Zoroastrian Rituals:

Afrinagan of the Gahambars

Text follows Geldner, Vol. II, p. 270.

(Priests and congregation:)
1. ýathâ ahû vairyô...(4). ashem vohû...(3).	1. Yatha Ahu Vairyo...(4). Ashem Vohu...(3).
fravarâne mazdayasnô zarathushtrish vîdaêvô ahura-tkaêshô	I profess myself a Mazda-worshipper, a follower of Zarathushtra, opposing the Daevas, accepting the Ahuric doctrine.
(Here recite the appropriate Gah dedication.)
rathwãm ayaranãmca asnyanãmca mâhyanãmca ýâiryanãmca saredhanãmca ýasnâica vahmâica xshnaothrâica frasastayaêca	For worship, adoration, propitiation and praise of the masters of the daylight, and the day, and the months, and the seasons, and the years.
rathwô berezatô ýô ashahe rathwãm ayaranãmca asnyanãmca mâhyanãmca ýâiryanãmca saredhanãmca rathwãm vîspe-mazishtanãm ýôi heñti ashahe ratavô hâvanîm paiti ratûm.	To that lofty master who is Asha, the masters of the daylight, and the day, and the months, and the seasons, and the years, the greatest of all masters, those who are the masters of Asha, at the time when the Haoma is prepared.
(Name whichever Gahambar it is:)
2. - maidhyôi-zaremayehe rathwô - maidhyôishemahe rathwô - paitishhahyehe rathwô - ayâthrimahe rathwô - maidhyâiryehe rathwô - hamaspathmaêdayehe rathwô xshnaothra ýasnâica vahmâica xshnaothrâica frasastayaêca,	2. With propitiation of the master Maidyozarem (or, Maidyoshahem, or Paitishahem, or Ayathrem, or Maidyarem, or Hamaspathmaidaya), for worship, adoration, propitiation, and praise.
(zôt,) ýathâ ahû vairyô, zaotâ frâ-mê mrûtê, (râspî,) ýathâ ahû vairyô, ýô zaotâ frâ-mê mrûtê, (zôt,) athâ ratush ashâtcît haca, frâ ashava vîdhvå mraotû!	'Yatha Ahu Vairyo', the zaotar should say to me 'Yatha Ahu Vairyo', he who is the zaotar should say to me 'Atha ratush ashatchit hacha', the Asha-sanctified knowing one should say.
(Priests:) (Karda:)
(zôt u râspî,) 3. dâtâca aête mazdayasna aêtem ratûmca myazdemca ýim maidhyôizaremaêm pasêush garebush ýôishtahe frâ-uruzda-payanghô ýezi tat ýayata navât tat ýayata,	3. Offer, o Mazdayasnians, for these masters and all their Myazda offerings, the Maidyozarem, a young cow, the smallest, not yet with milk. Otherwise, if this is not possible,
4. hurayåscit adha aêtavatô daidyat â-dit franghârayat sraoshât dãhishta arsh-vacastema ashem ashavastema xshathrem huxshathrôtema anazavaxtema vouru-rafnôstema marzhdikavastema thrâyô- drikhutema sashushtema ashahe berejô stryô mayå pâreñdîsh upavâzô ýezi tat ýayata navât tat ýayata,	4. give a sufficient amount of liquor, to be drank by those who are best instructed by Sraosha, whose words are most rightly spoken, most Asha- sanctified as to Asha [1], best ruling with respect to dominion (Khshathra), most generous in giving support, and alms, the best protection of the poor, with best understanding of the observance of Asha, ... bringing. And if this is not possible,
5. aêsmanãmcit âat hushatãm pairîshtanãm vazyâish stâishca staoyêbîsh ratêush nmânem frânâshayata ýezi tat ýayata navât tat ýayata, aêsmanãmcit âat hushatãm pairîshtanãm â-gaoshô-masêbîsh ãxmô- frânô-masêbîsh zastô-frânô- masêbîsh ratêush nmânem frânâshayata ýezi tûtava navât tûtava,	5. loads of firewood should be brought to the master's house, well dried and prepared. If this is not possible, wood should be carried to the master's house on the shoulders, under the arms, or in the hand according to one's ability. If this too is not possible,
6. huxshathrôtemâicit at xshathrem cîshyât ýat ahurâi mazdâi, huxshathrôtemâi bâat xshathrem ahmat hyat aibî dademahicâ cîshmahicâ hvãnmahicâ hyat mazdâi ahurâi ashâicâ vahishtâi, dâtô hê myazdô ratufrîsh!	6. let the best ruling with respect to dominion (Khshathra) be ascribed to him, Ahura Mazda. We certainly ascribe dominion (Khshathra) to Mazda Ahura and the Highest Asha, and strive for appropriate offerings to them. So an agreeable Myazda can be offered by the master.
