Arshtat: The Yazata of Rectitude and Justice
- Daniel R
- 5 days ago
- 12 min read
Introduction
Arshtat is the yazata of rectitude and justice in the Zoroastrian and Iranic tradition: the divinity who personifies rightness, uprightness, and honest dealing, the close companion of Rashnu the divine judge, who stands among the guardians of the soul's judgment.
In the vision of Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, Arshtat, whose name means rectitude or rightness, is the divinity of uprightness, honesty, and just dealing, the personification of the rightness that does not deviate from the truth. She is closely allied with Rashnu, the divine judge, and is invoked with Mithra and Sraosha among the guardians of the judgment of the soul.
Like the other divinities of the Zoroastrian tradition, Arshtat belongs to the shared ancient religious and mythological heritage of the Iranic peoples, a tradition the Kurds hold in common with the Persians and others of the Iranic world. To know Arshtat is to encounter the Zoroastrian reverence for rectitude and just dealing, the divinity of the uprightness that upholds the truth and the right.
Contents
Who Is Arshtat?
Arshtat, in later forms Ashtad, is the yazata, or divinity, of rectitude, rightness, and justice in the Zoroastrian tradition, one of the beneficent divine beings created by Ahura Mazda. She personifies rectitude, uprightness, honesty, and just dealing, the rightness that does not deviate from the truth, and she presides over truthfulness, virtue, and the furthering of the good of the world. Arshtat is closely allied with Rashnu, the divine judge, the two being so closely associated that they are often named together, and she is invoked with Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu among the divinities who attend the judgment of the soul after death. She presides over a day of the month, and a hymn among the Yashts bears her name. As the yazata of rectitude and justice, the upholder of uprightness and just dealing and the companion of the divine judge, Arshtat holds a beneficent place among the divinities of the moral order of the Zoroastrian vision.
The Meaning of the Name
The name Arshtat means rectitude, rightness, or uprightness, from a root connected with what is right, straight, and true. The name marks her as the divinity of the rightness and uprightness that does not deviate from the truth, the personification of just and honest dealing.
This meaning is central to her character, for Arshtat is the divinity of rectitude and uprightness, the rightness, honesty, and just dealing that hold to the truth and do not deviate from it. The rectitude she embodies is the moral straightness and uprightness that is true, honest, and just, the rightness that upholds the truth and deals justly, in contrast to the crookedness and deceit of the lie. In this, she is closely connected with the truth and the good order, Asha Vahishta, and with the just judgment of Rashnu. In later tradition, the name appears as Ashtad, and in this form she continued to be honoured as the divinity of rectitude, presiding over truthfulness and virtue. The meaning of the name thus reveals her essential character, the divinity of rectitude, rightness, and uprightness, the personification of just and honest dealing that holds to the truth. To grasp the meaning of the name is to grasp her character, the yazata of the uprightness and just dealing that uphold the truth and the right.
Key Takeaways
Arshtat is the Zoroastrian yazata of rectitude, rightness, and justice.
Her name means rectitude or uprightness, the rightness that holds to truth.
She personifies honesty, just dealing, and the furthering of the good.
She is the close companion of Rashnu, the divine judge.
She is invoked with Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu at the soul's judgment.
She presides over a day of the month and has a hymn that bears her name.
Quick Facts
Name: Arshtat (rectitude, rightness); later Ashtad
Meaning: Rectitude, rightness, uprightness, just dealing
Role: Yazata of rectitude, justice, and honest dealing
Presides over: Truthfulness, virtue, the good of the world
Close companion: Rashnu, the divine judge
Invoked with: Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu at the soul's judgment
Guardian of: The Chinvat Bridge, with the divine judges
In the calendar: Presides over the 26th day of the month
Sacred hymn: The Ashtad Yasht (Yasht 18) bears her name
Heritage: Shared Iranic religious and mythological tradition
The Divinity of Rectitude
Arshtat's first and most characteristic role is as the divinity of rectitude, the personification of rightness, uprightness, and just dealing, who presides over truthfulness and virtue.
