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The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text of Sassanid era in Middle Persian
Middle Persian

Middle Persian is the Iranian languages language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well....
 language,contains about 8,800 words. It describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian (the 'Viraf' of the story) through the next world. Due to the ambiguity inherent to Pahlavi script, 'Viraf' (the name of the protagonist) may also be transliterated as 'Wiraf', 'Wiraz' or 'Viraz'. The 'Arda' of the name is an epithet
Epithet

An epithet is a descriptive word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing, which has become a fixed formula....
 of Viraf and is approximately translatable as "truthful" or "righteous."

date of the book is not known, but in The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Prof.






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The Book of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian religious text of Sassanid era in Middle Persian
Middle Persian

Middle Persian is the Iranian languages language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well....
 language,contains about 8,800 words. It describes the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian (the 'Viraf' of the story) through the next world. Due to the ambiguity inherent to Pahlavi script, 'Viraf' (the name of the protagonist) may also be transliterated as 'Wiraf', 'Wiraz' or 'Viraz'. The 'Arda' of the name is an epithet
Epithet

An epithet is a descriptive word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing, which has become a fixed formula....
 of Viraf and is approximately translatable as "truthful" or "righteous."

Textual History

The date of the book is not known, but in The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Prof. Charles Horne assumes that it was composed fairly late in the ancient history of Zorroastrianism, probably from the period of the Sassanian empire, when Zoroastrianism experienced a state-sponsored revival.

Structure

The text is frequently compared to Dante
DANTE

DANTE is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various National Research and Education Networks in Europe and surrounding regions....
's Divine Comedy. This book is divided into five sections: Introduction, Journey to Heaven, Heaven
Heaven

Heaven may refer to the physical heavens, the atmosphere or the seemingly endless expanse of the universe beyond. This is the traditional literal meaning of the term in English, however since at least AD 1000, it is typically also used to refer to an afterlife plane of existence in various religions and spirituality philosophy, often descri...
, Hell
Hell

In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear Divinity history often depict Hell as endless ....
, and an Epilogue.

Plot Summary

Arda Viraf is chosen for his piety to undertake a journey to the next world in order to prove the truth of Zoroastrian beliefs, after a period when the land of Iran
Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea....
 had been troubled by the presence of confused and alien religions. He drinks wine
Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage often made of fermentation grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients....
 and a hallucinogen
Psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants

The general group of pharmacology agents commonly known as hallucinogens can be divided into three broad categories: Psychedelic drugs, dissociatives, and deliriants....
, after which his soul
Soul

In many religions and parts of philosophy, the soul is the immaterial part of a person. It is usually thought to consist of one's thoughts and Personality psychology, and can be synonymous with the spirit, mind or self....
 travels to the next world where it is greeted by a beautiful woman named Den
Daena

Daena is a Zoroastrianism concept representing insight and revelation, hence "conscience" or "religion." Alternately, Daena is considered to be a divinity, counted among the yazata....
 who represents his faith and virtue. Crossing the Chinvat bridge
Chinvat bridge

The Chinvat Bridge in Zoroastrianism is the bridge which separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. All soul must cross the bridge upon death....
, he is then conducted by "Srosh
Sraosha

Sraosha is the Avestan language name of the Zoroastrianism divinity of "Obedience" or "Observance", which is also the literal meaning of his name....
, the pious and Adar
Atar

Atar is the Zoroastrianism concept for "burning and unburning fire" and "visible and invisible fire" .In an unrestricted sense, atar is heat - that is, thermal energy, manifest as fire or other luminous source when visible....
, the angel" through the "star track", "moon track" and "sun track" – places outside of heaven reserved for the virtuous who have nevertheless failed to conform to Zoroastrian rules. In heaven, Viraf meets Ahura Mazda
Ahura Mazda

Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, hence God.The Zoroastrianism is described by its adherents as Mazdayasna, the worship of Mazda....
 who shows him the souls of the blessed (ahlav
Ashavan

Avestan ashavan is a Zoroastrianism theological term. It literally means "possessing asha", hence "possessing truth" or "possessing righteousness", but has further implications:...
). Each person is described living an idealised version of the life he or she lived on earth, as a warrior, agriculturalist, shepherd or other profession. With his guides he then descends into hell to be shown the sufferings of the wicked. Having completed his visionary journey Viraf is told by Ahura Mazda
Ahura Mazda

Ahura Mazda is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator, hence God.The Zoroastrianism is described by its adherents as Mazdayasna, the worship of Mazda....
 that the Zoroastrian faith is the only proper and true way of life and that it should be preserved in both prosperity and adversity.

Quotes from the Text

  • They say that, once upon a time, the pious Zartosht made the religion, which he had received, current in the world; and till the completion of 300 years, the religion was in purity, and men were without doubts.But afterward, the accursed evil spirit, the wicked one, in order to make men doubtful of this religion, instigated the accursed Alexander, the Roman, who was dwelling in Egypt, so that he came to the country of Iran with severe cruelty and war and devastation; he also slew the ruler of Iran,and destroyed the metropolis and empire, and made them desolate.
    • Introduction


  • Then I saw the souls of those whom serpents sting and ever devour their tongues.And I asked thus: 'What sin
    Sin

    Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation....
     was committed by those, whose soul suffers so severe a punishment?' Srosh the pious, and Adar the angel
    Ángel

    ?ngel is the third single from Belinda Peregr?n's debut album: Belinda. It was a massive hit in Mexico and an international hit for Belinda....
    , said, thus: 'These are the souls of those liars and irreverent [or 'untruthful'] speakers who, in the world, spoke much falsehood and lies and profanity.
    • Section 4, Hell


See also

  • Persian literature
    Persian literature

    Persian literature spans two and a half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources has been within historical greater Iran including present-day Iran as well as reigions of Central Asia where the Persian language has been the national language through history....
  • Middle Persian literature
  • Zoroastrianism
    Zoroastrianism

    Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster, after whom the religion is named. The term Zoroastrianism is in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, i.e., the worship of Ahura Mazda, exalted by Zoroaster as the supreme divine authority....
  • Divine comedy


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