Encyclopedia of Zoroastrianism. Asha.

Asha is a foundational concept in Zoroastrianism, embodying truth, order, righteousness, and cosmic harmony. Derived from the Avestan term “arta,” it represents the divine principle that governs the universe, as revealed by Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, to the prophet Zarathustra. Asha is the antithesis of Druj, the force of falsehood, chaos, and deception, forming the ethical and spiritual axis of Zoroastrian dualism. It permeates the Gathas, the sacred hymns of the Avesta, where Zarathustra extols Asha as the path to a just existence, aligning human actions with the natural and moral order.

Asha operates on multiple levels: cosmologically, it upholds the laws of nature—seasons, the sun’s rise, and the stars’ courses; morally, it demands honesty, integrity, and justice in human conduct. Practitioners strive to live in accordance with Asha through “good thoughts, good words, and good deeds,” a triad central to Zoroastrian ethics. Rituals, such as the Yasna fire ceremony, symbolize Asha’s purity and eternal light. As a divine attribute, it is personified as Asha Vahishta, one of the Amesha Spentas (holy immortals), guarding righteousness. Asha’s essence lies in its promise of ultimate triumph over chaos, offering believers a framework for spiritual liberation and harmony with the divine will.