In the Zoroastrian tradition, rectitude, uprightness, and just dealing are greatly valued, for they are the moral straightness that holds to the truth and deals justly, in contrast to the crookedness and deceit of the lie; and Arshtat is the divinity who personifies this rectitude, the rightness and uprightness that do not deviate from the truth. She presides over truthfulness, honesty, virtue, and just dealing, and over the furthering of the good of the world, the divinity of the moral straightness that upholds the truth and the right. In this, Arshtat is closely connected with Asha Vahishta the truth and the good order, for rectitude is the holding to the truth and the right in word and deed. The rectitude she embodies is a high moral ideal, the uprightness and just dealing that the faithful are called to practise in imitation of the divine order. This role as the divinity of rectitude is the most characteristic aspect of Arshtat, the personification of rightness, uprightness, and just dealing who upholds the truth and the right. It is as the yazata of rectitude, the divinity of uprightness and honest dealing, that Arshtat is most characteristically known, the upholder of the moral straightness that holds to the truth.
The Companion of Rashnu
Arshtat is the close companion of Rashnu, the divine judge, the two being so closely allied that they are often named together as a pair, the rectitude and the judgment that uphold justice.
In the Zoroastrian tradition, Arshtat is the close companion and associate of Rashnu, the divine judge who weighs the deeds of the soul, the two being so closely allied that they are often named together, almost as a single pair, the rectitude of Arshtat and the judgment of Rashnu. This pairing is fitting, for rectitude and just judgment belong together: the upright and honest dealing of Arshtat and the true and impartial judgment of Rashnu are two aspects of the one justice, the holding to the truth and the right and the just weighing of deeds. Together, Arshtat and Rashnu uphold the justice and rectitude of the moral order, the rightness and the just judgment that hold to the truth. This close companionship with Rashnu is one of the defining features of Arshtat, binding the divinity of rectitude to the divine judge in the upholding of justice. It is often in company with Rashnu that Arshtat is encountered, the rectitude that stands beside the judgment, the two together upholding the justice and the truth of the moral order of the Zoroastrian vision.
At the Judgment of the Soul
Arshtat is invoked, with Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu, among the divinities who attend the judgment of the soul after death, the upholders of the justice by which the soul is judged.
In the Zoroastrian vision, after death the soul comes to the Chinvat Bridge, the bridge of judgment, where its deeds are weighed and its destiny determined by the justice of the moral order. Among the divinities who attend and uphold this judgment are Mithra the lord of the covenant, Sraosha the divinity of obedience and the word, Rashnu the divine judge who weighs the deeds, and Arshtat, the divinity of rectitude, who is invoked with them in the liturgy for the soul. Arshtat, as the divinity of rectitude and just dealing, is fittingly present at the judgment, where the rightness and justice she embodies are applied to the weighing of the soul's deeds. Her presence among the divinities of the judgment reflects her close connection with justice and rectitude, the upholding of the truth and the right in the weighing of the soul. This role at the judgment of the soul is an important aspect of Arshtat, binding the divinity of rectitude to the just judgment of the soul after death, among the divinities who uphold the justice of the moral order. It is among the guardians of the soul's judgment that Arshtat takes a solemn place, the rectitude that attends the just weighing of deeds.
Honoured in the Calendar and the Hymn
Arshtat is honoured in the sacred calendar, presiding over a day of the month, and a hymn among the Yashts bears her name, reflecting her place among the divinities of the tradition.
