A NOTE ON THE READING AND PRONUNCIATION OF THE AVESTA

a as in English “but” ā “ “ “ “father” e “ “ “ “mate” ē “ “ “ “mate” but somewhat prolonged i “ “ “ “pin” ī “ “ “ as i in “machine” but somewhat prolonged o “ “ “ as o in “rope” ō “ “ “ as o in “rope” but somewhat prolonged u “ “ “ as u in “put” ū “ “ “ as oo in “book”

GLOSSARY

Bāz (baj): Indicates passages which are recited in a low tone or murmur.

falān: Indicates a place-holder in the text where the appropriate name should be inserted.

Kīks and karaps: Kīks i.e. those who have eyes but would not see; karaps i.e. those who have ears but would not hear; its significance is, that they are neither paying attention to nor acknowledging the doctrines of the holy Zoroastrian Religion. For them words employed in Avesta are Kaoyām and Karafnāmcha; see Hormazd Yasht, para 10.

Mānthra: Mānthra Spenta, i.e. beneficent or holy spell. The original meaning of mānthra (Sanskrit mantra) is “secret mysteries of the Zoroastrian Religion”, “mysterious excellences of the Zoroastrian Religion”. A reference about this we find in Vispered Kardāh 13, first paragraph, thus: “Ashem vīspem mānthrem yazamaide: Zarathushtrem hadhamānthrem yazamaide”, i.e. we worship the entire mānthra as holy; we worship Zarathushtra who is one with mānthras or the composer of the mānthras. In several later books it is stated that some writings of the Prophet Zarathushtra were so mysterious that even the great sages could not comprehend their meaning. Moreover, many famous Persian writers call him, “Paegambare Ramz-gu” (i.e. Prophet who reveals the secrets). We have no certain evidence at present as to how many these mānthras were originally given by him. See also preface.

Saoka: The original meaning of the word “Saoka” is sharpness, activity of the mind, brightness of intellect, splendour - brilliance of wisdom (root such = Sanskrit shuch = to shine): profit, prosperity, happiness (root su = Persian sud = to profit). Metaphorically it should be understood as the yazata presiding over these virtues.

Vanant: Vanant is, the central star in the West and the most brilliant. This star Fomalhaut are generally regarded as the same. It is called the opponent of the planet Jupiter.