Index
ablutions, ritual see washing
abortion
8, 283, 285
adultery
281n347
adwadād offense
253n318, 255
Ahriman
attacks Gayōmard
307n388
and his demons
189n244
evil creatures of
47n44, 51
prayer formulae to be recited to defeat
345
Ahuna variya prayer
215n273
Ahura Mazdā see Ohrmazd
air
purification by exposure to
91n103
airspace
57, 65, 67
Akataš
349
alms
269
amber
173, 175
animals, evil (xrafstar)
47, 49, 50, 103, 213, 223, 265, 293, 295, 323, 329, 359, 361, 367
killing of
299n374, 367
animals, beneficial
dogs
killing of
143
eating of dead matter by
169
healing of
293
ants
361
killing of
265
anus
contamination from
29n21, 363
purification ritual
321
sodomy
271
aphids
155
Ardwahišt
217n275, 325, 347
arm, striking on the
287n357
Ārmaiti
319n404
armpits, purification ritual
237
arrow
293, 295, 345
ashes
as purification agent
85, 89, 177
made of
103, 127
Astwihād
349n437
atonement
193, 219
by paying a fixed fine
295
methods of
223, 225, 341
through killing of evil animals
265
Avesta
reciting of
187, 305, 319, 323, 325, 327, 333
Aži Dahāka
49n52
babies
childbirth; children
abortion
283, 285n351
stillborn
77n90, 79, 81, 143
barley
105, 109, 161, 163, 165, 167, 347
purification of
105, 161, 163, 165n204
baršnūm (purification ritual)
193n247, 315–321, 331, 337, 351, 365, 367
performer of
323, 325, 329
barsom (sacred bundle of twigs)
59n69, 157, 169, 193, 203, 215, 237, 239, 241, 245, 247, 289, 299, 315, 345, 347, 365, 369–371
bāzā(y) sin
287n357
bearded vulture
139, 141
beasts, flesh-eating
133n168, 177n222
beavers
57
bedding
of the dead
147, 151, 375
of menstruating women
241
sharing of
53
behavior, rules for
349n437
biers
185, 187
birds
and contamination by dead matter
123, 125
and disposition of nails
395
birds of prey
corpses being seen by
141, 145n180
corpses exposed to
35, 39, 133, 135, 139, 175, 177n222, 199, 201
and Nasuš
141
blind dogs
39n39, 139, 141
blood
arteries
289
visible in the water
201
contamination by
213
contamination of earth by
107
contamination of water by
219
striking and causing flow of
357, 359
bloodhounds
367
bodily fluids, contamination by
289n361, 363
bōdōzed offense
237n301
bones
ossuaries
carried away by dogs and birds
135
in earth
107
exposure to sun
39
boundaries, group
59n71
bread
61, 215, 331
drōn
breast, purification ritual
321
bricks
67, 105, 137, 175, 177n222
brows, purification ritual
319
bull’s urine
55n59, 77, 81, 85, 89, 91, 93, 137, 149, 151, 153, 155, 171, 173, 175, 199, 201, 207, 215, 219, 231, 237, 245, 249, 251, 255, 259, 263, 265, 267, 317, 319, 321n409, 323, 325, 327, 331, 333, 335, 337, 343, 365, 371, 375, 377
burial
of corpses
33, 41, 43
of dead matter
33
and digging up of corpses
175
of dogs
177
of nails and hair
33, 35
Būšāsp
283n349, 297, 353, 255
butter
61
buttocks
297
capital punishment
29n20
sins
45, 199, 207, 237
carpets
147, 149, 235
carrion
burning/cooking over a fire
187, 189, 191
contamination by
29n21, 43, 377
demon of
19n2
cattle
dead bodies tied down over
31
killing by wolves
145
ceilings
37
celestial regions
343
cheese
169, 183, 223
chest, purification ritual
321
childbirth
377
children
atonement for sin of fathers
279
guardianship of
279
illegitimate
277
purification of
343
stillborn
77n90, 79, 81, 143
Činwad Bridge
367, 369, 371
clay
61, 137, 249, 337
clothing
