ĀTRƎVAXŠ

 

ĀTRƎVAXŠ (Mid. Pers ādurwaxš), one of the eight Zoroastrian priests (ratu) necessary for performance of the yasna ritual. As the name indicates, his primary function was to tend to (lit., “augment,” vaxš-) the sacred fire (ātar). According to Nirangistan 73 he also had to cleanse three sides of the fire altar; and he made response to the zaotar during the ritual in the same way that, in more recent times, the rāspīg has answered to the zōd. The station of the atrəvaxš within the sacrificial area was the southwest corner and facing the fire. The atrəvaxš is today reckoned as one of the “invisible” priests, his functions having been taken over by the rāspīg.

 

Bibliography:

AirWb., cols. 318f.

Avesta, tr. Darmesteter, I, pp. lxxi, 453; III, pp. 129, 131, 133.

D. D. P. Sanjana, Nirangistan, fol. 155 b.4-12.

J. J. Modi, Ceremonies, pp. 316-19.

Search terms:

آتروخش atravakhsh  aatravakhsh

 

(W. W. Malandra)

Originally Published: December 15, 1987

Last Updated: August 17, 2011

This article is available in print.
Vol. III, Fasc. 1, p. 17