Zoroastrian Rituals:

Afrinagan of the Gathas

Text follows Geldner, vol. II, p. 269.
(Priests and congregation:)
1. ýathâ ahû vairyô...(8).
ashem vohû...(3).
1. Yatha Ahu Vairyo...(8).
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.)
ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô ameshanãm speñtanãm gâthâbyô speñtâbyô ratuxshathrâbyô ashaonibyô ahunavaityå gâthayå ushtavaityå gâthayå speñtâmainyêush gâthayå vohu-xshathrayå gâthayå vahishtôishtôish gâthayå, To Ahura Mazda, rich, possessing good things, and to the Amesha Spentas, and to the holy, Asha-sanctified Gathas, masters of Khshathra. To the Ahunawad Gatha, the Ushtawad Gatha, the Spentomad Gatha, the Wohukhshathra Gatha, and the Wahishtoisht Gatha.
2. ashâunãm fravashinãm ukhranãm aiwithûranãm paoiryô-tkaêshanãm fravashinãm nabânazdishtanãm fravashinãm xshnaothra ýasnâica vahmâica xshnaothrâica frasastayaêca, 2. With propitiation of the Asha-sanctified fravashis of the strong, the fravashis of the first teachers, and the fravashis of the next of kin, 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:)
3. ahurem mazdãm raêvañtem hvarenanguhañtem ýazamaide, ameshâ speñtâ huxshathrâ hudhånghô ýazamaide, gâthå speñtå ratuxshathrå ashaonîsh ýazamaide, ahunavaitîm gâthãm ashaonîm ashahe ratûm ýazamaide, ushtavaitîm gâthãm ashaonîm ashahe ratûm ýazamaide, speñtâ-mainyûm gâthãm ashaonîm ashahe ratûm ýazamaide, vohu-xshathrãm gâthãm ashaonîm ashahe ratûm ýazamaide, vahishtôishtîm gâthãm ashaonîm ashahe ratûm ýazamaide. 3. We worship Ahura Mazda, rich, possessing good things. We worship the well ruling, beneficient Amesha Spentas. We worship the holy, Asha-sanctified Gathas, masters of Khshathra. We worship the Ahunawad Gatha, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha. We worship the Ushtawad Gatha, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha. We worship the Spentomad Gatha, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha. We worship the Wohukhshathra Gatha, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha. We worship the Wahishtoisht Gatha, Asha-sanctified, the master of Asha.
4. ashâunãm vanguhîsh sûrå speñtå fravashayô ýazamaide 4. We worship the Asha-sanctified, good, powerful, holy fravashis,
(Priests:)

(Karda:)

ýå vîsâdha âvayeiñti hamaspathmaêdaêm paiti ratûm âat athra vîcareñti dasa pairi xshafnô avat avô zixshnånghemnå, who fly hither up from the settlement at Hamaspathmaedaya time. Here, then, they move about for ten nights, desiring to learn this:
(Priests and congregation:)
kô nô stavât kô ýazâite kô ufyât kô frînât kô paiti-zanât gaomata zasta vastravata asha-nâsa nemangha kahe nô idha nãma âkhairyât kahe vô urva frâyezyât kahmâi nô tat dâthrem dayât ýat hê anghat hvairyãn ajyamnem ýavaêca ýavaêtâtaêca. Who will praise, who will worship, who will laud, who will propitiate, who will welcome us with hands holding meat and clothing, with Asha-attaining reverence? By whom will our names be sung, by whom will your souls be worshipped, to which one of us will this gift be given that he may have inexhaustible food for ever and ever?
(Priests:)
âat ýô nâ-hîsh frâyazâite gaomata zasta vastravata asha-nâsa nemangha ahmâi âfrîneñti xshnûtå ainitå atbishtå ukhrå ashâunãm fravashayô, Then the man who will worship them with hands holding meat and clothing, with Asha-attaining reverence, the strong fravashis of the Asha-sanctified bless when they are satisfied, not injured, not treated with hostility.
buyât ahmi nmâne gêushca vãthwa upa vîranãmca buyât âsushca aspô derezrasca vâxshô, buyât nâ stâhyô vyâxanô ýô-nô bâdha frâyazâite gaomata zasta vastravata asha-nâsa nemangha! May there be in this house herds of cattle and troops of men, and may there be a swift horse and a sturdy chariot, may the man be steadfast and eloquent who, indeed, will worship us with hands holding meat and clothing, with Asha-attaining reverence.
ashâunãm fravashinãm ukhranãm aiwithûranãm ukhranãm vârethrakhninãm paoiryô-tkaêshanãm fravashinãm nabânazdishtanãm fravashinãm fravashayô xshnûtå ayañtu ahmya nmâne xshnûtå vîcareñtu ahmya nmâne. xshnûtå âfrîneñtu ahmya nmâne vanguhim ashîm hvâparãm, xshnûtå pârayañtu haca ahmât nmânât staomâca râzareca bareñtu dathushô ahurâi mazdâi ameshanãmca speñtanãm mâcim gerezânå pârayañtu haca ahmât nmânât ahmâkemca mazdayasnanãm! May those fravashis among the strong, completely victorious, strong, victorious fravashis of the Asha-sanctified, among the fravashis of the first teachers, among the fravashis of the next of kin come into this house, satisfied may they move about in this house. Satisfied, may they wish upon this house good beneficient Ashi. May they depart from this house satisfied; may they carry with them hymns of praise and prescribed ritual acts to the Creator, Ahura Mazda, and to the Amesha Spentas, may they not by any means go away lamenting from this house and from that of us Mazda-worshippers.
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:)

