The Yashts are a collection of twenty-one hymns in the Younger Avestan language. Each of these hymns invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept. Yasht chapter and verse pointers are traditionally abbreviated as Yt.
The word yasht derives from Middle Persian 𐭩𐭱𐭲 yašt (“prayer, worship”) probably from Avestan𐬫𐬀𐬱𐬙𐬀 (yašta, “honored”), from 𐬫𐬀𐬰 (yaz, “to worship, honor”), from Proto-Indo-European*yeh₂ǵ-[1] or *Hyaǵ-,[2] and several hymns of the Yasna liturgy that "venerate by praise" are—in tradition—also nominally called yashts. These "hidden" Yashts are: the Barsom Yasht (Yasna 2), another Hom Yasht in Yasna 9–11, the Bhagan Yasht of Yasna 19–21, a hymn to Ashi in Yasna 52, another SaroshYasht in Yasna 57, the praise of the (hypostasis of) "prayer" in Yasna 58, and a hymn to the Ahurani in Yasna 68. Since these are a part of the primary liturgy, they do not count among the twenty-one hymns of the Yasht collection.
All the hymns of the Yasht collection "are written in what appears to be prose, but which, for a large part, may originally have been a (basically) eight-syllable verse, oscillating between four and thirteen syllables, and most often between seven and nine."[3]
The Yashts did not originally have titles. These were assigned at some time during the Common Era, and hence reflect the Middle Persian forms of the divinities' names.
Several Yashts are—despite their names—hymns to other divinities or concepts.
Yasht 5 is nominally to the waters but primarily addresses Aredvi Sura Anahita, who is (also) a divinity of the waters.
Yasht 15 is nominally to Raman (Rama Kshathra) but praises the "good" Vayu[i]
Yasht 16 is nominally to Daena "insight, revelation" but actually invokes Chista "Wisdom". Chista and Daena are very closely associated with one another.
Yasht 18, nominally to Arshtat, is actually an ode to khvarenah, the "(divine) glory".
Yasht 19, nominally to Zam, the "Earth", has very little to do with the earth. See Zam for details.
Yashts 1–4 are "mediocre, meaningless texts, composed in incoherent language; they probably result from a very late expansion of the Yašt collection."[3]
Yashts 11 and 12 are respectively hymns to Sraosha and Rashnu, but are to some extent also an extension of Yasht 10, the hymn to Mithra. Sraosha and Rashnu are both attendants of Mithra.
Yasht 5 (in praise of Aredvi Sura Anahita) and Yasht 17 (to Ashi) share a number of verses. It is not possible to determine which of the two is the original.
The Avesta has two hymns that were later titled Hom Yasht. The original is part of the Yasna liturgy and hence not counted as a Yasht. The other, Yasht 20, is a duplicate of the three verses of Yasna 9–11.
Vayu, divinity of wind and atmosphere, is a dual divinity: part benevolent and part malign.
References
^Degener, Almuth (June 2007). "Cheung, Johnny: Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb". Indo-Iranian Journal. 50 (2): 199–201. doi:10.1007/s10783-008-9057-2. ISSN 0019-7246.
^Ringe, Don (2001). "Review of "Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben" by Helmut Rix, et al". Diachronica. 18 (1): 184–187. doi:10.1075/dia.18.1.15rin. ISSN 0176-4225.
Kellens, Jean (1989), "Avesta", Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 3, New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul: 35–44.
