Vernal Equinox marks the beginning of the Zoroastrian New Year and is the most sacred of all the Zoroastrian religious festivals. The rites associated with the celebration of Vernal Equinox and New Year were later called the New Dawn/New Day or Nauv-Rouz.
We read in the poetic gathas/songs concerning: “the luminosity/splendor of the Sun, and the pure, brilliant, white dawn of the day,” that no opportunities for excellence/great brilliance shall ever be postponed to another day! (See the Bagán Commentary of Yasna 50.10, 3rd rhymed verse line, Baghan is one of three ancient commentaries of the gathas/songs.) Thus, according to the ancient Baghan Commentary every new dawn is a celestial indication/sign to make the creation more splendent and sublime!
Additionally, the Zoroastrian tradition connects the celebration of Nauv-Rouz (Literally New Day/New Dawn) to one of the divine twins of the ancient Indo-Europeans, namely Yima (literally the Twin.) Yima is the ruler of the golden age of innovation and technology in the Zoroastrian sacred hymns.
The name Yima (Twin) is etymologically related to the Norse Ymir, Latin geminus, Latvian jumis (double fruit,) and Middle Irish emuin.
In the Zoroastrian sacred poetry and prose, Zarathustra asks the Titan of Wisdom, Ahûrá Mazdá: who spoke to You first among the mortals? Upon which Ahûrá Mazdá, tells Zarathustra the story of Yima, (See the Varšt-mánsar, one of the three ancient commentaries of the poetic gathas/songs, Yasna 43.12, as well as the second Chapter of Vi-daæv-dát, the book of anti-demonic rules.)
Yima (the Twin) was originally offered the task of prophecy and proclaiming, “the luminous vision” (daæná) of the Titan of Wisdom (i.e., Ahûrá Mazdá’s creative thoughts, empowered words, and splendid deeds;) which Yima declined. Hence, the Supreme God of Mind Powers, offered Yima (the Twin,) the role of pioneer innovator and protector of the world which Yima accepted. Thereupon, Ahûrá Mazdá gave Yima a staff (aštrá) and a musical instrument and/or a flute (suwrá.)
Yima used his staff and his musical instrument 3 times to expand the world of the living and the physical space each time after the earth became too crowded.
Dénkart a compilation of ancient Zoroastrian teachings/wisdom and Old Avestan Commentaries states that had Yima (the Twin) accepted prophethood as well as kingship of the world, that is both the supreme spiritual as well as secular wisdom, the godly glory (xwarrah ī xwadáyîh) and creative vision (daæná,) would have come together in his person, and the broken spirit angrá, the enemy of life and freedom, would have been defeated, (See Dénkart 3.129.)
Yima’s epithet is shining ḵšaæta. The epithet of ḵšaæta “shinning” comes for the sun hvar- “sun” (hvar-ḵšaæta, Persian ḵwaršēd, ḵᵛoršid), the heavenly lights, and the brilliant, auspicious Immortals (aməṧa spəṇtas,), as well as dawn. Yima is said to be like the sun to look at among mortals (hvarə.darəsö mašyánąm; Yasna 9.4) and his life is “sun-filled” (ḵᵛanuuaṇt, Yasna 9.1.) Modern Persian Jamshid is derived from Avestan epithet of Shinning for Yima.
Avestan Yima, like the Vedic Yama is the son of a solar figure, Vīvaŋ-hušö (spelled Vīvang-hušö) in the poetic gathas/songs whose name literally means: “the one who shines far and wide.” (Modern Persian Hūshang is derived from gathic Vīvaŋ-hušö.)
Vīvaŋ-hušö comes from stem vī.usa- “light up, shine far and wide,” (See Yasna 32.8.) The verb is commonly used of dawn and in the description of dawn on the third morning after death in the Avesta/sacred lore of the Zoroastrians, (θrityå xšapö vī.usaiti “as the third night turns into bright dawn.) This might explain the connection of Yima to vernal equinox and celebration of First New Dawn of Spring.
According to the Zoroastrian legends, the Shining Yima was summoned before the Lord of Mind and given kingship over the wide world with its insignia: the signet ring, the throne, and the diadem. Returning to earth, Yima (the Twin) came down from Mount Alborz (The Mountain of the Bright Sun,) and people who looked in that direction is said to have seen two Suns, one of which was the Shining Yima.
The tradition connecting Nauv-ruz (New Day/New Dawn) with Yima (the Twin) describes how all the lords of the world would come to Yima on Spring Equinox. This custom was continued among the Achaemenid Rulers in their New Year’s/Spring Equinox First Dawn celebrations which included a procession of all the rulers of the various provinces of the empire bringing gifts to the Achaemenid Emperor as depicted in reliefs at Persepolis. In fact, Persepolis is known as Taḵt-e Jamšid (the Throne of Jamshid or Shinning Yima) among Iranians.
According to Yašt Songs (the Religious Hymns of The Zoroastrians) Yima’s Proto-type or fra.vaši is invoked against natural plagues. It is so because Yima is the first model of “innovation, new knowledge, skills and technology,” (See (Yašt 13 or Fravardin Yašt.) In the religious Hymn to Prototypes, (Fravardin Yašt 13.130,) ain.išti “inability to fulfill one’s dreams/wishes” is said to “be a work of demon gods” daævö.karštá.
In book 7 of the Dēnkart, a part of Yima’s speech to the demon gods dēws is preserved. Here, Yima based on the above passage in Yašt 13.130, foretells that Zarathustra from the line of the other Twin or Manuš, will give back to demon gods abandonment/unfulfillment of wishes/dreams (a–xwāhišnīh.)
Each New Dawn and specially the First Dawn of Spring reminds us of our DUTY before Godhood and Immortals namely to make this world brighter, sublime, and superb. Each Dawn reminds us to bring the glory and splendid vision of the Titan of Wisdom Ahûrá Mazdá into our world.
The ancient Baghan Commentary of the sacred songs or poetic gathas of Zarathustra states: “that our Fate and Fortune is bound to our Purpose and the fulfillment of our Duties,” See Baghan Commentary of Yasna 32.15, second rhymed verse line.) Each One of us have a purpose and duty that must be fulfilled. This sense of purpose and duty extend to clans, nations, and humanity. Each new dawn and especially the First Dawn of Spring is our celestial reminder to fulfill our Duty to Immortals.
Yima (the Twin) was the ruler of the world in a golden age; yet he lost his Fortune/Glory (xᵛarənah) because he forgot about paymānag “right measure.” He lost his purpose and stopped fulfilling his duty to Immortals.
ardeshir