NIRANG OF THE VANANT YASHT AND ITS USES.

TRANLITERATION OF THE TEXT OF THE NIRANG:

All tribulation, and the demigods/demons, and the falsehoods, and the fairies, and the Witches/she demons, and the magicians, and the infections (bad winds) , and the pains, and stomach aches and pains of the seven joints in the body, and the evil emanating from Satan, and anguish (pain of the heart), and psychological problems (mental pains) and the vibrations that cause malaise of the mind, and the evil eye, and the temptation that arises from becoming aware of evil persons, and all such trials;

May these be vanquished and become impotent.

Pray one Ashem Vohu. (Recite the Nirang thrice).

TEXT:

“Kul balā dafe shavad, O dīv O daruj O pari O kaftaar O seheraan, O baad akhtahed akhi darde shekam haft andām, khalale Shaitaan O khaatir pareshaan, O khalale demaagh shaitaan khaatir pareshaan baad; O dar nazar barvizan taa didne navasht O maanand hamchunin balaa dafe shavad.

Pray one Ashem Vohū (Recite the Nirang thrice).

USES: The text of the Nirang gives one an idea of where, when and why it may be prayed. However, to spell it out…..

1. To be rid of:

noxious and harmful creatures,

filthy and stinking creatures,

creatures like reptiles, scorpions, insects, ants, wasps, rats, midges, locust, lice, fleas

mad monstrous spirits that plagued the pre-historic world

creatures from another cycle of creation bringing ruin and destruction to the present world

souls living in limbo or any conscious force that manifests inappropriately/improperly

Maliciously clever, corrupt, half-witted intelligence or distorted wisdom

Stagnant energy that has stopped progressing. In Zoroastrian lore, all that has stopped evolving or progressing has no further place in creation.

2. To eradicate all evil that can be transformed or destroyed with knowledge and wisdom.

3. To defeat the invincible.

NOTE: Vanant, in Zoroastrianism, is the underlying substance, fundamental reality of the ‘Star of the West’, a binary multiple star system in the Constellation, Scorpius. Girtab or Vanant is the 83rd brightest star in the night sky and can be seen with the naked eye; it is a pulsating blue Giant. The mass and radius of the primary star in the system is about 7 times that of our Sun in both cases. It is also variously equated with Vega in the constellation Lyra in the Western Hemisphere and Formal haut in the Southern.

Unlike the other energies, there is no month or day dedicated to Vanant; it is invoked with other astral phenomena every month on the second and third day and is a companion of Tishtriya (Teshtar sitaara).

For further explanations, see the notes under transliteration of Vanant Yasht in this blog.

TRANLITERATION OF THE TEXT OF THE NIRANG OF HOM YASHT:

I cause to shun, trounce and make ineffective/immobilize the alien/bizarre tenor of your character, the very mould of you demigods , falsehoods/germs, magicians and fairies by the use of the Ephideris Vulgaris (Haoma plant) and the great fire/the youngest branch of the tree in heaven (barsam) and the religion of the true faith (raast) and correct/apt(daroost) and good which Dadar Hormazd to my mind has taught/revealed (chashid).

Pray  one Ashem Vohu. (Recite the Nirang thrice).

TEXT OF THE HOM YASHT NIRANG:

“Ku shekanam, O vāenum, O nezār kunam kālbude shumā dīvān, O darujān O jāduān O parīān 15, pa Hom va barsam, va dīne rāst va dorost veh, ke Dādār Ahura Mazda oe man chāshīd ashaone”. (Pray one  Ashem Vohū). (Recite the Nirang thrice).

USES:

To prevent diseases.

To have good health and keep away death.

Helps begat good progeny

To vanquish lies or enemies or any hostility

To obtain true knowledge/strength/prosperity/progress/ victory/ health and longevity

To be able to recognize and become aware of evil

Ability to battle evil or enemies

To gain spiritual knowledge

(Women) To get good husbands;

To make powerless a tyrant or powerful persecutor or one who is depriving you of your lawful rights or possessions e.g. robber

Destroy the power of magic or other invisible onslaughts

Increase your level of spirituality

Gain many material blessings such as strength

See your children advance to exalted positions in life

Protect your home each and every night

Protection from people of a more unsociable disposition

Protection from harm.                                                              

Protection from vendetta.

Protection from crimes and criminals

To be able to live in Rectitude and piety.

For a long life and strengthening of one’s life-force

For strength to protect one’s self and reputation against calumny.

Protection in war and against one’s critics and detractors.

Protection against hostility

To be able to recognize and destroy evil

NOTE:

Haoma or Hom is the healing energy (Yazad attributed the power of healing) and also the name given to the healing herb, Ephideris Vulgaris. In the reign of Kai Khushro lived the ninth Shoshyant also named, Hom.

It is said that at least four Persian heroes who had reputable sons had invoked Hom to begat progeny —- Vivanghat had Jamshid; Athwya had Faridun; Thrita had two, Urvakhsh and Kersasp; and Pourushasp had Zoroaster.

