by Jayaram V
In a general sense, the Amesha Spentas or Ameshaspands are the
effulgent
luminaries or bountiful immortals created by Ahura Mazda from
his own aura, and include all the ahuras, archangels, guardian spirits and universal beings. But in a more restrictive sense, the Amesha Spentas are the six
immortal beings created by Ahura Mazda
in the spiritual realm to protect the worlds from the evil deeds of
Ahirman or Angra Mainyu and his army of evil spirits. In an abstract
sense, the Amesha Spentas are the personifications of the various attributes
of Ahura Mazda Himself. Of the six Amesha Spentas three are masculine
and three are feminine. From an ethical perspective, the Amesha Spentas serve as the symbols
or ideals of purity and divinity for the human beings upon earth, which
they can actualize within themselves through practice and worship to guard themselves against evil. Spenta means increasing or growing. The
Amesha Spentas help Zoroastrian worshippers and people of the faith to grow or
increase in themselves the good qualities represented by them individually. The
Zoroastrian texts, especially the Gathas, extol the Amesha Spentas as
universal beings or immortal beings who were created by Ahura Mazda in
the Infinite Time immediately after he had a confrontation with Ahirman.
The six Amesha Spentas along
with their qualities are described below.
Vohu Manah or Vohuman represents the quality of good mind or good
thoughts and righteous thinking in the invisible realm. In the
visible or material world he is the protector of cattle and also
represented by them. According to the Zoroastrian calendar, the 2nd
day of the month and the 11th month of the year are dedicated to
him. Human beings can increase the qualities of Vohuman in
themselves through proper speech, proper discourse and by
keeping animals properly, taking care of them and the cattle-master,
admitting the male and not slaughtering the young (Denkard Book 9
and Fargard 5). Vohumna prepares the list of good deeds performed by
souls at the time of their departure from the material plane, which is
used at the Chinawad bridge to decide whether they should be led to the
heaven or hell.
Asha Vahishta represents the qualities of truth, fairness
and justice in the invisible or spiritual realm and the element of
fire in the material world. He is associated with the principle
of Asha or good (moral, righteous) order. The association of fire
with truth is probably rooted in the ancient tradition of using fire
to test the innocence or truthfulness of those who were accused of some
guilt. According to Zoroastrian beliefs, Asha Vahistha will be present on the Judgment Day,
along with God, when the dead are resurrected and every soul is subjected
to a final judgment. Humans can increase His qualities within themselves
by offering hymns of praise, sacrifices
and prayers and by practicing the three commandments. According to the Zoroastrian calendar, the third day
of the month and the second month of the year are dedicated to Asha
Vahishta.
Kshatra Vairya represents in the spiritual realm the heroic power
God and the kingdom to come. In the material world
Kshatra Vairya symbolizes
strength, power and the hard quality of metals. He is strength
and valor personified. His strength is the strength of righteousness
with which evil can be driven out. Aramaiti is a feminine entity among the Amesha Spentas. She
is referred as the daughter of Ahura Mazda. Aramaiti represents the
qualities of service, kindness, faith, devotion, and serenity in the spiritual
realm. In the material plane Aramaiti personifies, the earth, fertile land and sacred places.
During the ceremonies, she is invoked to purify the ritual
place. Her help is also sought during the purchase of a new land or a new building.
Being a female entity, Aramaiti represents the ideal womanhood for
Zoroastrian women, representing the divine virtues of loving kindness, peace, selfless
service and dutifulness.
Haurvatat is also a feminine entity. like Aramaiti, representing qualities of wholeness
and perfection in the spiritual world. She personifies the element of water in
the material plane. She also associated with after life, wholeness,
health and prosperity. Haurvatat and Ameretat are usually referred
together as twins. In the Zoroastrian texts she Haurvatat also associated
frequently with three lesser divinities (yaztas), namely vayu (wind),
manthra (chant) and fravashis (guardian spirits). The sixth day of the month and third month of the year
in the Zoroastrian calendar are
dedicated to her.
Ameretat represents the quality of immortality in spiritual plane.
In the material world, she exemplifies the plants. Like Aramaiti and Haurvatat,
Ameretat is also a feminine entity. The seventh day of the month and fifth month of the year
in the Zoroastrian
calendar are dedicated to
Ameretat.
