Literature

Please note: Clicking on the underlined words below will take you to the relevant links/websites

The Zoroastrian canon consists mainly of the following texts:

    • Khordeh Avesta: Khordeh Avesta literally means "smaller avesta" or "lesser avesta". It is a collection of texts used primarily by the laity for everyday prayers. The manuscript traditions show that the core was composed of the following texts:

    • Kushti Prayers

    • Sarosh Baj

    • Gah(s)

    • Niyayesh(s)

    • Yasht(s)

    • Gathas (they originally belong to the Yasna, but are found in the Khordeh Avesta too)

    • Siroza texts

A copy of the English Khordeh Avesta (with translation) is available in the "Prayers" section of this website. Link to the Gujrati Khordeh Avesta is also provided in the same section.

    • Gathas: The Gathas are 17 Avestan hymns believed to have been composed by Zarathustra himself. They form the core of the Zoroastrian liturgy (the Yasna described below). The are arranged in 5 different modes or sections. The 5 major sections are:

      • Ahunavaiti Gatha (dealing with the subject of Ahuna Vairya) - 100 stanzas

      • Ushtavaiti Gatha (dealing with the subject of "Having Happiness") - 66 stanzas

      • Spenta Mainyu Gatha (dealing with the subject of "Bounteous Spirit") - 41 stanzas

      • Vohu Khshathra Gatha (dealing with the subject of "Good Dominion") - 22 stanzas

      • Vahisto Ishti Gatha (dealing with the subject of "Best Beloved") - 9 stanzas

An English translation of the Gathas can be found here (courtesy www.avesta.org)

    • Yasna: The Yasna in Avesta means "oblations" or "worship". The Yasna is the name given to the primary liturgical collection of Avestan texts. It is this text that is taught to young boys training to be Navar/Martabs (priests) in Zoroastrianism. The Yasna ceremony is performed to strengthen the orderly spiritual and material creations of Ahura Mazda against the forces of the evil Angra Mainyu. This ceremony may be extended by the recitation of the Vendidad and Visperad texts. The Yasna is composed of 72 Chapters (composed at different time of history by different authors). 17 Chapters of the Yasna are devoted to the Gathas (holy hymns composed by Zarathushtra himself).

The English translation of the Yasna can be found here (courtesy www.avesta.org)

  • Vendidad: The Vendidad is a contraction of the Avestan language name for this literature - which was Vi-Daevo-Dat (law against demons or evil). Of the original 21 Nasks of our religion, the Vendidad is the 19th Nask and the only Nask that seems to have survived in entirety. The chapters of the Vendidad are called Fargards. There are 22 Fargards in all in the Vendidad. The text speaks on subjects like:

      • how the creation came about

      • the destructive winter

      • the great flood that is spoken of in various other religions as well

      • the legend of Yima (Jamshed)

      • the temptation of Zarathushtra by Angra Mainyu (the evil spirit) to lure him away from the path of Ahura Mazda

      • laws pertaining to:

        • hygiene

        • disease

        • mourning of the dead

        • sanctity of fire, earth, water

        • dignity of wealth, charity, marriage

        • statutes on unacceptable social behaviour (breach of contract, assault, etc)

The English translation of the Vendidad can be found here (courtesy www.avesta.org)

    • Visperad: The Visperad is a contraction of the Avestan language name for this literature - which was Vispe Ratvo (prayer to all patrons/ lords/ masters). It is a collection of the rituals of the Yasna and is never recited separately from the Yasna. It also has a liturgy extended by 23 supplemental sections called kardags. It is performed in the Havan Gah (between morning and noon) on the six Gahambar days.

The English translation of the Visperad can be found here (courtesy www.avesta.org)

Other texts which bear great significance within the religion are below. Please click on the word to open the link to the translation of the text :

    • Bundahishn (Creation story in Zoroastrianism)

    • Shayest na shayest (A compilation of laws and customs regarding sin and impurity, as well as misc info about ceremonies and religious subjects in general)

    • Shahnameh (Epic poem of the dynasties of Persia)

    • Denkard (9th century encyclopedia of Zoroastrianism)

    • Kisseh-i-Sanjan (16th century Epic Poem regarding the migration of Zoroastrians (Parsees) from Iran to India and their settlement in the new country (India))

Information about the various languages used in Zoroastrianism over the years and detailed accounts of the texts can be found here (courtesy www.farvardyn.com)