Amesha Spenta
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In Zoroastrianism, Aməša Spənta(s) 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, rather like the persons of the Christian Trinity. The Aməša Spəntas are:
- Khshathra (Vairya), translated as "Desirable Power" or "Desirable Dominion,"
- Haurvatat, translated as "Wholeness,"
- (Spenta) Armaiti, translated as "(Holy) Piety," "Devotion," or "Serenity,"
- Ameretat, translated as "Immortality,"
- Vohu Manah, translated as "Good Thought" or "Good Purpose,"
- Aša (Vahišta), translated as "Justice and Truth" or "(Best) Truth."
These are the names of the spirits in Avestan. In Pahlavi, Khshathra is called Shāhrevar, Haurvatat is called Hordad, Spenta Armaiti is called Spendarmad, Ameretat is called Amurdad, Vohu Manah is called Vahman, Spenta Mainyu is called Spenag Mēnōg and Asha Vahistha is called Ašwahišt, Ardwahišt or "Ardebehišt". The names are naturally spelled in countless different ways in different English transcriptions, but this is one common way of writing them.
Though Spənta Mainyu (Spenag Mēnōg) is counted among the Aməša Spentas, he is often identified with Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd, Modern Persian Hormæzd), the creator of the remaining six Aməša Spentas and essentially above them.
Each of the Aməša 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. Spənta Armaiti helped to create and presides over earth. Amərətāt helped to create and presides over plants. Vōhu Mānah helped to create and presides over cattle. Spənta Mainyu helped to create and presides over the just man and Aša helped to create and presides over fire.
References
- britannica.com
- Mary Boyce (1984). Textual Sources for the Study of Zoroastrianism. Manchester University Press.