The Mantra defining the Spiritual Quest :

Yasna 44.18: The Mantra defining the Spiritual Quest :

Tat; thwaa Pereasa Eresh Moee Vao-chaa, Ahura

 This do I inquire of Thee, for absolute, doubtless comprehension, O all pervading Creator,

Kathaa Asha tat Mizdem hananee

How does one earn that prize, (a successful, prosperous life), through consist, unwavering alignment with the Truth,

*Dasa Aspao arshna-vaitish Ushtram-chaa
Of achieving an expert command/control, over the 10 senses with strength & intelligence[1]

Hyaat Moee Mazda Api-vaiti Ha-urva-ta

Elevating me, through reasoned, wise choices, to that enlightened, perfect state of self realization,

Amere-tata yathaa hee Mazda tai-byo daao-ghaa

& finally to that Immortality & merger with Thee; that exalted goal/destination that I may hold up as an inspiration for mankind, O Great Wise Ruler (Mazda),


This mantra brings, into focus that path one must take to reach that Ultimate Prosperity: Ha-urva-tat :the Perfection of Self Realization & Amer-e-tat, Oneness with Ahura Mazda. Its spiritual representation is that of the Aat-man (self) which can be referred to as the lord of the Chariot.






In this rich imagery correlating the physical (material) to the spiritual, the material body, being the Chariot & the intellect (Ush-trem) , the charioteer. It is this Ush-trem which holds the reins of the Mind (the Stallion- Aspa) which in turn leads the 10 swift footed mares:

These 10 mares represent:
5 sense Organs (sight, smell, hearing, speech, & touch),& the
5 organs of action (Circulatory, Glandular, Skeletal, Nervous, & Muscular)

Theologically, the reins (cords) represented by Vohu Man-ah (high mindedness-Love & Compassion), are used to control the horses (senses & organs ) along the path of Truth (A-sha), with Knowledge;  Strength of purpose-will power (Ksh-athraa),  Steadfastness & Perseverance (Ara-maiti) , & Divine Inspiration (Sra-osh-em)


Through feedback from these senses, (just like the brain signals the body based on the feedback from the nervous system) & in coordination with his organs, man has to judiciously, through experience, rise intelligently above material cravings (Kah-maas), with High mindedness, treading the 10 fold path of courtesy, humility, courage, gentleness, purity, compassion, protection of the weak, liberality, selflessness, & receptiveness to knowledge (The Aryan code of ethics, from Arya, meaning “Noble”).


• Kahmaa, meaning “obsessive desire” is critical to understanding human mentality; as it is obsessions & frustrated desires that are the root cause of negative emotions (Aesh-maa : envy, greed, malice, anger, sloth, & ego).
• One may note that the number 11, (10 mares & 1 stallion) signifies power & energy.
• Pithavala suggests that according to numerology, the relevant numbers:
10(mares) + 1(stallion) +1(camel) = 12, is a number signifying "evolution" or renovation.


We can now understand how Ha-urva-tat (self realization), the evolution to a higher self, is achieved through renovation of the lower, physical, baser self.


Reigning in A-ESH-MA, (the negative emotions/mentalities of: envy, greed, anger, sloth, & ego), the Ushtrem, through intelligent analysis, makes ethical choices (Vai-ryo) , to attain harmony & merger between the body (Keherpaa) & the Mind (Mano), progressing to that perfect happiness; that Prosperity of Self Realization…………….Perfection (Ha-urva-tat) & unity with the Divinity (Ameretat-Immortality)


The intelligence (Ush-trem) therefore, ideally enlightens the mind (stallion),
To distinguish between fact & fiction, through Knowlede (Asha).
To take the path of High Mindedness (Vohu Manah: Love, Compassion, Humility, Patience, & Devotion).
Take feedback from & co-ordinate the senses & organs, to perform considered acts (Kshaatraa) of selflessness.


As such therefore just as the Sun is on perpetual duty to ensure the orbits of the planets around it, so too, we are enjoined to actively & energetically participate (Aramaiti- energetic, focused, perseverance) in Life & forward the cause of ethical righteousness aggressively.


The line “Dasa Aspao arshan-vaitish Ushtrem-chaa”:; therefore encapsulates the human bench marking requirement of Intelligent (Ush-trem) handling of the Ten mares (Senses & Organs), led by the stallion (strength, persistence-will power) controlled with reins (cords) of love & compassion. .
Namely, intelligent Regulation of one’s Senses; based on Love & Compassion, to successfully go through Life.


The entomology of the name of our saviour can now be understood:
Za-rath-ushtra: Za(bright divine light, vedic Hari) + Rath (chariot) + Ush-tra (blaze of enlightenment, from Ush = to burn & tra = star/intersection/convergence)


“Ushtra” means both the intellect that controls the mind (at the spiritual level) & has also been referred to as “Camel” (at the physical level). The Camel being the prime mode of transportation in the Balkh-Afghanistan (now called the Balkh-Margiana Archeological Complex) area in those times, this imageryname refers to:
The vehicle (bringer) of the blazing light of enlightening knowledge.

A natural corrolary of this concept is that just like a poorly fired clay pot will not hold water efficiently (or a poorly refined & cast metal container is an inefficient cooking medium);

In order for the Ushtrem (intelligence) to master control of the Mind, encased in the body (the chariot), one needs to proficiently master control of the body & its senses (the container housing the mind): the very foundation of Yoga.

Yoga, derived from the root word Yuj, (in turn derived from “Yu” meaning unite & separate: co-ordinate) refers to a method to harness, set to work, & coordinate the mind & the body.  Yoga teaching is said to have come from Ish-wara, the Cosmic Guru. The word Ishwara is derived from Ishu[1], (Yasna 34.14) that attribute of Ahura Mazda, given to wish fulfilment & overcoming difficulty.

Ishu, one of the 72 names (attributes) of Ahura Mazda is refered to twice in the the Hormazd Yasht as:

Isho-khshathroo & Isho-khshathro-tema = the desired, obstacle overcoming strength.

Composed/Formulated by Kava Ushana (Shukra-acharya) & codified by Sage Patanjali, it is distinct from the Vedanta philosophy.

---

[1]  The word ISHU is not of Vedic origin & appears only in later scriptures such as Bhagwad Geeta, which acknowledges its source of inspiration as Sage Nara-yana who preached a message of Truth in the Persian lands.