The 21 Nasks of the Avesta: A Comprehensive Overview
The Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism, was traditionally divided into 21 books known as nasks . These nasks encompassed a vast array of religious knowledge, including theology, law, rituals, and cosmology. Over time, many of these texts have been lost, with only a fraction surviving to the present day. This article provides an overview of the original structure of the Avesta, the classification of the nasks, and the current state of their preservation.
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The Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism, was traditionally divided into 21 books known as nasks . These nasks encompassed a vast array of religious knowledge, including theology, law, rituals, and cosmology. Over time, many of these texts have been lost, with only a fraction surviving to the present day. This article provides an overview of the original structure of the Avesta, the classification of the nasks, and the current state of their preservation. Structure of the Nasks According to the 9th-century Pahlavi text Dēnkard , the 21 nasks were organized to mirror the 21 words of the sacred Ahuna Vairya prayer. They were categorized into three groups: Gāhānīg (Gathic) Nasks : Focused on hymns and spiritual teachings. Hada Mānsrīg (Ritual) Nasks : Contained liturgical and ritualistic content. Dādīg (Legal) Nasks : Dealt with laws and ethical guidelines.
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Yasna · Gathas · Avesta · Vendidad