The extent of the BMAC (Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex) according to the Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture
The Proto-Indo-Iranian religion also know as Proto-Indo-Iranian paganism or Arya folklore, was the original religion of the Aryans before their separation between Indo-Aryans, Iranians and Nuristani People, that eventually evolved into Vedic mythology and Zoroastrianism.
Origins and development[]
Indo-Aryans, Iranians and Nuristani People evolved in similar contexts, besides them having similar ideas like the sun and divine twins, for Max Müller the Indo-Iranian religion began as a solar cult, Georges Dumézil believed that all these religions are near-identical.
Relationship to Proto-Indo-European religion[]
- Main article: Proto-Indo-European mythology
Like others religions derived from the PIE religion, the Arya folklore have many elements, like the fight between Asuras and Devas are similar to the battles between the Æsir and the Vanir, besides having the Chaoskampf present in their respective cosmogonies like Thraētona vs Zahhak in the Iranian myths and Indra vs Zahhak.
Curiously both mythologies have a clear Indo-European transparency.
Development[]
Indo-Iranian mythology developed because both groups settled in similar places (the Great Iran and Southeast Asia), however the differences began by reforms, where a group were demonized by the society.
Zoroaster demonized the Daevas and Ahriman (who was originally the first priest) for that Zoroaster self-proclaimed as the first priest, meanwhile the Vedic culture demonized the asuras, by the influence of others peoples.
Contemporary traces[]
Both Nuristani people and the Kalash people had a religion strongly influence by the Indo-Iranian religion in pre-Islamic times.
Cognate terms[]
Divine Beings[]
- Main article: Indo-Aryan influence
| Proto-Indo-Irannian reconstruction | Indo-Aryan | Iranian | Other | Etymology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Háǰʰiš | Ahi | Aži | Japan.
Vrtra |
May be comes from H₂n̥gʷʰis | Similar to Jörmungandr and Lernaean Hydra |
| *Aryamā́ | Skt Aryaman | Av. Airiiaman | _ | Evoluved from H₂eryo-men | |
| *Bʰagás | Skt Bhaga | OPers. *Baga | The slavic word for God Bog, clearly was loanword from Iranian word Baga. | ||
| Skt.Budha | Bct.Βοδδο | Clearly derived from the vedic Sanskrit root Budh | |||
| *Ćarwa | Skt Śarva | YAv. Sauruua | Śarva is both an epithet of Shiva and Rudra, curiously, it is etymologically connected with the Zoroastrian daeva Sauru. | ||
| *Dyauš | Skt Dyaus | OAv. diiaoš | Baltic. Dievas | Evoluved from Dyēus | Therefore is connected with Zeus, Jupiter, Tiwaz and many others. |
| *Hagníš | Skt Agni | YAv. Dāšt-āɣni | Mit. Āgnis | Comes from PIE *h₁n̥gʷnis | H1n̥gʷnis for more information. |
| *Hāpam-nápāts | Skt Apā́m nápā | YAv. apᶏm napāt | - | Is the combination of the PIE words h2ep- ('water') and *h2nepot- ('grandson, descendant') | See Neptonos |
| *Haramati | Skt Arámati | Av. Ārmaiti | In both Sanskrit and Avestan it is related to obedience. | ||
| *Hwárunas | Skt Asura Varuna | Av. Ahura Mazda | Mit. Aruna or úrawana | Evoluved from Wérunos. | Aramazd was the pathian name of Ahura Mazda. |
| (?) *Wr̥trás | Skt Vishnu | Av. Verethragna | - | The Armenian god Vahagn, takes his from the parthian version of Verethragna. | |
| *Hušā́s | Skt Ushas | Av. Husabam | Japan. Ame-no-Uzume | Evoluved from the PIE *h₂éws-ōs. | See H₂éwsōs for more information. |
| *Krćānu ~ *Krćāni | Skt Kṛśā́nu | YAv. Kərəsāni | |||
| *Mánuš | Skt Manu | Av. *Manūš | Evoluved from the PIE for Man (Manus) | Manu and Yemo. | |
| *Mitrás | Skt Mithra | Av. Miθra | Mit. Mitra | Buddha Maitreya has his name for Mithra | |
| Skt Nā́satyā | Av. Nā̊ŋhaiθya | Mit. Našattiya | May be comes from the PIE *nes- ('save, heal'; cf. Goth. nasjan). | See Divine Twins | |
| *Pr̥tHwíH | Skt Prithvi | Av. Zam | Baltic. Žemyna | Has her origins on the PIE word *pleth₂wih₁ 'the broad one' | See Dʰéǵʰōm for more information. |
| *PuHšā́ | Skt.pushan | Comes from the PIE Péh₂usōn | He is connect with the Greek God Pan | ||
| *pergʷenyo- | Skt. Parjanya | Av. Frasparega | Nur. Pärun | Evoluved from the PIE Perkʷūnos. | Similars to Thor, Perun and even Hercules |
| *súHar | Skt. Kathiravan | Av. Hvare-khshaeta | Them name means "Sun" | They are similar both to Helios, Sól, See Seh₂ul for more information. | |
| *Tritá | Skt Tritá | YAv. θrita | From the PIE word fro Third (Trito) | The Dragon Slayer. | |
| *HwaHyúš and *HwáHatas | Skt. Vayu | OAv. Vaiiu and Vāta | Comes from the PIE word H₂weh₁-yús | God of Winds. | |
| *YámHas | Skt. Yama | Yav. Yima | Nur. Imra | Has his origins on the PIE word for twin *imH-o | The hindu goddess Yamuna also has her name from *imH-o. |
| ZRV | Av.Zurvan | ?) Zhun |
Locations[]
| Proto-Indo-Iranian reconstruction | Indo-Aryan | Irannian | Etymology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Háćmā | Skt áśman | Av. Asman | The name asman evoluved from the PIE word *h₂eḱ- | |
| *SáraswatiH / saras-u̯at-iH- | Skt sárasvatī | YAv. haraxᵛatī
OPers. Harauvati |
The her origins on the PIE words *séles 'marsh' | Saraswati, also eveloved from *SáraswatiH. |
Entities[]
| Proto-Indo-Iranian reconstruction | Meaning | Indo-Aryan | Iranian | Etymology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *daywás | God, deity | Skt. Deva | Av.Daeva | Evoluved from PIE *deywós 'celestial > god'. | In the slamics countries in asia central, Divs are part of the folklore. |
| *daywiH | Goddess | Skt.Devi | Av.daēuuī | Derived from the PIE word *deywih2. | Is cognate to the spanish word Diosas. |
| *g(h)andh(a)rwas- ~ g(h)andh(a)rbhas- | Skt gandharvá | YAv. gandərəba | Being related with the music. | ||
| *Hasuras | God, Lord | Skt.Asura | Av.Ahura | Come from the PIE *h₂ems-u- < *h₂ems- ('to give birth'). | In the Japanese folklore the asuras are know as Ashuras. |
See Also[]
- Proto-Germanic Folklore
- Proto Celtic Paganism
- Alan Mythology