Yashts

Yashts are a collection of hymns in the Avestan language dedicated to individual deities and divine forces within Zoroastrianism. The term Yasht comes from the Avestan word for praise or worship, and the hymns are part of the broader Avesta, the sacred scriptures of Zoroastrianism. The Yashts focus on specific yazatas, or divine beings, and often address a particular deity such as Mithra, Anahita, Atar, or Armaiti, as well as natural or cosmic realms.

Content and structure vary by hymn, but Yashts generally combine praise, invocation, mythic narrative, and appeals for blessings. They cover themes such as protection, health, fertility, justice, rain, and victory in warfare. In many cases, the hymns present stories or episodes that illustrate the deity’s power and benevolent influence, while also offering ritual and ethical guidance for followers. The exact number of Yashts is not fixed across manuscripts; scholarly editions typically count roughly 17 to 21 hymns, with some variation depending on manuscript tradition.

Language and manuscript history: the Yashts are preserved in the Avestan language and constitute a major portion of the Younger Avesta, compiled and transmitted in later ancient and medieval Iran. They reflect pre-Islamic Iranian religious ideas, including concepts of cosmic order (asha) and the roles of various divine powers in daily life and the natural world. The texts have been the subject of extensive linguistic, philological, and religious study and remain an important source for understanding Zoroastrian theology and liturgy.

Usage and significance: in Zoroastrian ritual practice, Yashts are used in liturgical recitations and devotional contexts to invoke divine protection, guidance, and blessings. They provide insight into ancient Iranian religious imagination and the way worshippers related to the divine through praise, supplication, and narrative.