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Zarathushtra, a Magav ACCORDING TO GATHA XXXIII ; 7.
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to Herodotus has simply informed us of there being only two classes of the Magi
– the expounders of dreams and practitioners of chants. But it is seen from the
Avesta that there were more classes of Zoroastrian priests besides these two. The
Magi who used to perform ceremonials in secret must be the same as the priests
officiating the Bareshnoom and Yacna ceremonies, although from the mere
hearsay reports of the Greek writers considerable difference is seen between the
rituals performed by the Magi and the Zoroastrian Bareshnoom ceremonies.
Hence it is proved that all the Magian priests who preserved the Fire, killed
noxious creatures, performed religious rituals, practiced strict purity are only the
Athravans depicted in the Avesta.”
It will not be proper to multiply such references to Magi from
more books here. The more we go to other writers for getting some
light on the subject of Magi, the greater is the confusion caused to us
on account of the absence of authentic facts. The subject of Magi is one
requiring patient investigation and in the absence of intrinsic evidence,
which could have been gathered from the 21 Nasks it is very illogical
and unscholarly to arrive at hasty inferences from a mass of debris of
Greek and other foreign writers. At least we are able to see that some
reference to the Magi is to be found in the Avesta, although the writer
of Zoroastrian Theology wants the reader to believe that -
‘The Magi did not receive any recognition in the Avesta.’
To our surprise we find that the 'Magavan' or Magus is referred to
in the Gathas, the Yacna and the Vendidad, and yet the writer of
Zoroastrian Theology does not accept these references !
1. “ A mam aidum vakishta, a khaethyacha mama dare-
shatcha, Asha Vohu Manangha, ya sruye pare magauno"!
--Gatha Ha 33 § 7.
" O Mazda come to me, and indicate the Best (Laws) to me who
am known as Thine among the Magavans owing to Holiness and Good
Mind."
2. “Hyat mizdem Zarathushtro magavabyo choisht para,
Garo demane ahuro mazdao jasat pouruyo
Ta ve vohu manangha ashaicha savaish chivishi.”
Gatha Ha 51 § 15.