The representative qualities and earth symbols of the Amesha Spentas
are summarized in the following table.
| Name |
Representative
quality |
Earthly
Symbol |
 |
| Asha
Vahishta |
Justice
and Truth |
Fire |
| Vohu
Manah |
Good
thoughts and Righteousness. He is also the protector of cattle. |
Cattle |
| Kshatra
Vairya |
Creative
power of God. He also represents the kingdom to come. |
Metal. |
| Aramaiti |
Devotion |
Earth |
| Haurvatat |
Purity,
Wholeness |
Water |
| Ameretat |
Immortality |
Plants |
Excerpts From Zoroastrian Texts On Amesha Spentas
Khorda Avesta Haft Amahraspand Yasht
1. To Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha-Spentas;
To Vohu-Mano; to Peace, whose breath is friendly, and who is more
powerful to destroy than all other creatures; to the heavenly Wisdom,
made by Mazda, and to the Wisdom acquired through the ear, made by
Mazda;
2.To Asha-Vahishta, the fairest; to the much-desired Airyaman; to
the instrument made by Mazda: and to the good Saoka, with eyes of love,
made by Mazda and holy;
To Khshathra-Vairya; to the metals; to Mercy and Charity.
3. To the good Spenta-Armaiti, and to the good Rata, with eyes of
love, made by Mazda and holy; To Haurvatat, the master; to the
prosperity of the seasons and to the years, the masters of holiness; And
to Ameretat, the master; to fatness and flocks; to the plenty of corn;
and to the powerful Gaokerena, made by Mazda.
Yasna 1
2. I announce (and) carry out (this Yasna) to Vohu Mano, and to
the Highest Asha, and to Khshathra Vairya, and to Spenta Armaiti, and to
the two, the Haurvatat and Ameretat, to the body of the Kine, and to the
Kine's Soul, and to the Fire of Ahura Mazda, that one who more than
(all) the Amesha Spentas has made most effort (for our succor)! Yasna
4
3. Yea, further, we present (them to the Bountiful Immortals with an
especial gift) these thoughts well thought, these words well spoken,
these deeds well done, these Haomas, Myazdas, Zaothras, and this
Baresman spread with sanctity, the flesh, and Haurvatat (who guards the
water), and Ameretatat (who guards the plants and wood), even the flesh,
Haoma and Parahaoma, the wood-billets, the perfume, and this their
lordship and their sanctity, and this chieftainship, this prayer for
blessing, the heard recital of the Gathas, and the well-said Mathras. 4.
We offer with our celebrations, and we announce them (of a verity) to
the Bountiful Immortals, those who exercise their rule aright, and who
dispose (of all) aright, the ever-living, ever-helpful, the male
divinities among their number who dwell with the Good Mind, [and the
female ones as well]. Yasna 7
1. With a complete and sacred offering [Ashi] I offer and I give this
meat-offering, and (with it) Haurvatat (who guards the water), and
Ameretatat (who guards the plants and the wood), and the flesh of the
Kine of blessed gift, for the propitiation of Ahura Mazda, and of the
Bountiful Immortals (all, and) for the propitiation of Sraosha
(Obedience) the blessed, endowed with sanctity, who smites with the blow
of victory, and who causes the settlements to advance. Yasna 12
I choose the good Spenta Armaiti for myself; let her be mine. I
renounce the theft and robbery of the cow, and the damaging and
plundering of the Mazdayasnian settlements. Yasna 16
And we worship the former religions of the world devoted to
Righteousness which were instituted at the creation, the holy religions
of the Creator Ahura Mazda, the resplendent and glorious. And we worship
Vohu Manah (the Good Mind), and Asha Vahishta (who is Righteousness the
Best), and Khshathra-vairya, the Kingdom to be desired, and the good and
bountiful Armaiti (true piety in the believers), and Haurvatat and
Ameretat (our Weal and Immortality).
THE BOOK OF ARDA VIRAF
(1)Afterward, arose Vohuman, the archangel, from a throne made of
gold, (2) and he took hold of my hand; with the words 'good thought' and
'good word' and 'good deed,' he brought me into the midst of Ohrmazd and
the archangels and other holy ones, (3) and the guardian angels of
Zartosht Spitama, Kai-Vishtasp, Jamasp, Isadvastar the son of Zartosht,
and other upholders and leaders of the religion, (4) than whom I have
never seen any one more brilliant and excellent.
Suggested Further Reading
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