The prayer is named after its opening words, ''ā airyə̄mā išyō''. In present-day Zoroastrian usage, the ''airyama'' of these opening words are considered to be an invocation of the divinity ''
Airyaman
In the Avesta, (or ') is both an Avestan language common noun as well as the proper name of a Zoroastrian divinity.
The common noun is a theological and social term literally meaning "member of (the) community or tribe." In a secondary developm ...
'', the ''
yazata
Yazata ( ae, 𐬫𐬀𐬰𐬀𐬙𐬀) is the Avestan word for a Zoroastrian concept with a wide range of meanings but generally signifying (or used as an epithet of) a divinity. The term literally means "worthy of worship or veneration",.. and i ...
'' of healing. The opening words may however have originally been an appeal to "the community" (or "tribe"), which would reflect the
etymologically
Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words an ...
derived meaning of ''airyaman.''
In relation to the other formulas
Like the other three formulas (''
Ahuna Vairya
Ahuna Vairya (Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬥𐬀 𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀) is the first of Zoroastrianism's four Gathic Avestan formulas. The text, which appears in ''Yasna'' 27.13, is also known after its opening words yatha ahu vairyo. In Zoroas ...
'', ''
Ashem vohu
Ashem Vohu (, Avestan: 𐬀𐬴𐬆𐬨 𐬬𐬊𐬵𐬏 aṣ̌əm vohū) is a very important prayer in Zoroastrianism. The Ashem Vohu, after the Ahunavar is considered one of the most basic, yet meaningful and powerful mantras in the religion. I ...
'', ''
Yenghe hatam
Yenghe hatam is one of the four major prayer formulas (the other three being Ashem Vohu, Ahuna Vairya and Airyaman ishya) of the Gathic canon, that is, part of the group of texts composed in the more archaic dialect of the Avestan language and b ...
''), the ''airyaman ishya'' is in Gathic Avestan. While the first three formulas are located at ''
Yasna
Yasna (;"Yasna" '' Gathas, the ''airyaman ishya'' - at ''Yasna'' 54.1 - provides the closure. Also unlike the first three, the
theological
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the s ...
exegesis
Exegesis ( ; from the Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. In modern usage, exegesis can involve critical interpretation ...
of the ''airyaman ishya'' is not embedded in the ''Yasna'' liturgy itself. Like the ''yenghe hatam'', the third of the four formulas, the ''airyaman ishya'' is a prayer. Both it and the ''yenghe hatam'' are without the enigmatic "pronounced magical character" of the first two formulas.
In other scripture
In ''
Yasht
The Yashts are a collection of twenty-one hymns in the Younger Avestan language. Each of these hymns invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept. ''Yasht'' chapter and verse pointers are traditionally abbreviated as ''Yt.''
Overview
The wor ...
'' 3.8, 11 and 15, the ''airyaman ishya'' is described as the weapon with which to put the ''
daeva
A daeva (Avestan: 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 ''daēuua'') is a Zoroastrian supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics. In the Gathas, the oldest texts of the Zoroastrian canon, the ''daeva''s are "gods that are (to be) rejected". This ...
'' Taromaiti ("heresy") to flight. Like the ''ahuna vairya'' invocation (the first of the four great formulas), the ''airyaman ishya'' is "the most excellent, the most mighty, the most efficacious, the most smiting, the most victorious, the most healing, the greatest" of the formulas. (''Yasht'' 1.1-1.3, 3.5-3.6 and 11.3) Also like the ''ahuna vairya'', the ''airyaman ishya'' has the power to elicit good thoughts, words and deeds, and so further '' asha'' and weaken the ''druj''. (''
Visperad
Visperad or Visprad is either a particular Zoroastrian religious ceremony or the name given to a passage collection within the greater Avesta compendium of texts.
Overview
The Visperad ceremony "consists of the rituals of the Yasna, virtually unch ...
'' 24.0-2).
Since its incantation was considered the most effective form of healing (''Yasht'' 3.6), the ''airyaman ishya'' was accorded special status in the religion. ''
Vendidad
The Vendidad /ˈvendi'dæd/ or Videvdat or Videvdad is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. However, unlike the other texts of the Avesta, the ''Vendidad'' is an ecclesiastical code, not a liturgical manual.
Name
...
'' 20.12 notes its efficacy against "all sickness and death, all sorcerers and witches, all seducers belonging to the Lie." The ''Yasna'' verse immediately following the prayer considers the ''airyaman ishya'' "the greatest uttering of ''asha''." (''Yasna'' 54.2)
In Zoroastrian tradition
In the
Middle Persian literature
Middle Persian literature is the corpus of written works composed in Middle Persian, that is, the Middle Iranian dialect of Persia proper, the region in the south-western corner of the Iranian plateau. Middle Persian was the prestige dialect dur ...
of the 9th-12th century, the ''airyaman ishya'' is described to be the prayer that will be recited by the '' saoshyans'' to bring about the final renovation of the world. This eschatological role is already alluded to in Avestan texts, and the concepts of '' asha'' ("Truth"), ''
ashi
Ashi (Avestan: 𐬀𐬴𐬌 ''aṣ̌i/arti'') is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "that which is attained." As the hypostasis of "reward," "recompense," or "capricious luck," ''Ashi'' is also a divinity in the Zoroastria ...
'' ("Reward"/"Recompense") and ''
airyaman
In the Avesta, (or ') is both an Avestan language common noun as well as the proper name of a Zoroastrian divinity.
The common noun is a theological and social term literally meaning "member of (the) community or tribe." In a secondary developm ...
'' (see translation below, the three words are also etymologically related) all have an
eschatological
Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that nega ...
aspect.
Besides being recited (four times) during the ''
Transliteration based on the edition of Karl F. Geldner, Avesta, the Sacred Books of the Parsis, Stuttgart,
1896
Events
January–March
* January 2 – The Jameson Raid comes to an end, as Jameson surrenders to the Boers.
* January 4 – Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.
* January 5 – An Austrian newspaper reports that ...
:
Like all Gathic Avestan verses, the prayer is altogether ambiguous and translations vary significantly.
Translation
A translation by Dr. Irach J. S. Taraporewala below.
:May the much desired Brotherhood come hither for our rejoicing,
:For the men and for the maidens of Zarathushtra,
:for the fulfilment of Vohu Mano (good mind);
:Whosoever Inner-self earns the precious reward.
:I will pray to Asha (righteousness) for the blessing,
:Which greatly to be desired, Ahura Mazda hath meant for us.
A liturgically inclined translation by Vazquez reads:
:May Airyaman bring aid to all people of Zarathushtra,
:And uphold the enlightened spiritual teachings,
:Which deserve enviable praise.
:I plead for the empowerment,
:Which Ashi provides through Asha,
:As Ahura Mazda has ordained.