Gifts to a Magus: Indo-Iranian Studies Honoring Firoze Kotwal (Toronto Studies in Religion)

"This fascinating volume consists of articles by world-renowned scholars of Zoroastrian, Iranian, Parsi, and Jewish studies. The topics covered range from the prophet Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) and the ancient Indo-Iranians to the modern Zoroastrians and Jews of Iran and India. Insightful descriptions of divinities and demons, priests and laity will capture the attention of readers as will absorbing discussions of good and evil, rituals and documents, and of communities past and present."--Publisher's website. Cover Contents Preface Jamsheed K. Choksy xi Acknowledgments xiii List of Abbreviations xv Selected Bibliography of Dastur Dr. Firoze M. Kotwal xvii Priests, Prophets, and Poets The Making of a High Magus: A Biography of Dastur Dr. Firoze Kotwal Mary Boyce 1 A Glimpse into Priestly Tradition: An Interview with Dastur Firoze Kotwal’s Mother Philip G. Kreyenbroek and Shehnaz N. Munshi 29 On the Prophetic and Priestly Authority of Zarathustra Almut Hintze 43 Anything New about Zoroaster? Richard N. Frye 59 Avestan Kauui- and the Vocabulary of Indo-Iranian Institutions Martin Schwartz 63 Divinities and Ghouls The Nature and Problem of Evil in Zoroastrianism: Some Theological, Philosophical, and Ritual Perspectives James W. Boyd and Ron G. Williams 77 Aməš.ā Spən.tas and Aš.a Vahiš.ta Helmut Humbach and Pallan Ichaporia 99 Anāhitā: What’s in a Name? William Malandra 105 Anāhitā-: Unblemished or Unattached? (Avestica IV) Prods Oktor Skjærvø 113 Jahikā et le Vocabulaire Daivique Jean Kellens 123 Delivering the Drug in the Hands of Aš.a (Y. 44.14) Faribourz Nariman 129 Ritual and Cosmology The “Gift” of the “Givers” Antonio Panaino 137 The Right and the Left Ramiyar P. Karanjia 147 The Yasna Ritual and the Geometry of Mithras’ Rock Birth Gernot Windfuhr 153 Manekji on the Sudre-Kusti Michael Stausberg 165 The Kadmi Ātash Bahrām Bōy Ceremony Khojeste Mistree 179 Laying of the Sopra-e Shah Pariya Firoza Punthakey-Mistree 195 Communities and Writings The Gifts of Cyrus, Esther, Magi, and Rabbis: Historical Trends in Interactions between Zoroastrians and Jews Jamsheed K. Choksy 207 A Pahlavi Revāyat Based on Vendidād Kaikhusroo M. Jamasp Asa 245 Excavations at Sanjan Homi Dhalla 263 Self-Perception and Perception of Muslims Vera B. Moreen 301 The Zoroastrian Diasporas John R. Hinnells 317 List of Contributors 341