KHORDEH AVESTĀ - AVESTA -- Zoroastrian Archives

1 KHORDEH AVEST comprisingAshem, Yatha, the five Ny yeshes, the five G hs,Vispa Humata, N m Set yeshne, Patet Pashem nee,all the Nirangs, B js, and Namaskars,and sixteen YashtsTRANSLITERATEDANDTRANSLATED INTO ENGLISHWith Copious Explanatory NotesPrepared byProf. Ervad MANECK FURDOONJI KANGA the Gujarati originalKhordeh-Avest -B -M yeniofErvad KAVASJI EDULJI KANGA.(first Edition published in 1880and Thirteenth edition in 1976.)FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH1362 1993 edition 1381 2013 Edition in English 1362 1993 published by The Trusteesof the Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties, 209, Dr.

2 Dadabhai NaorojiRoad, Fort, Bombay 400 001. Printed by: Jenaz Printers, Bombay. Tel. 2612853 Revised 2013 to correct printer s errors, , Kasson MN KHORDEH - AVESTA , with text and translation in Gujarati, had beenprepared in the year 1880 A. D. by the celebrated AVESTA Scholar, the LateErvad Kavasji Edulji Kanga. This work is known as KHORDEH AVESTA B -M yeni. The value and the utility of this book could be perceived from thefact that even after more than a century, It has remained a standard work inthe Parsi Community for the purpose of prayers, and as well among thescholars as an indispensable reference book.

3 The demand has been such thatit has subsequently been, published into thirteen recent times, however, it has been noticed that a fairly large number ofZoroastrians have been migrating to the Western countries, and hence havedifficulty in following the Gujarati language. Moreover, the youngergeneration in India are also nowadays not familiar with the Gujaratilanguage. A serious need was felt, therefore, to have a KHORDEH - AVESTA inEnglish on the lines of the KHORDEH - AVESTA B -M yeni in Gujarati by the lateErvad K. E. Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet entrusted the work ofrendering the said Gujarati KHORDEH - AVESTA B -M yeni into an Englishversion (Text in Roman Script with English Translation) to the well-knownScholar of Iranology, Prof.

4 Ervad Maneck Furdoonji Kanga who hadcompleted this work diligently, but did not live for his work to see the lightof day, as he passed way in October, 1988. For the proof-reading andcorrection of this publication, thanks are due to Ervad Ratanshah RustomjiMotafram who is the Head-Master of the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute,Andheri, and an erudite scholar of AVESTA Trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet have great pleasure inpublishing this invaluable book and presenting the same in the service of theParsi Aspi F. Golwalla,Chairman,Board of Trustees,Parsi Punchayet Funds and Properties, ,15th January, TO 2013 CORRECTED English edition of Ervad Kangaji s popular classic was first printedin 1993.

5 Unfortunately, the printed edition has since become very scarce. Tenyears later, it was digitised and put on the web site through thetireless efforts of Ervad Soli Dastur. It quickly became one of the mostviewed and downloaded documents on the website currently over 170,000times a staggering amount in view of the small number of practisingZoroastrians. In 2011, in view of its popularity, and the fact that the Parsees look uponErvad Kanga s editions as the standard prayer-books in point ofpronunciation, I undertook the task of preparing an ebook version of theclassic, which could be viewed on smart phones and tablets.

6 At the sametime I took the opportunity to correct the frequent printer s errors which thatedition suffered from. Given the technical difficulties, it has taken nearly twoyears to complete the task. I am sure the scanning process has introducednew defects, and I welcome all feedback so I can make further those who are interested, a list of the corrections can be found , 7, 2013iiPreface to the English Edition of the KHORDEH AVESTA -B -M yeniThe oldest Zoroastrian religious scripture, as preserved at present, isknown as the AVESTA . A section of this AVESTA is known as the KHORDEH - AVESTA which means the Smaller ( Selected) AVESTA .

7 This is the book ofdaily prayers of the Zoroastrians. It is a cherished possession of everydevoted Zoroastrian household. The KHORDEH AVESTA is a collection ofprayers selected from other major works of extant AVESTA literature such asYasna, Vispered, Vendidad, and the Yasht Literature. For instance, the AtashNy yesh is taken from Yasna Chapter 62, and the v n Ardvisur Ny yesh istaken from Yasna Chapter 65, and so book KHORDEH AVESTA , therefore, contains daily prayers includingthe Kusti prayers, Hoshbam, Five G hs, Five Ny yeshes (praise, litany), the fring n (benedictions, blessings) containing invocatory prayers andblessings dedicated to Ard fravash, Dahm n, Srosh, Gahambar, Gatha,Rapithwin, etc.

8 , besides some prayers in KHORDEH AVESTA , intended for the use of the devotees, is acollection of the forms of prayers most required by them at various seasonsand in the various circumstances of their lives. As such, it is not a book ofuniform content and fixed arrangement. Thus, all the Yashts are alsoincluded in the Tam m KHORDEH AVESTA ; but because of the convenience ofprinting facilities, only a few Yashts, known as the shorter Yashts, and alsothose which the publisher considers as being necessary or popular, aregenerally included in the KHORDEH AVESTA .

9 The Hormazd Yasht, theArdibehesht Yasht, the Srosh Yasht H dokht, the Srosh Yasht Vadi, thesmaller Hom and Vanant Yashts, Haftan Yasht, and the Bahram Yasht aregenerally included. However, different editions contain a varying number ofYashts. For the convenience of the devotees, even the Five Gathas of theHoly Prophet Zarathushtra, which form a part of the Yasna section, areincluded in some of the editions of the KHORDEH recite their prayers in AVESTA which is a sacred several words for prayers in AVESTA , one is called m nthra ,which means thought (force), word, holy word.

10 It is similar to the Sanskrit mantra , and the Sanskrit translation is rendered as m nthrav ni which isalso significantly called desha : Divine Command .Among other AVESTA words for prayer , the M nthra therefore,occupies a very important position, According to the Yasna Chapter (Gatha Ahunavaiti), m nthra is the Holy Word of Divine Origin, and theHoly Word of Ahura Mazda. One of the collections of these m nthras isknown as M nthra Spenta in AVESTA which means the Holy, beneficentWord , and which is effective and full of glory . It is stated in the FravardinYasht (paragraph 81) that M nthra Spenta is the soul of Ahura Mazda.