Gathas
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Template:Zoroastrianism The Gathas form the oldest part of Avesta, the holy scripture of the Zoroastrian religion, traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself.
The verses are composed in the metrical forms of ancient Indo-Iranian religious poetry. It is in a very condensed style of versification, in which standard grammatical construction is more absent than present. In extent the Gathas constitute a small book containing about 6000 words, in about 1300 lines set in 238 verses which are collected in 17 chapters, each called a Haiti, or in the more usual later term, HA. The 17 Ha's of the Gathas were, some time later, incorporated into a long prayer, or liturgy, recited at a ceremony. The Yasna recitation has 72 chapters. The Ha's are identified by their numberings as chapters of the Yasna. There are five major sections of the 17 Ha's of the Gathas listed here:
They form part of the Yasna collection of hymns, accounting for 17 out of 72:
- 28–34 Ahunavaiti Gatha
- 43–46 Ushtavaiti Gatha
- 47–50 Spentamainyush Gatha
- 51 Vohukhshathra Gatha
- 53 Vahishtoishti Gatha
The Language of the Gathas
The language of the Gathas is one belonging to the old Indo-Iranian language group which was part of the Eastern families of the Indo-European languages. This language is called Gathic, and because it is incorporated into the Yasna scripture which is part of the Avesta, it is also called Old Avestan. Much of our grasp of the Gathic language, both in vocabulary and grammar comes from its close affinity with the early form of Vedic Sanskrit.
The Content of the Gathas
The verses of the Gathas are addressed to the Divinity, Ahura Mazda, and also to the public that has come to hear the Prophet. Specific aspects of his theology appear in every Ha, but we do not have a systematic presentation of the doctrine in any one location. Zarathushtra expounds aspects of his teachings in many different places in the Gathas. In others, he exhorts his audience to live a life as Ahura Mazda has directed. Then there are some verses, devotional in character, addressed to Ahura Mazda, to the divine essences of Truth, the Good-Mind, and the Spirit of Piety and Benevolence.
External links
Template:Zoroastrianism-stubfa:گاهان pt:Gathas ru:Гата sv:Gathas