khvarenah
Khvarenah, also transliterated khvarena or khvarrah, is an Avestan term meaning divine glory, splendor, or radiance. In Zoroastrian and broader Iranian tradition, it denotes a sacred aura or charisma that legitimizes kingship and empowers a ruler to govern justly. The concept is often described as a divine favor granted by Ahura Mazda or by the cosmic order (asha) and is believed to accompany the rightful ruler while being withdrawn if the ruler acts against righteousness.
In royal ideology, khvarenah is inseparable from the king’s role as the earthly representative of the divine
Across ancient and medieval Iranian literature, khvarenah is invoked to explain dynastic legitimacy and the aura
Scholars characterize khvarenah as a dynamic force that mediates between divine favor and political power. It