The Book Of Arda Viraf: A Pahlavi Student's 2012 Rendition, Transcription And Translation

Self-Pahlavi student Zeke Kassock has created a modern rendition of The Book Of Arda Viraf for the beginner Pahlavi student, as well as the Zoroastrian reader. Kassock has hand written the original text, and modernized the spelling with D.N. MacKenzie's A Concise Pahlavi Dictionary. It was then typed, retranscribed and translated using MacKenzie's dictionary, giving it new life from Dastur Hoshangji Jamaspji's translation from 1872. This rendition was created for the student learning Pahlavi/Middle Persian in aiding them in starting to read original Arda Viraf manuscripts. It is presented in Pahlavi script, along with transcription in English letters and English translation. The Book Of Arda Viraf is a Zoroastrian story dating back to Sassanian times. After the invasion of Alexander, the religion of Persia was weakened, and the chief priests searched for the holiest man alive. Arda Viraf was chosen to go into a dream state, learn the truth of Heaven and Hell, and bring that knolwedge back to the world of the living. He gives descriptions of rewards and punishments, and recalls the events the souls did to recieve their afterlife. It can be compared to Dante's Divine Comedy.