Recommended Reading

Avesta -- Zoroastrian Archives "Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith." - Mary Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1979, p. 1) "Zoroaster was thus the first to teach the doctrines of an individual judgment, Heaven and Hell, the future resurrection of the body, the general Last Judgment, and life everlasting for the reunited soul and body. These doctrines were to become familiar articles of faith to much of mankind, through borrowings by Judaism, Christianity and Islam; yet it is in Zoroastrianism itself that they have their fullest logical coherence....” - Mary Boyce, Op. Cit. p. 29. We provide the complete text of the extant Avesta, the most ancient scriptures of Zoroastrianism, as well as many Pahlavi scriptures. It also includes information about the Avestan language, and other useful information for students of Zoroastrian religion. Most of the texts in these archives are extremely rare. NOTE: Spelling of Zoroastrian technical terms has been normalized in these archives to facilitate searches.

Avesta (Ancient scriptures of Zoroastrianism) Yasna: Sacred Liturgy and Gathas/Hymns of Zarathushtra... Khorda Avesta: Book of Common Prayer... Visperad: Extensions to the Liturgy... Vendidad: Myths, code of purification, religious observances... Fragments... The Hymns of Atharvan Zarathushtra by Jatindra Mohan Chatterji. Chatterji's translation of the Gathas, kindly contributed by the Calcutta Parsi Anjuman and Sohrabji Panthaky, and scanned by Soli Dastur. Khorda Avesta (Gujarati) edited by K. E. Kanga, kindly contributed and scanned by Soli Dastur. (For help, see instructions.) Khorda Avesta (English) edited by K. E. Kanga, kindly contributed and scanned by Soli Dastur. (For help, see instructions.)

Middle Persian/Pahlavi (Sacred literature preserved in the middle-Persian language) Arda Viraf: visit to Heaven & Hell Bundahishn Zoroastrian cosmology... Greater Bundahishn Chidag Andarz i Poryotkeshan: (Catechism) Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan: Advice on living a good life Dadestan-i Denig ("Religious Decisions")... Denkard: A Ninth Century compendium of Zoroastrian wisdom... Epistles of Manushchihr (A.D. 881) Menog-i Khrad ("The Spirit of Wisdom")... Pazand Texts... Rivayat of Adur-Farnbag Rivayat of Farnbag-Srosh Sayings of Adarbad Mahraspandan: More advice on living a good life Selections of Zadspram, a summary of Zoroastrian legend and beliefs... Shayest Ne-Shayest ("Proper and Improper")... Shkand-gumanig Vizar ("Doubt-dispelling Exposition"), a Zoroastrian apologetic... Zand-i Vohuman Yasht, A Zoroastrian Apocalypse... About the Style of Letter Writing Ahriman's Utterance to the Divs (Drayishn-i Ahriman o Divan) Explanation of Chess and arrangement of Vin-Artakhshir Gatha Hymns recited for the departed (Gasan awar vitartakan Khvanend) Kârnâmag î Ardashîr î Babagân Epic adventures of Ardashir, founder of the Sasanian Dynasty Kartir's inscription on the Kabah of Zartusht, 3rd century royal inscription Kartir's inscription at Naqsh-i Rajab The Nature and Wisdom of a Fortunate Man Yavisht i Friyan: a Pahlavi retelling of an ancient tale Pahlavi Vendidad (excerpts) The Yatkar-i-Zariran or Memoirs of Zarir Index Locorum

Other Dabestan-e Madaheb ("School of religious doctrines"): 17th century description of religions and occult practices of India Dhalla, History of Zoroastrianism (1938), part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7 Dhalla, Saga of a Soul -- An Autobiography, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 Drower, Peacock Angel (1941) The Game of Asha, adapted from the Shah Nama of Firdausi Kerr, Sam: Sassanian Dynasty -- Historical Perspective Life of Zarathushtra told in pictures J.J. Modi's My Travels Outside Bombay: Iran, Azerbaijan, Baku translated and kindly contributed by Soli Dastur. J.J. Modi's Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees (Bombay, 1922) Old Persian Texts (Complete) ("Ahura Mazda came to my aid") Pazand Book of Jamaspi: Prophecies of the last Millennium Persian Rivayats (15th to 18th century epistles)... Qissa-i Sanjan History of emigration of Zoroastrians to India Sad Dar ("a hundred subjects")... `Ulema-i Islam The Woodcutter and his Fortune (Mushkel Aasan) [HTML] [PDF]

Example of Avestan script

Example of Pahlavi script

Example of Old Persian script

Information on Avestan language