Yashts
The Yashts (Avestan: Yashts, “acts of worship”) are 21 hymns of praise addressed to individual divine beings (yazatas). They are among the most important Avestan texts for Zoroastrian theology and eschatology.
Key Yashts
| # | Name | Deity/Subject | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Aban Yasht | Anahita, waters | Longest Yasht; Saoshyant will be born of her waters |
| 10 | Mihr Yasht | Mithra | Second longest; lord of covenants, 10,000 eyes |
| 13 | Fravardin Yasht | Fravashis | Guardian spirits of all righteous souls |
| 14 | Bahram Yasht | Verethraghna | Victory deity, ten incarnations |
| 19 | Zamyad Yasht | Earth + Hvareno | The kingly Glory from Ahura Mazda to Saoshyant |
Yasht 19 — The Saoshyant
The Zamyad Yasht is the most eschatologically significant Yasht. Its 97 paragraphs trace the kingly Glory (Hvareno) from creation to the final Saoshyant:
- Paragraphs 1-8: Sacred mountains of Iran
- Paragraphs 10-14: Ahura Mazda and the Amesha Spentas possess the Glory
- Paragraph 89: The Saoshyant Astvat-ereta will arise from Lake Kansaoya to renovate the world (Frashokereti)
Translated by James Darmesteter (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 23, 1883). Public domain.