Avesta in Russian

This is to inform our dear community members regarding the recent publishing of the Khordeh Avesta in Russian language by the St Petersburg Zoroastrian Association. Five hundred copies have been printed and they are priced at US $ 9. For any enquires you can contact Mikhail Chistikov, tel +7812 586 96 06, e-mail: chisti62@mail.ru

The prolog is written by Pavel P. Globa, the head of the Zoroastrian Astrological Society. He takes regular classes in Zoroastrian astrology and encourages the spread of neo-Zoroastrians in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Information on the history of the original scriptures, lost nasks, five gahs, prayers based on the particular day and month corresponding to the yearly calendar, importance of learning the entire book along with Vendidad, Bundahishn by the laymen and priests alike are all mentioned in his notes. Stress is laid on congregational prayers which bring purity to the environment and the earth.

The translation and transliteration has been done by Chistikov who is an ervad based in St Petersburg. Recently he was also in India doing research and learning rituals and ceremonies under Dr Meher Master-Moos of the Zoroastrian College. He has written many articles about the good religion including the recently completed Hom Yasht. Soon the Yasna will be ready for printing.

For the Khordeh Avesta he has referred to Karl Gelder’s Avesta die heiligen Bucher der Parsen, Stuttgart, 1886-1895 and Khordeh Avesta by Ervad Kavasji Edulji Kanga. The transliteration has been done in the Latin/Greek script because he believes that no European languages including Russian can give all the sounds and words of the holy Avestan language. Daily prayers including Ahunavar, Ashem Vohu, prayers for the kusti ceremony, gah, niyaesh, yasht, seroza, prayers for repentance, 101 names of Ahura Mazda, tandarosti and many more are all incorporated in the book. It also contains basic information about the texts, scriptures, language, correct pronunciations, glossary of important words, etc.

BURZIN E. ATASHBAND

Kiev, Ukraine