Amesha Spenta
Categories: Zoroastrian gods | Persian mythology
In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. Some interpreters, however, think that Zarathustra originally saw them as more like aspects of God, a bit like the persons of the Christian Trinity. The Amesha Spentas are Khshathra (Vairya) or in English Desirable Power, Haurvatat or Wholeness, (Spenta) Armaiti or (Holy) Piety, Ameretat or Immortality, Vohu Manah or Good Purpose, Spenta Mainyu or Holy Spirit and Asha (Vahishta) or (Best) Truth. These are the names of the spirits in Avestan. In Pahlavi Khshathra is called Shahrevar, Haurvatat is called Hordad, Spenta Armaiti is called Spendarmad, Ameretat is called Amurdad, Vohu Manah is called Vahman, Spenta Mainyu is called Spenag Menog and Asha Vahistha is called Ashavahisht or Ardvahist. The names are naturally spelled in countless different ways in different English transcriptions, but this is one common way of writing them.
Though Spenta Mainyu i. e. Spenag Menog is counted among the Amesha Spentas, he is often identified with Ahura Mazda i. e. Ohrmazd, the creator of the remaining six Amesha Spentas and essentially above them.
Each of the Amesha Spentas helped to create a particular part of creation and now presides over it or is represented by it. Khshathra Vairya helped to create the stony firmament and presides over it as well as stone tools such as the stone pestle and the flint knife. Haurvatat helped to create and presides over water. Spenta Armaiti helped to create and presides over earth. Ameretat helped to create and presides over plants. Vohu Manah helped to create and presides over cattle. Spenta Mainyu helped to create and presides over the just man and Asha helped to create and presides over fire.
References
- britannica.com
- Mary Boyce (1984). Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism. Manchester University Press.de:Amschaspand