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Middle Persian literature

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Literature of Pahlavi

Pahlavi Literature is divided to three parts:

1. Pahlavi version (translation) of Avesta which is generally named as 'Zend-Avesta'.
2. Pahlavi texts on religious subjects
3. Pahlavi texts on non-religious subjects


1. Pahlavi translations of Avesta texts

It includes several major Pahlavi texts which are translation of Avetsa texts. It includes also some Afringan, Yasht and Niyayishn.

Some major Pahlavi books of this kind are:

1. Vendidad
2. Afringan-i Gahanbar
3. Yasna
4. Haptan Yasht
5. Nirangistan
6. Srosh Yasht Hadokht
7. Vishtasp Yasht
8. Sirozak I, II
9. Visperad
10. Frahang-i Oim-evak
11. Khurshet Nyayish
12. Ahuramazd Yasht
13. Aban Nyayish
14. Bahram Yasht
15. Afringan-i Dahman
16. Hadokht Nask
17. Afringan- Gatha
18. Aogemadaecha
19. Khurshet Yasht
20. Chitak avistak-i gasan
21. Mah Yasht
22. Ataxsh Nyayish
23. Vichirkart-i Denig
24. Afaringan Fravartigan
25. Mah Nyayish


2. Pahlavi texts on religious subjects

It includes several major Pahlavi texts about different zoroastrian religious subjects such as cosmogony, cosmology, eschatology, creation of the world, ceremonies, rituals, Andarz, Pandnamak, Patit etc.

Some major Pahlavi books of this kind are:

1. Denkard
2. Bundahishn
3. Datistan-i Denig
4. Rivayat accompanying
5. Selections of Zat-Sparam
6. Epistles of Manushchihr
7. Shikand-gumanic Vichar
8. Shayast ne-shayast
9. Dana-i Menog Khrat
10. 39. Arta-Viraf namak
11. Jamasp namak
12. Bahman yasht
13. Matigan-i Yosht-i Fryano
14. Matigan-i gujastak Abalish
15. Matigan-i mah Fravartin roz Khurdat


3. Pahlavi texts on non-religious subjects

It includes several major Pahlavi texts which fall within the categories of Pahlavi glossaries, stories, poems, Geography etc.

Some major Pahlavi books of this kind are:

1. Matigan-i Hazar Datistan (Social code of the Parsis in Sasanian times)
2. Cities in the land of Iran
3. Karnamak-i Artaxshir-i Papakan
4. Vizarishn- i Chatrang ud nahishn-i new Ardashir (invent of chess)
5. Yatkar-i Zariran
6. Drakht-i Asurig
7. Khusro-i Kavatan and his Page
8. Frahang-i Pahlavig
9. Wonders of the land of Sagastan
10. Forms of Epistles


We have to add several other Pahlavi books which are missed today and we are only aware of them through Arabic and Persian books where some information are written about them. Like 'Ayyatkar-i Anushirvan' which the Arabic translation could be found in 'Tajarob-al Omam' of 'Ibn-i Muskuye' or 'Khvatay Namak' that is missed completely.


To Be Continued By Author