Sacred-Texts
Zoroastrian Texts
Shayest Na-Shayest (Proper and Improper)
Translated by E. W. West, from Sacred Books of the East, volume 5,
Oxford University Press, 1885.
"... is a compilation of miscellaneous laws and customs regarding
sin and impurity, and other memoranda about ceremonies and religious subjects
in general." It quotes many times from Avesta texts which are no longer
extant.
CONTENTS:
Part 1. -- The Original Treatise
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- Chapter 1. The names and amounts of the various
degrees of sin; the names of the chief commentators on the Vendidad
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- Chapter 2. Precautions to be taken
regarding corpses and menstruous women, the pollution caused by a serpent
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- Chapter 3. More precautions
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- Chapter 4. The proper size and materials
of the sacred thread-girdle [kusti] and shirt, giving some details about the
sins of running about uncovered and walking with one boot
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- Chapter 5. The sin of unseasonable
chatter
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- Chapter 6. Details about good works,
and those who can and cannot perform them; in which reference is made to Christians,
Jews, and those of other persuasions
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- Chapter 7. Reverencing the sun and
fire; the sin of extinguishing fire
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- Chapter 8. Confession and renunciation of sin,
atonement for sins, especially mortal sins, both those affecting others and
those only affecting one's own soul; a digression (Chap. 8.3) prohibiting
the rich from hunting.
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- Chapter 9. The Hasar of time; priests
passing away in idolatry; the discussion of religion; ceremonies not done
aright; throwing a corpse into the sea; evil of eating in the dark; the four
kinds of worship; when the angels should be invoked in worship; the ephemeral
nature of life
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- Chapter 10. proper looseness for a kusti
(sacred thread-girdle); when the sacred cake [dron] set aside for the guardian
spirits [farohars] can be used; maintaining a fire where a woman is pregnant;
providing a tank for ablutions; the Gathas not to be recited over the dead;
food and drink not to be thrown away to the north at night; unlawful slaughter
of animals; how the corpse of a pregnant woman should be carried; forgiveness
of trespasses; evil of walking without boots; when the sacred girdle is to
be assumed; breaking the spell of an inward prayer; ten women wanted at childbirth,
and how the infant is to be treated; sin of beating an innocent person; evil
of a false judge; men and women who do not marry; a toothpick must be free
from bark; acknowledging the children of a handmaid; advantage of offspring
and of excess in almsgiving; prayer on lying down and getting up; Avesta not
to be mumbled; doubtful actions to be avoided or consulted about; evil of
laughing during prayer; crowing of a hen; treatment of a hedgehog; after a
violent death corruption does not set in immediately; necessity of a dog's
gaze; putrid meat and hairy calces or butter unfit for ceremonies; when a
woman can do priestly duty
Part 2. -- A Supplementary Treatise.
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- Chapter 11. The names and amounts of the various
degrees of sin (again); the proper meat-offerings for various angels [yazads]
and guardian spirits [farohars].
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- Chapter 12. The simplest form of worship;
necessity of submitting to a high-priest; advantage of a fire in the house;
sin of clothing the dead; presentation of holy-water to the nearest fire after
a death; nail-parings to be prayed over; advantage of light at childbirth;
offerings to the angels; maintaining a fire where a woman is pregnant and
a child is born; a toothpick must be free from bark; acknowledging the children
of a handmaid; advantage of offspring and of excess in almsgiving; evil of
drawing well-water at night; food not to be thrown away to the north at night;
advantage of prayer at feasts; treatment of a hedgehog; praying when washing
the face; the proper choice of a purifying priest; no one should be hopeless
of heaven; necessity of a wife being religious as well as her husband; the
ceremonies which are good works; the cause of sneezing, yawning, and sighing.
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- Chapter 13. An account of the mystic signification
of the Gathas
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- Chapter 14. The errors which may be committed
in consecrating the sacred cakes [dron], and how the beginning of the morning
watch is to be determined.
Part 3 -- Appendix
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- Chapter 15. The intangible nature of Ohrmazd
and the archangels; an account of how each of the archangels can be best propitiated,
by a proper regard for the particular worldly existence which he specially
protects
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- Chapter 16. The various degrees of sin,
and of the amount of good works attributed to various ceremonies
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- Chapter 17. An account of the ceremonies
after a death; particulars of those who have no part in the resurrection;
the duty of submission to the priesthood; whether evil may be done for the
sake of good; the place where people will rise from the dead
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- Chapter 18. Aeshm's complaint to Ahriman
of the three things he could not injure in the world
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- Chapter 19. The occasions on which the
Ahunwar formula should be recited, and the number of recitals that are requisite,
etc.
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- Chapter 20. Admonition to frequent the fire
temple; nature of wisdom; admonitions to avoid nasu, to use gomez, to observe
Kwarshed Niyayesh, and to destroy noxious creatures; three greatest concerns;
three places to frequent; acts benefiting the soul or body; Gathas and patets;
anxiety; truth and deceit; extinguishing fire; gifts to the vile; on what
to fix the attention; Fredun and Azi Zohak
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- Chapter 21. The lengths of midday and
afternoon shadows (for calculating the beginning of Uzerin)
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- Chapter 22. Blessings invoked from the
thirty angels and archangels who preside over the days of the month
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- Chapter 23. Special epithets of the same