Nerangestan

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The Nerangestan, [1] or Nirangestan, [2] is a Avestan text concerning ritual studies. [3] It is a fragment from the seventeenth volume of the lost Sasanian Avesta and is extant through two different manuscripts. [2]

Contents

History

The Nerangestan consists of a core of ancient Avestan material, and is accompanied by a Zend commentary produced during the Sasanian period. Based on descriptions in the Denkard, it was part of the Husparam nask, one of the volumes of the lost Sasanian Avesta. [4] Both in the Husparam nask , as well as in the surviving mansucripts, the Nerangestan follows the Herbedestan text. However, the two are independent texts. [5] Whereas the vast majority of the extant Avestan text are liturgical in purpose, the Nerangestan represents the remnants of a once substantial exegetical tradition in Zoroastrianism. [6] This exegetical tradition collapsed between the 10th and 14th century. [7]

Structure and content

In the extant manuscripts, the Nerangestan consists of three fragrads, i.e., chapters, although it may have originally comprised four fragards in the Husparam nask. [8] The text does not have a further subdivisions but modern editions often use addional divisions to properly reference specific portions of the text. For instance, Daramesteter subdivided the three fragards of the Nerangestan into 109 paragraphs, a system which is often used by other authors as well. [9] The extant text covers a wide range of topics relevant for the priestly performance of the rituals, like wearing the sacred shirt and girdle, gathering the barsom, handling the Haoma or reciting Avestan. [10]

Manuscripts

Both the Nerangestan and the Herbedestan text are extant through only two manuscripts. The first is an Indian manuscript, and was produced in 1727 in Pune by Dastur Hoshangji Jamaspji. It is labeled after him as either H or HJ. [11] According to its colophons, it was copied from an earlier manuscript, written in 1471. [12] The text in this manuscript is considered severely deteriorated. The second manuscript is an Iranian manuscript and was acquired from Herbed Tahmuras D. Anklesaria. It is consequently labeled as either T or TD. [13] While its text is considered less corrupt, it is lacking any colophons and the last 16 folios are missing. [14] Modern editions are typically based on both manuscripts in order to correct each other. [15]

Translations and editions

Both the H and T manuscript of the Nerangestan contain a commentary and translation into Middle Persian. These translations are considered to be very old and may have originated in the Sasanian Avesta. [16] In 1893, Darmesteter published a translation of the Nerangestan in French. [17] His English translation, however, was only published posthumously in 1895 and included into the second edition of his Avesta translation. [18] In 1894, Dastur Darab Peshotan Sanjana published a facsimile of the HJ manuscript. [19] In 1915, Bulsara published a translation from the Middle Persian text. [20] In 1941, Waag published a translation into German. [21] From 1992 to 2009, Kotwal and Kreyenbroek published a comprehensive critical edition of the manuscripts in four volumes, including an English translation. The three fragards of the Nerangestan were covered in volume 2, [1] 3, [22] and 4 [23] of this edition.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 1995.
  2. 1 2 Reichelt 1911, p. 180.
  3. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 13: "The Nerangestan, the "Book of Ritual Directions"".
  4. ↑ Reichelt 1911, p. 180: "[I]t may be considered certain, that the Nirangastan consists of two fragments of that Nask, nearly as it existed in Sasanian times".
  5. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 23: "[T]he Nerangestan is not a continuation of the Herbedestan".
  6. ↑ Kotwal 2003, "[T]he Nērangestān [...] appears to represent an ancient Zoroastrian learned, rather than liturgical, tradition".
  7. ↑ West 1892, chap. Introduction: "[B]ut when, through conversion and extermination, the Mazda-worshippers had become a mere remnant, and then fell under the more barbarous rule of the Tartars, they rapidly lost all their old literature that was not in daily religious use".
  8. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 2009, p. 19: "It seems likely, therefore, that at least one Fragard of the original text of the Ner. is missing in the extant version".
  9. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 23: "Most existing publications, however, give references to the numbering of Darmesteter's ZendAvesta".
  10. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 2009, p. 19: "After these subjects, some other key elements of ritual life are discussed: the pestle and mortar, hoama, and the recitation of Avestan".
  11. ↑ Bulsara 1915, p. xx: "HD is the copy named after its possesor late Dastur Hoshangji Jamaspji".
  12. ↑ Reichelt 1911, p. 180: "H, belonging to Dr. Hoshangji Jamaspji of Poona, copied in India, in the year 1727, from a manuscript which was brought from Iran in 1720 and seems to have been written in 1471".
  13. ↑ Bulsara 1915, p. xx: "TD [...] is named after its owner late Ervad Tahmuras Dinshawji Anklesaria".
  14. ↑ Reichelt 1911, p. 180: "T, belonging to Tahmuras D. Anklesaria, was written in Iran. It is without a colophon, as the last 16 folios of the text were lost".
  15. ↑ Reichelt 1911, p. 180: "both MSS. mutually correct each other".
  16. ↑ Cantera 2015, "These [go] directly back to the great Avesta (mainly Vīdēvdād, Nērangestān, and Hērbedestān)".
  17. ↑ Darmesteter 1893, pp. 78-148.
  18. ↑ Darmesteter 1895.
  19. ↑ Sanjana 1894.
  20. ↑ Bulsara 1915.
  21. ↑ Waag 1941.
  22. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 2003.
  23. ↑ Kotwal & Kreyenbroek 2009.

Bibliography

  • Bulsara, Sohrab Jamshedjee (1915). Aêrpatastan and Nirangestân: The Code of the Holy Doctorship and the Code of the Divine Service (PDF). Bombay.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Cantera, Alberto (2015). "AVESTA ii. Middle Persian Translations". Encyclopædia Iranica. New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
  • Darmesteter, James (1893). Le Zend-Avesta, Vol. 3: Traduction Nouvelle Avec Commentaire Historique Et Philologique; La Loi (Vendidad); L'Épopée (Yashts); Le Livre de Prière (Khorda Avesta). Paris: E. Leroux.
  • Darmesteter, James (1895). Müller, Max (ed.). Zend-Avesta I: The Vendidad. Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 4. New York: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
  • Kotwal, Firoze M. (2003). "HĒRBEDESTĀN". Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. XII. New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul. pp. 227–228.
  • Kotwal, Firoze M.; Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). The Herbedestan and Nerangestan. Studia Iranica. Vol. II: Nerangestan, Fragard 1. Paris: Association pour l’avancement des études iraniennes (AAEI).
  • Kotwal, Firoze M.; Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (2003). The Herbedestan and Nerangestan. Studia Iranica. Vol. III: Nerangestan, Fragard 2. Paris: Association pour l’avancement des études iraniennes (AAEI).
  • Kotwal, Firoze M.; Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (2009). The Herbedestan and Nerangestan. Studia Iranica. Vol. IV: Nerangestan, Fragard 3. Paris: Association pour l’avancement des études iraniennes (AAEI).
  • Reichelt, Hans (1911). Avesta Reader: Texts, notes, glossary and index (PDF). Straßburg: Verlag Von Karl Trübner.
  • Sanjana, Darab Peshotan (1894). Nirangistan, A Photozincographed Facsimie. Bombay: The Government Photozincographic Department.
  • Waag, Anatol (1941). Nirangistan. Der Awestatraktat über die rituellen Vorschriften. Iranische Forschungen. Vol. 2. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs.
  • West, Edward William (1892). Müller, Friedrich Max (ed.). Pahlavi Texts IV: Contents of the Nasks. The Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 37. Oxford university press.
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