Tazik descent

Herewith I am quoting the translation of a line from Sarosh Yast Vadi-Nirang, "Taziane Basti Kustian” by a respected Avesta scholar, the late Dr Irach J. S. Taraporewala in his book Zoroastrian Daily Prayers (third edition) as "The Taziks who wear the kusti.” Furthermore in the notes on Tajikistan, he has mentioned:

Tazakistan, literally those relating to Tazik, descendants of Taz. According to Pahlavi literature, Tazik was a descendant of Syamak, the grandson of Gayomart, the brother of Hoshang and ancestor of Arabs. Tazi means "a Persian of non-Arabic descent.” The word Tazian refers to inhabitants of an Iranian province which came under the sway of the Sasanian empire and the people thereof were probably Mazdayasnis by religion as they used to put on the kusti. As the Nirang was prepared much before the Arab invasion of Iran, it would be an anachronism to have any reference to the Arabs in this Pazand Nirang.

HOMI E. PAREKH

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia