Yasna

Yasna ( Avestan ) is the name of the primary liturgy of Zoroastrianism and the most important part of the writings of the Avesta, the sacred scripture collection of the followers of the teachings of the Iranian religious leader Zarathustra. Accompanied by ritual actions the recitation of this liturgy is also the most important religious ceremony of Zoroastrians.

About the Name

The word " Yasna " means " worship, sacrifice, praise "; yaz also related to YaST and Yazata about the root word. The font collection takes its name from the ceremony to which it is recited. Retrieved from " Yasna " derives In Middle Persian, the term Yašn, in New Persian, the term Ǧašn ( جشن ) from. Latter remains in today's Iran and throughout the Persian -speaking world, a generally used term and refers there a Merry Christmas.

The Liturgy

The Yasna liturgy is an essential part of the Avesta. The Yasna consists of 72 "has" or " hats", from Avestan ha'iti, "cut", according to " section".

Part of the Yasnas are - in addition to the linguistic younger sections in varying degrees - the Gathas. These are hymns which can be distinguished from other parts of the Yasnas both stylistic and linguistic terms and in terms of the content and the person Zarathustra be returned. The seventeen hymns of the five Gathas are also sections 28-34, 43-46, 47-50, 51 and 53 of the Yasna collection.

The first sections of the Yasnas contain invocations and prayers to the old Zoroastrian -Iranian pantheon ( the Yazata ), whose presence is requested at the " worship ". Yasna 9 to 11 correspond to the Hom Yasht, that does not count as the other Yashts the Yasna to the Yasht collection. Yasna 12 content marked a commitment to the Zoroastrian faith; whereas part relate content to other sections of the Yasnas and here are versions of the same. The " Ahuna Vairya ", the most important of the four Zoroastrian prayers ( Manthras ), is found in Yasna 27 Yasna 55 includes a paean to the Gathas. Yasna 63-69 make up the prayers that will be accompanied to the ceremony by the Ape - Zaothra ritual. The last three sections are thanks to the initially summoned Yazata.

The ceremony

" Yasna " is the most important religious ceremony of Zoroastrians. As the " inner" ceremony, ie accomplished in ritual purity and thus at the altar of a fire temple takes place, these two steps:

In the first step, preparations are made, including a consecration of the area in which the the ritual, and the preparation of the first Parahaoma mixture.

The second step is the actual Yasna ceremony, one taking place from memory recitation of the liturgy, accompanied by several ritual acts, including the formulation of a second Parahaoma mixture. The climax and the actual purpose of the ceremony, the Ape - Zaothra ( Middle Persian and Modern Persian: from Azor, literally "gift / present to the water " ), strengthening of the water, which is done symbolically by a mixture of two Parahaoma preparations.

The "inner" and " outer" Yasna ceremony can ever take from several hours to complete and are like most Zoroastrian rituals in the face of the sacred fire done that - referred to Avestan as " Atar " - in the world of ancient Iranian religion purity and truth ( Asha ) represents and which in the Pahlavi literature as sheltered power Asha Vahishta ( Aša Vahišta ) is assigned. Yasna (HAT) 62 of the Avesta is dedicated to Atar.

While, as attested from the Sassanian period, before the recitation by eight Zoroastrian priests ( Middle Persian: " Mowbad " Modern Persian " Mobed " ) was carried out, it will now be usually done by two. The celebrant is the Zut ( Avestan: Zaotar ), and his assistant, who is also responsible for the preparations, one or more Raspis.

The word " Zaotar " as well as " Yasna ", has an Indo-Iranian origin and is etymologically related to the Vedic Hotar. In the Gathas Zarathustra called Zaotar. In the Middle Persian book Bundahischn this term is applied to Ahura Mazda in the resurrection.