7. pañcâca cathwaresatemca maidhyôi-zaremayehe ashahe vahishtahe dathushô, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghvô ýat astvaiñti hazangrem maêshinãm daênunãm paiti-puthranãm narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe.	7. Forty-five days for the Maidyozarem, in the month the Highest Asha (Ardibehest), on the day of the Creator (Day-pa-mihr). Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away a thousand ewes with their lambs to Asha-sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha.
paoiryeheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat maidhyôi-zaremayehe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm ayasnîm daste añtare mazdayasnâish.	When someone does not bring the first Myazda, that of Maidyozarem, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should declare that person unfit to take part in the worship services of the Mazdayasnians.
8. xshvashtîm maidhyôi-shemahe tishtryehe dathushô, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghvô ýat astvaiñti hazangrem gavãm daênunãm paiti-puthranãm narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe. bityeheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat maidhyôi-shemahe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm avacô-urvaitîm daste añtare mazdayasnâish.	8. Sixty days for the Maidyoshahem, in the month Tishtrya (Tir), on the day of the Creator (Day-pa-mihr). Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away a thousand cows with their calves to Asha-sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha. When someone does not bring the second Myazda, that of Maidyoshahem, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should declare that person unfit to take the pledge of the Mazdayasnians.
9. pañcâca haptâitîm paitishhahyehe xshathrahe vairyehe anakhranãm, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghvô ýat astvaiñti hazangrem aspanãm daênunãm paiti-puthranãm narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe. thrityeheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat paitishhahyehe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm garemô-varanghem daste añtare mazdayasnâish.	9. Seventy-five days for the Paitishahem, in the month Xshathra Vairya (Shahrewar), on the day of Anagran (Aneran). Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away a thousand mares with their colts to Asha-sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha. When someone does not bring the third Myazda, that of Paitishahem, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should declare that person unfit to take part in the fiery ordeal of the Mazdayasnians [2].
10. thrisatem ayâthrimahe mithrahe anakhranãm, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghvô ýat astvaiñti hazangrem ushtranãm daênunãm paiti-puthranãm narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe. tûiryeheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat ayâthrimahe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm vâremnem staorem fraperenaoiti añtare mazdayasnâish.	10. Thirty days for the Ayathrem, in the month Mithra (Mihr), on the day Anagran (Aneran). Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away a thousand camels with their young to Asha-sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha. When someone does not bring the fourth Myazda, that of Ayathrem, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should condemn that person to lose his choice portion of beast which is owed the Mazdayasnians.
11. ashtâitîm maidhyâiryehe dathushô verethrakhnahe, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghvô ýat astvaiñti hazangrem danghåscit vãthwanãm narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe. puxdhaheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat maidhyâiryehe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm ýâtem gaêthanãm fraperenaoiti añtare mazdayasnâish.	11. Eighty days for the Maidyarem, in the month of the Creator (Day-pa-Mihr), on the day of Verethraghna (Bahram). Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away a thousand head of every sort of livestock to Asha-sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha. When someone does not bring the fifth Myazda, that of Maidyarem, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should condemn that person to lose his share of property and goods which are owed the Mazdayasnians.
12. pañcâca haptâitîm hamaspathmaêdayehe vahishtôishtôish gâthayå, disyât hê anghe avat mizhdem parô-asnâi anguhe ýatha aêtahmi anghavô ýat astvaiñti vîspa tarshuca xshudraca masanaca vanghanaca srayanaca narãm ashaonãm ashaya vanghuya urune para-daithyât aêvahe hâtãm cinmânahe ýat ashahe vahishtahe. xshtvaheca-nâ myazdahe adhâiti spitama zarathushtra ýat hamaspathmaêdayehe myazdavå ratush amyazdavanem ratunaêm âhûirîm tkaêshem fraperenaoiti añtare mazdayasnâish.	12. Seventy-five days for the Hamaspathmaidaya, on the Wahishtoish Gatha day. Thus he secures a greater merit for his soul in the future life, than if in the physical world he had given away all sorts of food and drink to Asha- sanctified men, in harmony with the Highest Asha. When someone does not bring the sixth Myazda, that of Hamaspathmaidaya, o Spitama Zarathushtra, the master who has to make that Myazda offering, should condemn that person to lose (the protection of) the Ahuric doctrine of the Mazdayasnians.
13. avaêzô-dem pascaêta fraca xraosyôit fraca syazjayôit avaêzô-dem pascaêta nârshni shyaothna aiwi-daithîta ratush ratunaêm atha ratunayô ratûm.	13. And thereafter let the blameless shout out his disrepute, and declare his deeds criminal: the master of the layman, likewise the layman of the master.
ashem vohû...(3).	Ashem Vohu...(3).