It is believed that centuries before the birth of Zoroaster, the Hom Yasht was recited and the Ephidera Vulgaris (Hom plant) was used for healing and was said to produce no adverse side-effects*. The plant juice was collected by mashing it while reciting the Hom Yasht. The extract was then prayed upon to infuse it with healing and health-giving powers. The juice of the plant is a very gentle intoxicant. The plant extracts were considered efficacious in furthering spiritual progress of a soul.

In those ancient times, the plant was used for healing, as an aphrodisiac and to stimulate alertness and awareness. It grows in most terrains and spreads rapidly The Hom of the Avesta and the Som in Indian mythology are the same plant.

* This is no longer true. Today we find that there are side-effects though not of a serious nature. The patient may experience dizziness, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, heart pounding, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. It is also advised that Ephidera should not be used with other stimulants including coffee. Modern medicine uses Ephidera to treat bronchospasm, asthma, and bronchitis.

VANANT YASHT —  TRANSLITERATION.

*Vanant Yasht is prayed to banish **Kharfestar (see meaning below) and harmful animals from our lives. Vanant is considered a guardian of goodness. It is believed that praying the Vanant Yasht is a potent remedy in fighting evil. The literal meaning of Vanant is ‘conqueror’ and Vanant Yasht is the liturgy of it.

The Transliteration

From “Paname Yazdaan……pa patet hom.”

The greatness of Hormazd!

In the name of Khodai Hormazd Sahib who promotes /give progress!

May his splendour/majesty and aura (khoreh) increase!

Created by Hormazd, the holy Vanant stars, foremost in purity come to my aid!

I do penance for all my sins and become cleansed.

In this world, all the evil thoughts I may have brought to my mind, ill words that

I may have spoken, bad deeds that I may have done, those that I have induced or I have begun or that I have encouraged — those sins of thoughts, of words, of deeds, of my body and soul, of this world, of the next world— for these I am remorseful and abstain from them, I do penance for these by observing the three intrinsic goodness ( good thoughts good words good deeds).

‘Fravaraane Mazdsyasno’

A Promise (fravarane) to the Mazdayasne religion

I, the brave follower of Hormazd, follower of the Path revealed by Zoroaster, renounce  the Demons (Div also means senses), a person who behaves in accordance with the way/command of Hormazd (the Geh is prayed here) promise  (Fravaraane) in order to please, offer latria (highest worship to the divine) and laud Vanant stars created by Hormazd to worship, to sing his praises, propitiate his greatness, laud him so that, the great spirit/ meaning of ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ be revealed to me; the pure sage /expert, the learned ‘Atha Rathush Asha Chit Hasha’, be revealed to me.

We glorify the holy Vanant stars, the foremost in purity (Ashoi); created by Hormazd. I extol Vanant the praiseworthy, the illustrious, that bestows health, has the courage to combat the despised and worst of **Khrafstar (destructive creatures from another timeline or creation cycle) produced by Angre Manyu, who is to be shunned. (During prayers we clap here once).

We glorify the holy Vanant stars, the foremost in purity (Ashoi); created by Hormazd. I extol Vanant the praiseworthy, the illustrious, that bestows health, has the courage to combat the despised and worst of **Khrafstar (destructive creatures from another timeline or creation cycle) produced by Angre Manyu, who is to be shunned. (During prayers we clap here twice).

We glorify the holy Vanant stars, the foremost in purity (Ashoi); created by Hormazd. I extol Vanant the praiseworthy, the illustrious, that bestows health, has the courage to combat the despised and worst of **Khrafstar (destructive creatures from another timeline or creation cycle) produced by Angre Manyu, who is to be shunned. (During prayers we clap here thrice).

(To be prayed silently, ‘Baaj ma’)

I clamp shut the laws (mouth) of all rat and cat species (rodents and feline), so they cannot harm/damage my house. Let good health be celebrated! I invoke Hormazd, ***Faredoon, that Faredoon who is the son of Aathavyaan, I invoke his bloodline (****Kovat) and his aura (Khoreh). (Clap 3 times).

I clamp shut the jaws of snake and his ilk (reptiles); so that they cannot           harm/damage my house. Let good health be celebrated! I invoke Hormazd, ***Faredoon, that Faredoon who is the son of Aathavyaan, I invoke his bloodline (****Kovat) and his aura (Khoreh). (Clap 3 times).

I clamp shut the jaws of the wolf and all its ilk (canine), known-unknown all          wolves (canine) and cats (feline) so that they do not harm/damage my house. Let good health be celebrated! I invoke Hormazd, ***Faredoon, that Faredoon who is the son of Aathavyaan, I invoke his bloodline (****Kovat) and his aura (Khoreh). (Clap 3 times).

“Ahura Mazda Khodai avazuni marhum…..rasanad aedunbad”.

