Ahura

Ahura (Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀) is an Avestan language designation for a particular class of Zoroastrian divinities. The term is assumed to be linguistically related to the Asuras of Indian Vedic era.

Etymology

Avestan ''ahura'' "lord" derives from Proto-Indo-Iranian language ''*Hásuras'', also attested in an Indian context as Rigvedic ''asura''. As suggested by the similarity to the Old Norse ''æsir'', Indo-Iranian ''*Hásuras'' may have an even earlier Proto-Indo-European language root.

It is commonly supposed that Indo-Iranian ''*Hásuras'' was the proper name of a specific divinity with whom other divinities were later identified.

In scripture

Gathas

In the Gathas, the oldest hymns of Zoroastrianism and thought to have been composed by Zoroaster, followers are exhorted to pay reverence to only the ''ahura''s and to rebuff the ''daeva''s and others who act "at Lie's command". That should not, however, be construed to reflect a view of a primordial opposition. Although the ''daeva''s would, in later Zoroastrian tradition, appear as malign creatures, in the Gathas the ''daeva''s are (collectively) gods that are to be rejected.

The Gathas do not specify which of the divinities other than Ahura Mazda are considered to be ''ahura''s but does mention other ahuras in the collective sense.

Younger Avesta

In the ''Fravaraneh'', the traditional name for the Zoroastrian credo summarized in ''Yasna, three divinities of the Zoroastrian pantheon are repeatedly identified as ahuric. These three are Ahura Mazda, Mithra, and Apam Napat, the "Ahuric triad". Other divinities with whom the term "Ahuric" is associated include the six Amesha Spentas, and (notable among the ''yazata''s) Anahita of the Waters and Ashi of Reward and Recompense.

References

Bibliography

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Ancient Iranian deities
Zoroastrianism
Persian words and phrases