(The Zoti picks up two flowers from the base of the fire urn. He holds the flower from the left side in his right hand and passes the other to the Raspi who also holds it in his right hand.) (Asirvad:)
14. (râspî,) ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô (zôt u râspî,) âfrînâmi xshathrayâne dainghu-paiti uparâi amâi uparâi verethrâi uparâi xshathrâi xshathremca paiti-astîmca darekhô-xshathrem xshathrahe darekhô-jîtîm ushtânahe drvatâtem tanubyô,	14. To Ahura Mazda, rich, possessing good things. Blessings on the rulers of the land, for greater strength, greater victory, greater rule, greater sovereignty, compassion, long rule, enduring physical vitality, and health.
15. amem hutashtem huraodhem verethrakhnem ahuradhâtem vanaiñtîmca uparatâtem pouru-spaxshtîm tbishyañtãm paiti-jaitîm dushmainyunãm hathrânivâitîm hamerethanãm aurvathanãm tbishyañtãm.	15. (Blessings) to Ama, well-built, fair of form, to Verethraghna, made by Ahura, and to the triumphing Uparatat, completely repelling malice, completely conquering the hostile malicious adversary with a blow.
(Priests and congregation:)
16. âfrînâmi vavanvå vanat-peshene buye vîspem aurvathem tbishyañtem vîspem akhem tbishyañtem arathwyô-mananghem arathwyô-vacanghem arathwyô-shyaothnem.	16. Blessings so that he may be winner of the battle, victorious over every malicious adversary, over every evil adversary, faulty in thoughts, words and deeds.
(Priests:)
17. vavane buye rathwya manangha rathwya vacangha rathwya shyaothna nijane buye vîspe dushmainyû vîspe daêvayasnê zaze buye vanghâuca mizhde vanghâuca sravahe urunaêca darekhe havanghe.	17. (Blessings) that he may be victorious through timely thoughts, words, and deeds; to suppress all the evil-minded, and all Daeva-worshippers, so as to attain to good reward, and to good renown, and to long happiness of my soul.
18. âfrînâmi, darekhem jva ushta jva avanghe narãm ashaonãm ãzanghe duzhvarshtâvarezãm vahishtem ahûm ashaonãm raocanghem vîspô-hvâthrem, atha jamyât ýatha âfrînâmi.	18. Blessings for long life, for the desired life, for the service of Asha- sanctified people, and for the disservice of ill done deeds - the best existence of the Asha-sanctified, the luminous, offering all blissful. Thus may it come as I wish.
(The priests then exchange their flowers. They touch the ground) (During the first recital of the following verse, the Zoti picks up the three flowers from the right side, one by one, beginning from above and hands them to the Raspi who stands to the right of the Zoti. During the second recital, the Zoti picks up the three flowers from the left hand side beginning from below and hands them to the Raspi who stands to the left of the Zoti.) (Priests and congregation:)
> humatanãm hûxtanãm hvarshtanãm yadacâ anyadacâ verezyamnanãmcâ vâverezananãmcâ mahî aibî-jaretârô naênaêstârô ýathanâ vohunãm mahî < (2).	We praise good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, performed here and elsewhere, now and in the past. Thus we glorify and invoke all that is good (2).
(Recite silently:)
pashûtan gushtâspâ hizvã mahmâ bât. asho bêt dêr zî h'âhem bê-rasat.	I yearn for good mind. May Peshotan son on Gushtasp come to my aid, may he accept my prayers, may he shine for me. Thus may the holy attain long life and may their desires be fulfilled.
în âfrîñgãn în xshnûmaine mainyô rathwô bê-rasat. buleñt gehe gahañbâr maidhyôzarem (or, maidhyôshahem, paitishahem, ayâthrem, maidhyârem, or hamaspathmaidhem.) bê-rasat.	May this Afrinagan and Khshnuman reach the spirits of the masters, at the time of the lofty Gahambar Maidyozarem (or, Maidyoshahem, Paitishahem, Ayathrem, Maidyarem, or Hamaspathmaidaya).
ham kerbaî i hamâ vahã i haft keshwar zamî bê- rasat. bê-padhîrât hizvã ruãnî hûzôrdâî hûpâdashâhî dât dîn i vahe i mâzdayasnã âgahî rawâî vâfrîñgânî dât, haft keshwar zamî êduñ bât.	May the knowledge, promulgation, and glory of the good Mazdayasnian religion spread throughout the seven regions of the world, through speech, righteous persuasion, the good kingly authority and justice. So be it.
(The Raspi hands the ladle to the Zoti. Both Priests recite aloud. While reciting "yatha ahu vairyo..." the Zoti touches the water vessel at the North, South, East, and West, respectively.)
ýathâ ahû vairyô....	Yatha Ahu Vairyo....
(While reciting "ashem vohu..." the Zoti touches the water vessel at the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest, respectively.)
ashem vohû...!	Ashem Vohu...!