contamination of
31, 239, 375
exposure to sun
55
and menstrual blood
251, 259
removal of
345
washing/cleansing
55, 241
woven
33, 143, 151, 165, 183, 185
clouds
141, 177, 213
coinage, Sasanian
45n42
commentaries and commentators
2–11
date of
2
confession
of sins
87n97
contamination see pollution
continents, seven
227
copper
299
coral
173
corpses
dead matter
animals spread contamination from
135
and birds of prey
133n168, 135, 175, 199
burial of
33, 39, 95
burning of
187
care for
177
carrying alone
29, 211, 371
carrying by two men
31, 33, 39, 73
chewing
355
contamination of land by
107
disintegration of
133
desiccated
199
eating of
151
exposure of
135
impurity of
29
interim storage of
35, 41
in ossuaries
135
non-Zoroastrian
59
rain falling on
47
“seeing by a dog” ritual
43, 97, 145, 199, 371
sagdīd ceremony
taken to mountain tops
133
tying down by feet and hair
135
in the rain
51
creation
demons
345n430
myth of
307n388
creatures see animals
crops
and dead matter
161–167
crows, black
139, 141
crystal
171, 175
cultivation
and contaminated
339
merits of
51
water for
377
darkness
death during
175
days, divisions of
145, 181, 239, 329
dead matter
corpses
burning or burial of
187, 189
contamination of land by
107, 109
cooking
187, 191
demon of see Nasuš
dry
19n1, 25, 31, 35, 39, 45, 47, 49, 61, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 91, 99, 103, 107, 109, 111, 115, 133, 145, 149, 151, 169, 171, 201, 203, 205, 207, 213, 237, 243, 245, 265, 281, 327, 329, 331, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 375, 377
eating
57, 151, 169, 171, 357, 375
deceit
209, 273, 371
defecate
331
defilement see pollution
demons
and cutting of hair and nails
293, 295
doing work of
269
dwellings of
195, 225
formulae/invocations against
349, 351
giant
293, 319, 349
pollution by
2, 478
pregnancy
301, 303, 307
worship of
269, 295
desire
for witch
355
sexual
269
devil-worship
295
diamond
173
digging, on contaminated land
125
disobedience
personal
307n386
dogs
hedgehogs
bones of
107
carrying of dead matter by
21, 181, 183
contamination of land/water by death of
55
killings by
143, 145
in purification rituals
143, 323
ritual of “seeing by a dog”
199
that strike the demons
141
doors
10n23, 25
doubt
77n89, 103, 121, 125, 197, 201, 233, 239, 241, 253, 285, 327, 335
drachmas
93n109, 135, 137
drōn ceremony
183n237, 187, 215, 251, 253, 263
dust
105, 107, 317, 249
as purification agent
27, 89, 151, 171, 173, 175, 323
dwellings
of demons
153
eagle
169, 293
ears, purification ritual
319
earth
goddess see Spandarmad
eating vessels
for menstruating women
249
purification of
31, 61, 103–105
eggs
169
endless lights
355
evil eye
229
Evil Spirit see Ahriman
excrement
107, 201
eyes
contamination from
29n21
removal from the whites of
153
faith, non-Iranian
275
farmers see cultivation
fat
contamination of land by
211
contamination of bedding by
375
on fire
189, 267
mixing with
125
feet
moving corpses with
377
purification ritual
237, 317
tying corpses down by
37, 135
fetuses
destruction in womb
77, 81, 83, 85, 285n352
fever
219
fields
cultivation and contamination
93
removing dead matter from
107, 109
fiends see demons
final body
51, 307, 347, 353, 363
fire
ashes
burning carrion over
49, 187, 189, 191
contamination of
31, 45, 133, 155, 157
