Rashnu ( ae, 𐬭𐬀𐬴𐬢𐬏) is the Avestan language name of the

Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic ...

yazata Yazata ( ae, 𐬫𐬀𐬰𐬀𐬙𐬀) is the Avestan word for a Zoroastrian concept with a wide range of meanings but generally signifying (or used as an epithet of) a divinity. The term literally means "worthy of worship or veneration",.. and i ...

'' of justice. Together with

Mithra Mithra ( ae, ''Miθra'', peo, 𐎷𐎰𐎼 ''Miça'') commonly known as Mehr, is the Iranian deity of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seein ...

and Sraosha, Rashnu is one of the three judges who pass judgment on the souls of people after death. Rashnu's standard appellation is "the very straight."

In creation accounts

In the ''

Bundahishn ''Bundahishn'' (Avestan: , "Primal Creation") is the name traditionally given to an encyclopedic collection of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology written in Book Pahlavi. The original name of the work is not known. Although the ''Bundahishn'' ...

'', a Zoroastrian account of creation finished in the 11th or 12th century, Rashnu (Middle Persian: ''Rashn'') is identified as an assistant of the Amesha Spenta ''Ameretat'' (Amurdad), "immortality". (''GBd'' xxvi.115). In a subsequent passage, Rashnu is described as the essence of truth ('' arta/asha'') that prevents the ''daeva''s from destroying material Creation. "Rashnu adjudges even the souls of men and women as to bad deeds and good deeds. As one says, 'Rashnu shall not see thither the rank of the judge who delivers false judgment.'" (''GBd'' xxvi.116-117).

In other texts

In the Avestan Dahman Afrin, Rashnu is invoked in an address to Ameretat. According to the ''

Denkard The ''Dēnkard'' or ''Dēnkart'' (Middle Persian: 𐭣𐭩𐭭𐭪𐭠𐭫𐭲 "Acts of Religion") is a 10th-century compendium of Zoroastrian beliefs and customs during the time. The Denkard is to a great extent considered an "Encyclopedia of Ma ...

'', the ''Duwasrud Nask'' - a legal manual now lost - contained passages extolling the supremacy of Rashnu. (''Dk'' 8.16) In the ''Siroza'' ("thirty days") "the very straight Rashnu ... augments the world and is the true-spoken speech that furthers the world." (''Siroza'' 18).

Holy days

The 18th day of every month in the

Zoroastrian calendar Adherents of Zoroastrianism use three distinct versions of traditional calendars for liturgical purposes, all derived from medieval Iranian calendars and ultimately based on the Babylonian calendar as used in the Achaemenid empire. ''Qadimi'' ...

is dedicated to Rashnu. The ''Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan'', a Sassanid-era text, notes that on the 18th day "life is merry".

In creation accounts

In other texts

Holy days

See also