External links
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Avesta/Yašt
English language translations of the Yashts from Darmesteter, James (1898), Müller, Friedrich Max (ed.), Sacred Books of the East, vol. 23, New York: OUP
January 07, 2023
yasht, collection, twenty, hymns, younger, avestan, language, each, these, hymns, invokes, specific, zoroastrian, divinity, concept, chapter, verse, pointers, traditionally, abbreviated, contents, overview, notes, references, bibliography, external, linksoverv. The Yashts are a collection of twenty one hymns in the Younger Avestan language Each of these hymns invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept Yasht chapter and verse pointers are traditionally abbreviated as Yt Contents 1 Overview 2 Notes 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksOverview EditThe word yasht derives from Middle Persian 𐭩𐭱𐭲 yast prayer worship probably from Avestan 𐬫𐬀𐬱𐬙𐬀 yasta honored from 𐬫𐬀𐬰 yaz to worship honor from Proto Indo European yeh ǵ 1 or Hyaǵ 2 and several hymns of the Yasna liturgy that venerate by praise are in tradition also nominally called yashts These hidden Yashts are the Barsom Yasht Yasna 2 another Hom Yasht in Yasna 9 11 the Bhagan Yasht of Yasna 19 21 a hymn to Ashi in Yasna 52 another Sarosh Yasht in Yasna 57 the praise of the hypostasis of prayer in Yasna 58 and a hymn to the Ahurani in Yasna 68 Since these are a part of the primary liturgy they do not count among the twenty one hymns of the Yasht collection All the hymns of the Yasht collection are written in what appears to be prose but which for a large part may originally have been a basically eight syllable verse oscillating between four and thirteen syllables and most often between seven and nine 3 Most of the yazatas that the individual Yashts praise also have a dedication in the Zoroastrian calendar The exceptions are Drvaspa and Vanant The twenty one yashts of the collection notes follow Yasht title nominally invokes a in praise of b extent1 Ohrmazd Yasht c Ahura Mazda 33 verses2 Hapt Amahraspand Yasht c the seven Amesha Spentas 15 verses3 Ardawahisht Yasht c Asha Vahishta of Best Truth 19 verses4 Hordad Yasht c Haurvatat of Wholeness and Perfection 11 verses5 Aban Yasht b Aredvi Sura Anahita of the waters f g 132 verses6 Hwarshed Yasht Hvare khshaeta of the Radiant Sun 7 verses7 Mah Yasht Maonghah of the Moon 7 verses8 Tishtar Yasht Tishtrya the star Sirius 62 verses9 Drvasp Yasht Drvaspa guardian of horses d 33 verses10 Mihr Yasht Mithra of Covenant 145 verses11 Srosh Yasht Sraosha of Obedience e 23 verses12 Rashn Yasht Rashnu of Justice e 47 verses13 Fravardin Yasht the Fravashis 158 verses14 Warharan Yasht Verethragna Smiter of resistance 64 verses15 Ram Yasht b the good i Vayu 58 verses16 Den Yasht b Chista Wisdom 20 verses17 Ard Yasht Ashi of Recompense g 62 verses18 Ashtad Yasht b khvarenah the divine glory 9 verses19 Zam Yasht see note b below 97 verses20 Hom Yasht Haoma h 3 verses21 Vanant Yasht Vanant the star Vega 2 versesNotes Edita The Yashts did not originally have titles These were assigned at some time during the Common Era and hence reflect the Middle Persian forms of the divinities names b Several Yashts are despite their names hymns to other divinities or concepts Yasht 5 is nominally to the waters but primarily addresses Aredvi Sura Anahita who is also a divinity of the waters Yasht 15 is nominally to Raman Rama Kshathra but praises the good Vayu i Yasht 16 is nominally to Daena insight revelation but actually invokes Chista Wisdom Chista and Daena are very closely associated with one another Yasht 18 nominally to Arshtat is actually an ode to khvarenah the divine glory Yasht 19 nominally to Zam the Earth has very little to do with the earth See Zam for details c Yashts 1 4 are mediocre meaningless texts composed in incoherent language they probably result from a very late expansion of the Yast collection 3 d Yasht 9 to Drvaspa has a number of verses that are originally from Yasht 5 the hymn to the waters 4 e Yashts 11 and 12 are respectively hymns to Sraosha and Rashnu but are to some extent also an extension of Yasht 10 the hymn to Mithra Sraosha and Rashnu are both attendants of Mithra f There is also a hidden Yasht to the waters at Yasna 38 g Yasht 5 in praise of Aredvi Sura Anahita and Yasht 17 to Ashi share a number of verses It is not possible to determine which of the two is the original h The Avesta has two hymns that were later titled Hom Yasht The original is part of the Yasna liturgy and hence not counted as a Yasht The other Yasht 20 is a duplicate of the three verses of Yasna 9 11 i Vayu divinity of wind and atmosphere is a dual divinity part benevolent and part malign References Edit Degener Almuth June 2007 Cheung Johnny Etymological Dictionary of the Iranian Verb Indo Iranian Journal 50 2 199 201 doi 10 1007 s10783 008 9057 2 ISSN 0019 7246 Ringe Don 2001 Review of Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben by Helmut Rix et al Diachronica 18 1 184 187 doi 10 1075 dia 18 1 15rin ISSN 0176 4225 a b Kellens 1989 p 38 Kellens 1989 p 39 Bibliography EditKellens Jean 1989 Avesta Encyclopaedia Iranica vol 3 New York Routledge and Kegan Paul 35 44 External links Edit Wikisource has original text related to this article Avesta Yast English language translations of the Yashts from Darmesteter James 1898 Muller Friedrich Max ed Sacred Books of the East vol 23 New York OUP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yasht amp oldid 1117074187, wikipedia, 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