History revisited

Various scholars have opined on the Vendidad after doing extensive research. I am not a scholar nor do I claim to have studied the Vendidad. However, I believe that one cannot justifiably write about the Vendidad without giving the historical background of the time and the basis for its creation.

There were two (not three) "great” Persian Empires. The Achemenian empire (550-330 BC) started by Cyrus the Great (Kurush Kabir) who took over a much smaller Medes empire (728-559 BC) by defeating its last king Astyages, and further expanded it to its glory; and the last Sasanian Empire (226-651 AD). Between these two great Persian Empires, there were some 550 years of sporadic rule — first by the descendants of Alexander’s generals, the Seleucids and later by the surrogates of several loosely formed Persian tribes. Mithraism (worship of sun god Mithra) became the dominant and popular cult/religion of the Seleucids and later of the tribes of the Parthian/Arsacid rulers. Zoroastrianism as practiced by the later Achemenian kings like Darius and Xerxes essentially disappeared. The Seleucids, their surrogates and later the Parthians/Arsacids practiced a combination of Mithraism and a distorted or degraded form of Zoroastrianism.

It is believed that some of the practices which later became part of the book of rules and regulations called Vendidad or the ecclesiastical code were pre-Zoroastrian and pre-Achemenian. It is also believed that it was during the period of the Seleucids and their surrogates and later the Parthians/Arsacids that the "book of rules and regulations” — the Vendidad — was more formalized and compiled under the rule and patronage initially of Greek rulers and subsequently the Parthian/Arsacid tribes. The Greeks were known to be one of the most superstitious and ritualistic people of the time. Their daily functions of worship and living, waging war and governing were dependent on strict rules and regulations, and hence the additional inputs in the Vendidad! Their dependence on mystical, astronomical, spiritual, metaphysical powers and other irrational beliefs in a variety of ritualistic practices, including animal sacrifices were all part of their socio-cultural heritage.

The Parthian/Arsacid tribesmen (originally from Parthia or western Khorasan and one of the satrapies under the Achemenians) had major disagreements with the ruling Seleucids and arbitrarily declared independence around 238 BC. Subsequently, Hellenistic/Seleucid customs partially gave way to resurgence to some form of Persian culture, heritage and pride. Unfortunately, the Parthians/Arsacids adopted a feudalistic governing structure which lacked political unity and left them vulnerable. They were constantly engaged in wars with the Romans in the west and the Kushan Empire (ancient Bactria and Gandhara regions near the river Oxus in what is now Afghanistan and southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) in the northeast.

The later rulers of the Parthian/Arsacid tribes however revived some of the practices of the ancient Zoroastrian faith of the Achemenians and the Vendidad finally took a formal position in the society of the time. Their downfall resulted in the second great Persian Empire initiated by Ardeshir, the first Sasanian king who was from the province of Persis (in and around Fars) and native to the first Persian Empire of the Achemenians.

The Parthian/Arsacid rulers like Mithradates, Mnaskries, Phraates, Vonones, Pacorus and others who practiced Mithraism or a distorted version of Zoroastrianism, contributed their own rules and regulations, with their ritualistic traditions and cults making way for the practice of a distorted version of the Zoroastrian religion. The "book” was taken to the "next level of order” under the Sasanians whose final contributions made it the "law” as we know it today. They revived many of the Achemenian Zoroastrian religious practices and used the book (now referenced as younger Avesta writings) as a compendium to Zoroastrian religious writings.

The powerful clergy of the time (with sometimes weak and corrupt monarchs) used the book to remain in power and control the social and religious life of the masses. The book may have been used as a weapon of mass miscommunication and misinterpretation to achieve political and moral expediencies. In today’s political terminology, it can be construed as absolute authoritarian form of rule or even political fascism. The Sasanians were well known for their fiery religious behavior and extreme ritualistic practices.

Some of the examples from the book include fines and bodily punishments (lashings) for committing sins; dealing with pollution and purification of the living and the dead; dealing with sane and insane animals; health sanitation (for menstruating women); agricultural practices, etc. It is obvious that this book was created and orally passed on by priests on orders from the ruling monarchs and/or self-initiated by the priests in order to "manage and guide” the community of the time, as well as in implementation and imposition of the so-called religious laws disguised as religious rules and regulations or religious teachings and attempting to make the link to the Gathas.

The Gathas are the spoken words of the prophet Zarathushtra. The Vendidad contains dictated words of the clergy of the time and was written during the Hellenistic/Mithra worshiping Arsacid period of history in Persia, with little to do with the practice and preachings of Achemenian Zoroastrianism. Those who attempt to link the book as an extension of the Gathas or as religious practices are self-serving and masters of distortion.

As to the narration of rules and regulations in the form of midnight prayers to fight demons, etc, it is left to the decision of the learned priests. We have been relying on their judgment and its applicability for the past 2,200 years.

SHAHROKH MEHTA

Syracuse, NY

SamMMehta@aol.com