O Hormazd Khodai, the one to give growth/ progress to men, mankind, to all other creation, to all who participate /share in the good religion! I, an adherent of the Mazda Yasni religion have been already informed/ forewarned /told to always walk on the Path of Righteousness. So let it be!

“Yasnemcha vahmemcha…….Vanant Sitara”

I laud the Vanant Star, worthy of latria, well reputed, with intelligence to be victorious.

For meaning of Ahmai Rasche, Hazangaram, Jashme Avange Mazda and Kerfeh Mazda please refer to the Transliteration given under Sarosh Baaj on this Blog

“Roj neknaam….staomi ashem.”

This well reputed day, this holy day, celebrated/ felicitous day of ————–(name), celebrated/felicitous month of ———–(name), Geh _________(name), homage to the creator who brought this universe into be in being.

“Gorze khoreh avazyad……aedunbaad”

May the aura increase of the Vanant Star! Brave, victorious, (Star) raise my courage to attain victory in being aware of and following the Path. May the fame of the good Zoroastrian (Mazda Yasni) religion and its awareness spread throughout the seven continents. So let it be!

“Man aano ……avavyad shudan.”

I must/should go there; I must/should go there; I must/should go there.

“Dadaare gehaan din…..Anahite ashaone.” (To face south when praying)

The religion revealed by Zoroaster was given by Hormazd, the creator. O the sanctified (ashaum), super-strong (sevishte), immaculate (Ananhite), Ardvisur (well-known Iranian river) I offer prayers to you! (Pray Ashem Vohu).

O the meritorious, created by Dadaar Hormazd. (Pray Ashem Vohu).

O virtuous soul (urvaire vanguhi), homage! (Pray Ashem Vohu).

“Vanantem Sitarem…yazamaide.”

O the Vanant Star, created by Mazda, endowed with righteousness (Ashvanem), most fit disciple, we celebrate you! (Pray Ashem Vohu).

O the Vanant Star, whose creator is Hormazd, sanctified by righteousness, by Asha (righteousness/eternal law) grow splendidly exalted. (Pray Ashem Vohu).

NIRANG:

All tribulation, and the demigods/demons, and the falsehoods, and the fairies, and the Witches/she demons, and the magicians, and the bad winds (infection), and the pains, and stomach aches and pains of the seven joints in the body, and the evil emanating from Satan, and anguish (pain of the heart), and mental pains, and the vibrations that cause malaise of the mind, and the evil eye, and the temptation that arises from becoming aware of evil persons, and all such trials;

May these be vanquished and become impotent.

* Vanant, In Zoroastrianism, is the hypostasis (underlying substance, fundamental reality) of the ‘Star of the West’, a binary multiple star system in the Constellation, Scorpious. The star system is variously recognized as Altair, Fomalhaut, Vega, Sargas or Kappa Scorpii/Girtab . Girtab or Vanant is the 83rd brightest star in the night sky and can be seen with the naked eye; it is a pulsating blue Giant. The mass and radius of the primary star in the system is about 7 times that of our Sun in both cases.

Unlike the other energies, there is no month or day dedicated to Vanant; it is invoked with other astral phenomena every month on the second and third day.

Tishtriya (Teshtar sitaara) and Vanant are constant companions.

The only other divinity with no such dedication is Drvaspa

Vanant is perhaps an adaptation of the Sumero-Akkadian ‘Vanand’ and perhaps because of and during the Achamenid Empire’s proximity to Babylon

Vannati Upartat in Zoroastrianism, are the energies which protect the environment, animals and plants. Strangely, Hindi still retains the word Vanant meaning Jungles, or the boundary of the jungle, maidaan, field or battle field.

In Armenia people still use ‘Vanant’ as a name for a male child.

In the USA, ‘Vanant’ was a family name and not that of an individual. This was discovered in the 1940s during a search of the USA Census Record

The Census had records of their Vanant ancestors including their day to day life — like hours worked per week, level of education, veteran status, employers, and more. In the 1880s, the most common Vanant occupation in the USA was that of a Farmer. A 100% of Vanants were Farmers.

**Khrafstar : In its simplest connotation means  “Most hideous noxious     creature, most filthy and most stinking”; like, frogs, reptiles, scorpions , insects, ants, wasps, rats, midges, locust, lice, fleas which are harmful or repulsive — creations of the Ahriman. Predators were not included in the term. Khrafstar also denoted mad monstrous spirits that plagued the pre-historic world.

Traditionally, the word denoted creatures from another cycle of creation bringing ruin and destruction to the present world. These are creatures believed to exist in limbo (somewhere between Spirit and Material Worlds).

In an intangible sense it has been translated as a conscious force which

manifests inappropriately/improperly — a monstrosity, a maliciously clever, corrupt, half-witted, or intelligence, distorted wisdoms or visions of bygone era –creations of the Ahriman and Angre Manyu; Stagnant energy that has stopped progressing. In Zoroastrian lore, all that has stopped evolving or progressing has no further place in creation. The word is a precursor to the Middle Persian word ‘Druj’ also translated as falsehood.

