History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. IV.] MANOSKIHAR., 179

astrology, and religious customs, and contains an account of the twenty-one “nusks” of the Avesta already referred to. It is the largest Pehlevi book in existence.

Vazerkard-i-Dini is a miscellaneous collection of injunctions and details regarding religious matters.

The third book treats of different Nirangs, 7.e. an account of religious rites and ceremonies.

The fourth, Shayest la Shayest’ (lawful and unlawful), treats, as its name implies, of injunctions as to what constitutes sins and crimes, and what actions are therefore to be avoided.

The twelfth, Dadistan-i-Dini’ (religious opinions or decisions), consists of ninety-two questions put to the high priest Manuskihar on religious subjects and his answers. According to Dr. West the questions are upon the following various subjects: —“The righteous and their characteristics ; the temporal distress of the good; why mankind was created; good works and their effects; the account of sin and good works to be rendered ; the exposure of corpses and reasons for it; the parts, destinations, and fate of departed souls, with the ceremonies to be performed after death ; the

contributors to the renovation of the universe; the

1 Translated by Dr. West in the fifth volume of the series edited by Max Miller under the title of The Sacred Books of the East.

2 Translated by Dr. West as the eighteenth volume of Max Miiller’s Oriental series. Also translated into Gujarati by Ervads Sheriadji and Temulji as a prize essay.