Avesta -- Zoroastrian Archives Contents Prev Vendidad Next Glossary

AVESTA: Vendidad

NOTE: Also available in German, PDF and EPUB of English translation, and PDF of Avestan text in transcription font.

The Vendidad is an ancient collection of Zoroastrian myths, prayers, and religious observances, intended to defend against sources of infection and evil. Particular attention is given to disposal of corpses and other "dead matter" (nasu) to avoid polluting the earth, water, etc. Its present form is thought to have become fixed around the middle of the first millennium BCE. Of the twenty-one books of the Sasanian canon of the Avesta that were detailed in the Denkard, this is the only one which has survived in its entirety. James Darmesteter translated the text in 1880, relying heavily on the Pahlavi translation. In 1898 he published a revised translation. Fritz Wolff later translated the major texts of the Avesta into German, based on Bartholomae's monumental Avestan dictionary. According to Kellens, "Darmesteter is sometimes superior in his understanding of the Vid?vd?d." His notes in particular remain invaluable.

In preparing this edition, I have replaced the spelling of Zoroastrian technical terms with more familiar forms, following Kotwal and Boyd, 1982, as much as possible.

Compare with the Sasanian description of the Vendidad given in Denkard Book 8.

Contents:

Fargard 1: Sixteen perfect lands created by Ahura Mazda, and as many plagues created by Angra Mainyu Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 2: Myths of Yima (Jamshed) Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 3: The Earth Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 4: Contracts and offenses Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 5: Purity laws Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 6: Purity laws Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 7: Purity laws Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 8: Funerals and purification, unlawful sex Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 9: The Nine Nights' Barashnum Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 10: Formulas recited during the process of cleansing Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 11: Special formulas for cleansing several objects Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 12: The Upaman: how long it lasts for different relatives Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 13: The dog Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 14: Atoning for the murder of a water-dog Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 15: Regarding certain sins and obligations Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 16: Purity laws regarding menstruation Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 17: Disposing of hair and nails Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 18 Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 19 Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 20: Thrita and the origin of medicine Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 21: Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font
Fargard 22: Angra Mainyu creates 99,999 diseases; Ahura Mazda counters with the Holy Manthra and with Airyaman Avesta English Transc. font Avestan font


Avesta -- Zoroastrian Archives Contents Prev Vendidad Next Glossary