💧 Anahita

Attributes & Domains

Mythology & Stories

Anahita is described as a beautiful maiden, strong and tall, wearing a golden crown adorned with stars, and clothed in magnificent robes of beaver fur (symbolizing her connection to water creatures). She drives a chariot pulled by four white horses representing wind, rain, cloud, and sleet.

Key Myths:

• Source of All Waters: Anahita dwells at the source of the cosmic river that flows from Mount Hara (the world-mountain) down to earth, nourishing all lands. This heavenly river contains the waters of all seas and rivers. Without Anahita's blessing, no rain falls, no springs flow, and the land becomes barren.
• Purifier of Life: Anahita cleanses and purifies the seed of all males and the wombs of all females. She grants fertility to the righteous while withholding it from the wicked. Women in childbirth call upon her for safe delivery, and those seeking children make offerings at her shrines.
• Warrior Goddess: Despite her role as goddess of fertility and healing, Anahita also grants victory in battle. Ancient Persian kings, including Artaxerxes II, made offerings to Anahita before military campaigns. She rides into battle alongside righteous warriors, her waters washing away enemies.
• Zarathustra's Prayer: Even the prophet Zarathustra is said to have offered sacrifices to Anahita, asking for the conversion of King Vishtaspa. This demonstrates her supreme importance even in reformed Zoroastrianism, which generally minimized veneration of yazatas other than Ahura Mazda.

Divine Nature & Powers

Sacred Functions

• Mistress of Waters: Commands all earthly and celestial waters
• Fertility Giver: Grants children, increases herds, blesses crops
• Healer: Cures diseases, especially those related to reproduction and purification
• Purifier: Cleanses ritual impurity, washes away sins of the repentant
• Victory Granter: Blesses righteous warriors and kings with triumph

Sacred Descriptions

From the Aban Yasht, Anahita is described as:

• "Strong, bright, tall, and beautiful"
• "Wearing a golden crown with stars"
• "Clothed in garments of beaver fur" (300 beavers gave their skins)
• "With golden earrings and a golden necklace"
• "Girded with a golden girdle"
• "Holding the sacred barsom (bundle of twigs used in ritual)"

Relationships

Family

• Parents: Created by Ahura Mazda as a yazata
• Consort(s): Some traditions associate her with Mithra (sun/water duality)
• Children: None (though she enables all births)
• Siblings: Fellow yazatas, especially Haurvatat (wholeness/health, associated with water in the Amesha Spentas)

Allies & Enemies

• Allies: Ahura Mazda (supreme lord), Mithra (covenant and light), Tishtrya (star deity of rain), all righteous beings who honor purity
• Enemies: All daevas, especially those causing drought, disease, and infertility; Apaosha (demon of drought)

Worship & Rituals

Sacred Sites

Anahita was worshipped throughout the Persian Empire at major temples, particularly near natural springs and rivers. Famous temples included those at Ecbatana, Pasargadae, Susa, and especially in Armenia and Anatolia. The Greeks identified her with Artemis and Aphrodite, showing her temples' grandeur impressed foreign visitors.

Natural sites: Rivers (especially the Helmand River in Afghanistan), springs, lakes, and waterfalls are all sacred to Anahita. Prayers are traditionally offered at water sources.

Festivals

• Aban Parab (Aban Festival): Celebrated on the 10th day of the 8th month (both named Aban, meaning "water"). Devotees visit rivers and springs, pour libations, and offer prayers for purity and fertility.
• Tirgan (Mid-Summer): Festival celebrating water, rain, and fertility. Includes water splashing, swimming, and offerings to Anahita and Tishtrya for abundant rainfall.
• Personal Petitions: Women seeking children, couples seeking fertility, those requiring healing, and warriors before battle all make special offerings to Anahita.

Offerings

Libations of water poured into rivers or springs, milk and butter (symbolizing fertility), white flowers (especially lotus and rose), silver coins (thrown into water), and small vessels of pure water. Animal sacrifices were historically made at major temples, especially horses. Incense of myrtle and other water-associated plants.

Prayers & Invocations

Traditional Prayer: "O Anahita, strong and holy lady of the waters! Grant me your blessing that flows like the river eternal. Cleanse me of impurity, wash away my sins, and grant fertility to my life. As the waters nourish the earth, so may your grace nourish my spirit. Aredvi Sura Anahita, I honor you!"

The Aban Yasht (Yasht 5) is recited in full during major ceremonies, especially those related to childbirth, healing, or petition for rain.

Historical Significance

Anahita's worship was enormously popular throughout the ancient world:

• Royal Patronage: Artaxerxes II (404-358 BCE) erected statues of Anahita in major cities throughout the Persian Empire
• Cultural Diffusion: Her worship spread to Armenia, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and even influenced Greek and Roman goddess cults
• Syncretic Identifications: Greeks identified her with Artemis (virgin goddess) and Aphrodite (fertility goddess), showing her dual nature
• Armenian Christianity: Some scholars suggest the Armenian emphasis on the Virgin Mary absorbed elements of Anahita worship
• Modern Zoroastrianism: Anahita remains honored in contemporary Zoroastrian practice, with devotees visiting sacred springs and rivers