Zend Avesta
Original Authors: Various
Translators: James Darmesteter and L.H. Mills
Original Date Written: Approximately 1500-500 BCE (Avestan period)
Book Information: This book is available in the public domain and can be accessed for free from * Internet Archive. If you prefer to own a physical copy or support the author/publisher, you can purchase it through the Amazon link provided.
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The Zend Avesta is a complete English translation of the Avesta, the primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Edited by the renowned scholar Max Müller, this translation was published as three volumes in the Sacred Books of the East series. It provides a comprehensive understanding of Zoroastrian beliefs, rituals, and laws, offering insights into one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.
The Avesta is divided into five parts:
Yasna: The chief liturgical part of the canon, containing the rite of the preparation and sacrifice of haoma. It includes the Gāthās, a collection of songs or hymns thought to be the very words of Zarathushtra.
Visp-rat: A lesser liturgical scripture containing homages to various Zoroastrian spiritual leaders.
Vendidad (Vidēvdāt): The main source for Zoroastrian law, both ritual and civil, including an account of creation and the first man, Yima.
Yashts: Twenty-one hymns rich in myth, dedicated to various yazatas (angels) and ancient heroes.
Khūrda Avesta (Little Avesta): A group of minor texts, hymns, and prayers for specific occasions.
The Zend Avesta is a foundational text of Zoroastrianism, a religion that has significantly influenced other major world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its hymns, prayers, and laws provide a window into the spiritual and cultural practices of ancient Persia and the enduring legacy of Zoroastrianism.
The Amazon description adds that the Zend Avesta is the sacred book of the Parsis, followers of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, who sought refuge among the tolerant Hindus on the western coast of India after the Sassanian dynasty was overthrown. This sacred text continues to hold significant religious and cultural value for the Zoroastrian community.