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On the Significance of the Name Zarathustra
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derived from * uxstra meaning 'protector of the ox'. The name Zarathustra would, in that case, mean 'the old protector of the ox'.'
There is hardly anything to object to this interpretation from the point of view of the meaning arrived at. Of all the interpretations of the name suggested so far this is the one which would suit the prophet extremely well. There is some controversy on the point whether this name was given to the prophet by his parents in his childhood or whether he adopted it for himself later in his life after he started preaching his new religion. Jackson held the former view and said that although the name, as understood in his time, was unromantic and unpoctic, it was retained by the prophet "as his birth-right even after he became famed as a spiritual and religious teacher. The very fact of his retaining this somewhat prosaic appelative testifies to a strong personality ; Zoroaster remains a man and he is not dubbed a new with a poetic title when later sanctification has thrown a halo of glory about his head."11
On the other hand, Taraporewala, whose view has been referred to above, believes that Zarathustra is the title by which the prophet was known after he had proclaimed his message.1: The interpretation of Zarathustra suggested in the present paper would also lead us to reject the view that this was the prophet's first name. It could come to him only after he had started proclaiming his new message of ox-protection (ustra) and while doing so had become somewhat old (jarat ). It is likely that he did not himself adopt this name but that it was given to him by others--perhaps his revilers as indicated by a reference to his old age. It is, indeed, possible to discover a piece of evidence testifying to the prophet's having become old while carrying on his struggle to save the ox from the tyranny to which it was subjected. This evidence is to be found in the famous Yasna 29, known as the Gatha of the Ox-Soul. The ox complains about the ill-treatment given to him and the cow by the people. He wants to know who created him and for what purpose. If he was endowed with life by the Creator, he had a right to live, and, as an animal helpful to men, a right to seek protection. The wise lord then replied to the ox that the Creator had fashioned him for the milker and the herdsman (and apparently not for the sacrificer). But no one was appointed till then to take care of him. The Good Mind then pointed to Zarathustra and said: "I know but this one : Zarathustra Spitama, the only one who has heard our teachings; He will make known our purpose ---Sweetness of speech shall be given to him." But the ox is not satisfied. He continues to lament that he has been handed over to a powerless man and not to a strong guardian. In Yasna 29.9, the Ox-soul moans : "That I should have to be content with the powerless word of a man without strength for a guardian, I who wisb for a strong master;" What comes after this reads as follows in the original :
kada yavā hvð anhat, ya hoi dadat zastavat avo which has been rendered as : "Will he ever be, he who shall help him with his bands 2:14
Madhu Vidyā/197
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