Gavaevodata

Gavaevodata (" _ae. gav-aēvō.dātā") is the Avestan language name of the primordial bovine of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology, one of Ahura Mazda's six primordial material creations and the mythological progenitor of all beneficent animal life.

The primordial beast is killed in the creation myth, but from its seed, marrow, organs and soul the world is repopulated with animal life.

In scripture

Although Avestan "gav-" "cow" is grammatically feminine, the word is also used as a singular for the collective "cattle." In English language translations Gavaevodata is often referred to as a in gender-neutral 'primordial ox'. Other translations refer to Gavaevodata as a bull ("cf." Boyce 139). The "-aevo.data" of the name literally means "created as one" or "solely created" or "uniquely created."

Gavaevodata is only alluded to in the surviving texts of the Avesta, referred to by name in only two hymns. In other instances, for example in "Yasht" 13.85, the primordial beast is mentioned among the six material creations, but not by name.

In verse 3 of the litany to the moon ("Mah Niyayesh" 3), Gavaevodata is invoked as (or together with) the "bovine of many species" in the care of the moon Mah, specifically "måŋha- gaociθra-" "the moon that keeps in it the seed of cattle," which is a stock epithet of Mah ("Yasht" 7.3, 7.5, 7.6, "GBd" VIe.2-3, VII.5-6 etc.)

In the 30 hymns to the divinities of the Zoroastrian calendar month, Gavaevodata is again invoked in the verses nominally dedicated to the Moon. In both "Siroza" 1.12 and 2.12, Mah is again referred to as "the Moon containing the seed of cattle," and Gavaevodata is again referred to as (or in the company of) the "Bovine of many species."

In tradition

The mythology of the "uniquely created bovine" that is only alluded to in the extant Avesta appears fully developed in the 9th-11th century Middle Persian texts of Zoroastrian tradition. In these texts, Avestan Gavaevodata appears as Middle Persian "gaw i ew-dad" or "ewazdad" or "ewagdad," and retains the same literal meaning as the Avestan language form.

As also for all other Zoroastrian cosmological beliefs, the primary source of information on the primordial ox is the "Bundahishn", a 9th century century text. In this text, the primordial ox is a hermaphrodite, having both milk ("Ibd" 43.15) and semen ("Ibd" 94.4). It is "white, bright like the moon, and three measured poles in height" ("Gbd" Ia.12). The uniquely-created ox lived its life on the river Veh.Daiti ("Gbd" Ia.12), and on the opposite bank lived Gayomart/d (Avestan "Gayo maretan"), the mythical first human.

Gawi ewdad's role in the creation myth runs as follows: During the first three-thousand year period, Ahura Mazda's ("Ormuzd") fashioned the bovine as His fourth or fifthref label|a|a|none of six primordial material creations. At the beginning of the second three-thousand year period, Angra Mainyu ("Ahriman") attacked the world, and the Creator responded by placing the primordial plant, bovine, and human in the respective heavenly spheres of the stars, moon and sun ("IBd" 7). But Ahriman assaulted the sky and Ormuzd fed the bovine "bang" ("cannabis") to lessen its suffering ("GBd" IV.20).

But as it lay dying its semen was rescued and carried to "the moon station."ref label|b|b|none In the care of the moon, the seed of the beast was purified and became the male and female pairs of the animals "of many species." After the ox's death, fifty-five kinds of grain and twelve kinds of medicinal plants grew from its marrow ("Ibd" 10). In another passage ("Ibd" 93.11, "cf" an equivalent passage in "Zadspram"), the "Bundahishn" speaks of sesame, lentils, leeks, grapes, mustard and marjoram issuing from various other parts of its body. For example, lentils from the liver and mustard from the lungsref label|c|c|none ("Ibd" 14.1, "Gbd" XIII.2ref label|d|d|none).

Goshorun (from Avestan "geush urvan"), the soul of the primordial bovine, escaped to the star, moon and sun stations where she lamented the destruction of the world. She was not placated until Ormuzd shows her the "fravashi" of the yet-unborn Zoroaster (whose protection she would receive). Contented with the promise of protection, Goshorun then agreed to be "created back to the world in livestock." ("Gbd" IVa.2ff, "Ibd"' 46.3ff., "Denkard" 9).

Notes

References

*citation|last=Malandra|first=William|chapter=Gāwī ēwdād|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=10|year=2001|location=Costa Mesa|publisher=Mazda.
*citation|last=Boyce|first=Mary|title=A History of Zoroastrianism|volume=1|year=1975|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|pages=138-139.