Original Magic: The Rituals and Initiations of the Persian Magi - Stephen E. Flowers Ph.D. 2017
The Sîrôzahs I
Initiation into Magic
In this list each entry contains the name of the god, Amesha Spenta, or Yazata ascribed to the day; the name of the day itself in the calendrical system in parentheses; and the manthra, or invocation to that entity, in both English and Avestan. In the case of especially lengthy manthras, which contain extra extensions, the core of the manthra, which is the part to be memorized, is in bold face. It should be noted that the thirtieth sîrôzah text is actually divided into three parts, making the actual total of manthras thirty-three, not thirty. In a thirty-day month only the first part is used; the thirty-first part can be used for months that have thirty-one days.
For meditative and initial training purposes, the sîrôzah manthras can be recited as represented here. This is how most all translations of them appear and how they appear in the written record. To fully activate the magical power of the manthra, however, a word or phrase must be added to the end or beginning of the manthra. The formulaic word added to the end is khshnaothra, which means “satisfaction.” This means that the utterance is done for the satisfaction of the yazata being invoked. The phrase that can be used alternatively and which is preferred is “yasnemca vahmemca aojasca zavareca âfrînâmi,” which means “I desire,” or “I will the worship, adoration, strength, and force . . .” It will be noted that this is the first half of the useful manthra known as the Khshnuman of Ahura Mazda, which is used in the more advanced ritual work.
The translations generally follow those of Darmesteter (1883), because they are quite poetic. In places they have been improved by the work of Raffaeli (2014), whose translations are more technically accurate.
1. Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd): To Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha Spentas.
ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô ameshanãm spentanãm.
2. Vohu Manah (Bahman): To Vohu Manah; to Peace, whose breath is friendly, and who defeats the other creatures; to the heavenly Wisdom, made by Mazda; and to the Wisdom acquired through the ear, made by Mazda.
vanghave mananghe âxshtôish hãm-vaiñtiå taredhâtô anyâish dâmãn âsnahe xrathwô mazdadhâtahe gaoshô-srûtahe xrathrô mazdadhâtahe.
3. Asha Vahishta (Ardibehesht): To Asha Vahishta, the most beautiful; to the much desired Airyaman, made by Mazda; to the instrument made by Mazda; and to the good Saoka, with broad vision, made by Mazda and holy.
ashahe vahishtahe sraêshtahe airyamanô ishyehe sûrahe mazdadhâtahe saokayå vanghuyå vohu-dôithrayå mazdadhâtyå ashaonyå
4. Khshathra Vairya (Shahrevar): To Khshathra Vairya; to the molten metals; to Mercy and Charity.
xshathrahe vairyehe ayôxshustahe marzhdikâi thrâyô-drigaove.
5. Spenta Ârmaiti (Spendârmad): To the good Spenta Armaiti, and to the good Râta, with broad vision, made by Mazda and holy.
speñtayå vanghuyå ârmatôish râtayå vanghuyå vouru-dôithrayå mazdadhâtayå ashaonyå.
6. Haurvatât (Khordad): To Haurvatât, the master; to the prosperity of the seasons and to the years, the masters of holiness.
haurvatâtô rathwô ýâiryayåsca hushitôish saredhaâibyô ashahe ratubyô.
7. Ameretât (Murdad): To Ameretât, the master; to small cattle and large cattle; to the fruitful fields of wheat; and to the powerful Gaokerena, made by Mazda.
amerertatâtô rathwô fshaonibya vãthwâbya aspinbibya ýaonibya gaokerenahe sûrahe mazdadhâtahe.
8. Ahura Mazda (Dai pa Adar): To the maker Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha Spentas.
dathushô ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô ameshanãm speñtanãm.
9. Âtar (Adar): To Âtar, the son of Ahura Mazda; to the Glory and to the Weal, made by Mazda; to the Glory of the Aryas, made by Mazda; to the Glory of the Kavis, made by Mazda.
To Âtar, the son of Ahura Mazda; to King Husravah; to the Lake Husravah; to Mount Asnavant, made by Mazda; to Lake Kaekasta, made by Mazda; to the Glory of the Kavis, made by Mazda.
To Âtar, the son of Ahura Mazda; to Mount Raevant, made by Mazda; to the Glory of the Kavis, made by Mazda.
To Âtar the beneficent, the warrior; the God who is a full source of Glory, the God who is a full source of healing.