In the descending line of evil, Khrafstars are lesser than the Div but a greater evil thanHumans. This evil can be transformed or destroyed with knowledge and wisdom. It is not invincible.

After the Muslims conquered Iran, ‘Khrafstar’ included wild animals which meaning is entirely contrary to the ancient lore and understanding. ‘Yašn-e ḵarafstra koshuun’ a ‘feast of destroying Vermin’ with ‘ḵarafstraḡāns’ (rods to kill vermin), was an annual tradition at the start of summer. The entire town was then disinfected and the dead vermin treated with drugs to decompose.

Christianity has brought the Khrafstar to our era as the animals used in witch craft and omens. The ‘Malleus Maleficarum’ (the Hammer of the Witches), the legal and theological document (c. 1486) the standard handbook on witchcraft is based on the idea of Khrafstar in Middle Zoroastrianism.

***Faredoon. Ancient texts speak of Faredoon, son of Aathavyaan, as an expert in all the Nirangs. Through these Nirangs he was able to prevent all harm and mischief to himself and deterred all the divs and druj from affecting him. Some texts acclaim him as a prophet.

****Kovat. I have translated Kovat as bloodline or ancestry or lineage. The word still remains and is in use in the Finnish, Czech and the Russian languages from amongst the Indo-Germanic group of languages. I give the meanings hereunder:

In Russian it means Forged, made from.

In Finnish it means heavy –handed, (object) hard, (person) hard, strict, harsh, (noise) loud, (blow) hard, heavy, (thirst, hunger) severe, (ammunition) live, pornography – hardcore.

In Czech it means to forge, to hammer.

U

SAROSH BAAJ — A TRANSLITERATION. Prayer to the energies of protection

Sarosh Baaj is the prayer Parsi children learn immediately after they learn the ‘Kusti’ prayers. Every morning, after doing the Kusti, every Zoroastrian prays the Sarosh Baaj. This prayer may be recited at any time of the day or night. However, the recitation of the ‘Geh’ in ‘Fravarane Mazdayasno’ will change depending on the time of the day. The Sarosh Baaj is a prayer to the Ameshaspand (energies ) that protect and heal and give prosperity. Check out the translation/transliteration of Haptan Yasht also, on this Blog.

From “Paname Yazdaan……pa patet hom.”

The greatness of Hormazd!

In the name of Khoda Hormazd Sahib who promotes /give progress!

May his splendour/majesty and aura (khoreh) increase!

Pure Sarosh! Strong, with body made of prayers, wielder of therapeutic appliances, bearer of victorious weapons, the general of Ahura Mazda Khodai, come to my aid! I do penance for all my sins and become cleansed.

In this world, all the evil thoughts I may have brought to my mind, ill words that I may have spoken, bad deeds that I may have done, those that I have induced or I have begun or that I have encouraged — those sins of thoughts, of words, of deeds, of my body and soul, of this world, of the next world— for these I am remorseful and abstain from them, I do penance for these by observing the three intrinsic goodness ( good thoughts good words good deeds).

‘FRAVARAANE MAZDSYASNO’

A Promise (fravarane) to the Mazdayasne religion

I, the brave follower of Hormazd, follower of the Path revealed by Zoroaster, renounce  the Demons (Div also means senses), a person who behaves in   accordance with the way/command of Hormazd (the Geh is prayed here) promise (fravarane) in order to please, O Sarosh, the strong , whose body is made up of prayers, owner of lethal weapons, follower of the way of /manner of Hormazd, to worship, to sing his praises, propitiate his greatness, laud him so that, the great spirit/ meaning of ‘Yatha Ahu Vairyo’ be revealed to me; the pure sage /expert the learned ‘Atha Rathush Asha Chit Hasha’, be revealed to me.

We Praise the beautiful, victorious, one who gives the world progress, Holy and Pure Sarosh, the leader of sanctity (ashoi).

Ahunavar Shields the body from harm!

‘KEMNA MAZDA’ (Transliteration already on this Blog)

‘YASNEMCHA VAHMEMCHA’

To me, the brilliance and strong aura,  physical strength, bodily comforts, success in this world, wealth of all happiness, children with innate intelligence, longest life ever, enlightenment born of holiness and purity, and attainment of the heaven with all the comforts/happiness . May my wish be fulfilled!

‘HAZEM GAREM’

A Thousand heavenly births;

Ten thousand heavenly births;

A Thousand heavenly births;

Ten thousand heavenly births;

A Thousand heavenly births;

Ten thousand heavenly births.

‘JASHME AVANGE MAZDA’

Come to my aid O Hormazd!

