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Sasanian Avesta
The Sasanian Avesta or Great Avesta refers to the anthology of Zoroastrian literature produced during the Sasanian period. Most of this work is now lost, but its content and structure can be reconstructed from references found in a number of texts from the 9th century onward. Compared to the extant Avesta, the Sasanian Avesta was much larger and organized into 21 distinct volumes called ''nasks'' (Avestan: ''naska''; Middle Persian: ''nask'', 'bundle'). Of those, only one is preserved in its entirety, while others are either lost or only preserved in fragments. Sources The most important source on the Sasanian Avesta is the Denkard, a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism. The 8th and 9th book of the Denkard give an overview of the Avesta as it was available at the time. Whereas the 8th book lists the content, the 9th book provides a lengthy summary on a number of its nasks In addition, the Rivayats, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, also list its con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthology
In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and genre-based anthologies.Chris Baldrick''The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms'' 3rd. ed (2008) Complete collections of works are often called " complete works" or "" (Latin equivalent). Etymology The word entered the English language in the 17th century, from the Greek word, ἀνθολογία (''anthologic'', literally "a collection of blossoms", from , ''ánthos'', flower), a reference to one of the earliest known anthologies, the ''Garland'' (, ''stéphanos''), the introduction to which compares each of its anthologized poets to a flower. That ''Garland'' by Meléagros of Gadara formed the kernel for what has become known as the Greek Anthology. '' Florilegium'', a Latin derivative for a collection of flowers, was used in mediev ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sudgar Nask
The Sudgar nask is the first ''nask'' (volume) of the Sasanian Avesta. Like most other nasks, it is no longer extant, but its content can be reconstructed from references in later Pahlavi writings and the parts still contained in the extant Avesta. Sources The 8th book of the Denkard, a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism, as well as a number of Rivayats, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, list its content. In addition the 9th book of the Denkard provides a lengthy description its content. As a result, its original form can be reconstructed with some degree of certainty. Name The work is called ''Studgar'' and ''Istudgar'' in the Rivayats. Both are considered corruptions of Sudgar. Its name has been interpreted as meaning ''benefit-making''. There is no consensus on a possible connection between this name and its content. For example, Vevaina has opined that it is derived from its eschatological content. Structure The Sasanian Avesta was organized in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nikatum Nask
The Nikatum nask or Nigadum nask was one of the so called legal ''nasks'' (volumes) of the Sasanian Avesta. No parts of it are known to have survived, but later references show that is covered topics connected with penal law. Sources The nask itself is no longer extant but references are found in later Zoroastrian writings. First, the 8th book of the Denkard provides in section 8.16-8.20 a description of its content. In addition, the Rivayats, a series of exchanges from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview on the content of the Nikatum nask. Structure and content The Sasanian Avesta was organized into 21 ''nasks'', i.e., volumes, which were grouped into 3 divisions; Gathic, ritual, and legal nasks. Within this scheme, the Nikatum nask belonged to the legal nasks. Edward William West estimates, that it consisted of ca. 62,600 words of Avestan text accompanied by ca. 562,900 words of commentary in Pahlavi, which would make it the longest nask overall. According to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zend
Zend or Zand () is a Zoroastrian term for Middle Persian or Pahlavi versions and commentaries of Avestan texts. These translations were produced in the late Sasanian period. ''Zand'' glosses and commentaries exist in several languages, including in the Avestan language itself. These Avestan language exegeses sometimes accompany the original text being commented upon, but are more often elsewhere in the canon. An example of exegesis in the Avestan language itself includes '' Yasna'' 19–21, which is a set of three Younger Avestan commentaries on the three Gathic Avestan 'high prayers' of ''Yasna'' 27. ''Zand'' also appears to have once existed in a variety of Middle Iranian languages, but of these Middle Iranian commentaries, the Middle Persian ''zand'' is the only one to survive fully, and is for this reason regarded as 'the' ''zand''. With the notable exception of the '' Yashts'', almost all surviving Avestan texts have their Middle Persian ''zand'', which in some manuscripts a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vishtaspa
Vishtaspa ( ; ; ; ) is the Avestan-language name of a figure appearing in Zoroastrian scripture and tradition, portrayed as an early follower of Zoroaster, and his patron, and instrumental in the diffusion of the prophet's message. Although Vishtaspa is not epigraphically attested, he is – like Zoroaster – traditionally assumed to have been a historical figure, although obscured by accretions from legend and myth. In Zoroastrian tradition, which builds on allusions found in the Avesta, Vishtaspa is a righteous king who helped propagate and defend the faith. In the non-Zoroastrian Sistan cycle texts, Vishtaspa is a loathsome ruler of the Kayanian dynasty who intentionally sends his eldest son to a certain death. In Greco-Roman literature, Zoroaster's patron was the pseudo-anonymous author of a set of prophecies written under his name. In the Avesta Vishtaspa is referred to in the Gathas, the oldest texts of Zoroastrianism which were considered to have been composed by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wishtasp-sast Nask
The Wishtasp-sast or Vishtasp-sast nask was the 10th ''nask'' (volume) of the Sasanian Avesta. The work is now lost, but according to later references, it contained a detailed history of Vishtaspa, an early patron of Zarathustra. The Wishtasp-sast nask may, in whole or in parts, be preserved through the Wishtasp Yasht manuscripts. Sources The Wishtasp-sast nask itself is no longer extant but references are found in later Zoroastrian writings. First, the 8th book of the Denkard provides in chapter 11 a description of its content. In addition, the Rivayats, a series of exchanges from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview. Name The name of this nask is reported differently in the sources. In the Denkard, the nask is called Wishtasp-sast, whereas in the Rivayats, the names Wishtasp-shah or Wishtaspad are used. Modern authors also use different spellings based on the Avestan or Middle Persian version of Vishtaspa's name or use ''sasto'' instead of ''sast''. Being at varian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barish Nask
