Zardusht and the Aspa dynasty of Balkh

Zardusht's relation with the Aspa dynasty of Balkh is an important proof that leaves no doubt as to the home of Zardusht. Zardusht was an important religious figure of ancient Balkh. His fame was such that his name was known and appear among Greeks, and Romans in different forms. The name Zardusht consists of two words that is Zar(gold) or Zard(yellow). These two are still in use in Dari and carries the same meaning. The second part usht is today's ushter or shtur, meaning camel. So the name Zardusht is translated as the Owner of Golden Camel or Owner of Yellow Camel. The father of Zardusht's wife was Faraushtra or Farusht. This name is also consists of two parts: Fara and usht (ushter or shtur). It means the Owner of Early Camel.

In both of the above names the word ushter (camel) is visible. However most of Zardusht's other relatives have the word Asp or Aspa (meaning horse) in their names. The word Asp is still in used in today's Dari and still means horse.

Father of Zardusht was called Puroahpa or Puroaspa(Puroasp). The word Puro means pir (old) and therefore the name Puroahpa can be translated as the Owner of Old Horses. The fourth grand father of Zardusht was named Heycheyt Aspa or Heycheyt Asp. It means the Owner of Strong Horses.

So Zardusht's line belongs to the Asp or Aspa family of Balkh. Aspa family were the nobles of the Balkh who were famous in all Bactra for having large herds of camels and horses. They reached to power after the dynasty of Payshdadiyan. There are many references to the Aspa Dynasty in Avesta. Some of them that became kings are:

Lehr Asp (Owner of Fast Horses)

Gusht Asp (Owner of Alert or Awake Horses)

Zardusht emerged as a prophet during the reign of Gusht Asp. After Zardusht became known in the Gusht Asp court, he established family relation with the brother of Gusht Asp, Jam Asp and a minister of Gust Asp called Faraushtra. Zardusht married the daughter of Faraushtra and gave his own daughter, Pur Cheest, to Jam Asp, a minister of Gush Asp, in marriage. With these relations Zardusht's family ties with Aspa family became even stronger.

So, it can be clearly seen that Zardusht had not come to Balkh from some other place but he was a native inhabitant and one of the nobles of Balkh. His ancestors were from the local Balkh nobles who were famous for their herds of camels and horses, the Aspa family. Zardusht's relations with Gusht Asp, a ruler, shows an indication of his social status and nobility.

Zardusht in all religious texts and in Gathas is mentioned as Spitman. The word Spitman means Sapid or Safid (white). Historians mention that this word was used to indicate white seed, white race and white skirt. It is believe to have been used to mean Pak Nehad, Pak Daman or Parsa.* The Spitman was the name of one of his ancestors (fourth grand father). Therefore, Zardusht got the Spitman as his family name.

* Pak Nehad literally means Clean Roots or Of Clean Roots. It is used to mean Pure, sinless, or unstained. Pak Daman literally means Clean Skirt. It is used to mean sinless, innocent, pure or unstained. Parsa means a very godly, devout, saintly, pious or holy person.[*]

Sent by Mehdizadeh Kabuly