Page:Avesta, the Bible of Zoroaster.djvu/12

 ::2.
 * This prayer shall the Saoshyants, Saviours,
 * Chant; and by the chanting of it
 * I shall rule over my creatures.
 * I who am Ahura Mazda.
 * Not shall Ahriman have power,
 * Anra Mainyu, o'er my creatures,
 * He (the fiend) of foul religion.
 * 3.
 * In the earth shall Ahriman hide,
 * In the earth, the demons hide.
 * Up, the dead again shall rise
 * And within their lifeless bodies
 * Incorporate life shall be restored.

Other interesting fragments might be quoted which have escaped the ravages of 'the accursed Iskander' (Alexander), the fanaticism of Islam, and the devouring maw of time. These fragments give us some idea of certain lost parts of the original Avesta the outlines of whose contents are preserved in the account found in the Pahlavi Dinkart, of the Zoroastrian 21 Nasks. We are fortunate, however, in possessing so much of the old Avestan scriptures as we do. What is missing of the original is in a measure made up for, or supplemented by the sacred writings of Sassanian times, the Pahlavi Books. These are in part translations of old Avesta texts now lost; in part they are original productions. The works in the Pahlavi language are of great value to the student of Zoroastrianism; they fill up many a lacuna; they supplement our knowledge; or, again, they present the later development of the religion. All this a separate paper on Pahlavi literature might well show.

From the above description of the Zoroastrian sacred books, however, some idea of their interest and importance may be formed. The Avesta, as we now possess it, is perhaps rather a Prayer-Book than a Bible. The Vendidad, Visperad and Yasna are always recited together, and with their chapters intermingled in the ritual, they might remind one, in fact, of the forms of prayer to-day used in church. The Vendidad might be compared with portions of the Old or New Testament lessons; the solemn preparation of the holy water, the barsom or consecrated twigs, and of the haoma juice, is a sort of communion service; the Gatha