The Gāthā collection comprises seventeen songs (hāiti). According to their respective meters, they are arranged in five Gāthās (Y 28–34, 43–46, 47–50, 51, 53). Extraordinary in many respects is the fifth Gāthā, which covers just one song (Y 53). It was composed by Zarathustra to accompany a private event, the marriage of Pourucistā, his youngest daughter, with Djāmāspa (YAv. Jāmāspa). In this song the new couple, and the other participants in the ceremony as well, are given some instructions, partly of a sexual character, for a happy and successful married life. Unfortunately the song is enigmatic in several respects. Not only are numerous details poorly transmitted in the manuscripts, but even the name of the bridegroom, which, as suggested by the Pahlavi tradition, would be expected to be given in a separate stanza, is completely lost. Seven of the remaining sixteen songs altogether show thirteen occurrences of Zarathustra’s name (Y 28.6, 29.8, 33.14, 43.8, 16, 46.13, 14, 19, 49.12, 50.6, 51.11, 12, 15). In reply to the question “Who are you?” the prophet introduces himself most explicitly as “Zarathustra” (Y 43.7–8). Yet elsewhere he speaks of himself in the third person, which, according to several scholars, would be a strong argument against his authorship, but which is likely a figure of speech. With regard to the expected reaction it is the natural desire of any worshipper to not only be noticed by the deity but also identified correctly by him or her (Source: Helmut Humbach, Willey-Blackwell Companions of Zoroastrianism).
Zoroastrianism and Cultural Identity of Ancient Iran
