yazata

Yazata is a term from Avestan meaning "worthy of worship." In Zoroastrianism, yazatas constitute a class of benevolent divine beings who aid Ahura Mazda in establishing and sustaining the order of creation (asha). They are not the creator itself, but divine entities or emanations that preside over aspects of the natural world, moral order, and human life. The yazatas are invoked in ritual and liturgy, particularly in Yašt hymns that praise individual yazatas and seek their protection, guidance, or blessing.

Among the best known yazatas are Mithra, the guardian of oath and covenants; Anahita, goddess of waters and fertility; Atar, the sacred fire; Sraosha, the messenger and enforcer of divine law; and Tishtrya, the star associated with rain and seasonal renewal. Rashnu, the judge of the dead, is also listed among the yazatas in some traditions. The precise members and the number of yazatas vary by source, with lists commonly noting 21 or 30.

Yazatas are distinct from the Amesha Spentas, the six "Bounteous Immortals" who personify fundamental aspects of Ahura Mazda's cosmic order. In medieval and modern Zoroastrian practice, devotion to yazatas is expressed through prayers, offerings, and recitation of Yašt hymns, alongside reverence for Ahura Mazda and the sacred fire. The concept also influenced later Iranian religious thought and appears in related traditions, where similar term yazata is used for worthy beings.