and death in house
231
in proximity of a corpse
63
kindling new from polluted
195
purification of
197
firewood
contamination by dead matter
21, 25, 157
and death in house
59, 61
as offering
225n286, 223, 231
purification of
159
unsuitable
161
fleas
361
flies
and carrying of dead matter
19, 29
killing of
223
and Nasuš
19n2, 323
pollution of
361
flatulence
335, 337
flour
105, 163
food
cooked
61n73
for dogs
61
in house after death
183
leftover
253
for menstruating women
253, 255
prepared and unprepared
251
forest
set fire to
51, 53
formulae
against demons
345, 355
for purification
305, 319, 323, 325, 327, 353
four-eyed dogs
39
foxes
carrying of dead matter by
57, 135
carcasses of
371
Frāxkard Sea
49
frogs
359
pollution of
207
fruits
161, 165
washing of
165, 167
stones of
257
fumigation
325n411
funeral rituals
61n74, 71n86
funerary towers
145n177, 175
furrows
291, 317n402, 327, 329, 333, 335, 337, 339
gallows
21
garments see clothing
Gāthās
1, 299, 303, 345, 349
genital organs
observation/examination of
233, 235, 239, 241, 261, 271
purification ritual
321
girdle, sacred
91, 149, 241, 247, 299, 301, 311, 313, 315, 325
gold
171, 173
good deeds
19, 51, 117, 127, 171, 197, 199, 279
balance with bad
281
stolen by Jeh
313
Good Spirit see Ohrmazd
grief
343
guardianship
271
hail
131
hair
burial of
33, 35
contamination by
365, 367
cutting of
289, 291, 293, 363
proper disposition of
289n361, 295, 297
spread of pollution by
105
tying corpses down by
135
hands
night (soiled)
31, 213, 221, 237
washing of
191, 215, 231, 251, 319
haoma (sacred plant)
59n69, 223, 225n286, 347, 369
harvest
165, 299
head
cutting off
153, 301
purification ritual
237, 319
healing
with sacred words
353
water
221, 223
heart, destroy
153, 355
heat
227, 375
hedgehogs
367, 369
hell
19, 87, 195, 199, 223, 267, 347
henbane
285
herbal drugs
285n352
heretics
dead matter from
57
deceitful
299, 301
killing of
347
highway robbers
189
hixr
of the living
33, 57, 77, 79, 81, 189, 359, 371
of the dead
77, 79, 81, 363, 375
hole
293, 303n382
of evil animals
47
hōm see haoma
homage
99
horn
203
horsewhips
87, 185, 223, 263, 267, 301
house dogs
367, 369
houses
carrying dead from
71
death in
59, 65, 75
purification of
73
and ritual observance for the dead
73
treasure
27
hunger
89, 231
hunting dogs
141
hunting-ground
61, 191
idolatry
39, 275, 303
illness see sickness
incantations
187, 195, 197, 315, 329, 351
Iranian religions
281
iron
173, 185, 187, 191, 249, 299, 319
irrigation
merits of constructing an
51
of polluted land
109
jaws
purification ritual
319
Jeh
219
killing of
313
evil caused by
311, 313
jewels
171, 173
kustīg
,
see girdle, sacred
lands
contamination by dead matter
93, 95
examine
107, 109
lash see corporal punishment
legs
of dead bodies
37n33
libations
61, 223, 247
bringing to the fire
227
given to the water
223, 225
and dead matter
171
lice
203, 293, 329, 331, 361
lie demon
255, 367
Life-giving Immortals
347n435
locusts
155
lovers
275n343, 285, 287
Mādayān ī Hazār Dādestān
6
magi
6
margarzān sins
19
marriage
273, 275n343, 277, 279
marrow
167
masks, worn by priests
299
material existence/world
199, 299, 311, 341
Māzan
293n368, 319
meat
61, 169
after a death
61, 183
cooked
61
dried
85
fried
255
salt-cured
167
medicine
healing plants
49
menstruation
77
concealment of
