Khordeh Avesta

Khordeh Avesta ( Modern Persian according Xwurdag Abestâg in Pahlavi: " Little Avesta " ) is the fifth section of the Avesta, the holy scripture of the followers of the Iranian religious leader Zarathustra.

Khordeh Avesta may be referred to in terms of its function as a prayer book for general use. The text contains in particular the various prayers, according to the made ​​in the Zoroastrian religion division of the day into five times of the day at any time of day ( Modern Persian and Pahlavi: " gah " ) have to be done.

The work underwent in the course of the long history of the Zoroastrian religion, various changes, modifications and additions, so that the term " Khordeh Avesta " often books with partially different content can be found. Thus in various editions also include sections neupersischen texts. This will in part on old content back are no longer present their Middle Persian original texts, however, continue to exist in the form of existing, translated sections.

In linguistic terms can be a division within the given framework of the older, present in the Avestan language sections of the text to make. This results in the most widely accepted generally replaced with the following breakdown:

The collection Khordeh Avesta is among Zoroastrians the high priest ( " Mobedan - Mobed " in Pahlavi ) Azarpad Mehrespandan, one of the most famous characters of the Zoroastrian clergy of Sassanian Iran, attributed to the rank of a saint enjoys among Zoroastrians. This already mentioned in various Middle Persian texts, here under, among others, in Denkard and Bundahišn and in the reign of the Persian king Shapur II living Mobedan - Mobed and Chancellor exerted a significant influence on the performed under the Sassanids canonization of the Avesta, which he claimed its in the time of the Great King Ardashir I live and the same task serving predecessor Tansar on behalf Schapurs II amassed.

Follows For illustration, the section of the text is an excerpt from the daily prayer " Osirin - gah ", named after the over the time between the evening and the night growing Avestan deity " Uzayeirina ": " To those who is pure, we praise ... That who is pure, spread purity and truthfulness. "

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