Geush Urvan, its structure and meaning in Gahan from the standpoint of western scientists and zoroastrian traditition

Recognition of the terminology and the Avestan concepts, in particular in Gahan, requires the knowledge of rules regarding the evolution of language and mastery in the paronymy of languages. Since the dominant ideology over Gahan is a kind of contemplation and approach towards the living world and the ways to attain perfection of man, peace, serenity and welfare, these concepts had been stated in a metaphoric language therefore the use of philosophical doctrines of the same era and their comparison with the recent books in the east and north east region of Iran is necessary. In this article, the word Geush Urvan is analyzed through the eyes of western linguists, middle Persian texts, and Sanskrit, Parsians in India, Persian researchers and Zoroastrian priests. In terms of structural and semantic analysis of this compound word, there are no incongruities among the Avestaologist and they define the word as “the soul of the kine” but in terms of its literal meaning there are disagreements. Some understand this word as the soul of the actual cattle, respected by the Indo-Iranian people and in fact regard the application of this word in Gahan as a complain that the prophet takes to Urmazd as to the unsystematic killing of this creature which brings prosperity to the earth and agriculture. Some others suggest “the soul of life” or “the soul of creation” for it. The impression of the Zoroastrian tradition from this word revolves around the meaning of “the soul of the Earth”, the Mother Earth and this tradition translates” the soul of the kine” to” the soul of the mother Earth”. This meaning is more consistent with the Middle texts and with the mother role Sepandarmazd gave to the deity of the Earth.