281n347
contamination from
229
different phases of
231, 233
and exclusion from social and ritual life
253
and food
85, 87, 89
length of seclusion
85
marks of
233
place of
229n291
and sexual intercourse
83
and stillbirths
79, 81, 83
metals
61, 173, 249, 269, 291
and exposure of dead
135
milk
consecrated
61, 223, 247
drinking after stillbirth
87
as libation
183, 223, 227
minimum measure
8, 9, 109n126
monetary penalties
267
monkeys
55
moon
343, 355
mortar
103, 105
mountain buzzards
139, 141
nails
burial of
33, 35
contamination from
55, 97, 295
cutting of
289
Nasuš and
139
proper disposition of
291, 293
Nasuš (demon of dead matter)
61n74
negligence
9, 157, 295, 297
next-of-kin
marriage
177
nine-knotted stick (pixag)
57n67
nose, contamination from
237
nourishment
food
importance of
47
nurses, children’s
259
ocean, cosmic
47n49, 49n50, 293n368
offenses see sins
opponents, sins against
307n386
ossuaries
135, 185
otters
367
crime of killing
369
outsiders
11
pain
219, 289, 345, 367
pastures
369
patīt
87n97
pearls
171
penis, contamination from
211, 305, 307
penitence
87, 89
lack of
351n440
perfume
325
phlegm
323
pillows
147
pits
for purification rituals
195, 199, 265, 317n402, 323, 327
plants
haoma
and abortion
285n352
Jeh and
231, 265, 311
medicinal
289
purification of
167, 353, 355
seeds of
95, 107, 163
sweet-smelling
325
plaster
61, 105, 127, 135, 137, 337
plowing
of contaminated land
107
poison
evil animals’
329, 367
and Būšāsp
353, 355
pollution
corpses; dead matter
and dead matter
19
carrying down of
99, 105, 107
direct and indirect
95
of land
107, 109
poor
corpse of
135
tormenting of
237n301
prayers
most important
303
pregnancy
77
and sexual intercourse
155
demonic
301, 303, 305, 307
priests
false
299
prostitution see whores
Pūytīg Sea
47, 49
punishment
capital punishment; corporal punishment; monetary penalties
for anal intercourse
267, 281
for killing otters
369
for wearing woven garments
185
puppies
367
purification
agents
91n103
purification rituals
washing
after death
39
Avestan formulas to be pronounced in
327
baršnūm
315, 317n402
dogs in
39
and menstruation
259
fifteen times (washing)
13, 193n249, 335
thirty times (washing)
191, 193
rain
and dead matter
47, 123
carrying dead bodies in
175
and ossuaries
135
repentance
351
atonement; penitence
ribs, purification ritual
321
righteousness, path of
19
ritual implements
59, 239
barsom
rituals
purification rituals
funeral
71, 145, 179, 327
imperfectly performed
327
roofs
69
impurity of
67
death on
71, 101
sacrifices
193, 195, 239
sagdīd ceremony
39n39, 139
saliva
107, 149
sand
107
sandalwood
173
Sāwul
347
Sedōš ceremony
343n428
seeds
pomegranate
167
sowing
95, 107, 163
semen
149, 263, 283, 287, 303, 309, 363
emission in sleep
301, 307, 309
mixing of
311
serpents
103, 293
sexual intercourse
263
after childbirth
83
between men
283
with menstruating women
263, 267
with non-Iranians
275
with pregnant women
269
shadow, of birds
139, 141, 143, 145
sheep
25, 169, 339
sheepdogs
141, 367, 369
death of
53
killing of
367
shelters
127
shins, purification ritual
323
shoulders, purification ritual
319, 321
sickness
219, 345
silver
173
sins
atonement; penitence; punishment
confession of
87
deserving of death
35, 133, 189, 199, 211, 229, 269, 363, 365, 371
inexpiable
29
intentional and unintentional
