SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Next to the Yašt codex F1 (dating from 1591 C.E.), the Khorda Avesta and Yašt codex E1 is the most important Yašt manuscript. Written in Navsari in 1601 C.E. by the Sanjana priest Ervad Šāpuhr Hōšang Āsā, E1 is the oldest and most valuable manuscript for the trans­mission of the Khorda Ave­sta, which is not contained in F1. The ms. E1 offers perhaps the best and most complete extant collection of the Khorda Avesta, including Gāhs, Niyāyešes, Yašts, Nīrangs, Bājs, Namāzes, the Skt. Wahman Yašt, and many other, often little known texts. Moreover, E1 is of particular significance from a text­critical point of view because it has been corrected secunda manu accor­ding to a line of trans­mission indepen­dent from and older than F1. This volume offers an Introduction with a detailed survey of the contents of E1. The main part consists of facsimiles of the entire manuscript, with headings and marginal notes identifying individual texts and paragraphs. The book should interest scholars in Iranian, Vedic, Indo-European and Religious Studies.