A MANUAL OF "KHSHNOOM" - Traditional Zoroastrianism: Tenets of ...

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Bahman, the son of the latter, were attributed the
interpretations of Zoroaster's religious system and many
ingenious parables which for their moral sense, may be
reckoned among the best specimens of this kind of popular
instruction."
With respect to the Era of Zarathushtra modern scholars
depend on Arab writers of old, who were equally ignorant of the
secret methods of the Pahlavi writers. And that is why in the
absence of the essential knowledge innocent philological scholars
who deal with such Pahlavi writings without being on the quivive
for linguistic mazes are caught in the tangle of the 300 "years"
mentioned by Iranian Dasturs.
MISCONCEIVED "SYNCHRONISM"
Thus Dr. West (in his introduction to S.B.E. VoL XLVII)
deals with the Era at length (pp. 27 to 47) and on the basis of the
misconceived. "synchronism" compiles a 'synopsis' of Zoroastrian
chronology, in doing which that illustrious scholar observes as
follows in paragraph 55 :
"If we now adopt the abbreviations A. R. (for anno religionis)
and B. R. (for before the religion), we are prepared to
compile the following synopsis of Zoroastrian chronology
according to the Millennial system of the Bundahish,
extended to the end of time, but dealing only with traditional
matters, combined with the European dates of the same
events, deduced from the synchronism of A.R. 300 with B.C.
331."
In his abovesaid synopsis Dr. West has relied on two Pahlavi
writings, in both of which he has deceived himself. One of them is
from the 'Selections of Zadsparam' (ibid. p. 166) in which it is
stated that after 300 years, the Zarthoshti Daen "is disturbed". The
other is from Chapters. 1 and 34 of Bundehesh, which deal with
the millennial system referred to above.
Because the two numbers of years, namely 300 (given by
Dastur Zadsparam) and B.C. 331 (the European date of devastation
of Iran by Alexander) appear close to each other, the said
'synchronism' is erroneously assumed between them. Almost all
philological scholars have likewise been misguided in accepting
such seeming synchronism. In ancient Iran three methods of
reckoning years called the "Nimoor Sal", the "Kar Sal' and the "Far
Sal" were current. Of these the method of the Nimoor Sal_has 365-
1/4 days in the year, and in this it resembles the modern system of
Solar years. That one or the other of these three methods was
current in Iran of old is also supported by the Dabistan, (Vol. I, p. 26
et seq.).