View source for Arshtat

{{for|the fictional character named Arshtat Falenas|Suikoden V}}
{{Infobox deity
 | type =Zoroastrian
 | deity_of = Goddess of Truth and Justice
 | image = [[File:Huvishka with Rishti.jpg|260px]]
 | caption = [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] ruler [[Huvishka]] with ''[[Rishti]]'' (Arshtat) on the reverse.<ref name="AHH327">{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=Ahmad Hasan |last2=Harmatta |first2=János |title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1408-0 |pages=327-328 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C&pg=PA327 |language=en}}</ref>
 | other_names = Ashtad
 | script_name  = [[Avestan]]
 | script   = Arshtat 𐬀𐬭𐬱𐬙𐬁𐬝
 | gender = Female
 | symbol = Truthfulness
 | affiliation = The Thirty-Three Deities, [[List of Zoroastrian month days|Guardians of the Days of the Month]]
 | attributes  = Guardian of Wisdom, Labor, and Justice, World-Furthering, Guide of the Spiritual and Worldly Beings
 | day  = 26th of each month in the [[Iranian calendar]]
 | associated_deities  = [[Zam]], [[Ameretat]], [[Rashnu]]
 | sacred_flower  = [[Tulip]]
 | abode  = [[Mount Khajeh|Oshida]]
}}
{{Zoroastrianism sidebar}}
'''Arshtat'''{{Pronunciation-needed}}<!-- as IPA --> ({{langx|ae|𐬀𐬭𐬱𐬙𐬁𐬝}}) is the [[Avestan language]] name of a [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] principle and signifies either "justice"<ref name="Gershevitch_1959_286ff">{{harvnb|Gershevitch|1959|p=286ff}}.</ref> or "honesty."<ref name="Bartholomae_1904_205">{{harvnb|Bartholomae|1904}}, col. 205.</ref> As a substantive, ''arshtat'' designates the divinity Arshtat, the [[hypostasis (linguistics)|hypostasis]] of "Rectitude" and "Justice". Her standing epithet is "world-furthering" or "world-promoting."

==In scripture==
Although there is a ''[[yasht]]'' nominally dedicated to Arshtat (''Yasht 18''), this hymn does not mention her, and it has been supposed that "the occurrence of ''arš-'' 'correct' may have been the reason" for the dedication.<ref name="Skjaervo_1987_826_cit_Lommel">{{harvnb|Skjærvø|1987|p=826}} citing<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; {{harvnb|Lommel|1927|p=166}}.</ref>

Arshtat is closely allied with "the most upright" [[Rashnu]], the "Judge." The two appear as a ''[[dvandva]]'' compound "Rashnu-Arshtat" in ''[[Yasna]]'' 1.7 and 2.7, in ''Yasht'' 10.139 and 12.40, and in ''Sirozeh'' 1.18 and 2.18.<ref name="Dhalla_1938_176">{{harvnb|Dhalla|1938|p=176}}.</ref> This is an eschatological identification, and in the liturgy recited on the third day after death she is invoked with Rashnu, [[Sraosha]] "Obedience" and [[Mithra]] "Covenant", together the three guardians of the [[Chinvat bridge]].<ref name="Gnoli_1987_826">{{harvnb|Gnoli|1987|p=826}}.</ref>

In ''Sirozeh'' 1.26 and 2.26,<ref name="Dhalla_1938_193">{{harvnb|Dhalla|1938|p=193}}.</ref> Arshtat is invoked as the divinity presiding over the 26th day of the month (cf. [[Zoroastrian calendar]]). Both verses associate her with the mythical Mount Ushidarena<ref name="Dhalla_1938_193" /> the "keeper of intelligence" that in Zoroastrian tradition is where [[Zoroaster]] spent his years in isolation. ''Yasna'' 16.6 states the 26th day of the month is sacred to her.<!-- again <ref name="Dhalla_1938_193">{{harvnb|Dhalla|1938|p=193}}.</ref> -->

Arshtat is once (''Visperad'' 7.2) identified with [[Daena]]<ref name="Gnoli_1987_826" /><ref name="Dhalla_1938_178">{{harvnb|Dhalla|1938|p=178}}.</ref> (generally translated as "Religion").

==In tradition==
Arshtat's eschatological role is carried forward into the 9th–14th century texts of Zoroastrian tradition, where she appears as [[Middle Persian]] ''Ashtad''.

Arshtat is an assayer of deeds at the [[Chinvat bridge]], the bridge of judgement that all souls must cross. in ''[[Bundahishn]]'' (37.10–14), Arshtat plays this role together with the [[Amesha Spenta]] [[Ameretat]], of whom Arshtat is a ''hamkar'' "co-operator"; and in the ''[[Book of Arda Wiraz]]'' (5.3), she stands there with [[Mithra]], [[Rashnu]], [[Vayu-Vata]], and [[Verethragna]].<ref name="Gnoli_1987_826" />

In the apocalyptic ''Zand-i Wahman yasn'' (7.19-20), Arshtat—together with Nairyosangha, Mithra, Rashnu, Verethregna, [[Sraosha]] and a personified [[Khwarenah]]—assists the hero [[Peshyotan]].<ref name="Gnoli_1987_826" />

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|last=Bartholomae|first=Christian|title=Altiranisches Wörterbuch|year=1904|location=Strassburg |publisher=Trübner}} (fasc., 1979, Berlin: de Gruyter) <!-- 
Bartholomae, Airwb, coll. 229-259 for ''asha'', ashavan and cognates. -->

*{{citation|last=Dhalla|first=Maneckji Nusservanji|title=History of Zoroastrianism|year=1938|publisher=OUP|location=New York}}
*{{citation|last=Gershevitch|first=Ilya|title=The Avestan Hymn to Mithra|year=1959|location=Cambridge|publisher=University Press}}
*{{citation|last=Gnoli|first=Gerardo|chapter=Aštād|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=2|year=1987|location=New York|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul}}: <!--pages=-->826
*{{citation|last=Lommel|first=Herman|title=Die Yašts des Awesta|year=1927|location=Göttingen/Leipzig|publisher=J. C. Hinrichs}}<!--pages=166–168-->
*{{citation|last=Skjærvø|first=Prods Oktor|chapter=Aštād Yašt|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=2|year=1987|location=New York|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul}}: <!--pages=-->826
{{refend}}
{{Zoroastrian Calendar}}

[[Category:Yazatas]]