AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM ALAN LEWIS SILVA   Copyright © 2023 by Alan Lewis Silva. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-312-23801-5 YASHTS Note: THERE ARE 21 YASHTS, OR HYMNS, OF ZOROASTRIANISM. THEY ORIGINATE FROM THE 21 WORDS OF THE MOST SACRED ZOROASTRIAN AND DAILY PRAYER, THE AHUNA VAIRYA. AHUNA VAIRYA WAS SPOKEN BY AHURA MAZDA IN HEAVEN TO THE PROPHET ZARATHUSHTRA SPITAMA. THE AHUNA VAIRYA IS THE MOST SACRED MANTHRA OF ZOROASTRIANISM. A HIDDEN YASHT TO VOHUMAN IS PART OF THE PRIME HYMN TO AHURA MAZDA. [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER 1: 1. AHURA MAZDA: Wise Lord”; Creator; Lord God; All-Parent; Holy Spirit; of winter solstice; alternatively Yahuwah, Allah, Brahma of influenced religions. 2. ANGRA MAINYU: Evil Spirit; Immoral Spirit; identically “Satan” of Abrahamic religions. 3. YATU: Demon impersonating a human being; daemon to a covenanted witch. 4. PAIRIKA: Malevolent, seductive nymph purposed to thwart one’s holy attainment. 5. ASHEMAOGHA: Emboldened Apostate; Hater of Righteousness. 6. DRUJ: Host of Angra Mainyu; identically the Host of Satan; Deceit; the Lie. 7. VOHUMAN: “Good Mind”; Son of God; Holy Word; First Amesha of Ahura Mazda. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 1. AHURA MAZDA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! May Angra Mainyu be destroyed by those who do truly what is the foremost wish. I praise well-thought, well-spoken, and well-done thoughts, words, and deeds. I embrace all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds; I reject all evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds. I give praise with harmony and prayer unto you, O Amesha Spenta! even with the fullness of my thoughts, of my words, of my deeds, and of my heart: I give unto you even my own life. I recite the ‘Praise of Holiness’: ‘[Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and masters of holiness; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the Masters of the days, of the periods of the day, of the months, of the seasons, and of the years; Unto Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: O Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! ‘What of the Holy Word is the strongest? What is the most victorious? What is the most glorious? What is the most effective? 2. What is the most fiend-smiting? What is the best-healing? What destroyeth best the malice of Daevas and Men? What maketh the material world best come to the fulfillment of its wishes? What freeth the material world best from the anxieties of the heart? 3. Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Our Name, O Spitama Zarathushtra! who are the Amesha Spenta, that is the strongest part of the Holy Word; that is the most victorious; that is the most glorious; that is the most effective; [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS THROUGH 4: 8. AMESHA SPENTA: “Divine Emanations”; 3 male and 3 female Amesha of Spenta Mainyu, the Holy Spirit appellated Ahura Mazda [masculine]; of spring equinox. 9. ASHA VAHISHTA: Righteousness; Holiness; Truth; Order [masculine]. 10. KHSHAT'HRA VAIRYA: Power; Kingdom; Sovereignty; Dominion [masculine]. 11. SPENTA ARMAITI: Piety; Devotion; Yearning; Love [feminine]. 12. HAURVATAT: Health; Growth; Vitality; Purity [feminine]. 13. AMERETAT: Immortality; Fullness; Reward; Eternal Life [feminine]. 14. ATAR: Yazata of Fire; portal of spiritual worship; material gift of Vohuman, namely “son of Ahura Mazda”; of spirit, truth, and energy [masculine]. 15. NASU: A corrupting spirit of death. 16. IRANIAN: From Arya, “noble” and “civilized” people and their lands. 17. ZARATHUSHTRA: “Golden Light”. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 2. AMESHA SPENTA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. 1. To Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha Spenta ; To Vohuman; to Peace, whose breath is friendly, and who is more powerful to destroy than all other creatures; to the heavenly Wisdom, made by Mazda, and to the Wisdom acquired through the ear, made by Mazda; 2. To Asha Vahishta , the fairest; to the much-desired Airyaman; to the instrument made by Mazda: and to the good Saoka, with eyes of love, made by Mazda and holy; To Khshat’hra Vairya ; to the metals; to Mercy and Charity. 3. To the good Spenta Armaiti , and to the good Rata, with eyes of love, made by Mazda and holy; To Haurvatat , the master; to the prosperity of the seasons and to the years, the masters of holiness; And to Ameretat , the master; to fatness and flocks; to the plenty of corn; and to the powerful Gaokerena, made by Mazda. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER 5: 18. ARDVI ANAHITA: Yazata of Waters; Abundant Fountain; Nourisher of spiritual and material creatures; Inter-connectivity of Living Matrix [feminine]. 19. VOURUKASHA: Cosmic Ocean. 