Succour me the aid of:

The innately pure/ good, beautiful, Um (energy that imbues courage),

Behram Yazad created by Hormazd,                                              

Vannati Upartat (energy that oversees environment),

Mino Ram (nourisher/ inducer of nourishment in food),

Vaey Yazad (who works in exists in the upper layers of the atmosphere),

O Vaey Yazad, that part of you that is concerned with the birth of the Spentomino,

The Sky that acts in accordance with the natural laws of creation,

Limitless existence (infinity),

The Guaranteed Perpetuity

‘KERFE MAZDA’

For the Liberation, as my sins so may I in return, receive the reward for the essence of my deeds, for the love of the soul sent to all on the seven continents, the reward is as per spiritual merit to all the pious — tremendous amount of purity/ holiness (Ashoi), as wide as the earth, as long as the river and as exalted as Khorshed

May the pious live long!

May my wish be fulfilled!

At the end of this entire sequence of prayers for the Sarosh Baaj, Zoroastrians pray the ‘Tandarosti’ for the well being of self, family, friends in particular and the cosmos in general.

NOTES:

Jashme Avange Mazda is the last prayer amongst those prayed when tying the Kusti. Jashme Avange Mazda is prayed immediately after the three rear knots of the Kusti are tied by a Zoroastrian. After the Zoroastrian has promised his faith and loyalty to the practice of monotheism, in this ultimate Kusti Prayer, the Jashme Avange Mazda, he reiterates his faith in the religion, and admits to the world at large that he follows the Path of Ahura Mazda

THE TRANSLITERATION

O Dadaar Hormazd, come to my aid! I am a Mazdayasne (believer in the religion of the Mazda Yasnis , monotheist, as against the Dev Yasni, polytheists), as a Mazdayasne Zoroastrian, as one who raises his voice in praise and one who invokes faith, I love you/ my preference is you.

I laud the thoughts that are thought by the  pious (Nek vichaar), I laud the words that are spoken by the  pious, I laud the deeds that are done in piety, I laud the Mazdayasni Din that vanquishes  all hostility, that causes men to relinquish their weapons, instills self confidence and makes them follow the Path ( Raasti).

Of all the religions existing today or those that will come hereafter, *Hormazdi Zoroastrianism (Av: ‘Ahuirish Jarthutrish’) is the greatest, best and purest.

I acknowledge openly that all nature/ creation is from Hormazd.

To know this is to praise the Mazdayasne Din.

*‘Ahuirish Jarthutrish: The ultimate object of a Zoroastrian life is to strive towards world order, progress and ultimate perfection of the world through the three tenets —

1) Good thoughts good words good deeds;

2) There is no path other than the path of Asha i.e. Raasti. There are always the two opposing forces both in cosmology and morals; the idea is to choose the Raasti, the Path of Ashoi;

3) Do the right not because one derives material advantage from it but because it is the thing to do including, protecting the Environment.  Zoroastrians believe that everything He created is pure and should be treated with love and respect.

Zoroastrian Mazdayasni faith believes that there is one, and only one, universal, transcendent, supreme being, Ahura Mazda meaning ‘the Wise Lord’; Almighty but not omnipotent. He is the creator ‘Asha’, truth/order justice. — The Creative force in the cosmos.

Ahriman, the destructive force in the Cosmos and the morally evil ‘Druj’, chaos, falsehood and disorder, does not emanate from Ahura Mazda. In fact, He creates no evil; consequently, the much debated idea of cosmological dualism in Zoroastrianism among scholars. Angre Mainyu and his Akem Mana (evil thinking) is the opposite of Spenta Mainyu. The entire cosmos, including each and every human being (read Zoroastrian), has a role to play in the resulting conflict between this good and evil. Ahura Mazda has manifested his supreme victory over Ahriman by articulating the Ahuna Vairyo.

The Zoroastrian divinity is a being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge, this has given rise to some scholars describing the religion ‘as a belief in an immanent self-creating universe with consciousness as its special attribute’. Thereby causing Zoroastrianism to be defined as pantheistic, a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.

Ahura Mazda works through the Spenta Mainyu , good spirits/bounteous immortals. The creation, in its turn, experiences this created Universe through the seven primary Ameshaspends and the entire host of the Yazads (Worthy of Worship) guided by Ameshaspends. Each Yazad is founded on a moral or physical aspect of creation.

It is these Ameshaspends and Yazads (that stand under and support the Zoroastrian Wise Lord, Ahura Mazda) and the host of energies that is the foundation of the Zoroastrian divinity.

Zoroaster, himself is not worshiped. To the Zoroastrians, he is the prophet of God who taught man of Asha and Raasti.

1. O the Ameshaspends! We bring you to mind through the prayer of praise of the Seven (Haptangini).

We praise the reflections in the water;  we praise the bridges over the waters;

We praise the various roads that travel in different directions,

and we praise the meeting of the roads.

2. We praise the mountain that is the friend of the waters; we praise the lakes abundantly filled with water; we praise the sheaves of grain; we praise the domesticator of animals. We remember Hormazd and Zoroaster.

