21 Nasks

It appears from the study of the literature now available to us that in the most ancient times when Zoroastrian religion came into existence, there were 21 Nasks (books) of the Avesta scriptures. All except about a fifth part of these holy writings are lost. What remains to us of the original 21 Avesta Nasks are the Vendidad, the Yasna, the Visparad, and the Khordeh Avesta. Of these the oldest are written in the Avesta language, the next in antiquity are written in the Pehlvi language, and then come those that are written in the Pazund language.

The Vendidad is a Code of 72 Religious, Social and Moral Laws of the ancient Iranians, and it also contains an enumeration of sins and their punishment both here and hereafter.

The Yasna or Yejusni consists of 72 chapters. The five Gathas form part of the Yasna chapters. The Gathas are hymns expressing philosophical thoughts on the teachings of the Prophet Zoroaster and on the good Spirits the Amasha-Sapentas and the Izuds that work with the Deity. The Yasna contains invocations to the various Izuds and describes their several functions. It also contains liturgical directions and prescribes the Ritual to be observed at the performance of certain ceremonies.

The Visparad, consisting of 23 chapters, mostly contains invocations to the Amasha-Sapentas and the Izuds.

The Khordeh Avesta contains Afringans, Ghes, Nyaz, Yasts, Patets, Afrins and certain other prayers.

Besides the Nasks that remain to us we have various other books of antiquity and authority which are accepted by the Zoroastrians as forming a part of their religious scriptures.

One of such books is the Dinkard. It is the compilation of Dastur Atro Froba, and is ascertained to be written a thousand years before now.

Shayast La Shayast

Another work of authority is Shayast La Shayast, meaning the Proper and Improper. Its translation in English is in the fifth volume of the “Sacred Books of the East.” The Introduction describes it as “a compilation of miscellaneous laws and customs regarding sin and impurity with other memoranda about ceremonies and religious subjects in general.”

Dastur Darab points out a reference in the book to the Hasparam Nask, which existed originally in the Avesta language, as showing that the author had drawn his materials from the original Nasks before they were lost, because the Hasparam Nask is one of the original Nasks that are now lost to us. Shayast La Shayast was written about the end of the Sassanian dynasty–in the middle of the 7th Century Anno Domini.

Sad Dar

Another ancient compilation which is regarded as a book of authority relating to the Zoroastrian religion is the Sad Dar, which literally means a hundred subjects. Its age and authorship is lost in antiquity. Its English translation appears in the 24th volume of the “Sacred Books of the East” and the introduction states that it is generally accepted as a work of “important authority” and contains a “convenient summary of many of the religious customs handed down by Pehlvi writers.”

Nirungistan

The Nirungistan is another book relating to Zoroastrian scriptures. It is a Pehlvi composition and its author is unknown. It came into existence sometime between 226 B.C. and 600 A.D. “The whole book,” says Ervad Sheriarji, “is a ceremonial code, or rather a manual or guide book for priests. The book deals with the duties, functions and rules relating to the Ervads or ordained Priests.” This book is published by the Parsi Punchayat, and Dastur Darab has written an introduction and given the various meanings of the words in the original texts.