To Âtar, the son of Ahura Mazda, with all Âtars; to the God Nairyo-Sangha, who dwells in the navel of kings.
âthrô ahurahe mazdå puthra hvarenanghô savanghô mazdadhâtahe airyanãm hvarenô mazdadhâtanãm kâvayeheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe.
âthrô ahurahe mazdå puthra kavôish haosravanghahe varôish haosravanghahe asnvañtahe garôish mazdadhâtahe caêcastahe varôish mazdadhâtahe kâvayeheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe.
âthrô ahurahe mazdå puthra raêvañtahe garôish mazdadhâtahe kâvayeheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe. âthrô ahurahe mazdå puthra atarsh speñta rathaêshtâra ýazata pouru-hvarenangha ýazata pouru-baêshaza.
âthrô ahurahe mazdå puthra mat vîspaêibyô âterebyô xsha-thrô-nafedhrô nairyô-sanghaheýazatahe.
10. Aredvî Sûrâ Anâhitâ (Âbân): To the good Waters, made by Mazda; to the holy river Ardvi Ahahita; to all the waters made by Mazda; to all the plants made by Mazda.
apãm vanguhînãm mazdadhâtanãm areduyå âpô anâhitayå ashaonyå vîspanãmca apãm mazdadhâtanãm vîspanãmca urvananãm mazdadhâtanãm.
11. Hvar Khshaêta (Khorshed): To the undying, shining, swifthorsed Sun.
hvarexshaêtahe ameshahe raêvahe aurvat-aspahe.
12. Mâh (Mâh): To the Moon that keeps the seed of the Bull; to the only created Bull, to the Bull of many species.
månghahe gaocithrahe gêushca-aêvô-dâtayå gêushca pouru-saredhayå.
13. Tishtrya (Tîr): To Tishtrya, the bright and glorious star; to the powerful Satavaesa, made by Mazda, who pushes waters forward; to the stars, made by Mazda, that have in them the seed of the waters, the seed of the Earth, the seed of the plants; to the star Vanant, made by Mazda: to those stars that are seven in number, the Haptôiringas, made by Mazda, glorious and healing.
tishrehe stârô raêvatô hvarenanghuhatô satavaêsahe frâpahe sûrahe mazdadhâtahe stârãm afshcithranãm zemascithranãm urvarô-cithranãm mazdadhâtanãm vanañtô stârô mazdadhâtahe aoe stârô ýôi haptôiriñga mazdadhâta hvarenanguñta baêshazya.
14. Gosh: To the body of the Cow, the soul of the Cow, to the powerful Drvaspa, made by Mazda and holy.
gêush tashne gêush urune drvâspayå sûrayå mazdadhâtayå ashaonyå.
15. Ahura Mazda (Dai pa Mihir): To the maker Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha Spentas.
dathushô ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô amešanãm speñtanãm.
16. Mithra (Mihir): To Mithra, of the vast protected pastures, who has a thousand ears and ten thousand eyes, a god invoked by his own name; to Râma Hvâstra.
mithrahe voru-gaoyaoitôish hazangro-gaoshahe baêvare-cashmanô aoxtô-nâmanô ýazatahe râmanô hvâstra.
17. Srôsha: To the holy, strong Sraosha, who embodies the sacred word, of the bold club, who belongs to Ahura.
sraoshahe ashyehe taxmahe tanu-mãthrahe darshi-draosh âhûirehe.
18. Rashnu: To Rashnu the very just; to Arshtât, who furthers the world, who increases the world; to the rightly spoken speech, who furthers the world. rashnaosh razishtahe arshtâtasca frâdat-gaêthayå varedat-gaê-thayå erezhuxdhahe vacanghô ýat frâdat-gaêthahe.
19. Fravashis (Farvardîn): To the strong, unswerving Fravashis of the holy ones.
ashâunãm fravashinãm ugranãm aiwithûranãm.
20. Verethraghna (Bahrâm): To Strength, the well-built, beautiful in appearance; to Verethraghna, made by Ahura; to the victorious Superiority.
amahe hutâshtahe huraodhahe verethragnahe ahuradhâtahe vanaiñtyåsca uparatâtô.
21. Râman: To Râma Hvâstra; to Vayu, powerful, who defeats the other creatures: to that part of thee, O Vayu, that belongs to Spenta Mainyu; to the sovereign Sky, to the Boundless Time, to the sovereign time of the long autonomous.
râmanô hvâshtahe vayaosh uparô-kairyehe taradhâtô anyâish dâmãn aêtat tê vayô ýat tê asti spentô-manyaom, thvâshahe hvadhatahe zrvânahe akaranahe zrvânahe daregô-hvadhâtahe.