3. We praise the Earth and the Sky; we praise the strong winds created by Hormazd; we praise mount Albruz; we Praise the world and all its natural phenomena.

4. We remember the good mind and the souls of the Pious. We praise the site of the 5 doors (Avesta: Vasim cha Yaam Panchasdvaram); we Praise the holy salt (khar) that stands in the middle of the waters of the *Vouru-kash sea; we Praise the sea of Vouru-kash (name of sea).

5. We praise the green and strong Ephideris Vulgaris (Haoma plant); we praise Ephidera Vulgaris L. which brings progress and furthers this world: we praise Ephidera Vulgaris L which troubles over pains (cures our ills by troubling our pain away).

6. We praise the flow of the waters; we praise the flight of the birds; we praise the return of the Aathornan who travel far, to preserve the holiness of the nation. We remember all the Ameshaspends.

(The rest of the prayer, Haptan Yasht is same as the beginning of the Yasht)

* VOURU-KASH: Dictionary meaning:

‘Vouru’ means ‘full of’ or ‘many’. Kash is a ‘border ‘or ‘shore’ or ‘enclosing line’.

Avesta also uses another word for the word ‘Kash’, the other word is ‘Karsh’ for which the Persian synonym is ‘Keshvar’ meaning ‘country’. In Persian and in Pehelvi, like in Avesta, the word means a place with a vast border or a sea with many shores; The Persian word being ‘Farakh-kard’ and the Pehelvi word being, ‘Farakh-o-kart’.

The word Keshvar stems from the Persian word for a ‘line made on a field by a plough’ not a mere furrow but a line defining the extent of ownership of land. If Kash also means ‘land’ then, Vouru-kash could well mean a vast land or a land with many borders.

In the Avesta:

Vouru-kash is the name given to the (mythical?) place from which the river Ardvisur flows, the sea into which it flows and the river itself—all three go by the same name amongst other aliases.

In Zoroastrian Myth there is the two original trees, the first trees created by Ahura Mazda— 1) the Tree of Immortality also known as the Tree of Life and             2) the Tree of all Seeds. Both grew together in the first waters created by Ahura Mazda, in the deepest part of that ocean called therein, the Sea of Vouru-kash.

Tir Yasht, Kardo 5: places the Vouru-kash (Farah Kart Sea) somewhere in the space between the sky and the earth. If something is thrown ‘like a comet’ it will arrive at the Farah Kart Sea.

Avan Yasht verse 4: describes it has having ‘a thousand lakes and thousand rivers’ each body of water is spoken of as huge (a swift rider would take forty days to go down its length).
Avan Yasht verse 5: speaks of the waters of the Vouru-kash inundating the entire known world, in all seasons, at all times.

According to the Boon-Da-Ishn, the Farah Kart Sea covers one-third of the earth’s surface and is the size of a thousand seas.

Physical location: If one believed that Vouru-kash was a physical body of water on Earth, scholars are of the opinion that there is no place in Iran which

has a name even remotely close to the name, ‘Vouru-kash’. However, there is a theory among scholars that the Sanskrit word ‘Varukaksha’, the old name for the town of Bharuch in Gujarat, India and the river Narmada which flows through this town are perhaps, Vourukaksha.

Theories also claim Vouru-kash to be the Caspian Sea (Mazandaran Sea), Sea of China, Gulf of Persia, the Indian Ocean, the Puyitic Sea, the Marangan Sea (Korea), and many others sea.

Scholars are still in the process of examining this claim.

The Shahnama places the Vouru-kash as the Sea of China.

The Shahnama also places: the Vouru-kash as an Indian Sea whence rose the Satvis (Pehelvi for the Indian Ocean as it was then known) of the ‘one hundred quarters and one hundred abodes (Sata-Vaesa, of the Avesta named after the star recognized today as Canopus). In pre-Islamic tradition, the rain and the irrigation of all lands on the face of the Earth, as well as the cleansing of water of dirt and filth, was one of the functions of the Satvis Sea and the cleansed water flowed into Farah Kart Zereh.

1. We offer worship filled with/full of praise and reverence to Hormazd and Ardibesht; we admit to and publicly acknowledge this worship of Them.

2. O Hormazd! May we eternally remain under your reign! You, who straddle both worlds, are the most wise ruler for us all; of both men and women.

3. We surrender ourselves entirely to You — all wise,*worthy of worship, who walks only on the Path (Raasti) and no place else — whereby, You who spends all eternity in both the worlds and Who are all wise become our very lives and each and every part of our body.

4. O Hormazd! May we by attaining happiness in abiding within you, become worthy of a long life and success. May we always love you and have faith in you. Amongst all who live in this world (Hayati), You, O all wise one, who has have the power, make us happy through prosperity for a very long time.

5 & 6. Oh Hormazd! We call ourselves people who pray to You, we are happy to be people who pray to you and we acknowledge that we pray to you. O Hormazd! The rewards you have awarded to us in this and in the unmanifest world, give us these rewards to us Yourself (bestow these rewards on us by Your own hand and through no other) so that we reach forever the realms belonging to You and to Ashoi.

