The five Nyāsh are some of the most primary prayers in the daily prayer book Khordeh Avesta. They are some of the most often recited prayers, as the first two Nyāsh are Farajyāt (obligatory) prayers for the daytime.
The word Nyāsh originally means ‘a hymn; a song of praise’. It is derived from Avestan root gā- “to sing” with prefix ni- and suffix –shna. The 5 Nyāsh are in honour of natural luminous creations, all of which are either store–houses or transmitters of Khwarenah “divine energies.”
Nyāsh were composed during the Sasanian times from passages taken from larger Avestan texts like the Yashts and the Yasna. The beginning and the ending of all Nyāsh are in the Pazand language.
Khorshed Nyāsh is in honour of the sun, also invokes Khorshed Yazad who presides over the sun. It is taken from Khorshed Yasht, and passages from Yasna 33.10; 36.6; 43.6 and 68.10, 22-23.
The Khorshed and Meher Nyāsh are never recited individually, but always together, immediately one after another, followed by Doā Vispa Humata, Doā Nãm Setayashne and Homage to the Four Directions. This set of five prayers comprise the day time Farajyāt bandagi “obligatory prayers”. They should be recited only during day time, either in the Hāvan, Rapithwan or Uziran geh. They should be recited in sunlight or at an open place, like near a window, on a verandah or a balcony. One should not recite them before the fire.
Ramiyar Karanjia