(The Raspi returns all flowers to the Zoti who places them on one side in the tray.)
19. ýathâ ahû vairyô...(2). ýasnemca vahmemca aojasca zavareca âfrînâmi, rathwãm ayaranãmca asnyanãmca mâhyanãmca ýâiryanãmca saredhanãmca ýasnâica vahmâica xshnaothrâica frasastayaêca rathwô berezatô ýô ashahe rathwãm ayaranãmca asnyanãmca mâhyanãmca ýâiryanãmca saredhanãmca rathwãm vîspe-mazishtanãm ýôi heñti ashahe ratavô hâvanîm paiti ratûm. (Name whiscever Gahambar it is:) - maidhyôi-zaremayehe rathwô - maidhyôishemahe rathwô - paitishhahyehe rathwô - ayâthrimahe rathwô - maidhyâiryehe rathwô - hamaspathmaêdayehe rathwô.	19. Yatha Ahu Vairyo...(2). I desire worship and adoration and strength and force for the masters of the daylight, and the day, and the months, and the seasons, and the years, and for that lofty master who is of Asha, the masters of the daylight, and the day, and the months, and the seasons, and the years, the greatest of all masters, those who are the masters of Asha, at the time when the Haoma is prepared, and to the master Maidyozarem (or, Maidyoshahem, or Paitishahem, or Ayathrem, or Maidyarem, or Hamaspathmaidaya).
ashem vohû....	Ashem Vohu....
(The priests greet each other with a ritual handshake while quietly reciting: [*]) [*. the congregation does likewise.]
hamâzor hamâ ashô bêt.	May we all be one in Asha.
(Recite aloud:)
atha jamyât ýatha âfrînâmi.	Thus may it come as I wish.
humatanãm hûxtanãm hvarshtanãm yadacâ anyadacâ verezyamnanãmcâ vâverezananãmcâ mahî aibî-jaretârô naênaêstârô ýathanâ vohunãm mahî.	We praise good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, performed here and elsewhere, now and in the past. Thus we glorify and invoke all that is good.
ýathâ ahû vairyô...(21). ashem vohû...(12).	Yatha Ahu Vairyo...(21). Ashem Vohu...(12).
ahmâi raêshca hvarenasca, ahmâi tanvô drvatâtem, ahmâi tanvô vazdvare, ahmâi tanvô verethrem, ahmâi îshtîm pourush-hvâthrãm, ahmâi âsnãmcit frazañtîm, ahmâi darekhãm darekhô-jîtîm, ahmâi vahishtem ahûm ashaonãm raocanghem vîspô-hvâthrem,	Bestow on him riches and good things; bestow health of body, toughness of body, and resistance of body; bestow on him possessions giving abundant ease, future noble offspring, and a lengthy long life; bestow on him the best existence of the Asha-sanctified, the luminous, offering all happy.
atha jamyât ýatha âfrînâmi. ashem vohû....	Thus may it come as I wish. Ashem Vohu....
hazangrem baêshazanãm baêvare baêshazanãm (3). ashem vohû.... jasa-mê avanghe mazda (3).	A thousand remedies, ten thousand remedies (3). Ashem Vohu.... Come to my help, o Mazda (3).
amahe hutâshtahe huraodhahe verethrakhnahe ahuradhâtahe vanaiñtyåsca uparatâtô, râmanasca hvâstrahe vayaosh uparô-kairyehe taradhâtô anyâish dâmãn. aêtat tê vayô ýat tê asti speñtô-mainyaom. thwâshahe hvadhâtahe zrvânahe akaranahe zrvânahe darekhô-hvadhâtahe.	To Ama, well-built, fair of form, Verethraghna, created by Ahura; and to Triumphing Uparatat; and to Raman of good pastures, and to Vayu of superior activity, superior to other creatures. That part of you, Vayu, which belongs to the Holy Spirit; to self-governed Thwasha, to boundless Zurwan, to Zurwan of the long dominion.
ashem vohû...! (kerba mazhd gunâh guzârashni râ kunôm ashahî rvã dushârm râ ham kerbaî i hamâ vahã i haft keshwar zamî zamî pahanâ rôt drânâ hvarshêt bâlâ buñdahihâ bê-rasat, ashô bêt dêr zî.)	Ashem Vohu.... For the reward of virtue and the forgiveness of sins, I do (deeds of) righteousness for the love of my soul. May all virtuousness of all good ones of the earth of seven climes reach the width of the earth, the length of the rivers, the height of the sun in their original form. May it be righteous, live long.
atha jamyât ýatha âfrînâmi. ashem vohû...!!	Thus may it come as I wish. Ashem Vohu...!!

[1. See Kreyenbroeck, p. 172.]

[2. Or possibly, "that person should submit to the fiery ordeal."]