The Rapitwin Gāh, the Ideal Time in Mazdayasni Religion

The “Rapitwin” is considered as a highly important yazata (adorabale one) within the Zoroastrian religion. He is the lord of that portion of a day which is called “Rapitwin gāh”. In Zoroastrian mythology، the Rapitwin gāh signifis a quality of time which can be interpreted as “the ideal time”. This gāh is considered to represent either the beginning of creation، the moment of resurrection and also is supposed to be the period during which the saošyants will appear. The material symbol of the “Rapitwin gāh” is noontime. The myth of Rapitwin has brought about wonderful and impressive rituals amongst the Zoroastrian ceremonies. Special rituals are celebrated for this lord to bid him farewell، when he goes underground، in order to protect the roots of vegetation، which is at the beginning of the great winter، a hundred days before the first day of the new year and again at the time of his return over the ground، on the new year''s day. The ritual for Rapitwin، at the first day of Farvardin، may be considered as the festival of the «seventh creation» which is fire. The “Jašn-e Sade”، the festival which is observed on the occasion of the discovery of fire، and the prayers and rituals for the lord of Rapitwin support this opinion.