Skjærvø P.O. Introduction to Zoroastrianism

2006. — 353 p.
Basic bibliography
Some useful literature
Basic works of reference
History of the Iranians
History of Zoroastrian studies
Comprehensive/general surveys
Zarathustra
Achaemenid religion
Special topics
Practices
Modern Zoroastrians
Comparative religion/mythology
Old Indic texts
Old Iranian texts
Avestan texts
Old Persian inscriptions
Classical texts
Middle Persian literature
Sasanian inscriptions
Pahlavi texts
Persian and other late texts
On line translations
Note on pronunciation
Zoroastrianism. A brief oveview
1. The Indo- Iranians
1.2. The Indo-Aryans
1.3. The Iranians
1.3.1. Geographical names in the Avesta
1.3.2. The evidence of the Achaemenid inscriptions
1.3.3. Persians and Medes
2. Iranian languages and peoples
2.1. Avestan
2.2. Median and Scythian
2.3. Old Persian
2.4. Middle Iranian Languages
2.5. Middle Persian, Pahlavi
3. Source texts
3.1. The Avesta
3.1.1. Contents of the Avesta
3.2. Non-Avestan texts
3.2.1 The Achaemenid period
3.2.2. The Seleucid and Arsacid/Parthian periods
3.2.3. The Sasanian period: inscriptions
3.3. The Pahlavi texts
3.4. The Manichean literature
4. Origins of Iranian Religion
The Indo-Europeans: their language and religion
The Indians and their religion
5. Fundamental concepts of Zoroastrianism
5.1. The poet-sacrificer’s thought
The manyu “inspiration, spirit”
Performance and audience.
5.2. The world
Order (asha)
The (new) world/existence (ahu)
The two worlds
The struggle
Truth and reality (haithya)
The Lie (druj)
The “models” (ratus)
5.3. The Gods
Ahura Mazdâ.
The Life-giving Immortals
Good Thought (vohu manah, Pahlavi Wahman)
Best Order (asha vahishta, Pahlavi Ardwahisht, Ashwahisht)
The Choice/Well-deserved Command (khshathra vairiya, Pahlavi Shahrewar)
Life-giving Humility (spentâ ârmaiti, Pahlavi Spandârmad)
Wholeness and Non-dyingness (haurwatât and amertatât, Pahlavi Hordad and Amurdad)
Fire (âtar, Pahlavi âdur and âtash)
Other gods
Evil gods and demons
5.4. Mankind
Duality and choices
The “established rules/laws” (dâta) and the “deals” (urwata)
Rivalry and the social conflict.
The cow
5.5. Man – body and soul
The “Ford of the Accountant.”
5.6. The (re)vitalization of the world
Healing of the cosmos
Swelling of the cosmos
6. The Young Avestan gods
Ardwî Sûrâ Anâhitâ (Pahlavi Ardwîsûr, Anâhîd)
Mithra (OInd. Mitra, OPers. Mithra, Mitra; Pahlavi Mihr)
Ashi, goddess of the rewards, also Ashish Wanghwî “good Ashi” (Pahlavi Ahrishwang)
Haoma (Pahlavi Hôm)
Tishtriya (Pahlavi Tishtar)
Verthraghna (Pahlavi Wahrâm)
Vayu (Pahlavi Wây)
Sraosha (Pahlavi Srôsh)
Rashnu (Pahlavi Rashn)
Druwâspâ
Apâm Napât (Old Indic the same), “scion of the waters”
Airyaman (Old Indic Aryaman) (Pahlavi Êrman)
Nairya Sangha, Nairyô.sangha “the heroic announcement” (Pahlavi Nêryôsang)
The khwarnah (OPers. farnah, Pahlavi xwarrah and xwarr)
Rigvedic gods = Iranian demons
7. Zoroastrianism under the Achaemenids
7.1. Sources
7.2. The Cyrus cylinder
7.3. The Elamite texts from Persepolis
Gods
Rituals
Religious officials
7.4. The Aramaic texts from Persepolis
7.5. The Aramaic letters from Elephantine
7.6. The Achaemenid inscriptions
7.7. Religion of the Persians according to Herodotus (ca. 425 B.C.E.)
7.8. Other Classical authors on the Old Persian religion
8. Zoroastrianism under the Seleucids and Arsacids (Parthians)
9. Zoroastrianism under the Sasanians
10. The Avesta
10.1. The writing down of the Avesta
10.2. The zands
10.3. “Corruption” of the Avestan text
10.4. The Transmission of the Avestan texts and Languages
11. Cosmogony and cosmology
11.1. Ordering of the cosmos
In the Old Avesta
In the Young Avesta
11.2. Birth of the cosmos
11.3. The two spirits
11.4. Creation in the Pahlavi texts.
11.5. The ritual “recreation” of the world
11.6. The twin spirits
11.7. The creation of living creatures.
11.8. Cosmic structures and weaving
11.9. The World according to the Young Avesta
12. The legendary history of Iran
12.1. The mythical age
Haoshiyangha paradhâta (Hôshang Pêshdâd)
Taxma Urupi (Tahmûraf)
Yima, Pers. Jamshîd.
12.2. The heroic age
12.3. The Kayanids
13. Zarathustra
13.1. History of the world and the Life of Zarathustra in the Zoroastrian tradition
13.2. The Life of Zarathustra in the Zoroastrian tradition.
13.3. The life of Zarathustra in the Classical Sources
13.4. Historicity of Zarathustra
The poet’s complaint.
13.5. Non-historicity of Zarathustra
13.6. Approaches to the Old Avesta
14. Eschatology
15. The Sacrifice (yasna)
The purpose of the sacrifice.
Bad poets and inefficient rituals.
The Contest, chariot race
Mutual dependence
The Life-giving Man
Thoughts, Words, Actions
Ethics in the Gâthâs
The “homage” (nemah).
The sacrificial refreshments.
Gifts and counter-gifts.
15.1. The yasna sacrifice
15.2. The Young Avestan Ritual
15.3. The modern yasna ceremony
15.4. Other rituals
15.5. Prayers
Pollution and purification rituals
Menstruation
Purification
16. The Parts of the Avesta
16.1. The Yasna
16.2. The yashts
16.3. The Khorda Avesta
16.4. The Videvdad
16.5. Smaller texts
16.7. Modern Avestan texts
16.8. Fragments