The Barish nask is the eighth ''nask'' (volume) of the Sasanian Avesta. The work itself is lost and no texts in the extant Avesta can be clearly identified as having belonged to it. Its content, however, can be reconstructed to some degree from references in Book 8 of the Denkard and the Rivayats. Sources The nask itself is no longer extant. Some information on its content are given in Book 8 of the Denkard, a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism. In addition, the Rivayats, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview on the content of the Barish nask. In the Sasanian Avesta The Sasanian Avesta was organized into 21 ''nasks'', i.e., volumes, which were grouped into 3 divisions; the Gāhānīg (Gathic nasks), Hada Mānsrīg ( manthras connected with the ritual), and Dādīg (legal nasks). Within this scheme, the Barish nask was part of the ritual nasks and its content has been described as concerning ethical and moral topics. According to t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zoroastrian Cosmology
Zoroastrian or Iranian cosmology refers to the origins (cosmogony) and structure ( cosmography) of the cosmos in Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrian literature describing cosmographical beliefs include the Avesta (especially in its description of Avestan geography) and, in later Middle Persian literature, texts including the Bundahishn, Denkard, and the Wizidagiha-i Zadspram. Cosmogony Overview According to the Zoroastrian creation myth, there is one universal, transcendent, all-good, and uncreated supreme creator deity Ahura Mazda, or the "Wise Lord" (''Ahura'' meaning "Lord" and ''Mazda'' meaning "Wisdom" in Avestan), omniscient although not omnipotent. Ahura Mazda existed in light and goodness above, while Angra Mainyu (or "Ahriman"). existed in darkness and ignorance below. They have existed independently of each other for all time, and manifest contrary substances. In the Gathas, Ahura Mazda works through emanations known as the Amesha Spenta and with the help of "other ahur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Damdad Nask
The Damdad nask is one of the lost ''nasks'' (volumes) of the Sasanian Avesta. Although no texts in the extant Avesta can be clearly identified as having belonged to it, its content can be reconstructed to some degree from references in later Zoroastrian writings. Sources The nask itself is no longer extant. A short summary of its content is given in the Denkard (8.5), a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism. In addition, the Rivayats by Kamah Bahram, Nareman Hoshang and Dastur Barzu Qiyamu-D-Din, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview on the content of the Damdad nask. Name MacKenzie provides two possible derivations of the name. First, it may be derived from a hypothetical Avestan ''*dāmi.dāti'', meaning "the creating of the creation". Alternativly, it may be derived from Middle Persian ''dām dād'', meaning "he (Ohrmazd) created the creation". Regardless, the meaning of the name has been connected to the meaning of the name of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mantra (Zoroastrianism)
A or (, ) is a Zoroastrian prayer, prayer, sacred formula or inspired utterance considered in Zoroastrianism to have spiritual power. Their use already goes back to Zarathustra who described himself in his Gatha (Zoroaster), Gathas as a knower of manthras. Zoroastrian manthras are etymologically and functionally related to the Mantra, mantras known from the Dharmic religions, Indian tradition. However, they are not derived from Historical Vedic religion, Vedic mantras, but represent an independent, parallel development. Etymology Both Avestan wiktionary:𐬨𐬄𐬚𐬭𐬀#Avestan, 𐬨𐬄𐬚𐬭𐬀 () and Vedic wiktionary:मन्त्र#Sanskrit, मन्त्र () go back to a common, Proto-Indo-Iranian language, Proto-Indo-Iranian wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/mántram, *mantram, which in turn is derived from the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language, Proto-Indo-European verb wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/men-, *men (to think) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spand Nask
The Spand or Spend nask was one of the Gathic ''nasks'' (volumes) of the Sasanian Avesta. The work is lost but based on later descriptions it contained the details of the life of Zarathustra and is considered to be the source of later biographies. Sources The Spand nask itself is no longer extant but references can be found in later Zoroastrian writings. First, the 8th book of the Denkard provides in chapter 14 a description of its content. In addition, the Rivayats, a series of exchanges from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview. Structure The Spand nask belonged to the so called, Gathic nasks, one of the three divisions of the Sasanian Avesta. Both the Denkard and the Rivayats agree that it was of 13th nask and according to the Rivayats it consisted of 60 sections. Edward William West estimates, that it consisted of ca. 9,900 words of Avestan text accompanied by ca. 20,500 words of translation and commentary in Pahlavi. Content Based on the descriptions in late ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hadoxt Nask
The Hadoxt nask is the sixth ''nask'' (volume) of the Sasanian Avesta. The work is no longer extant, but the Hadoxt nask 1 and 2 fragments as well as possibly other parts of the extant Avesta are considered to have been part of this nask. Sources The nask itself is no longer extant. Some information on its content are given in Book 8 of the Denkard, a 9th-10th century compendium of Zoroastrianism. In addition, the Rivayats, a series of epistles from the 15th - 17th century, give a short overview on the content of the Hadoxt nask. Name The name of the Hadoxt nask is derived from an Avestan adjective ''haδaoxta'', with the meaning of ''recited with'' or ''together with that which is spoken''. Jean Kellens has for instance opined that this nask originally contained texts which complemented other texts, in particular, the texts of the Stot yasht. In the Sasanian Avesta The Sasanian Avesta was organized into 21 ''nasks'', i.e., volumes, which were grouped into 3 divisions; the G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
