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Daena is a feminine noun which translates to "that which is seen or observed". In ''Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith'', Peter Clark suggests that the term might also be tied to the Avestan root "deh" or "di-" to gain understanding.<ref name="Clark, Peter 1998">Clark, Peter (1998), ''Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith'', '''1''', Sussex: Sussex Academic Press: 69-70.</ref> | Daena is a feminine noun which translates to "that which is seen or observed". In ''Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith'', Peter Clark suggests that the term might also be tied to the Avestan root "deh" or "di-" to gain understanding.<ref name="Clark, Peter 1998">Clark, Peter (1998), ''Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith'', '''1''', Sussex: Sussex Academic Press: 69-70.</ref> | ||
The ] term – trisyllabic ''{{lang|ae-Latn|daēnā}}'' in Gathic Avestan and bisyllabic ''{{lang|ae-Latn|dēnā}}'' in Younger Avestan – continues into ] as ''dēn'', which preserves the Avestan meanings. For comparison, it may have been derived from ] ''dhayanā'' which means thought, but thought in its higher and spiritual reaches. Remarkably Zen word in Zen Buddhism is also derived from ''dhayanā''.<ref> http://www.jstor.org/stable/3087593 |
The ] term – trisyllabic ''{{lang|ae-Latn|daēnā}}'' in Gathic Avestan and bisyllabic ''{{lang|ae-Latn|dēnā}}'' in Younger Avestan – continues into ] as ''dēn'', which preserves the Avestan meanings. For comparison, it may have been derived from ] ''dhayanā'' which means thought, but thought in its higher and spiritual reaches. Remarkably Zen word in Zen Buddhism is also derived from ''dhayanā''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3087593|title=Sanskrit dhénā = Avestan daenā = Lithuanian dainà|first=Samuel Grant|last=Oliphant|date=1 January 1912|publisher=|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=32|issue=4|pages=393–413|via=JSTOR|doi=10.2307/3087593}}</ref> <ref>https://ia801700.us.archive.org/26/items/jstor-3087593/3087593.pdf </ref> | ||
==In Scripture== | ==In Scripture== | ||
The concept of Daena is mentioned in the ], a series of seventeen hymns supposedly written by ].<ref name="Clark, Peter 1998" /> Daena appears both in the Ahunavaiti Gatha<ref>http://www.avesta.org/yasna/y28to34b.htm</ref> and in the Ushtavaiti Gatha,<ref>http://www.avesta.org/yasna/y43to46b.htm</ref> where it is written that Daena is somehow affiliated with the reward that the faithful will receive in the afterlife. However, references to Daena in the Gathas are brief, leaving much ambiguity on its nature. | The concept of Daena is mentioned in the ], a series of seventeen hymns supposedly written by ].<ref name="Clark, Peter 1998" /> Daena appears both in the Ahunavaiti Gatha<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avesta.org/yasna/y28to34b.htm|title=Avesta: Yasna 28-34 - Ahunavaiti Gatha (English)|publisher=}}</ref> and in the Ushtavaiti Gatha,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avesta.org/yasna/y43to46b.htm|title=AVESTA: YASNA (English): Chapter 43-46 - Ushtavaiti Gatha|publisher=}}</ref> where it is written that Daena is somehow affiliated with the reward that the faithful will receive in the afterlife. However, references to Daena in the Gathas are brief, leaving much ambiguity on its nature. | ||
Later Avestan writings, such as the ], describe the concept of Daena further. The Vendidad portrays Daena as something of a ], guiding good and pure souls over the ] to the '''House of Song''', Zoroastrian paradise, while the wicked are dragged to the '''House of Lies''', a place of punishment. She is described as being finely dressed, and accompanied by ]s.<ref>http://www.avesta.org/vendidad/vd_tc.htm</ref> | Later Avestan writings, such as the ], describe the concept of Daena further. The Vendidad portrays Daena as something of a ], guiding good and pure souls over the ] to the '''House of Song''', Zoroastrian paradise, while the wicked are dragged to the '''House of Lies''', a place of punishment. She is described as being finely dressed, and accompanied by ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avesta.org/vendidad/vd_tc.htm|title=AVESTA: VENDIDAD: Table of Contents|publisher=}}</ref> | ||
