Praises to the Sun, the Moon, and the Goddess of Water: Selections from Zoroastrianism’s Yasts, Part 2 of 2

Let us continue with selections from the “Khôrshêd Yast,” followed by the “Mâh Yast,” hymns that praise the Sun and the Moon respectively.

“KHÔRSHÊD YAST. Yast to the Sun. “Should not the Sun rise up, then the Daêvas would destroy all the things that are in the seven Karshvares, nor would the heavenly Yazatas find any way of withstanding or repelling them in the material world. He who offers up a sacrifice unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun— to withstand darkness, to withstand the Daêvas born of darkness, to withstand the robbers and bandits, to withstand the Yâtus and Pairikas, to withstand death that creeps in unseen— offers it up to Ahura Mazda, offers it up to the Amesha-Spentas, offers it up to his own soul. He rejoices all the heavenly and worldly Yazatas, who offers up a sacrifice unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. I will sacrifice unto Mithra, the Lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten thousand eyes. […]

I will sacrifice unto that friendship, the best of all friendships, that reigns between the Moon and the Sun. For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice worth being heard, namely, unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun. Unto the undying, shining, swift-horsed Sun we offer up the libations, the Haoma […], the baresma, the wisdom of the tongue, the holy spells, the speech, the deeds, the libations, and the rightly-spoken words. […]”

MÂH YAST. Yast to the Moon.

“Unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull; unto the only-created Bull and unto the Bull of many species; Hail to Ahura Mazda! Hail to the Amesha-Spentas! Hail to the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull! Hail to thee when we look at thee! Hail to thee when thou look at us! How does the Moon wax? How does the Moon wane? For fifteen days does the Moon wax; for fifteen days does the Moon wane. As long as her waxing, so long is the waning; as long as her waning, so long is the waxing. ‘Who is there but thee who makes the Moon wax and wane?’ We sacrifice unto the Moon that keeps in it the seed of the Bull, the holy and master of holiness. Here I look at the Moon, here I perceive the Moon; here I look at the light of the Moon, here I perceive the light of the Moon. The Amesha-Spentas stand up, holding its glory; the Amesha-Spentas stand up, pouring its glory upon the Earth, made by Mazda. […]”