The threefold ethical formula at the center of Zoroastrian practice: good thoughts, good words and good deeds, held to align a person with Asha, the cosmic order, against Druj, the Lie. The three terms recur throughout the Gathas, the hymns attributed to Zoroaster himself, and remain the tradition's summary statement of righteous living, recited daily by observant Zoroastrians.
Facts
Origins
Place of OriginGreater Iran or Central Asia, the region of Zoroaster's traditional activity; the precise location is debated along with the date. 1 Origin of the NameAvestan humata (good thought), hukhta (good word) and huvarshta (good deed), a fixed triad recurring throughout the Gathas. 2 Attributed Author / CompilerAttributed within the tradition to Zoroaster himself, credited as the author of the Gathas, the seventeen hymns within the Yasna where the formula recurs. 2 Disputed
Origin PeriodThe Gathas' own date is one of the most contested questions in Iranian studies, with proposals for Zoroaster's lifetime ranging from roughly 1500 BCE on linguistic grounds to closer to 600 BCE on the traditional Zoroastrian chronology; no consensus date is treated as settled. 1 Status
Status Within the TraditionStandard teaching, not formally defined 1 Doctrinal Status DetailThe tradition's standard summary of righteous living, recited in daily prayer; understood as practical alignment with Asha, cosmic and moral order, against Druj, the Lie. 1 Attestation
Meaning in the Attesting SourceGood thoughts, good words and good deeds: the threefold ethical formula at the center of Zoroastrian practice. 1 Connections
Belongs to Tradition
Source A History of ZoroastrianismMary Boyce
In Language
Opposes
The good-thoughts-good-words-good-deeds formula is taught as the practical means of resisting Druj, the atlas's existing doctrine entity for the Lie, Zoroastrianism's own central ethical antagonist.
Source A History of ZoroastrianismMary Boyce
Originates in Language
Source The Hymns of ZoroasterM. L. West
Related To
Asha, Doctrines The good-thoughts-good-words-good-deeds formula is practical alignment with Asha, the atlas's existing doctrine entity for cosmic and moral order.
Source A History of ZoroastrianismMary Boyce
Sources
1. A History of Zoroastrianism
2. The Hymns of Zoroaster
M. L. West, I.B. Tauris, 2010Originates in Language: Avestan, Stored language property on this entity, cited to this source: avestanView the Source Take a Related Quiz
- Virtues: BeginnerIncludes a question about Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta (Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds).
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