20. KARSHVARES: The Earth is composed of seven Karhvars. These are supernal realms, or dimensions, separated by seas and mountains impassable to men. 21. THE HARA: Spiritual Mountain pertaining to Zwaniratha, the central Karshvar and only Karshvar inhabited by material human living beings: ‘Hara Berezaiti, the bright mountain around which the many revolve’. 22. THRAETAONA: Fereydoon of the Persian Shahnameh by Abul-Ghasem Ferdowsi. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 5. ANAHITA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. Unto the good Waters, made by Mazda; unto the holy water-spring Ardvi Anahita ; unto all waters, made by Mazda; unto all plants, made by Mazda, Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: ‘Offer up a praise with harmony, O Spitama Zarathushtra! unto this spring of mine, Ardvi Sura Anahita, the wide-expanding and health-giving, who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura, who is worthy of praise with harmony in the material world, worthy of prayer in the material world; the life-increasing and holy, the herd-increasing and holy, the fold-increasing and holy, the wealth-increasing and holy, the country-increasing and holy; 2. ‘Who makes the seed of all males pure, who makes the womb of all females pure for bringing forth, who makes all females bring forth in safety, who puts milk into the breasts of all females in the right measure and the right quality; 3. ‘The large river, known afar, that is as large as the whole of the waters that run along the earth; that runs powerfully from the height Hukairya down to the sea Vourukasha . [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 6 THROUGH 9: 23. SUN: Kwarshed is Yazata of the Sun; of all material solar effects and causes [masculine]. 24. MOON: Mah is Yazata of the Moon; of all lunar effects and causes [feminine]. 25. TISHTRYA: Yazata of the star system Sirius; of summer solstice [masculine]. 26. DRVASPA: Yazata of Organic Earth; of Agriculture; of Husbandry [feminine]. 27. AZHI DAHAKA: Zohak in the Persian Shahnameh; Biblical Nimrod; Grecian Ninus. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 6. KHWARSHED 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. Unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun ; Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. We praise with harmony unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. When the light of the sun waxes warmer, when the brightness of the sun waxes warmer, then up stand the heavenly Yazatas, by hundreds and thousands: they gather together its Glory, they make its Glory pass down, they pour its Glory upon the earth made by Ahura, for the increase of the world of holiness, for the increase of the creatures of holiness, for the increase of the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. 2. And when the sun rises up, then the earth, made by Ahura, becomes clean; the running waters become clean, the waters of the wells become clean, the waters of the sea become clean, the standing waters become clean; all the holy creatures, the creatures of the Good Spirit, become clean. 3. Should not the sun rise up, then the Daevas would destroy all the things that are in the seven Karshvares, nor would the heavenly Yazatas find any way of withstanding or repelling them in the material world. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER 10: 28. MIT'HRA: “Bond”; Yazata of Physics; of friendship; of Promise; of Oath; of Covenant; of Attunement; of Thermodynamics; Arbiter; of autumn equinox [masculine]. 29. ZWANIRATHA: The Earth is composed of seven Karshvares. These are supernal realms, or dimensions. Arezahi and Sawahi are lateral (east and west); Fradadhafshu and Widadhafshu are below (south); Wouru-bareshti and Wourujareshti are above (north); Zwaniratha is the central Karshvar and the only Karshvar inhabited by material human living beings. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 10. MIT’HRA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas, and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. Unto Mit’hra , the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten thousand eyes, a Yazata attuned by his own name, and unto Rama Hvastra. Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: ‘Verily, when I created Mit’hra, the lord of wide pastures, O Spitama! I created him as worthy of praise with harmony, as worthy of prayer as myself, Ahura Mazda. 2. ‘The ruffian who lies unto Mit’hra brings death unto the whole country, injuring as much the faithful world as a hundred evil-doers could do. Break not the contract, O Spitama! neither the one that thou hadst entered into with one of the unfaithful, nor the one that thou hadst entered into with one of the faithful who is one of thy own faith. For Mit’hra stands for both the faithful and the unfaithful. 3. ‘Mit’hra, the lord of wide pastures, gives swiftness to the horses of those who lie not unto Mit’hra. ‘Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, gives the straightest way to those who lie not unto Mit’hra. ‘The good, strong, beneficent Farvardin of the faithful give a virtuous offspring to those who lie not unto Mit’hra. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER 10: 30. PESHOTANU: Wretched sinner of deadly sins. END OF FOOTNOTE.] 10. MIT'HRA [continues] 73. ‘We praise with harmony unto Mit’hra, the lord of wide pastures, sleepless, and ever awake; ‘Who, with hands lifted up, rejoicing, cries out, speaking thus: 74. ‘“O Ahura Mazda, most beneficent spirit! Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! ‘“If men would worship me with a praise with harmony in which I were attuned by my own name, as they worship the other gods with praise with harmonys in which they are attuned by their own names, then I should come to the faithful at the appointed time; I should come in the appointed time of my beautiful, immortal life.” 75. ‘May we keep our field; may we never be exiles from our field, exiles from our house, exiles from our borough, exiles from our town, exiles from our country. 76. ‘Thou dashest in pieces the malice of the malicious, the malice of the men of malice: dash thou in pieces the killers of faithful men! ‘Thou hast good horses, thou hast a good chariot: thou art bringing help at every appeal, and art powerful. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 11 THROUGH 12: 31. SRAOSHA: Yazata of “Harkening”; of Conscience; of Friendship with God; of Faith-Divine Communion; of Obedience; Yasna Presider [masculine]. 32. MANTHRA SPENTA: Holy Word; Holy Verb; supernaturally effecting cause; of Vohuman. 33. RASHNU: Yazata of Truth; of Justice; of Veracity; Record-keeping [masculine]. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 11. SRAOSHA [Day Hymn] 1. A blessing is Righteousness the Best! Propitiation be to Sraosha , Conscience the blessed, the mighty, the incarnate Word of reason, whose body is the Manthra, him of the daring spear, devoted to the Lord, for sacrificial worship, homage, propitiation, and praise. 2. We worship Sraosha, the blessed, the stately, him who smites with the blow of victory, and who furthers the settlements, the holy, as the ritual lord. Him do we worship, who in the creation of Mazda the first adored Ahura, with the Baresman spread, who worshipped the Bountiful Immortals, who worshipped both the protector and the Creator, who are creating all things in the creation. 3. For his splendor and his glory, for his might, and the blow which smites with victory, I will worship him with the Yasna of the Yazatas, with a Yasna loud intoned, him Conscience the blessed, with the consecrated waters, and the good Blessedness, the lofty, and Nairya-sangha, the stately; and may he draw near to us to aid us, he who smites with victory, Conscience the blessed! [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER 13: 34. FARVARDIN: Plural of Fravashi; Fravashi is one’s highest united self, guardian, holy angel beyond time [feminine]. 35. GAYA MARETAN: Progenitor of Humanity; Pahlavi Gayomard. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 13. FARVARDIN 0. The holy and master of holiness. Unto the awful, overpowering Farvardin of the faithful; unto the Farvardin of the men of the primitive law; unto the Farvardin of the next-of-kin, Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: ‘Do thou proclaim, O pure Zarathushtra! the vigour and strength, the glory, the help and the joy that are in the Farvardin of the faithful, the awful and overpowering Farvardin; do thou tell how they come to help me, how they bring assistance unto me, the awful Farvardin of the faithful. 2. ‘Through their brightness and glory, O Zarathushtra! I maintain that sky, there above, shining and seen afar, and encompassing this earth all around. 3. ‘It looks like a palace, that stands built of a heavenly substance, firmly established, with ends that lie afar, shining in its body of ruby over the three-thirds [of the Earth]; it is like a garment inlaid with stars, made of a heavenly substance, that Mazda puts on, along with Mit’hra and Rashnu and Spenta Armaiti, and on no side can the eye perceive the end of it. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER 13: 36. THE VICTORIOUS SAOSHYANT: “Savior”; Jesus Christ, Yahushuah Ha’Mashiak; bloodline and glory. 37. ASTVAT-ERETA: “Resurrector”. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 13. FARVARDIN [continues] 96. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Asmo-hvanvant; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Asan-hvanvant. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Gavayan. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Parshat-gaush. the son of Frata; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vohvasti, the son of Snaoya; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Isvat, the son of Varaza. 97. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Saena, the son of Ahum-stut, who first appeared upon this earth with a hundred disciples. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Fradhidaya. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Usmanara, the son of Paeshata. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Vohu-raochah, the son of Franya; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Asho-raochah, the son of Franya; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Varesmo-raochah, the son of Franya. 98. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Isat-vastra, the son of Zarathushtra; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Urvatat-nara, the son of Zarathushtra; We worship the Fravashi of the holy Hvare-chithra, the son of Zarathushtra. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Daevo-tbis, the son of Takhma. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Thrimithwant, the son of Spitama. We worship the Fravashi of the holy Daungha, the son of Zairita. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 14 THROUGH 15: 38. VERETHRAGHNA: Yazata of Victory; Triumph; Crushing Ascendance [masculine]. 39. RAMA HVASTRA: Yazata of Mirth; of Happiness; of Joy; identically Vayu. 40. VAYU: Yazata of Wind; of Air; of Ethereal Currents in space [masculine]. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 14. VERETHRAGHNA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. Unto Verethraghna , made by Mazda, and unto the crushing Ascendant; Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. We praise with harmony unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura. Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Who is the best-armed of the heavenly gods? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘It is Verethraghna, made by Ahura, O Spitama Zarathushtra!’ 2. Verethraghna, made by Ahura, came to him first, running in the shape of a strong, beautiful wind, made by Mazda; he bore the good Glory, made by Mazda, the Glory made by Mazda, that is both health and strength. 3. Then he, who is the strongest, said unto him: ‘I am the strongest in strength; I am the most victorious in victory; I am the most glorious in glory; I am the most favouring in favour; I am the best giver of welfare: I am the best-healing in health-giving. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 16 THROUGH 21: 41. CHISTA: Yazata of Practical Wisdom; of Prudence; of Best Doing [feminine]. 42. ASHI VANGUHI: Yazata of Good Fortune; of Luck; of ideal opportunity [feminine]. 43. GLORY OF THE IRANIANS: Ashtad is Yazata of Glory; of Divine Annointing; of the Supernatural Aura; of divine right to rule; Pahlavi Khvarenah [feminine]. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 16. CHISTA 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. To the most right Chista , made by Mazda and holy, and to the good law of the worshippers of Mazda. Be propitiation from me, for praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. We praise with harmony to the most right Chista, made by Mazda and holy: we praise with harmony to the good law of the worshippers of Mazda, the supplier of good stores, who runs quickly to the goal and frees one best from dangers, who brings libations, who is holy, clever, and renowned, speedy to work and quick of work; who goes quickly and cleanses well; the good law of the worshippers of Mazda; 2. To whom Zarathushtra did praise with harmony, saying: ‘Rise up from thy seat, come forward from the Abode, thou most right Chista, made by Mazda and holy. If thou art before me, stay for me; if thou art behind me, overtake me. 3. ‘Let everything be as friendly to us as anything can be: may we go smoothly along the roads, find good pathways in the mountains, run easily through the forests, and cross happily the rivers!’ [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] YASHTS   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 19 THROUGH 21: 44. THE MOUNTAIN: Zamyad is Yazata of Earth; of Mineral; of Stone; of Mountain; of Valley; of the beauty and structure of inspiring landscapes [feminine]. 45. HAOMA: Yazata of Haoma: the sacrament and organic ingredient [masculine]. 46. THE FIRST AHUNA VAIRYA: Four Ahuna Vairya Zarathushtra prayed increasingly stronger and louder in all directions, both inward and outward, for Ahura Mazda’s glory. 47. VANANT: Yazata of the star Vega; of the northern pole star circa 12,000 B.C. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 19. ZAMYAD 0. May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced! [Ashem Vohu:] Righteousness is the most excellent good. It is also joy. Happy be the one freely choosing holiness. I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra, one who hates the Daevas and obeys the laws of Ahura; For praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto the holy and master of holiness. Unto Mount Ushi-darena, made by Mazda, the seat of holy happiness; unto the kingly Glory, made by Mazda; unto that Glory that cannot be forcibly seized, made by Mazda, Be propitiation, with praise with harmony, prayer, propitiation, and glorification. [Ahuna Vairya:] The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. 