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Yasna

The Yasna is the central liturgical collection of the Avesta, the sacred scriptures of Zoroastrianism. It is composed in the Avestan language and is used in worship by Zoroastrian priests, particularly during the Yasna ceremony.

The core of the Yasna is the Gathas, a set of hymns traditionally attributed to Zoroaster and

Scholarly treatment places the Yasna as the central component of the Younger Avesta, which includes other liturgical

In contemporary practice, the Yasna remains essential for formal Zoroastrian worship. Priests (mobeds) recite the texts

considered
the
oldest
portion
of
the
text.
The
remainder
of
the
Yasna
consists
of
liturgical
prayers,
invocations
to
Ahuras
and
other
divine
beings,
and
ritual
formulas
used
in
the
ceremony,
including
the
preparation
and
offering
of
haoma,
the
ceremonial
drink,
and
the
veneration
of
fire.
works
such
as
the
Yasna,
as
well
as
texts
like
the
Vendidad
and
the
Yashts.
The
Avesta
as
a
whole
is
traditionally
divided
into
the
Gathas
(Old
Avesta)
and
the
Younger
Avesta.
The
text
is
preserved
in
manuscripts
and
studied
for
its
language,
theology,
and
ritual
function.
The
Gathic
portions
are
in
Old
Avestan,
and
the
rest
in
Younger
Avestan,
reflecting
layered
composition
over
centuries.
in
liturgical
languages,
often
within
temple
ceremonies,
while
vernacular
translations
or
summaries
accompany
public
understanding.
The
Yasna's
influence
extends
beyond
ritual
to
the
study
of
Zoroastrian
doctrine
and
Iranian
linguistic
history.