Astronomy, Astrology, Cosmology, Cosmogony
starušmārīh, axtarmārīh, gētīgdānišnīh, bundahišnīh
starušmārīh, axtarmārīh, gētīgdānišnīh, bundahišnīh
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Vanaṇt the star
The hymn text of the star Vanaṇt (Vanand Yašt/ Yt 21) About the vāz ī vanand The star Vanaṇt, set in place by Ahura Mazdā, is worshipped by a specific formula for its offensive strength and healing power (YT 21). It is appreciated for standing against the most undesired, most repulsive (evil) creeps of the Evil Spirit. The name of Vanaṇt is spoken in the Yasna ceremony (aoxtō.nāman-). It is, like Ahura Mazdā, Truthful and Model of Truth. In the ritual which takes place on the day Ohrmazd, in the month Fravardīn, the priest cuts the drōn (sacred bread) with a knife into four pieces, assigned respectively to Vanaṇt and his three associates, namely Tištrya, Satavaēsa, and Haptō.iriṇga. These four celestial lights designate the four chieftains of the celestial quarters. And this piece of ritual is called Vanand brīdan (Guj. vanōt kāpvi). We find two traditions concerning the position of Vanaṇt in the sky: 1. Vanaṇt is the General of the quarter of the West in the sky; it is opposed to the planet Vahrām (= Mars). 2. Vanaṇt is the general of the quarter of the South; it is opposed to the planet Ohrmazd (Jupiter). The opinion of the Parsis of Persia and India is in accordance with this second tradition. They have identified Vanaṇt with Canopus, that is, the second brightest star in the night sky and belonging to a constellation in the southern sky. According to Martin Haug, the Pārsī priests are of opinion, that the star Vanaṇt is the Milky Way, or kāh-kišān in Persian. This opinion does not invalidate the identification of Suhel with Vanaṇt, because the Milky Way runs through Carina which contains Suhel (/ Canopus). Vanaṇt is entrusted with guarding the gate of hell. For this reason the Pārsī priests have identified it with the mace of Mithra who stands at the Bridge of Cinvatō placed over the gate of the hell, and his mace is well laid on the skulls of the Daēva. Full text:
The star Satavaēsa
Satavaēsa is in couple with Tištrya, model and overseer of all stars. In the preliminary formulas of the Yt 8, Tištrya and Satavaēsa are called upon thus: “For the reputation of the star Tištrya, wealthy and fortunate, of (the star) Satavaēsa, frāpa, strong and established by Mazdā.’ First, Tištrya comes to the bay which is an arm of the sea Vouru.kaṣa, in the form of a horse; he makes waves, and the winds blow. “Then Satavaēsa makes those waters flow forward towards (the earth) with seven continents, when he goes into his coverings; beautiful, granting peace, he stands to the lands with good years. When will the Aryan lands have good year?” It is possible that Satavaēsa, like Tištrya, has the shape of a horse, that is to say, they are two celestial horses who let the waters flow and make the plants grow. A Persian Rivāyat compares them to the twin Immortals, Haurvatāt and Amərətatāt. Then Tištrya and Satavaēsa rise from the sea Vouru.kaṣa; clouds gather on the top of the mount Us.hindava in the middle of that sea. Satavaēsa, with the help of the winds, puts clouds in motion; clouds go along the whole earth, and bring water everywhere. Apąm Napāt distributes the waters, and the bold wind does so, and the Fortune, and the other-souls of the Truthful ones. It seems that there existed a nīrang to invoke Satavaēsa: the other-souls of the Truthful ones release him between earth and heaven, him who hears when invoked. Full text: 
The route of Rašnu
Rašnu is a wandering Yazata, who travels all over the worlds, and each time traverses an upper stage in three strides[1]. The Yasna-text of Rašnu (Yt 12.9-37) enumerates the (29) stations of the route of Rašnu from the earth up to the throne of Ahura Mazdā [1] . This remindes Viṣṇu’s three strides. Cf. ṚV I, 154.
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xvardag-āmārišnīh
calculation of Asterisms (“lunar mansions”)
The groups of stars in the moon’s observed path in the heaven were known to the Perso-Aryans; they are called in Pārsīg xvardag. We know four lists of the lunar mansions in Pārsīg, Sogdian, Xvārazmian, and Persian.
The groups of stars in the moon’s observed path in the heaven were known to the Perso-Aryans; they are called in Pārsīg xvardag. We know four lists of the lunar mansions in Pārsīg, Sogdian, Xvārazmian, and Persian.
| lunar_mansions.pdf |
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Sūryasiddhānta
abar zamīgpeymānīh
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Persian words for « drinking vessel » and « time »
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