Ahuna Vairya

Ahuna Vairya (Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬥𐬀 𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀) is the first of Zoroastrianism's four Gathic Avestan mantras. The text, which appears in Yasna 27.13, is also known after its opening words yatha ahu vairyo. In Zoroastrian tradition, the mantra is also known as the ahun(a)war.

Numerous translations and interpretations exist, but the overall meaning of the text remains obscure. The Ahuna Vairya and Ashem Vohu (the second most sacred mantra at Yasna 27.14) are together "very cryptic formulas, of a pronounced magical character."[1] The Ahunavaiti Gatha (chapters 28-34 of the Yasna), is named after the Ahuna Vairya.

  1. ^ Humbach 1991, p. 1.