the waters. Apas ( ae-Latn āpas) is the Avestan language term for "the waters" which&mdashin its innumerable ae Aredvi Sura Anahita ( ae Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā) is the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian Cosmological figure venerated as the divinity Yasht 15 is nominally to Raman (Rama Kshathra) but praises the "good" Vayu^[i] Yasht 16 is nominally to Daena "insight, revelation" but actually invokes Chista "Wisdom. Daena is a Zoroastrian concept representing insight and revelation " Chista and Daena are very closely associated with one another. Yasht 18, nominally to Arshtat, is actually an ode to khvarenah, the "(divine) glory. Arshtat ( ae arštāt) is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian principle and signifies either "justice" or "honesty ae Khvarenah or ae khwarenah ( ae xvarənah) is an Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept literally denoting " Yasht 19, nominally to Zam, the "Earth," has very little to do with the earth. Zam (Zām is the Avestan language term for the Zoroastrian concept of "earth" in both the sense of land and soil and in the sense of the world See Zam for details. Zam (Zām is the Avestan language term for the Zoroastrian concept of "earth" in both the sense of land and soil and in the sense of the world
c. ^{^}	Yashts 1-4 are "mediocre, meaningless texts, composed in incoherent language; they probably result from a very late expansion of the Yašt collection. "^[1]
d. ^{^}	Yasht 9 to Drvaspa has a number of verses that are originally from Yasht 5, the hymn to the waters. Drvaspa ( druuāspā, drvāspā, drwāspā) is the Avestan language name of an "enigmatic" and "strangely discreet" Zoroastrian ^[2]
e. ^{^}	Yashts 11 and 12 are respectively hymns to Sraosha and Rashnu, but are to some extent also an extension of Yasht 10, the hymn to Mithra. Sraosha is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian divinity of "Obedience" or "Observance" which Rashnu is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrian Yazata of justice This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra. Sraosha and Rashnu are both attendants of Mithra.
f. ^{^}	There is also a "hidden" Yasht to the waters at Yasna 38. Apas ( ae-Latn āpas) is the Avestan language term for "the waters" which&mdashin its innumerable
g. ^{^}	Yasht 5 (in praise of Aredvi Sura Anahita) and Yasht 17 (to Ashi) share a number of verses. ae Aredvi Sura Anahita ( ae Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā) is the Avestan language name of an Indo-Iranian Cosmological figure venerated as the divinity Ashi ( aši) is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "that which is attained It is not possible to determine which of the two is the original.
h. ^{^}	The Avesta has two hymns that were later titled Hom Yasht. The original is part of the Yasna liturgy and hence not counted as a Yasht. Yasna ( Avestan: 'oblation' or 'worship' is the name of the primary liturgical collection of texts of the Avesta as well as the name of the The other, Yasht 20, is a duplicate of the three verses of Yasna 9-11.
h. ^{^}	Vayu, divinity of wind and atmosphere, is a dual divinity: part benevolent and part malign. Vayu-Vata (or Vata-Vayu) is the Avestan language name of a dual-natured Zoroastrian divinity of the wind (Vayu and of the atmosphere (Vata

References

^ ^a ^b Kellens 1989, p. 38.
^ Kellens 1989, p. 39.

Bibliography

Kellens, Jean (1989), “Avesta”, Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 3, New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul : 35-44.

References

Bibliography

Further reading