Zoroastrian texts and ethical vocabulary

Zoroastrianism

An Iranian religious tradition associated with Zarathushtra, with living communities and diverse historical developments.

Zarathushtra

The religious teacher associated with the Gathas; the precise dating of his life remains debated.

Also found as: Zoroaster · Zarathustra

Avesta

The surviving Zoroastrian scriptural corpus; its sections differ in language, content and transmission.

Gathas

Seventeen Old Avestan hymns associated with Zarathushtra, transmitted within the Yasna.

Yasna

A central Zoroastrian liturgy and its textual collection, which includes the Gathas.

Yasna Haptanghaiti

The seven-chapter liturgical composition within the Yasna; distinguish it from the seventeen Gathic hymns.

Yasht

A hymn type in the Avesta, commonly devoted to particular divine beings or powers.

Also found as: Yashts

Vendidad

An Avestan collection including purity and ritual regulations; preserve its particular textual setting.

Also found as: Videvdad

Khordeh Avesta

A collection of shorter Zoroastrian prayers used in devotional practice.

Also found as: Little Avesta

Ahura Mazda

The Wise Lord in Zoroastrian vocabulary; explain the name within the particular community or text.

Also found as: Ahura Mazdā

Asha

Truth, rightness or order in Avestan vocabulary; translation choices emphasize different dimensions.

Also found as: aša

Druj

Falsehood or deception in Avestan vocabulary; discuss conduct without assigning a supernatural identity to a present-day person.

Vohu Manah

Good mind or good thought in Avestan religious vocabulary.

Asha Vahishta

Best truth or righteousness, one of the named Amesha Spenta qualities.

Also found as: Aša Vahišta

Khshathra Vairya

Desirable dominion in Amesha Spenta vocabulary; theological explanations require their own tradition’s setting.

Also found as: Xshathra Vairya

Spenta Armaiti

Amesha Spenta vocabulary associated with devotion or right-mindedness; translations vary.

Also found as: Spenta Ārmaiti

Haurvatat

Wholeness or completeness in Amesha Spenta vocabulary.

Also found as: Haurvatāt

Ameretat

Immortality in Amesha Spenta vocabulary, commonly discussed alongside Haurvatat.

Also found as: Amərətāt

Amesha Spentas

The beneficent or holy immortals in Zoroastrian theology; accounts may count six with Ahura Mazda as the seventh.

Spenta Mainyu

Beneficent spirit in Avestan vocabulary; its theological relation to other figures needs careful contextual reading.

Angra Mainyu

The hostile or destructive spirit in Zoroastrian tradition; explanations vary by textual and historical setting.

Also found as: Ahriman

Fravashi

A protective spiritual concept in Zoroastrian tradition; it should not be replaced automatically with another religion’s soul vocabulary.

Chinvat Bridge

The bridge associated with judgment after death in Zoroastrian tradition; a named religious image rather than a current prediction.

Frashokereti

The renewal or final restoration of existence in Zoroastrian eschatological traditions.

Also found as: Frashōkereti

Good thoughts, words and deeds

A well-known Zoroastrian ethical formulation; Babylon can compare responsible action while naming the traditions separately.