In the sacred calendar of the Zoroastrian tradition, Arshtat presides over the twenty-sixth day of the month, which is under her protection and dedicated to her, so that she is honoured in the round of the days. Among the sacred Yashts, the hymns dedicated to the divinities, one bears the name of Arshtat, the eighteenth, called the Ashtad Yasht after her. Interestingly and honestly, it should be noted that this hymn, though it bears her name, does not in fact dwell upon Arshtat herself, being devoted largely to the praise of the divine glory, the khvarenah or farr, the radiant glory of the Iranic tradition; the hymn is named for Arshtat and associated with her day, but its content treats chiefly of the divine glory. This curious feature is honestly noted by scholars and is a reminder of the sometimes complex relationship between the divinities and the hymns that bear their names. Nonetheless, the dedication of a day and a hymn to Arshtat reflects her place among the honoured divinities of the tradition, the yazata of rectitude honoured in the calendar and the sacred poetry, and her honour is expressed too in her companionship with Rashnu and her role at the judgment of the soul.
Symbolism and Meaning
Arshtat embodies, above all, the Zoroastrian reverence for rectitude and just dealing, the divinity of rightness, uprightness, and honesty who upholds the truth and the right. As the yazata of rectitude, she represents the moral straightness that holds to the truth and deals justly.
Arshtat embodies, too, the close connection of rectitude with just judgment, in her companionship with Rashnu and her role at the judgment of the soul, and the high value placed on uprightness and honest dealing in the tradition. In this, she represents the moral order and the justice that uphold the truth. In all this, Arshtat is among the divinities of the moral order of the Iranic religious tradition, embodying rectitude, rightness, just dealing, and the upholding of the truth. She is the yazata of rectitude, companion of Rashnu the divine judge and upholder of the justice of the moral order, one of the beneficent figures of the religious heritage that the Kurds share with the other heirs of the Iranic tradition, bound up with the truth, Asha Vahishta. The reverence for rectitude and just dealing that she embodies is among the enduring moral values of the tradition.
Arshtat and the Kurds
Arshtat, like the other divinities of the Zoroastrian tradition, belongs to the shared ancient religious and mythological heritage of the Iranic peoples, a tradition that the Kurds, as an Iranic people, hold in common with the Persians and others of the Iranic world. The reverence for rectitude and just dealing is part of the deep moral heritage of the whole region.
For the Kurds, the ancient Iranic reverence for rectitude, uprightness, and just dealing, and the high value placed on honesty and the holding to the truth, are part of the deep background of their cultural and moral world. The values that Arshtat embodies, rectitude, uprightness, honesty, and just dealing, are universal and enduring moral goods, of the deepest resonance for any people. It is honest and accurate to understand Arshtat as part of this shared Iranic and Zoroastrian heritage, rather than as a uniquely Kurdish figure; she belongs to the common ancient religious tradition of the Iranic peoples. As an Iranic people with ancient roots in this world, the Kurds share in this heritage, of which the divinity of rectitude is a part, alongside the other heirs of the Iranic tradition. In presenting Arshtat, then, we present a figure of the shared ancient Iranic heritage to which the Kurds are heirs, the yazata of rectitude and just dealing, whose values of uprightness and honesty are among the most universal and enduring of moral goods.
Debates and Misconceptions
Is Arshtat a separate goddess? No; in the Zoroastrian understanding, Arshtat is a yazata, one of the beneficent divine beings created by the one God, Ahura Mazda, to uphold the good creation, and worthy of veneration as such. She is best understood not as an independent goddess but as a divinity who serves the one God, the yazata of rectitude through whom the Wise Lord upholds the rightness and just dealing of the moral order. This understanding preserves the fundamentally monotheistic character of the faith, in which the yazatas are the means by which the one God acts and is honoured.
Is Arshtat the same as Rashnu? No; though the two are very closely allied and often named together, they are distinct divinities. Rashnu is the divine judge who weighs the deeds of the soul on the scales of justice; Arshtat is the divinity of rectitude, rightness, and just dealing. The two are closely associated, almost as a pair, for rectitude and just judgment belong together, but they are distinct: Arshtat is the rectitude and uprightness, Rashnu the just judgment. Their close pairing reflects the deep connection of rectitude with justice, but Arshtat is the divinity of rectitude proper, distinct from the judge Rashnu.
