Avesta
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
The sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, including the Gathas, hymns traditionally ascribed to the prophet Zarathushtra. Parsi priests in India have preserved them for centuries.
| Tradition | Zoroastrian (Parsi and Irani) |
|---|---|
| Type | Scripture |
| Language | Avestan |
| Period | Gathas c. 2nd–1st millennium BCE (dates are debated); other parts later |
| Composed or compiled by | The Gathas are traditionally ascribed to Zarathushtra |
What it contains
- Yasna, the main liturgy, which includes the 17 hymns of the Gathas.
- Visperad and Vendidad (Videvdad): liturgy and laws of purity.
- Yashts: hymns to divine beings.
- Khordeh Avesta: prayers for daily use, such as the Ashem Vohu and Yatha Ahu Vairyo.
Significance
Parsi priests at Udvada, Navsari and Mumbai have kept up the recitation and copying of the Avesta, and Indian Parsi scholars have translated it into Gujarati and English.