Who's Who in the Gathas?
Here are the names of Zoroaster's friends and family mentioned in the Gathas:
King Vishtaspa
A powerful king who helped Zoroaster spread his sacred Message.
Jamaspa Hvogva
A minister in the court of King Vishtaspa. Tradition says he married Zoroaster's youngest daughter, Pourchista.
Ferashaushtra Hvogva
Jamaspa’s brother, a sage, who helped Righteous Zoroaster in spreading his Message.
Maidhyoi-Maha
Zoroaster's cousin who was the first person to accept his Message
Pouruchista Hachataspa
Zoroaster's youngest daughter. The tradition says Pourchista married Jamaspa. She is mentioned in the Gathas.
Look at the above names again. Can you find the names that end with "aspa" or "ushtra"? "Aspa" means horse and "ushtra" means camel. For example, Vishtaspa means "having ready horses."
Horses, cows, and camels were very important for the ancient Iranians because they were farmers, so people use them in their names. But after they became Zoroastrians, they started using words like truth, righteous or good mind in their names.
Righteous Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) had many enemies. He names some of them in his sacred hymns, the Gathas. Here are the list of those who opposed Zoroaster and his Divine Message.
Karapans
Karapans were the priests of the old religion who fought with Zoroaster. In the Gathas, the Prophet rejects these priests, their beliefs and rituals.
Kavis
Kavis were powerful princes who aided the Karapans. The Kavis were wealthy and corrupt so Asho Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) rose up against them.
Usig
A priestly family who opposed Righteous Zoroaster and his religion.
Bendva
He was a rishi (a sage of the old religion) and an enemy of Zoroaster.
Yima son of Vivanhan
He was a legendary Iranian hero who later became arrogant and claimed to be a god. Zoroaster rejects Yima's pride in the Gathas. Today, Yima is celebrated as King Jamshid.
Grehma
Grehma was one of the enemies of Zoroaster and an ally of the Karapans.
King Vishtaspa
A powerful king who helped Zoroaster spread his sacred Message.
Jamaspa Hvogva
A minister in the court of King Vishtaspa. Tradition says he married Zoroaster's youngest daughter, Pourchista.
Ferashaushtra Hvogva
Jamaspa’s brother, a sage, who helped Righteous Zoroaster in spreading his Message.
Maidhyoi-Maha
Zoroaster's cousin who was the first person to accept his Message
Pouruchista Hachataspa
Zoroaster's youngest daughter. The tradition says Pourchista married Jamaspa. She is mentioned in the Gathas.
Look at the above names again. Can you find the names that end with "aspa" or "ushtra"? "Aspa" means horse and "ushtra" means camel. For example, Vishtaspa means "having ready horses."
Horses, cows, and camels were very important for the ancient Iranians because they were farmers, so people use them in their names. But after they became Zoroastrians, they started using words like truth, righteous or good mind in their names.
Righteous Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) had many enemies. He names some of them in his sacred hymns, the Gathas. Here are the list of those who opposed Zoroaster and his Divine Message.
Karapans
Karapans were the priests of the old religion who fought with Zoroaster. In the Gathas, the Prophet rejects these priests, their beliefs and rituals.
Kavis
Kavis were powerful princes who aided the Karapans. The Kavis were wealthy and corrupt so Asho Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) rose up against them.
Usig
A priestly family who opposed Righteous Zoroaster and his religion.
Bendva
He was a rishi (a sage of the old religion) and an enemy of Zoroaster.
Yima son of Vivanhan
He was a legendary Iranian hero who later became arrogant and claimed to be a god. Zoroaster rejects Yima's pride in the Gathas. Today, Yima is celebrated as King Jamshid.
Grehma
Grehma was one of the enemies of Zoroaster and an ally of the Karapans.