A Theosophical and Esoteric Interpretation of the Zoroastrian Karshipta Bird
A Theosophical and Esoteric Interpretation of the Zoroastrian Karshipta Bird The ancient Zoroastrian scripture named Vendidad or Vidēvdād (“The Law Repudiating the Demons”) mentions a holy bird sent to humanity by God (Ahura Mazda), for the purpose of bringing to them the true religion of Mazda. This holy bird was named Karshipta (sometimes spelled Karshipt, Karshift, or Karšift, from the Avestan Karšiptar). "O Maker of the material world, thou Holy One! Who is he who brought the Religion of Mazda into the Vara (Enclosure) which Yima made? Ahura Mazda answered: ‘It was the bird Karshipta, O holy Zarathushtra!’" - Vendidad 2:42 According to the Bundahishn, chapters 19 and 24, "The bird Karshipta dwells in the heavens: were he living on the earth, he would be the king of birds... He brought the Religion into the Vara of Yima, and recites the Avesta in the language of the birds." Theosophist H.P. Blavatsky, in Volume 2 of her Secret Doctrine, offers an esoteric interp...