Mazda9, kuthrā10 nemōi11 ayenī12.ln

The sinful soul lochants4 the hymn3 of the Gatha2 with sorrow and despondency1 (and speaks frightfully): “O Ahura Mazda8-9! (now) to what5

land7 shall I turn6 ? Whither10 shall I turn11 to go?”12

NAMES OF THE DAYS AND MONTHS

(Names of Thirty Days)

1. Dādār Hormazd 16. Meher yazad 2. Behman Ameshāspand 17. Srosh yazad 3. Ardibehesht Ameshāspand 18. Rashne Rāst yazad 4. Sheherevar Ameshāspand 19. Farrokh Farvardin 5. Asfandārmad Ameshāspand 20. Bahram yazad 6. Khordād Ameshāspand 21. Mīno Rām 7. Amardād Ameshāspand 22. Govād yazad 8. Dae pa Ādar Dādār 23. Dae pa Din Dādār 9. Ādar yazad 24. Dīn yazad 10. Āvān Ardvi Sur Bānoo 25. Mīnō Ashishvangh 11. Khorshed yazad 26. Āshtād yazad 12. Mohor yazad 27. Mīnō Āsmān 13. Tir yazad 28. Zamiād yazad 14. Gosh yazad 29. Mīnō Mārespand 15. Dae pa Meher Dādār 30. Mīnō Anerān

(Names of Twelve Months)

1. Farrokh Farvardin 2. Ardibehesht Ameshāspand 3. Khordād Ameshāspand 4. Teshtar Tir yazad 5. Amardād Ameshāspand 6. Sheherevar Ameshāspand 7. Meher yazad 8. Āvān yazad 9. Ādar yazad 10. Dae Dādār 11. Bahman Ameshāspand 12. Asfandārmad Ameshāspand

Explanation Regarding Five days of Gatha-Gāhāmbār

(Note: The under mentioned five Gathas come at the end of Asfandārmad

ln For its detailed description, see my Yasht Bā Māeni, Yasht 22, Hadokht Nask, fargard third, paras 19-36.

lo This entire paragraph occurs in Hādokht Nask, para 20; besides its later portion also occurs in Yasna Hā 46, stanza first.

NAMES OF THE DAYS AND MONTHS

Month).

1. Ahunavad- 2. Ushtavad- 3. Spentomad. 4. Vohūkhshathra- 5. Vahishtōisht.

(Note: Five Days of the Gathas in “Roz Nek Nām” should be recited as Roz under-mentioned.)

Geh Gāthābyō Geh Ahunavad, Geh (falān)

Geh Gāthābyō Geh Ushtavad, Geh (falān)

Geh Gāthābyō Geh Spentomad, Geh (falān)

Geh Gāthābyō Geh Vohūkhshathra, Geh (falān)

Geh Gāthābyō Geh Vahishtōisht, Geh (falān)

Explanation:- The above-mentioned names of the Five Gatha-Gahambars are derived from the names of the Gathas of Zarathushtra. When five days were added to 360 days of the year, names of any five best things from amongst the Zoroastrians were discovered which could only be applied to these additional five days. As they could not find more revered names except the names of the Five Gathas of Zarathushtra, they were assigned to these five days.lp Besides, these five Gatha Gāhāmbārs are known by more names than one:-(1) Panje Andarangān, i.e. five intermediate days, i.e. five days between the last month of a year and the first month of the year after that. (2) Panje Meh, i.e. understood as five big days. Out of the ten days of the Fravartikān the first five days are regarded as Panje Keh, and the other five days, i.e. five days of the Gathas as greater. (3) Panje ashoān, i.e. the last five days of coming of the Fravashis of the righteous people in this world.

Explanation Regarding Six Gāhāmbārs of the Year.

1. Maediozarem. 2. Maedioshahem 3. Paeteshahem. 4. Ayāthrem. 5. Maedīārem. 6. Hamaspathmaedaem.

(Note: The explanation of the above mentioned Gāhāmbārs and their seasons according to Avesta are to be understood as under:-)

1. Maedīozarem - This Gāhāmbār or Seasonal Festival begins with the Roz Khorshed of the Month Ardibehesht and ends with the Roz Dae Pa Meher. The meaning of this word is “full verdure” or “the period of mid-spring”. On the occasion of this Gāhāmbār fertility or essence in the trees and plants is on the increase.

2. Maedīoshahem - This Gāhāmbār or (Seasonal Festival) begins with the Roz Khorshed of the Month Tir and ends with the Roz Dae Pa Meher. The meaning of this word is “the period of Mid-Summer”. On the occasion of this Gāhāmbār the fields or farms are full of corns.

3. Paeteshahem - This Gāhāmbār, Seasonal Festival, begins with the Roz

lp Zartoshti Abhyās, No. 11, pages 200-201.