Why does the hymn named for Arshtat not speak of her? This is a genuine and interesting curiosity of the tradition. The eighteenth Yasht bears the name of Arshtat and is associated with her day, yet its content is devoted largely to the praise of the divine glory, the khvarenah, rather than to Arshtat herself. The honest position is that the reason for this is not fully clear, and it is noted by scholars as a curious feature; it is a reminder that the relationship between the divinities and the hymns that bear their names is sometimes complex. Arshtat is nonetheless honoured as the divinity of rectitude, presiding over her day and named in the invocations, even if the hymn that bears her name dwells on the divine glory.
Related Topics
Ahura Mazda: the Wise Lord, whom Arshtat serves
Rashnu: the divine judge, Arshtat's close companion
Mithra: the lord of the covenant, invoked with Arshtat
Sraosha: the divinity of obedience, at the soul's judgment
The Chinvat Bridge: where the soul is judged, guarded by these divinities
Asha Vahishta: the truth and good order, to which rectitude holds
The Farr: the divine glory, praised in the hymn named for Arshtat
Ashi: the yazata of reward, a fellow divinity of the moral order
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arshtat in Zoroastrianism?
Arshtat, in later forms Ashtad, is the yazata, or divinity, of rectitude, rightness, and justice in the Zoroastrian tradition, one of the beneficent divine beings created by Ahura Mazda. She personifies rectitude, uprightness, honesty, and just dealing, presiding over truthfulness and virtue. She is the close companion of Rashnu, the divine judge, and is invoked with Mithra, Sraosha, and Rashnu among the divinities who attend the judgment of the soul.
What does the name Arshtat mean?
The name Arshtat means rectitude, rightness, or uprightness, from a root connected with what is right, straight, and true. It marks her as the divinity of the rightness and uprightness that does not deviate from the truth, the personification of just and honest dealing. The rectitude she embodies is the moral straightness that is true, honest, and just, in contrast to the crookedness and deceit of the lie. In later tradition the name appears as Ashtad.
How is Arshtat related to Rashnu?
Arshtat is the close companion of Rashnu, the divine judge, the two being so closely allied that they are often named together, almost as a single pair. This is fitting, for rectitude and just judgment belong together: the upright dealing of Arshtat and the impartial judgment of Rashnu are two aspects of the one justice. Together they uphold the justice and rectitude of the moral order, the rightness and the just weighing of deeds.
What is Arshtat's role at the judgment of the soul?
In the Zoroastrian vision, after death the soul comes to the Chinvat Bridge, where its deeds are weighed. Among the divinities who attend and uphold this judgment are Mithra, Sraosha, Rashnu, and Arshtat, who is invoked with them in the liturgy for the soul. As the divinity of rectitude and just dealing, Arshtat is fittingly present at the judgment, where the rightness and justice she embodies are applied to the weighing of the soul's deeds.
Why does the hymn named for Arshtat not mention her?
This is a genuine curiosity of the tradition. The eighteenth Yasht bears the name of Arshtat and is associated with her day, yet its content is devoted largely to the praise of the divine glory, the khvarenah, rather than to Arshtat herself. The reason is not fully clear and is noted by scholars as a curious feature, a reminder that the relationship between the divinities and the hymns that bear their names is sometimes complex. Arshtat is nonetheless honoured as the divinity of rectitude.
Is Arshtat a Kurdish figure?
Arshtat belongs to the shared ancient Zoroastrian and Iranic religious heritage, a tradition the Kurds hold in common with the Persians and others of the Iranic world, rather than a uniquely Kurdish figure. As an Iranic people with ancient roots in this world, the Kurds share in this heritage, of which the divinity of rectitude is a part, alongside their neighbours. The values of uprightness and just dealing she embodies are universal and enduring moral goods.
References and Further Reading
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