*the word used here is Khodavand, one of the hundred and one names given to God in Zoroastrianism. Khoda, the word we commonly understand and use to denote the Almighty Creator is not one of those hundred and one names; the suffix ‘vand’ is added to turn the noun to an adjective. Thus, perhaps, having or possessing the qualities of Khoda.

1. O Hormazd! Imbue great wisdom and prosperity in these Creations. O Hormazd! Your Reward to a religious person like me is the only reward O ruler of wisdom!

2. In this world and the world of the unmanifest (*minoi) be our sole Bestower; so that, we forever attain your friendship and that of holiness (Ashoi)

3. So that we may gain long and lasting prosperity, strong bonds of friendship, O Hormazd, who desires purity/holiness give us intelligent and diligent people who walk on the Path (live by Raasti) and people who will keep us happy.

4. May You similarly treat our welfare and also our livelihood and our friends, O Hormazd! We ask all the above from you. Also, that we follow the Path and be happy/prosperous and be liked for our friendliness.

NOTE: Back to God seems to be the theme of this Karda. The desire for and the kind of relationship that the believer seeks to develop with the Ultimate, is so beautiful; a singular, eternal, permanent and extraordinary relation where the worshiper is content to leave to God’s wisdom his place and position in life and in his turn, the worshiper is satisfied with that which he receives only so that he may return to the realms of the Ultimate.

*Minoi : is simply a condition of nature, nominated by the occultist as “the plane”. The stage where the formation of the manifested originates, often described as the elemental, fundamental state of things, the very beginning of the form finally manifested; occurring somewhere in the realms of ether defying instrumental examination. According to the Kshnoom and Mazdayasni Daena, both these state that, the immortal world (Minoi Alam) is held in the Ninth and the Eighth heavens /planes.

The Kshnoom explains further that it is  the energy within the Minoi Alam, that makes it possible to create and sustain both the manifest and unmanifest Universes through timelessness–the hoary past to the invisible future. Minoi is also understood to be the Tenth plane , the primordial Source, the original creative Vibrations, the primordial Light—the Place where the Creator resides.

1.  We praise/ propitiate Hormazd, the leader of purity/ holiness, we praise appreciate all the Ameshaspends the majestic and all wise/able; with desire to gain purity and for the good Mazda Yasni religion, we praise/propitiate all of nature’s creation related to its elements (Mino) and vibrations (Gati).

2. Just as we laud the good (the praiseworthy/ the high minded) so also, for happiness in this world and the next, do we laud and think well of those who are doing and those who have think pure/good thoughts, wish pure /good wishes and do pure/ good deeds.

3. O the pure (Asho) and loveable Hormazd! To attain the happiness of both worlds we appreciate/like the best works of people who live in this world and we study/practice these and imitate these works; i.e. we like, study/practice and maintain manashni, gavashni and kunashni in accordance with the excellent behavior of those that follow the Path.

4. We, those that learn and those that do not; those that have strength and those that do not; desire to live well and to have enough fodder for their cattle through association of the good and through good deeds. (In the times when this was written, the wealth of a person was the cattle and kind that he owned. there for, this desire for proper and enough fodder to feed their cattle.)

5. May the highest Padsha’s rule be firmly secured. we turn our minds on  Hormazd the highest righteousness (Ashoi). Alternately this means we serve Hormazd, the highest good/most pure, we incessantly admit his existence, we internalize him and make him our own.

6. Reveal/announce the name of the man/woman who has real knowledge of something good; and meditate on/practice this knowledge for ourselves and teach those that behave lowly/badly.

7. O humans! We consider best propitiation of Hormazd (Ijasné) and meditation on him and also the upkeep of cattle as we so wish may we meditate on/practise this and ingrain it into ourselves.

8. Should a person of this world, while following and meditating on/practising the Path (Raasti) wish to live in excellence in both the worlds, may He succeed; i.e. a person who, while adhering to Raasti helps the less fortunate according to his ability, he will live in exaltation in both the worlds.

(I’d say this reiterates what Ashem Vohu teaches us.)

9. O Hormazd! Keeping Ashoi in mind we recite these well known verses; we conceive you as the listener and the teacher of these.

10. O Hormazd! your purity/holiness (ashoi), kind thoughts (Maneshni) & invoking You, is above/higher than all other invocation (Stuti); the songs of song praise to your Fame are above and beyond all other songs of praise (Hymns) and meditation on/ practicing you is above all other meditations/practice.

‘Kemna Mazda’ is the first prayer when doing the Kusti. Kemna Mazda asks for true knowledge, for belief and conviction that, we as manifested creatures can do naught without the aid of the ‘Supreme Wisdom’, Ahura Mazda. Wisdom answers the question raise in the Kemna Mazda; what man, what kind of person can help in times of trouble? A wise man , of course.

