Etiquettes for Clipping Hair and Fingernails According...

Authors

1 MA in Ancient Cultures and Languages, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

2 Assistant Professor, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerma.

Abstract

The followers of Zoroastrianism have ever tried to interpret and translate religious texts. Parts of these attempts available today is a Pahlavi translation and interpretation from Avesta, called Zand, which, although approximately presents a word-for-word translation, at times, it reflects religious priests' personal inferences. The part added to it as interpretation is unclear and at times even impossible to understand. Since Vandidad includes Zoroastrian religious exercises, it has been more familiar to the Zand writing priests than other parts of Avesta. As a result, Zand of Vandidad could be known as more complete and definite than other parts of Avesta. The Zand of the seventeenth Fargard which is about clipping hair and nails includes many juridical subjects and provides a better translation of Avesta compared with Zand of other parts. In this Fargard, it is ordered that the clipped hair and nails be taken and buried away from holy men, water, fire and Barsom. The clipped hair and nail are dedicated to the bird Ashouzushta in order not to fall in the hands of Mazandaran Devils that may use them against the owner who will finally remain safe from magicians' harm. In interpreting this Fargard, priests have talked about reading Ashamvahu and Ahunawar prayers and even Soroushbazh while burying hair and nails.

Keywords

Journal of Iranian Studies
Volume 15, Issue 29
September 2016
Pages 201-218

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