Jamasp Namag 03 - Signs of the Evil Time
Jamasp Namag, Chapter 3 Translated by E.W. West (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 5, 1880)
Chapter 3. — On the First Creation
He (Vishtasp) asked again, “What creation did Ohrmazd create? What earthly creation did he first create?
Jamasp, the astrologer, said to him, “Ohrmazd at first created the creation of Amahraspands, because, when the accursed Ahriman was in darkness, Ohrmazd, through good thoughts (and) good gifts, thought (over the matter) and created Vohuman out of that good thought. His name was boundless good mind (Vohuman), because it was (treated) out of the good thought of Ohrmazd. (Then) Vohuman praises righteousness (Asha) From that righteousness (Asha), which Vohuman praises, Ardwahisht came forth. Then Ardwahisht praises righteousness. From that praise (came forth) Shahrewar, because he is a spirit (i.e., a spiritual being) of Ohrmazd. From Shahrewar, Spandarmad. From Spandarmad, Averdad. From Averdad, Amurdad. (Thus) one was created from the other. One is and was from the other. When a lamp takes (light) from another lamp, nothing diminishes from that other lamp: on the other band, they increase it. In the same way, the Amahraspands are created one from the other. They are created holy, wise, far-seeing, increasing, intelligent. In each other’s company they have intelligence.
He said we must give the origin (i.e., explanation) of God and Dastur, (and settle) that who should be our God and Dastur. Then the Amahraspands and especially Ardwahisht said, “The one who existed for ever and will exist for ever, our Lord and Dastur, it is you O Dadar Ohrmazd! You are our guide. You have given and created everything from your own thoughts. May all thoughts opposed to that, be confounded.”
Ohrmazd by his self-creation thinks well, and the explanation about Ohrmazd is this, that God is all-knowing in that He, i.e., God created himself. From him are the creations of the world.
He created at first the sky; secondly, water; thirdly, the earth; fourthly, trees; fifthly, the cattle; sixthly, man. He then performed the myazda (ceremony) with glory and joy with the Amahraspands, who had just come forth. He gave it (i.e., to the ceremony of myazda) the name of Gahambar. After that, he first created the cow and then Gayomard. Then from the body of that cow, he created 282 species of animals and cattle. When affliction came among the created beings, it first (came) to the cow. From the cow are (i.e., proceeded) those which are mankind, i.e., he who is Gayomard in place of mankind. From he seed of Gayomard men came forth from the earth in the body of the plant rovâs.
This was so for fifty years, when people were born and died. For ninety-eight years and eight months, births and deaths went on. Seven pairs of children were born from the wombs (of mothers), one of which was female and another male. One was given to the other for wife or husband (i.e., they were married with (one another). By corporeal progress the animals of the world are (i.e. proceed) from these two. These are the creatures and the creation. And affliction and acquirements, and the mixture of the creation will continue till resurrection and the future existence of the body. This quality of nature will not be purified till then. Zarathushtra, who is holy and opposed to the Daevas said, “this process will continue. The noxious creatures [khrafstras] will continue until (the time) when there will be that victory and that salvation and that help (which is expected at the resurrection.