| Hara Berezaiti | |
|---|---|
 Zahhak chained on Mt. Hara | |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Mythical mountain |
Hara Berezaiti (Avestan:𐬵𐬀𐬭𐬁⸱𐬠𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬰𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬍,lit. 'High Watch') is amythical mountain or mountain range inZoroastrian tradition. Over time, it has been associated with a number of real-world mountains, more specificallyAlborz mountain range inIran.[1]
In theAvesta, Mount Hara is the home ofMithra. In later texts like theBundahishn, it appears as acenter of the world around which the stars and planets revolve.[2] It is also the gateway to the afterlife. In Iranian legend, it was on Hara Berezaiti that the heroFereydun chainedZahhak. Modern version of its name appear in many mountains and mountain ranges over theIranian world.
Hara Berezaiti (Avestan:𐬵𐬀𐬭𐬁⸱𐬠𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬰𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬍,harā.bərəzaitī) is the term used in theAvesta, whereasSassanian era texts, like theBundahishn useHarborz (Middle Persian:hlbwlc).[3] They are generally interpreted to meanHigh Watch orHigh Guard.[1]
The first term (Avestan:𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬍,harā;Middle Persian:hl) is assumed to be derived fromProto-Indo-European (PIE)*ser- with the meaning ofto keep watch orto guard (compare e.g. Englishconserve orobserve).[4] The second term (Avestan:𐬠𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬰𐬀𐬧𐬙,bərəzat;Middle Persian:bwlč) derives from PIE*bʰérǵʰonts and PIE*bʰerǵʰ-, respectively, both with the meaning oftall orlofty (compare e.g. Englishbarrow orborough).[5] It is continued inPersian borz (برز), meaning tall.
Avestan Hara Berezaiti and Middle Persian Harborz are the origin of Persian Alborz (البرز) and derivatives likeElbrus. These appear astoponyms for a number of real-world mountains and mountain ranges inIran (see below).
TheAvesta is the collection of canocial scriptures of Zoroastrianism and presents the world view of theIranians during theOld Iranian period.[1] In these texts, Mount Hara is mentioned several times in theYasna and a number ofYashts.
In verse Y. 57.19 the personification ofHaoma is mentioned offering to the ZoroastriandivinitySraosha on Mount Hara. The same is said in theMihr Yasht with respect toMithra (see below) and figures likeHushang andYima are likewise said to have offered sacrifice there, to theAnahita,Drvaspa, andVayu in the Yashts dedicated to these divinities. Verse Y. 42.3 also shows that Hara was sometimes called Hukairya (of good activity).[6]
Mount Hara is most often mentioned in the Mihr Yasht dedicated toMithra. Verses Yt. 10.12-14 describe how Mithra reaches Mount Hara and survey the lands of the Iranians, where "navigable rivers rush with wide a swelltowards Parutian Ishkata,HaraivianMargu,Sogdian Gava, andChorasmia." Verses Yt. 10.50-51 state how his abode above Mount Hara was built byAhura Mazda and theAmesha Spentas and verses Yt. 10.88-94 describe how he is worshipped on the highest peak of Hara by Haoma.[7]
Additional material on the Zoroastrian view of Mount Hara is given in theBundahishn, an encyclopedia on Zoroastrian knowledge, compiled in Sassanian times and written inMiddle Persian. According to the Bundahishn, earth was initially created as flat. Out of this flat earth, Mount Hara would grow for 800 years until finally reaching to highest point in heaven.[8]
Hara was thought to be situated at the center of the sevenclimes that formed the world. It is the source of all waters and from its peakAredvi Sura Anahita would flow into the world ocean vourukasha. Night and day were caused by the mountain blocking the sun during the daily cycle. Its peak was supposed to be a place of primordial purity, unaffected by the works ofAngra Mainyu like darkness, diseases or pollution. It was also the place from where the dead could pass thebridge of judgement to either theHouse of Lies or the House of Song.[1] Three divinities are thought to be guardians of the bridge:Mithra (Covenant),Sraosha (Conscience) andRashnu (Justice).[9] Due to its centrality in the cosmic world order, Mount Hara has been compared toMount Meru found in the closely relatedOld Indic texts.[10]
Mount Hara also appears inFerdowsi'sShahnameh under the nameAlborz situated inĒrānvēj. It is the place of refuge forFereydun when he is sought for by the spies ofZahhāk. It is the dwelling-place of theSimorgh, where she brings up the infantZāl. It is also the region whereKai Kobad dwells before being summoned to the throne of Iran byRostam.[11]
Although Mount Hara appears in Zoroastrian texts as a mythological mountain, it has been variously identified with real mountains and mountain ranges throughout Iranian history.[12][13] One example is theAlborz mountain range, which containsIran's highest peak,Mount Damavand. Another example isMount Elbrus the highest mountain of theCaucasus Mountains. Next to these prominent examples, many smaller mountains have been name after Mount Hara. One example is Mount Alborz located in theJahrom County ofFars province.[14]
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