Zoroastrian Theology from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (Classic Reprint)

Since the year 1771, when that worthy pioneer of romantic renown in Iranian studies, A nquetil du Perron, pubH shed his three volumes containing the first European translation of the A vesta, orS acred Book of Zoroaster, great strides forward have been made in theW est in the realm of Iranian research. The field is now replete with the lasting monuments of Western scholarship, whether in the department of standard editions of the sacred texts or the compilation of grammars and dictionaries, or again in the preparation of scientific translations as well as in making exegetical and philological researches. The service that these scholars have thus rendered to the Parsis is greater than can ever be expressed. By way of recording some expression, however inadequate, of the debt of gratitude that my community owes to them, I have inscribed this work to the Iranian scholars of theW est, both past and present. Unto those who have passed away let the reward be vahishtem ahum ashaounam raochanghem vlspo-khvdthrem, the shining, all-happy paradise of the righteous, and may the noble band of workers who are still living be blessed with vohu-jiti us-jiti dareghem-jiti, good life, happy life, and long life. It is through theW estern scholars that the science of comparative philology, of scholarship based on scientific principles, and the spirit of research work have reached the Parsis. If the present work exhibits any methodic treatment on the lines of Western scholarship, it is due to the inspiring influence and scientific training of my former teacher and always friend. Professor A. V. Williams Jackson of Columbia University, who combines in his person the best elements of Iranian scholarship and the greatest zeal forZ oroastrian researches. I am grateful to him for the cordial response with which he has placed his time at my disposal and read over the entire manuscript
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)