22. Vâta (Bâd): The bounteous wind that blows, southern, northern, eastern, and western; to the manly capacity for defense.
vâtahe hudhånghahe adharahe uparahe fratarahe pascãithyehe nairyayå hôm-varetôish.
23. Ahura Mazda (Dai pa Dîn): To the maker Ahura Mazda, bright and glorious, and to the Amesha-Spentas.
dathushô ahurahe mazdå raêvatô hvarenanguhatô ameshanãm speñtanãm.
24. Dîn: To the most right Chista, made by Mazda and holy; to the good Religion of worshippers of Mazda.
razishtayå cistayå mazdadhâtayå ashaonyå daênayå vanghuyå mâzdayasnôish.
25. Ard: To Ashi Vanguhi; to the good Chista; to the good Erethe; to the good Rasastât; to Glory and Prosperity, made by Mazda; to Pârendi, of the light chariot; to the Glory of the Aryas made by Mazda; to the kingly Glory made by Mazda; to that Glory that cannot be forcibly seized, made by Mazda; to the Glory of Zarathustra, made by Mazda.
ashôish vanghuyå cistôish vanghuyå erethê vanghuyå rasãstâtô vanghuyå hvarenanghô savanghô mazdadhâtahe pâreñdyå raorathayå airyanãm hvarenô mazdadhâtanãm kâvayeheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe ahvaretaheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe zarathushtraheca hvarenanghô mazdadhâtahe.
26. Arshtât: To Arshtât, who furthers the world; to Mount Ushidarena, made by Mazda, to the well-being of holy Order.
arshtâtô frâdat-gaêthahe garôish ushi-darenahe mazdadhâtahe asha-hvâthrahe.
27. Asman: To the high, powerful heavens; to the bright, all-happy, blissful abode of the holy ones.
ashnô berezatô sûrahe vahishtahe angêush ashaonãm raocanghô vîspô-hvâthrô.
28. Zamyâd: To the bounteous Earth; to these places, to these fields; Mount Ushidarena, made by Mazda, the seat of holy happiness; to all the mountains made by Mazda, that are seats of holy happiness, of full happiness; to all the kingly Glory made by Mazda; to all that Glory that cannot be forcibly seized, made by Mazda.
zemô hudhångô ýazatahe imå aså imå shôithrå garôish ushidarenahe mazdadhâtahe asha-hvâthrahe vîspaêshãmca gairinãm asha-hvâthranãm pouru-hvâthranãm mazdadhâtanãm kâvayeheca hvarenangô mazdadhâtahe ahvaretaheca hvarenangô mazdadhâtahe.
29. Mahraspand: To the holy Manthra Spenta, to the energetic vital force; to the Law opposed to the Daêvas, the Law of Zarathustra; to the long-traditional teaching; to the good Law of the worshippers of Mazda; to the Devotion to the Manthra Spenta; to the understanding that keeps the Law of the worshippers of Mazda; to the knowledge of Manthra Spenta; to the innate intelligence made by Mazda; to the intelligence acquired through the ear and made by Mazda.
mãthrahe speñtahe ashaonô verezyanghahe dâtahe vîdaêvahe dâtahe zarathushtrôish daregayå upayanayå daênayå vanghuyå mâzdayasnôish zarazdâtôish mãthrahe speñtahe ushi-darethrem daêmayå mâzdayasnôish vaêdhîm mãthrahe speñtahe âsnahe xrathwô mazdadhâtahe gaoshô-srûtahe xrathwô mazdadhâtahe.
30. Anêrân: To the eternal and sovereign luminous space; to the bright Garô-nmâna; to the sovereign place of eternal Weal; to the Chinvat Bridge, made by Mazda; (31) to the tall lord Apam Napat and to the water made by Mazda; (32) to Haoma, of holy birth; (33) to the pious and good blessing; to the awesome cursing thought of the wise.
anagranãm raocanghãm hvadhâtanãm raoxshnahe garônmânahe misvânahe gâtvahe hvadhâtahe cinvat-peretûm mazdadhâtãm, (31) berezatô ahurahe nafedhrô apãm aspasca mazdadhâtayå (32) haomahe ashavazanghô (33) dahmayå vanghuyå âfritôish ugrâi dâmôish upamanâi.