A Practical Grammar of the Avesta Language by Kavasji Edalji Kanga

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[v] PREFACE.	NOTES:
In introducing this work, the first of its kind, to the students of the Avesta language, and others interested in the advancement of the knowledge of the Zoroastrian religion, a few words explanatory of the vast changes that have taken place within the last quarter of a century in the methods of the study of the Avesta language and literature, and of the scope and object of this Grammar, may not be out of place. So far back as 1862 the late Dr. Haug published "An outline of a Grammar of the Zend Language" in his Essays on the Sacred Kanguage, Writings, and Religion of the Parsis; and in the following year Ervad Sheryárji Dádábhái Bharoocha issued in Gujerati A brief outline of the Zend Grammar compared with Sanskrit. Since that time, i.e., during the last twenty-eight years, changes have taken place in the study of the Avesta language, which may well be said to have revolutionised the study. This is clearly shown by the useful works published by Oriental scholars, both European and Parsee. The want of a practical and systematic grammar of the Avesta language, adapted to modern requirements, was long and keenly felt by the students of the language. Moreover, Zend and Pahlavi having been lately added by the Bombay University to the list of second languages on the M. A. examination, such a grammar has become more than ever necessary. The systematic and regular study of Avesta and Pahlavi, based on the rules of philology and grammar, was first commenced in Bombay in 1861. Before that period the knowledge of Avesta was confined to a few Dasturs and Ervads, who mainly relied upon Pahlavi translations now extant, which, though good enough as far as they went, were not marked by any critical knowledge of the grammatical forms. The knowledge of grammar among the sacerdotal and other classes was necessarily scanty and imperfect. The Gujerati translations of the Vendidad, the Yasna, and the Khorda Avesta, published before 1861, were chiefl;y based on Pahlavi translations, and were, in consequence, inexact, and, in several respects, obscure and unintelligible -- the grammatical forms of words in the original being misunderstood. Such was up to 1861 the state of the Avesta study. Since then a great and long-wished-for change has taken place in the study of the works on the Zoroastrian religion. To Mr. K.R. Kama, an Oriental scholar or European repute, belongs the honour of having laid the foundation and zealously worked for the prosecution and development of philological studies in Bombay. Having studied Avesta and [iv] Pahlavi for some time under Professor Oppert of Paris and Dr. Spiegel of Erlangen, he not only vigorously continued his studies, but introduced a new system of religious instruction into Bombay, by opening in 1861 a class of young men from among tge priestly order. The beginning was by no means encouraging, and the task generally was for some time beset with difficulties, which might well have disheartened a less enthusiastic and earnest pioneer. This class at first consisted of but three students, one of them being the writer. In course of time, the number increased to a dozen. This class of young students was maintained uninterruptedly for many years, during which time, Mr. Kama not only allowed them free access to his valuable Oriental library, but also liberally helped several of his poorer pupils with his purse. In 1863 the old system of teaching Avesta by means of Pahlavi was superseded by one based on the lines of philology and grammar, which obviously was a great improvement. Mr. Kama gave further impetus to the propagation of religious knowledge by establishing a society for making researches into the Zoroastrian religion, by starting a periodical, called Zartoshti Abhyás (Zoroastrian Studies), by delivering learned lectures, and by publishing translations from distinguished German authors on the Zoroastrian religion. His Zartosht Nâmeh (Life of Zoroaster), among other works published by him, stands pre-eminent, as an unique production of its kind, presenting, as it does, the life of the Prophet as chronicled in the sacred texts in a lucid and systematic way. This grammar was at first written out in Gujarati, but agreeably to the suggestion and desire of some friends, it was turned into its present form, compared, as far as practicable, with Sanskrit. Avesta and Sanskrit