Gathas

The Gathas are seventeen hymns in the Avesta traditionally attributed to Zoroaster. Composed in an archaic form of Avestan, they express foundational teachings of Zoroastrianism.

Avesta: The collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in several stages and forms of Avestan. The Gathas form its oldest and most revered textual layer.
Ahura Mazda: The supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, whose name means Wise Lord. The Gathas address Ahura Mazda as the source of wisdom and moral guidance.
Zoroaster: An ancient Iranian religious teacher traditionally regarded as the founder of Zoroastrianism. Tradition attributes the Gathas to him, though his date and historical setting remain debated.
Younger Avesta: The later linguistic and textual layers of the Avesta, distinct from its oldest Gathic material. Its language and religious concerns differ from the Gathas’ archaic poetry.
Old Avestan: The archaic Iranian language in which the Gathas and related liturgical texts are composed. Its difficult grammar and vocabulary shape interpretation of the hymns.
Asha: The Zoroastrian principle of truth, right order, and alignment with reality. The hymns present commitment to asha as a path of truth and right conduct.
Avestan language: An ancient Iranian language preserved chiefly in the Zoroastrian scriptures known as the Avesta. The Gathas preserve its oldest known form.
Rigveda: The oldest collection of Sanskrit hymns, composed in ancient India and preserved in Vedic tradition. Its linguistic and poetic parallels illuminate the Gathas while revealing a distinct religious world.
Yasna: A central Zoroastrian liturgy and the Avestan text recited during its performance. The Gathas are embedded within the Yasna liturgy.
Angra Mainyu: The destructive spirit in Zoroastrian tradition, associated with falsehood and opposition to good creation. The Gathas frame moral life against destructive opposition to truth and order.

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