Paper, : ’ Avesta’s Sixteen Good Lands , and the First Land of Human Civilization’

Abstract

In Fargard 1, the Avesta says Ahura Mazda created sixteen good lands and thereafter Angra Mainyu counter-created forces to destroy these good lands.

 

The first good land Airyana Vaeja is identified with Vajra, a place where the Buddha sat on ‘vajrasana’ to get perfect wisdom. Angra Mainyu then created water snakes and winter to threaten seekers of enlightenment. Vaeja is identified with Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri in Odisha(India)

 

The second good land Sughdhas is name of a sweet and fragrant rice produced in this name at a place called Sugandha. Angra Mainyu counter-created locusts and death unto cattle to destroy these crops. Sughdha is identified with Sogada or Sagala village near the Sun Temple at Konark near Puri.

 

The third good land Mouru is identified with Mayura or Mayapura country, seat of Dakshya, the Creator.  This good land is identified with Mahala village near Sun Temple.

 

The fourth good land Bakhdih is identified with Badrikasrama or present Baharadasi-gaon, a village in Sakhigopal near Puri. It was then at the foot of the Mt Meru.

 

Nisaya, the fifth good land is associated with nurse of Dionysus. The place is identified now with Naisa near Sakhigopal in Puri. It was Naimisha aranya of Indian puranas.

 

The sixth good land Haroyu is Hari-varsha of Indian puranas. It was home to wandering peoples who were then known in one name Hari or Hebrews. Angra Mainyu counter created tears and wailing for these homeless good people. This place is identified with Rohit Khanda village near Sun Temple.

 

The seventh good land Vaek-ereta is identified with Vanka-giri of Vessantara Jataka. This is identified with village Vaku in Pipil block, thirty miles from Sun Temple.

 

Urva, the eighth good land, is identified with Ur or Uruvela, the seat of ancient civilization and glory of epic Gilgamesh. This s identified with village Uru near Puri and Sun Temple.

 

The ninth good land Khnenta is linked with Shiz or ‘Sri’ of Indian puranas as birthplace of Ahura Mazda. It is identified with Sri Kantha near Sun Temple.

 

Beautiful Harahvati is the tenth good land that represents the place where Ayiravati(Elephant of Indra) was staying. It is identified with Mt Alavi or Alborg near Sun Temple at Alaba.

 

Eleventh good land Haetumant is represented by Setubandha or Rama’s Bridge near Ramachandi temple at Sun Temple.

 

Ragha, the twelfth good land is identified with Rhadamanthiys of the Greeks, Ra of Egyptian mythology and Rai of the Persians(Radha of Indian history ) representing three races of the ‘first land’. Village Radha near Sun Temple represents Ragha.

 

Thirteenth good land Chakhra represents the place of Buddha’s First Sermon. It is identified with Chakravartipatna village six miles from Puri at Bata Mangala.

 

Fourteenth good land is the four-cornered Varena where Atharvana Tantra(Atharva-veda) of ancient times was born.  This is identified with village Varana near Puri and Konark Sun Temple.

 

Land of Seven Rivers is the fifteenth good land which identifies the origin of Iskshyaku(Sugar cane) dynasty(Surya-vamsa) in Potala village near Sun Temple.

 

It is attached with ‘excessive heat’ of Angra Mainyu. Source of the river Rangha or Ganges is the last or the sixteenth good land. This is identified with the village Ganga-patana, seat of Ganga dynasty of Odisha near Sun Temple.

 

Ahura Mazda is same as Sage Megha(Medha) of Indian puranas. Magians are represented by Meghas of Kalinga. Zoroastrians are identified with King Jarasandha of ancient Magadha and also with Jara Sabara. Both are linked to epic stories on Sri Krishna in Sakadvipa.