Kemna Mazda (what sort of person, O Wisdom), can protect me? A wise man, of course; the man described in the Kemna Mazda prayer. So, if I am such a person, Mazda (Wisdom) gives me the ability to conquer my ills.

Wisdom reigns supreme in the Zoroastrian doctrine and assists in the adherence to Mannashni, Gavashnni, Kunashni and in the observance of all the tenets of Zarathustra’s religion. Kemna Mazda brings us to the realization that all our ills and pains in this manifest world can only be resolved by true wisdom in thought, word and deed. It is only when the good thought co-ordinates to produce good words and good words in turn, produce good deeds does, such a man conquers the troubles he faces in this manifested world. Equate ‘Good’ with ‘Balanced’.

So, ‘Kem Na Mazda’?(literally, ‘How, O Wisdom’)? Answer, as described in the Kemna Mazda  prayer.

1. Read the TRANSLITERATION below to understand further.

From “Kemna Mazda” to “ya ahmai vashi aahmai chit”

O Hormazd, when a bad man looks at me for revenge or  to harm me, who, but you, will protect me and mine, the aatash and my mind?

O Hormazd! For the sake of THE religion, reveal to me that, which by the act of both, leads me further on the Path.

When in difficulty, who is he who will vanquish the foe by dint of the verses on your Avesta; which verses are those that bring purity. O Hormazd, show me the leader who can guide me through both lives (here and hereafter). O Hormazd! For He who you love may His life proceed with a good mind and with Sraosh* (yazad).

From “Yatano tabishyant” to “#Armaitish ijaich”

O Hormazd and Aspendamard, save us from the jealous/envious!

Go away /leave us! Oh Evil of the demigod;

Leave us Devidruj^ (falsity of idols);

O the brave! Discard the thoughts of demigods;

Leave us Oh the seeds sown by demigods;

Leave us Oh the follower of the way of Evil demigods (which way has succeeded so far)

Disappear! Oh Evil (druj^);

Oh Evil run away from here;

Oh Evil be vanquished, go to the North, the realms of purity (ashoi) are not to be harmed, let good thoughts and prosperity prevail.

Further explanation :

When the evil minded come to harm me and mine, who is there to protect us? O Hormazd! There is none other than You who can give us our earthly happiness and mental peace. When the mind and body are healthy purity (ashoi) there is progress. There is no other but you who can preserve us (pasbani).  Such thoughts, O Hormazd, introduce into my mind so that I have the courage to act as needed.

*‘SRAOSH , the literal meaning of the name is ‘listening’; from the root word, ‘Sru’– meaning to obey and hence, obedience to the will of God. Sraosh is treated as an Angel of the Lord who brings us inspiration and who is the guardian of our souls. Sraosh coming with good mind means that men should listen to the inner inspiration of the voice within and then by willing obedience to the divine will his mind be filled with love and must be purified.

^‘DRUJ’ literally means the enemy in ancient Iran the word was used for untruth, the greatest of our foes. In this passage it generally means Evil. North, in ancient Iran was the direction Evil the Abode of the Demons.

 Asha is also taken to signify divine law

# ‘ARMAITI’ the spirit of the earth is the fourth of the 6 Ameshaspends. She represents piety and faith. Faith, as devotion personified on the Abstract side and as the genius of Earth on the concrete side. Spenta Armaiti Aspendamard ‘Holy devotion’ retains her dual nature in the younger Avesta. She is the first of the mother Trinity of the Holy Immortals she represents firm unswerving faith in and loyalty towards God and his commands she watches over religion and inspires the Faithful she works with Asha she rules over Earth and in places she represents Mother Earth and is our mother both physical and spiritual. When a Zoroastrian dies he is left in her care after the body is placed inside the Tower of silence and its destruction has begun. The people outside the Tower recite the unfinished portion of Sarosh Baj which they will have commenced by chanting from the last line of Kemna Mazda.

Translation by Framroze:

“What being, O Mazda shall grant protection unto a mortal like myself, when the evil minded threaten to overpower me?

Who can it be other than Thy fire and Thy good mind, through whose activities is furthered thy righteous law O Ahura!

This knowledge vouchsafe unto me that I may spread Thy faith.

With the help of thy words which are a shield Who shall smite our foes? do thou reveal unto me a soul healing leader for course of life, both physical and spiritual; then unto him let  Sraosha approach with good mind,– unto him O Mazda whom thou dost love protect us from all our tormentors.

Ye both, o Mazda and Spenta Armaiti!

Perish thou devilish Druj!

Perish thou o devil’s spawn,

Perish thou devil’s fashioned,

Perish thou follower of Devil’s l a w s.

Utterly perish oh Druj!

Utterly vanish Oh Druj!

Do thou utterly and entirely disappear, Oh Druj!

Vanish thou utterly in the north so that thou mayst not ever destroy the corporeal creation of divine law. Homage unto Holy devotion and humility.