Zam
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Zam (Zām) is the Indo-Iranian[1] concept for "earth" (as in soil, land, ground), prototyped as a chemical element in ancient philosophy, and as a minor Yazata in Zoroastrianism and later Persian mythology.
The term 'Zam' exists with the same meaning in both Avestan and middle Persian languages. Zam is occasionally paired with the Amesha Spenta Armaiti, with whom Zam shares some attributes. The rare dvandvah expression Zam-Armaiti occurs in Yasht 1.16, 16.6 and 42.3. According to Xenophon, Cyrus sacrificed animals to the earth as the Magians directed. (Cyropaedia, 8.24[1])
Zam of the earth is not related to the other Zam of Persian mythology: Zahhak-e-Maar-Doosh (Aži Dahāka in Avestan, Azhdshak in middle Persian), the king of dragons that slew Jamshid.
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[edit] In the Avesta
The Zamyad Yasht, the devotional text of the Avesta named after Zam, has little to do with "earth": The first eight chapters of that hymn simply enumerate geographical landmarks, while the rest of the hymn is in praise of those who possess kavaem khareno "royal glory". These remaining verses begin with the creation of the earth, that is with a verse to Ahura Mazda (chapter 10), and closes with a verse to the Saoshyant (89). In between, it contains verses invoking the Amesha Spenta (15), Mithra (35). Mortals invoked include Yima (31), Thraetaona (36), the Kayanian dynasts (66-72), Zarathushtra (79) and Vishtaspa (84). According to Darmesteter, "this Yasht would serve as a short history of the Iranian monarchy, an abridged Shahnameh."[2]
Dhalla considers the Zamyad Yasht an example of a simple concept being elevated to the rank of an angel.[1] For Zam, this probably occurred as a linguistic conciliation between Zam and Armaiti (Avestan, middle Persian: Spendarmad), the Amesha Spenta responsible for the world. Notwithstanding the dedication of the 28th day of the month, and in ancient philosophical belief, Zam's manifestation as one of the chemical elements (earth, fire, water, air), Zam is not a particularly significant divinity. Dhalla goes so far as to say "her personality is very insipid as compared with Armaiti, who, as we have seen, has the earth under her care and is, in fact, a more active guardian genius"[1]
[edit] In Zoroastrian tradition
In the Pahlavi Shayest Na-Shayest ("[what is] Proper and Improper"), an enumeration of the qualities that each divinity epitomizes associates Zam with "conclusiveness". What this is supposed to mean remains unclear. In contrast, Armaiti is identified with "fruitfulness".[3]
In the Pahlavi Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan the author advises his readership not to take medicine on the day of the month dedicated to Zam.[4]
In the Pazend Afrin-i haft Amshespand ("Blessings of the seven Amesha Spenta"), Amardad is joined by Rashn, Ashtad, and Zam in withstanding the demons of hunger and thirst.[5]
The last hymn recited in the the procedure for the establishment of a Fire temple is the Zamyad Yasht. This is done because to achieve the required 91 recitals in honor of the Yazatas, would in principle require each of the 30 hymns to be recited thrice with one additional one. However, the first three are dedicated to Ahura Mazda, leaving 88, and 88 modulo 30 is 28, the day-number dedication of Zam.[6]
From among the flowers associated with the yazatas, Zam's is the Basil (Bundahishn 27).[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Dhalla, Maneckji Nusservanji (1938). History of Zoroastrianism. New York: OUP.
- ^ Darmesteter, James. (1883). "Yasht 19: Hymn to the Earth". Sacred Books of the East 23. Oxford: OUP.
- ^ West, Edward William (1880). Sacred Books of the East. Oxford: OUP. ch. 23.
- ^ Jamasp-Asa, J. D. (ed., trans.). (1897). "Counsels of Adarbad Mahraspandan". Pahlavi Texts. Bombay: K. R. Cama Oriental Institute. p. 71.
- ^ Antia, E. E. Kersaspji (ed., trans). (1909). "Afrin-i haft Amshespand". Pazend texts collected and collated. Bombay: K. R. Cama Oriental Institute. pp. 86-88.
- ^ Modi, Jivanji Jamshedji (1922). The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees. Bombay: British India Press. pp. 219-220.
- ^ Anklesaria, Behramgore Tehmuras (ed., trans.) (1956). Zand-Akasih: Iranian or Greater Bundahishn. Bombay: Rahnumae Mazdayasnan Sabha. pp. 153
[edit] See also
- Zoroastrian divinities: Yazatas and Amesha Spentas
- day-of-the-month dedications in the Zoroastrian calendar
[edit] Further reading
- West's[2] translation of the Zamyad Yasht
