Yazata

Yazata (Avestan yazata — "worthy of worship"; Persian ایزد, izad) is a heavenly patron spirit in the Zoroastrian tradition, a servant of Ahura Mazda in the struggle against evil.

Hierarchy of the Zoroastrian Pantheon

• Ahura Mazda — the Supreme God
• 7 Amesha Spenta ("Immortal Holy Ones") — the higher spiritual beings
• Yazatas — the numerous patron spirits of various aspects of creation

Yazatas and the Zoroastrian Calendar

30 days — 30 Yazatas. The 30 days of the Zoroastrian month are named after Yazatas: Ormazd, Bahman, Ordibehesht... Aneran.

12 months. The 12 months are named after the Amesha Spenta and the chief Yazatas: Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad... Esfand.

The Yazata of the day of birth. The Yazata of the day of birth defines the "patron totem" — an archetypal quality and mission.

In the Zoroastrian Horoscope

32 totems. In the Zoroastrian horoscope (#50), 32 totems combine 30 days of the month and 2 additional patrons. Each totem has an animal symbol and an anti-totem.

Not to Be Confused with Nawal

Similar function, different cosmology. Not to be confused with Nawal (T023) — a similar function (archetype of the day), but a completely different cosmology: Zoroastrianism is a dualistic monotheistic tradition, while the Mesoamerican one is a polytheistic field-based tradition.