157, 317
Sistan
197
slaves
273
sloth, demon of
283n349
snakes
pollution of
207
as evil creatures
359
snow
35, 37, 131, 175
soil, brackish
211
sole carrier
of dead bodies
55, 91, 155, 181, 229, 231, 267, 317, 319, 323, 325, 329, 331, 333, 343
sorcery
311, 313
attributed to Jeh
311n390
soul
after death
343
at the Činwad bridge
367
salvation
351
sins pertaining to the
307n386
Spandarmad
307, 313, 349
spans
125n153
speech, sacred
215n272
spells, chatter
313
spiritual existence/world
19n3, 267, 269, 307, 341, 367
Spitama family
229
spoons, lead or iron
319
Srōš propitiation
251, 293, 317, 325, 327, 347
Srōšāwarz
89, 301n375
stars
343
steel
173
stillborn babies
77n90, 79, 81, 143
stone
and exposure of dead
135
made of
173, 175, 299
purity of
67, 127
streams
109, 111
summer
death in
373
length of
61, 73, 371
sun
exposure of corpses to
35, 39n35, 41, 83, 135, 137
sweats
213
tanāpuhl
good deeds
129, 343
sins
19, 31, 33, 35, 43, 75, 83, 93, 95, 109, 113, 171, 215, 221, 225, 227, 229, 265, 269, 275, 277, 281, 283, 287, 295, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 333, 371, 373
tears
331, 363, 369
teeth
355, 357, 363, 365, 375
tents, deaths in
67
the devil see Ahriman
thieves
361, 363, 367
thighs, purification ritual
237, 255, 257
thirst
85, 87, 89
Tīr
347
tombs
207, 209
destruction of
39
tongue
271
tools
for carrying dead bodies
185
trees
contamination of
97
trunk of and pollution
99
truth
291
twigs of firewood
25
umbilical cord
79, 81
urinating
while reciting the Avesta
303
while standing
301
urine, bull’s
drinking
85, 153
as purification agent
55n59, 81, 85, 89, 91, 93, 137, 149, 151, 155, 171, 173, 175, 199, 201, 207, 215, 219, 231, 237, 249, 251, 255, 259, 265, 267, 319, 325, 343, 371, 375, 377
vegetation
23, 25
vultures
139, 141
Warahrān
fire of
161, 195, 197, 217, 223, 233
walking with one shoe
315
walls, of ossuaries
137
warriors
297, 299
washing
baršnūm
bedding
151
clothes
375, 377
eating vessels
171
hands
319, 333
watches of the day
95n113
water
carrying dead matter to
49, 57, 107
corpses in
127, 129, 131
drinking
77
forbidden after stillbirth
77n90
for women in menses
85, 87, 89
Jeh and
219
as purification agent
91n103
purification of
107
as ritual offering
225n286
purification of
353
weapons, against the demons
349
weasels
57
and impurity
57
weather, bad
177n222
well water
201, 203, 339
whey
183n238
whips
corporal punishment
priest’s
87n98
whores
Jeh as primal
311n390
sin of
243, 277
wind
blowing of
91
contamination carried by
19
winter
washing in
257
wisdom
231, 285
witches, desire for
355
wolves
49, 119, 361
as carriers of dead matter
135
womb
dead fetus in
77, 83
purification of
143
women
childbirth; menstruation; pregnancy; sexual intercourse
abortions
283, 285
adulterous
311n390
contact after childbirth with
77
guardianship of
271n336
parturient
83
pregnant
153, 155
purification after childbirth
93
purification of righteous
353
special enclosures for
27n16
stillbirths
77
work
during menstruation
231
worms
consumption of corpses by
35
wounds
201, 329, 359, 365, 375
babies’
269, 333
Wrath (demon)
301, 319, 349
xrafstars
,
see animals, evil
xwar sins
10n20, 275, 287, 371
yāt sins
10n20, 45, 75, 93, 109, 227, 287
yellow-eared dogs
39, 175
Zarathustra/Zoroaster
47n47, 49, 85, 229, 299, 351, 353