In regard to the locality in which we are to seek the source of the Avesta and the cradle of the religion, opinions have been divided. Some scholars would place it in the west, in Media; others would still maintain that we are to look to the east of Iran, to Bactria, as its source; or again to Afghanistan or Khorassan for the . home of the Avestan language. Each of these different views probably has some right on its side, and we shall perhaps not go far astray if we regard the Avesta as coining partly from the East and partly from the \Vest. We know that a number of its scenes may be placed in the east or southeast of Iran; but other scenes are best ascribed to the west, where Zoroaster first appeared. On the question of his original home, see the article ZOROASTER. The language itself of the texts, as used in the church, became a reli gious language, precisely as did Latin, and, therefore, was not confined to any place or time. We may regard the Avesta as having been worked upon from Zoroaster's day down to the time of the Sassanian redaction.
The Pahlavi Version of the Avesta.—To the period of the Sassanian editing of the texts be longs the Pahlavi translation and interpretation of the Avesta. At the date when the texts were compiled and edited, the general knowledge of the language of the Avesta and the understand ing of the sacred texts was far from perfect. The preparation of a translation or version became necessary. Accordingly, the great body of the texts was rendered into Pahlavi. the language used by Persia at the time of the Parthian Arsa cidie and the Sassanid (q.v.). The Pahlavi ver sion and interpretation of the Yasna, Vispered, and VendidM, each entire, with some portions of the other texts, has been preserved. We have not yet so thorough an understanding of the Pahlavi version of the old texts as might be wished; but as our knowledge of this translation increases, we shall see more and more its importance. Owing to the somewhat imperfect knowledge of the Avestan texts at the time when the version was made, and owing to the unskillful and peculiar method in which the Pahlavi translation is made, it abounds in numerous errors and inaccuracies. It is often, however, of the greatest value in in terpreting allusions, and particularly in giving hints for the meanings of obscure words, and in such matters is our best and only guide. When more fully understood and used in connection with the 'comparative method,' referring to the Sanskrit, in interpreting the sacred texts, the 'traditional method' or native explanation is destined to win great result=.. The 'traditional'
and the 'comparative' methods must go hand in hand.
Manuscripts of the Aresta.—The oldest manu script that we possess of the Avesta dates from the middle of the Thirteenth Century. From that date onward we have a considerable number of codices still extant. They come to us from India and from Yezd and Kerman, in Persia. The Parsi priests, especially the Dasturs, Dr. Jamaspji :\linocheherji, and Peshotan Behramji, and their friends have shown princely generosity in aiding Western scholars in editing texts by putting valuable MSS. in their possession. It is thus that it was possible for the new edition of the Avesta texts, by Professor Geldner, of Berlin, to be presented in so critical a manner.
The importance of the Avesta ties not alone in the field of philology, ethnology, and early litera ture, but also in the investigation of comparative religion. Resemblances to Christianity in its teachings become significant when we consider the close contact between the Jews and the Per sians during the Babylonian Captivity.
Language of the Aresta.—The language in which the Avesta is written may be best termed Avestan, or simply Aresta. The designation Avesta for the as well as the book, is in keeping with the Pahlavi A vistok, which is used both of the tongue and of the scriptures. The term Avestan, both for the language and as an adjective, is to be in some respects preferred, in order to distinguish the speech from the work itself. The term Zend for the language, as noted above, is a misnomer. The designation Old Bac trian, sometimes used for this tongue, has little to recommend it. The language of the Avesta belongs to the Iranian group. With the ancient Persian inscriptions it makes up the Old Iranian division. The later Iranian languages, New Per sian, Kurdish, Afghan, Oesetish, Baluchi, Pamir, and other dialects, complete the younger division. The intervening Pahlavi with its Pazand, and Parsi, does not quite complete the ]ink between the divisions. (See IRANIAN LANGUAGES.) The alphabet in which the Avesta is written is far younger than the language it presents. The characters are derived from the Sassanian Pah lavi, which was used to write down the oral tra dition when the texts were collected and edited under the dynasty of the Sassanithe. The writ ing is read from right to ]eft. What the original Avestan script was we do not know.