Jahi

Jahi^[

Avestan language name of Zoroastrianism's demoness of "lasciviousness." As a hypostatic entity, Jahi is variously interpreted as "hussy," "rake," "libertine

," "courtesan" and "one who leads a licentious life." Her standard epithet is "the Whore."
In Zoroastrian tradition, Jahi appears as
Ahriman and the cause of the menstrual cycle.^[a]

In scripture

In the hymn to Haoma, the devotee rejects the temptations of the "polluting whore" who "sits down devouring Haoma's sacrificial offering".^[1] In the hymn to Asha, the Holy term (manthra spenta) is an effective remedy against Jahi and other noxious creatures.^[2] In the hymn to Ashi (not to be confused with Asha), "Fortune" wails about how shamed she is by Jahi's improper actions.^[3]
Jahi is characterized in the
Gav-aevo.data (MP: Gawi ewdad), the primordial creature from whose seed all animal creation originates.^[7]

In the Sudgar Nask[c] fire is sickened by the stench and filth of Jahi and by the irritant "owing to the hussy who, dropping her knee on to the fire-stand, arranged her curls; the falling of damp and moisture from her head, with the hair and filth therefrom".^[8]

In tradition

Persepolis mural: The death of Gav-aēvō.dātā/Gawiewdad, the primordial bovine.

In the
Ahriman already co-exist at the beginning of time, but Ahriman is not immediately aware of Ohrmazd. During the first 3000 years (the first cosmic age), Ahriman espied the light of Ormuzd but "seeing valor and supremacy superior to his own, he fled back to the darkness and fashioned many demons — a creation destructive and ready for battle".^[9] Ohrmazd, being omniscient, knows of the inevitability of the attack and creates fire (Adur) "with his thought", with which the universe would subsequently be suffused with goodness (life). Upon being attacked, Ohrmazd recites the Ahunawar invocation, thus revealing His ultimate victory to Ahriman, who then falls back confounded for another 3000 years.^[10]

Towards the end of the second cosmic age (the second 3000 years), Ahriman, who until then has resisted the exhortations of his demons, is roused from his impotence by Jeh's beguiling devices, who promises to destroy the creatures of Ohrmazd.[11] Incited, Ahriman defiles her with a kiss,^[d] and from this act Jeh is thenceforth afflicted with menstruation.^[12]
Jeh is appointed by Ahriman for the defilement of females, and it is this defilement that causes women to have their
menses.^[13] Jeh's gaze is said to be powerful enough to kill.^[14]

Notes

^ Menstruation itself is however characterized as being a creation of Angra Mainyu/Ahriman.

Spenta Armaiti, the Amesha Spenta
of the earth.

^ The Sudgar Nask is an Avestan text that has not survived but the contents of which are summarized in Denkard 9.

^ The 'kiss' in Bundahishn 3 is frequently considered to be a euphemism for sexual union.

Bibliography

Zaehner, Richard Charles (1955). Zurvan: A Zoroastrian dilemma. Oxford: Clarendon. pp. 350–351.

Dhalla, Maneckji Nusservanji (1938). History of Zoroastrianism. New York: OUP. p. 405.

Shaki, Mansour. "Gayōmart". Archived copy. Encyclopedia Iranica. Vol. 10. Costa Mesa: Mazda. Archived from the original on 2005-01-26. Retrieved 2007-05-22.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Max Müller, ed. (1897). "Bundahishn". Pahlavi Texts. Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 5. Translated by Edward William West. Oxford: Clarendon.

Max Müller, ed. (1897). "Selections of Zadspram". Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 5. Translated by Edward William West. Oxford: Clarendon.

Behramgore Tehmuras Anklesaria, trans., ed. (1956). Zand-Akasih: Iranian or Greater Bundahishn. Bombay: Rahnumae Mazdayasnan Sabha.

^ Yasna 10.15

^ Yasht 3.9

^ Yasht 17.57-58

^ Vendidad 18.62

^ Vendidad 18.64

^ Vendidad 18.64

^ Vendidad 21.1

^ Denkard 9.1.10.6

^ Bundahishn 4.12

^ Bundahishn 1.15

^ Bundahishn 3.1-7

^ Bundahishn 3.6-8

^ Zadspram 34.31

^ Shayest-ne-Shayest 3.29

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jahi&oldid=1205056078"

[Menses-1] Menstruation itself is however characterized as being a creation of Angra Mainyu/Ahriman.

[Zam_Armaiti-8] Spenta Armaiti, the Amesha Spenta
of the earth.

[10] The Sudgar Nask is an Avestan text that has not survived but the contents of which are summarized in Denkard 9.

[kiss-15] The 'kiss' in Bundahishn 3 is frequently considered to be a euphemism for sexual union.

[2] Yasna 10.15

[3] Yasht 3.9

[4] Yasht 17.57-58

[5] Vendidad 18.62

[6] Vendidad 18.64

[7] Vendidad 18.64

[9] Vendidad 21.1

[11] Denkard 9.1.10.6

[12] Bundahishn 4.12

[13] Bundahishn 1.15

[14] Bundahishn 3.1-7

[16] Bundahishn 3.6-8

[17] Zadspram 34.31

[18] Shayest-ne-Shayest 3.29

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