Maneckji Dhalla writes in ''Zoroastrian Theology'' that on the dawn of the fourth day after death ''"there appears then to the soul its own daena, or religious conscience in the shape of a damsel of unsurpassed beauty, the fairest of the fair in the world."''<ref>https://archive.org/stream/zoroastriantheol00dhal#page/n5/mode/2up</ref> | Maneckji Dhalla writes in ''Zoroastrian Theology'' that on the dawn of the fourth day after death ''"there appears then to the soul its own daena, or religious conscience in the shape of a damsel of unsurpassed beauty, the fairest of the fair in the world."''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/zoroastriantheol00dhal#page/n5/mode/2up|title=Zoroastrian theology from the earliest times to the present day|publisher=}}</ref> | ||
Daena (din in modern Persian) is the eternal Law, whose order was revealed to humanity through the Mathra-Spenta ("Holy Words"). Daena has been used to mean religion, faith, law, even as a translation for the Hindu and Buddhist term Dharma, often interpreted as "duty" or social order, right conduct, or virtue. The metaphor of the 'path' of Daena is represented in Zoroastrianism by the muslin undershirt Sudra, the 'Good/Holy Path', and the 72-thread Kushti girdle, the "Pathfinder". | Daena (din in modern Persian) is the eternal Law, whose order was revealed to humanity through the Mathra-Spenta ("Holy Words"). Daena has been used to mean religion, faith, law, even as a translation for the Hindu and Buddhist term Dharma, often interpreted as "duty" or social order, right conduct, or virtue. The metaphor of the 'path' of Daena is represented in Zoroastrianism by the muslin undershirt Sudra, the 'Good/Holy Path', and the 72-thread Kushti girdle, the "Pathfinder". |
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Daena is a Zoroastrian concept representing insight and revelation, hence "conscience" or "religion." Alternately, Daena is considered to be a divinity, counted among the yazatas.
Nomenclature
Daena is a feminine noun which translates to "that which is seen or observed". In Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith, Peter Clark suggests that the term might also be tied to the Avestan root "deh" or "di-" to gain understanding.
The Avestan language term – trisyllabic daēnā in Gathic Avestan and bisyllabic dēnā in Younger Avestan – continues into Middle Persian as dēn, which preserves the Avestan meanings. For comparison, it may have been derived from Sanskrit dhayanā which means thought, but thought in its higher and spiritual reaches. Remarkably Zen word in Zen Buddhism is also derived from dhayanā.
In Scripture
The concept of Daena is mentioned in the Gathas, a series of seventeen hymns supposedly written by Zoroaster. Daena appears both in the Ahunavaiti Gatha and in the Ushtavaiti Gatha, where it is written that Daena is somehow affiliated with the reward that the faithful will receive in the afterlife. However, references to Daena in the Gathas are brief, leaving much ambiguity on its nature.
Later Avestan writings, such as the Vendidad, describe the concept of Daena further. The Vendidad portrays Daena as something of a psychopomp, guiding good and pure souls over the Chinvat Bridge to the House of Song, Zoroastrian paradise, while the wicked are dragged to the House of Lies, a place of punishment. She is described as being finely dressed, and accompanied by dogs.
Maneckji Dhalla writes in Zoroastrian Theology that on the dawn of the fourth day after death "there appears then to the soul its own daena, or religious conscience in the shape of a damsel of unsurpassed beauty, the fairest of the fair in the world."
Daena (din in modern Persian) is the eternal Law, whose order was revealed to humanity through the Mathra-Spenta ("Holy Words"). Daena has been used to mean religion, faith, law, even as a translation for the Hindu and Buddhist term Dharma, often interpreted as "duty" or social order, right conduct, or virtue. The metaphor of the 'path' of Daena is represented in Zoroastrianism by the muslin undershirt Sudra, the 'Good/Holy Path', and the 72-thread Kushti girdle, the "Pathfinder".
See also
References
- ^ Clark, Peter (1998), Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to an Ancient Faith, 1, Sussex: Sussex Academic Press: 69-70.
- Oliphant, Samuel Grant (1 January 1912). "Sanskrit dhénā = Avestan daenā = Lithuanian dainà". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 32 (4): 393–413. doi:10.2307/3087593 – via JSTOR.
- https://ia801700.us.archive.org/26/items/jstor-3087593/3087593.pdf
- "Avesta: Yasna 28-34 - Ahunavaiti Gatha (English)".
- "AVESTA: YASNA (English): Chapter 43-46 - Ushtavaiti Gatha".
- "AVESTA: VENDIDAD: Table of Contents".
- "Zoroastrian theology from the earliest times to the present day".