The Study of Minoo’s Ahriman in the Avesta and the Pahlavi Texts

Document Type : Research Article

Author

• Arash Akbari Mafakher

10.22067/jls.v42i4.4226

Abstract

Minoo ’s Ahriman is a term for discovering Ahriman in the world of Minoo: a world where it’s creatures are invisible, undesirable, and without a body . In this article, Minoo’s Ahriman in the Avesta and the Pahlavi Texts are surveyed. In Gahan, Ahriman exists as the evil nature as opposed to the good nature that leads to his creation in the Haftha. In New Avesta the Minavi existence continues with Ahriman’s destructions and ends with his inability and his escape to hell during resurrection.
In Pahlavi texts the image that shows life of Minoo’s demon has been extended and its prominent feature is inexistence of Ahriman as opposed to the existence of Aura Mazd. This doctrine has created philosophical and abstract thoughts about Ahriman and on the other hand has provided his thought of adaptability of universe until myths of demon turn to allegory. One of the most important discussions in Minoo’s Ahriman is his imprisonment in the sky in the form of Minoo. This involvement has prepared philosophical, allegorical and symbolical thoughts, where the first basic doctrines for defence against Ahriman can be seen. In the Iranian conclusion, Ahriman is defeated and put in hell (the reflection of psychological and internal conflicts of human beings) or killed (the reflection of rebels’ and disbelievers’ fate).

Key words: Ahriman, the study of Minoo, Ahriman in prison, defence against Ahriman, Ahriman’s fate.

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