5. (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, 5. 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.
amem hutashtem huraodhem verethrakhnem ahuradhâtem vanaiñtîmca uparatâtem pouru-spaxshtîm tbishyañtãm paiti- jaitîm dushmainyunãm hathrânivâitîm hamerethanãm aurvathanãm tbishyañtãm. (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:)
âfrînâmi vavanvå vanat-peshene buye vîspem aurvathem tbishyañtem vîspem akhem tbishyañtem arathwyô- mananghem arathwyô-vacanghem arathwyô-shyaothnem. 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:)
vavane buye rathwya manangha rathwya vacangha rathwya shyaothna nijane buye vîspe dushmainyû vîspe daêvayasnê zaze buye vanghâuca mizhde vanghâuca sravahe urunaêca darekhe havanghe. (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.
âfrînâmi, darekhem jva ushta jva avanghe narãm ashaonãm ãzanghe duzhvarshtâ- varezãm vahishtem ahûm ashaonãm raocanghem vîspô-hvâthrem, atha jamyât ýatha âfrînâmi. 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:)
ashvãn fravash cêrãn fravash awar gwêzãn fravash pêrôzhgarãn fravash paoiryô- tkaêshãn fravash nabânazdishtãn fravash fravashayô. The fravashis of the Asha-sanctified, the fravashis of the powerful, the fravashis of the superior, the fravashis of the victorious, the fravashis of the first teachers, the fravashis of the next of kin, all those fravashis.
în âfrîñgãn în xshnûmaine gehe gâthâbyô ahunavat gehe ushtavat gehe speñtamat gehe vôhûxshathra gehe vahishtôishtôish gehe, gehe gâthâbyô ardâfravash bê-rasat. May this Afrinagan and Khshnuman reach the holy Frawashis at the time of the Gatha days, at the time of Ahunawad, at the time of Ushtawad, at the time of Spentomad, at the time of Wohukhshathra, and at the time of Wahishtoisht.
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.)
6. ýathâ ahû vairyô...(2).
ýasnemca vahmemca aojasca zavareca âfrînâmi ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô ameshanãm speñtanãm, gâthâbyô speñtâbyô ratuxshathrâbyô ashaonibyô ahunavaityå gâthayå ushtavaityå gâthayå
6. Yatha Ahu Vairyo...(2).
I desire worship and adoration and strength and force for Ahura Mazda, rich, possessing good things, and for the Amesha Spentas, and for the holy, Asha- sanctified Gathas, masters of Khshathra: for the Ahunawad Gatha, the Ushtawad Gatha, the Spentomad Gatha, the Wohukhshathra Gatha, and the Wahishtoisht Gatha, and for the Asha-sanctified fravashis of the strong, the fravashis of the first teachers, and the fravashis of the next of kin. speñtâmainyêush gâthayå vohu-xshathrayå gâthayå vahishtôishtôish gâthayå, ashâunãm fravashinãm ukhranãm aiwithûranãm paoiryô-tkaêshanãm fravashinãm nabânazdishtanãm fravashinãm.
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.
(Priests and congregation 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 < (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).
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....
hazangrem baêshazanãm baêvare baêshazanãm (3).
Thus may it come as I wish.
Ashem Vohu....
A thousand remedies, ten thousand remedies (3).
ashem vohû....
jasa-mê avanghe 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.
Ashem Vohu....
Come to my help, o Mazda (3).
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...!!


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