on account of their close affinit have been justly called "sister languages." In order to facilitate the comparison of avesta words with Sanskrit, the rules of the transmutation of letters of both these languages are given: vide pp. 14-15; pp. 32 to 38. The inflected forms of nouns and verbs given in the paradigms are not all actually found in the Avesta texts. Some of these forms, both nominal and verbal, are given with the sole object of giving help and facility to the student. The Avesta literature being limited, the student meets with particular inflected forms of one noun, while the complement is supplied from some other noun of the same base. The same is the case in verbal forms. But the examples, both Avestaic and Gâthâic, given below each paradigm are such as are actually met with in the sacred writings. "From the latter, the student will find that, though the regular forms are numerous, the variations from the prescribed rules are not few." In order to give these forms it was necessary to go carefully through the whole Avesta texts of the late Professor Westergaard and the excellent revised texts of Dr. Karl F. Gledner hitherto publsihed. From the latter, I have given many new grammatical forms, [v] due mainly to the oldest and best manuscript copies which the learned Doctor had been able to get. From the careful perusal of this great work, it appears thatthis distinguished Orientalist has spared no pains to make his texts as useful as possible to the student of the Avesta literature.
The striking features of Dr. Geldner's texts as distinguished from those of Westergaard are (1) the free use of compound words, especially in monosyllabics, e.g., Vn-VY (Y.29,8); iOt-iOY (Y. 43, 14); em-acsaY (Yt.3, 9); SIh-An-OY (Yt. 13, 18); Vn-Iz-Ah (Y. 48, 6); Amvz-ayA (Y. 12, 3); lyub-emsea-OytiAd (Y. 62, 2), etc.; (2) the use of K -- a modified form of C -- before y (except in the word ayCa) and C before vowels; e.g., ayKram, ayKi, akAyKam, m&nanmayKvrah, etc.; (3) the distinction observed between F and X; viz., F is used before y, and X before vowels. -- Dr. Geldner considers the former a modified form of h (h), and the latter of wh (hw); (4) the particle ioa is mostly used for iwa,1 and mvrtA for mvratA (fire); (5) the occasional insertion of v in the body and at the end of words; e.g., m&tSeamvra (Yt. 6, 2); ehanoaCvram (Yt. 6, 4); eyutsarvf (Yt. 1, 0); mvmvtOCarvf (Ny1.2); vSatapsIW (Yt. 1, 14); (6) the insertion of i in most cases before ? so aptly required according to para. 54; e.g., Owh?iad, TAh?ia, iAh?iawa, etc.; (7) the occasional use of uA for oa in the body of words; e.g., OnuACa, OnuAgam, ImuAts, etc.; (8) the occasional use of the terminal suffix aDA in the ablative singular of bases ending in a, m, s, h; e.g., [vi] ,aDAnfaX ,aDACoars ,aDAyCa ,aDAmvz ,aDAsIW aDAhnayarz, etc. But the most striking feature, which a minute examination of the texts of Dr. Geldner discloses, is the importance given by him, in several instances, in the body of the texts, to words which Westergaard has relegated to footnotes; though, in many instances, quite new forms of words found in the oldest copies are met with.	1. Exceptions: - Visp. 4, 18; Visp. 21, 1; Y. 10, 11.
In the preparation of this work, I have strictly followed the different readings of both these authorities. No rules have been given not sanctioned by the sacred texts. The notable features of the Gâthâ dialect, as distinguished from the Avesta writings, are given. As for its peculiar forms of nouns, pronouns, and verbs, the student is referred to Chapters III, VII, and VIII, indicating where necessary the different readings of Westergaard and Geldner. In the chapter on Syntax, it has been thought proper to cite the sacred texts wherever its rules are laid down; for further illustration to those rules, references are given. In the preparation of this work, I have availed myself, among others, of the works of Westergaard, Geldner, Spiegel, Haug, Justi, Monier Williams, Benfey, and Kielhorn. In conclusion, I beg to offer my grateful thanks to the respected Trustees of the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Translation fund for their liberal support by subscribing for seventy-five copies of this work. KAVASJI EDALJEE KANGA.            Bombay, March 1891.

ABBREVIATIONS EMPLOYED IN THIS GRAMMAR.

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AVESTA GRAMMAR.

Avesta -- Zoroastrian Archives

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