A Who's Who of World Mythology : Amesha Spentas


The seven Amshasoends or Amesha Spentas (the Immortal Holy Ones) of Zoroastrianism belong to a pantheon of Iranian deities predating the Zoroastrian religion. They act as the attendants of Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd), each ruling over a particular aspect of reality, though they are sometimes seen merely as aspects of Ohrmazd. Vohu Mano governs useful animals, and Spenta Mainyu (sometimes considered Ohrmazd himself) watches over humanity. Ameretat represents immortality, and acts as the guardian spirit of trees and plants, while Spenta Armaiti is patroness over the Earth. Asha-Vahishta governs fire, Haurvatat has dominion over water, and Khshathra-Vairya watches over the sun, the heavens, and metals. It is said when Zoroaster was approximately thirty years old, he was transported to Ohrmazd by Vohu Mano. Vohu Mano means good thought or spirit of good. As guardian of useful animals, he is often represented as a cow.

Spenta Armaiti symbolizes submission and devotion. She was the spiritual mother of humanity, and people were taught to say, “My mother is Spendarmat, Archangel of the Earth, and my father is Ohrmazd, the Lord of Wisdom.” According to one tradition, Spenta Armaiti was the mother of Gayomart, the primordial being. For three thousand years, he existed as a spirit until Ohrmazd made him into a physical being. As Gayomart, and the primordial bull Geush Urvan, lay dying from wounds inflicted by Ahriman, Gayomart’s body separated into seven metals. Spenta Armaiti gathered these, and from gold she grew a plant which produced the first human couple, Mashya and Mashyoi. In another version, Gayomart’s seed was buried forty years before it produced the first human couple.