1. The first mountain that rose up out of the earth, O Spitama Zarathushtra! was the Haraiti Barez. That mountain stretches all along the shores of the land washed by waters towards the east. The second mountain was Mount Zeredho, outside Mount Manusha: this mountain too stretches all along the shores of the land washed by waters towards the east. 2. From there grew up Mount Ushi-dhau, Ushi-darena, Mount Erezifya, and Mount Fraorepa. The sixth was Mount Erezura. The seventh was Mount Bumya. The eighth was Mount Raoidhita. The ninth was Mount Mazishishvau. The tenth was Mount Antare-danghu. The eleventh was Mount Erezisha. The twelfth was Mount Vaiti-gaesa. 3. And Mount Adarana, Mount Bayana, Mount Ishkata Upairi-saena, with the snows; the two Hamankuna mountains, the eight Vasna mountains, the eight powerful Fravanku, the four Vidhvana summits; [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   Note: VENDIDAD NASK IS ONE OF 21 NASKS, OR BOOKS, ORIGINATING FROM THE 21 WORDS OF THE AHUNA VAIRYA. ‘VENDIDAD’ TRANSLATES AS ‘PURIFYING LAW OPPOSED TO DAEVAS’. VENDIDAD RELIES ON EXTENSIVE METAPHOR AND SYMBOLISM, DISADVANTAGEOUS TO THE UNIFORMLY LITERAL APPLICATIONS OF STANDARDS.   1 Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: I have made every land dear to its dwellers, even though it had no charms whatever in it: had I not made every land dear to its dwellers, even though it had no charms whatever in it, then the whole living world would have invaded the Airyana Vaejah. The first of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was the Airyana Vaejah, by the good river Daitya. Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft the serpent in the river and winter, a work of the Daevas. There are ten winter months there, two summer months; and those are cold for the waters, cold for the earth, cold for the trees. Winter falls there, with the worst of its plagues. The second of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was the plains in Sughdha. Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft the fly Skaitya, which brings death to the cattle. The third of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was the strong, holy Mouru. Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft sinful lusts. The fourth of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was the beautiful Bakhdhi with high-lifted banners. Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft the Bravara. The fifth of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was Nisaya, that lies between Mouru and Bakhdhi. Thereupon came Angra Mainyu, who is all death, and he counter-created by his witchcraft the sin of unbelief. The sixth of the good lands and countries which I, Ahura Mazda, created, was Haroyu with its lake. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 5 THROUGH 7: 48. To that world, to the dismal realm, you are delivered by your own doings, by your own souls, O sinners!’: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” The body has no value, save as the spirit and soul pertains. 49. KHRAFSTRA: Foul spirit in the form of fly; evil spirit in the form of mosquito. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 5 There dies a man in the depths of the vale. A bird takes flight from the top of the mountain down into the depths of the vale, and it eats up the corpse of the dead man there: then, up it flies from the depths of the vale to the top of the mountain. It flies to some one of the trees there, of the hard-wooded or the soft-wooded, and upon that tree it vomits, it deposits dung, it drops pieces from the corpse. Now, lo! here is a man coming up from the depths of the vale to the top of the mountain; he comes to the tree whereon the bird is sitting; from that tree he wants to take wood for the fire. He fells the tree, he hews the tree, he splits it into logs, and then he lights it in the fire, the son of Ahura Mazda. What is the penalty that he shall pay? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘There is no sin upon a man for any dead matter that has been brought by dogs, by birds, by wolves, by winds, or by flies. For were there sin upon a man for any dead matter that might have been brought by dogs, by birds, by wolves, by winds, or by flies, how soon this material world of mine would have in it only Peshotanu, shut out from the way of holiness, whose souls will cry and wail! so numberless are the beings that die upon the face of the earth.’ O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Here is a man watering a wheat field. The water streams down the field; it streams again; it streams a third time: And the fourth time, a dog, a fox, or a wolf carries a corpse into the bed of the stream: what is the penalty that the man shall pay? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘There is no sin upon a man for any dead matter that has been brought by dogs, by birds, by wolves, by winds, or by flies. For were there sin upon a man for any dead matter that might have been brought by dogs, by birds, by wolves, by winds, or by flies, how soon this material world of mine would have in it only Peshotanu, shut out from the way of, holiness, whose souls will cry and wail! so numberless are the beings that die upon the face of the earth.’ [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   8 If a dog or a man die under the timber-work of a house or the wattlings of a hut, what shall the worshippers of Mazda do? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘They shall look for a Dakhma, they shall look for a Dakhma all around. If they find it easier, to remove the dead than to remove the house, they shall take out the dead, they shall let the house stand, and shall perfume it with Urvasni, or Vohu-gaona, or Vohu-kereti, or Hadha-naepata, or any other sweet-smelling plant. If they find it easier to remove the house than to remove the dead, they shall take away the house, they shall let the dead lie on the spot, ‘and shall perfume the house with Urvasni, or Vohu-gaona, or Vohu-kereti, or Hadha-naepata, or any other sweet-smelling plant.’ O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! If in the house of a worshipper of Mazda a dog or a man happens to die, and it is raining, or snowing, or blowing, or the darkness is coming on, when flocks and men lose their way, what shall the worshippers of Mazda do? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘The place in that house whereof the ground is the cleanest and the driest, and the least passed through by flocks and herds, by Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, by the consecrated bundles of baresma, and by the faithful;’ O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How far from the fire? How far from the water? How far from the consecrated bundles of baresma? How far from the faithful? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Thirty paces from the fire; thirty paces from the water; thirty paces from the consecrated bundles of baresma; three paces from the faithful; on that place they shall dig a grave, half a foot deep if the earth be hard, half the height of a man if it be soft; they shall cover the surface of it with dust of bricks, of stones, or of dry earth. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD 9 Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: O most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How shall they manage here below; who want to cleanse the body of one defiled by the dead? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘A godly man, O Spitama Zarathushtra! who speaks truth, who learns the Holy Word, and who knows best the rites of cleansing according to the law of Mazda, such a man shall fell the trees off the surface of the ground on a space of nine Vibazus square. ‘It should be the part of the ground where there is least water and where there are fewest trees, the part which is the cleanest and driest, and the least passed through by sheep and oxen, and by Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, by the consecrated bundles of baresma, and by the faithful.’ How far from the fire? How far from the water? How far from the consecrated bundles of baresma? How far from the faithful? Ahura Mazda answered: Thirty paces from the fire, thirty paces from the water, thirty paces from the consecrated bundles of baresma, three paces from the faithful. ‘Then thou shalt dig a hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. Thou shalt dig a second hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. Thou shalt dig a third hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. Thou shalt dig a fourth hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. Thou shalt dig a fifth hole, two fingers deep if the summer has come, four fingers deep if the winter and ice have come. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 11 THROUGH 13: 50. CHINVAT BRIDGE: Requiter’s bridge. After death, the disembodied soul attempts to cross this bridge to the House of Song, identically Heaven. The Chinvat bridge narrows to unredeemed sinners who fall and be requited in Hell. After crossing the Chinvat bridge, the just and righteous souls be home in Heaven with love, joy, music, beauty, wonderful goodness, and light. 51. WATER DOG: Spirit dog; spiritual companion, friend, protector, and guide. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 11 Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: O Ahura Mazda! most beneficent spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! How shall I cleanse the house? How the fire? How the water? How the earth? How the kine? How the tree? How the faithful man and the faithful woman? How the stars? How the moon? How the sun? How the boundless light? How all good things, made by Mazda, the offspring of the holy principle? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘Thou shalt chant the cleansing words, and the house shall be clean; clean shall be the fire, clean the water, clean the earth, clean the kine, clean the tree, clean the faithful man, ‘and the faithful woman, clean the stars, clean the moon, clean the sun, clean the boundless light, clean all good things, made by Mazda, the offspring of the holy principle. So thou shalt say these fiend-smiting and most-healing words; thou shalt chant the Ahuna Vairya five times: “The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor.” ‘The Ahuna Vairya preserves the person of man: “The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor.” “[Kem Nam Mazda:] Whom hast thou given me, O God, for protector against the hatred of sinners encompassing me? Whom else but thy Fire and Good Mind, whose righteous faith I minister in the world. Thus reveal within me the Kingdom of God thy power.” [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 14 THROUGH 18: 52. THE ASTRA: Switch. 53. THE PAITIDANA: Veil draping nostrils and mouth. 54. THE KHRAFSTRAGHNA: Flapped insect-swatter. 55. THE CONSCIENCE-FORMER: Rod. 56. THE MYAZDA: Water oblation. 57. ...he shall godly and piously offer up to the fire the entrails thereof together with Zaothra-libations: Thus, Ahura Mazda prescribes a sacrificial blood atonement for the apostate’s willful, witting, and knowing sin of spiritual pollution in the world, and penitive repentance for instrinsically carnal impurity. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 14 Zarathushtra asked Ahura Mazda: O Ahura Mazda, most beneficent Spirit, Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! He who smites one of those water dogs that are born one from a thousand dogs and a thousand female dogs, so that he gives up the life and the soul parts from the body, what is the penalty that he shall pay? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘He shall pay ten thousand stripes with the Faith-switch, ten thousand stripes with the Conscience-former ‘He shall godly and piously bring unto the fire of Ahura Mazda ten thousand loads of hard, well dried, well examined wood, as an atonement unto the soul. ‘He shall godly and piously bring unto the fire of Ahura Mazda ten thousand loads of soft wood, of Urvasna, Vohu-gaona, Vohu-kereti, Hadha-naepata, or any sweet-scented plant, as an atonement unto the soul. He shall godly and piously tie and consecrate ten thousand bundles of baresma; he shall offer up to the good waters ten thousand Zaothra libations with the Haoma and the sacred fruit, cleanly prepared and well strained, cleanly prepared and well strained by a pious man, as an atonement unto the soul. ‘He shall kill ten thousand snakes of those that go upon the belly; he shall kill ten thousand snakes of those that have the shape of a dog; he shall kill ten thousand tortoises; he shall kill ten thousand land frogs; he shall kill ten thousand water frogs; he shall kill ten thousand wheat-carrying ants; he shall kill ten thousand ants of those that bite and dig holes and work mischief ‘He shall kill ten thousand earth worms; he shall kill ten thousand horrid flies. He shall fill up ten thousand holes for the unclean. [continues...]

AVESTA YASHTS AND VENDIDAD OF ZOROASTRIANISM by ALAN LEWIS SILVA   [continues] VENDIDAD   [FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTERS 19 THROUGH 22: 58. FARGARD, OR CHAPTER, 20: Zarathushtra’s homiletic prayer continues from Fargard 19. 59. FARGARD, OR CHAPTER, 21: Zarathushtra’s homiletic prayer continues from Fargards 19-20. END OF FOOTNOTES.] 19 From the region of the north, from the regions of the north, forth rushed Angra Mainyu, the deadly, the Daeva of the Daevas And thus spake the guileful one, he the evil-doer Angra Mainyu, the deadly: ‘Druj, rush down upon him! destroy the holy Zarathushtra!’ The Druj came rushing along, the demon Buiti, the unseen death, the Hell-born. Zarathushtra chanted aloud the Ahuna Vairya: ‘The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness. The riches of the Good Mind reward all who minister in this world for Wisdom, who work by God’s purpose power to benefit the poor. ‘Offer up prayers to the good waters of the good Daitya! ‘Profess the law of the worshippers of Mazda!’ The Druj dismayed, rushed away, the demon Buiti, the unseen death, the Hell-born. And the Druj, the guileful one, said unto Angra Mainyu: ‘O baneful Angra Mainyu! I see no way to kill him, so great is the glory of the holy Zarathushtra.’ Zarathushtra saw from within his soul: ‘The evil-doing Daevas and Drvants take counsel together for my death.’ Up started Zarathushtra, forward went Zarathushtra unshaken by the evil spirit, by the hardness of his malignant riddles. Swinging stones in his hand, stones as big as a house, which he obtained from the Maker, Ahura Mazda, he the holy Zarathushtra. ‘At what on this wide, round earth, whose ends lie afar, at what dost thou swing, thou who standest by the river Darega, upon the mountains, in the mansion of Pourusaspa?’ Thus Zarathushtra answered Angra Mainyu: ‘O evil-doer, Angra Mainyu! I will smite the creation of the Daeva; I will smite the Nasu, a creature of the Daeva; I will smite the Pairika Knathaiti, until the fiend-smiter Saoshyant come up to life out of the lake Kasava, from the region of the dawn, from the regions of the dawn.’ [continues...]