The Delight of Persian Illumination

Folio 21

In the context of divinity, the god Shiva is called Yeganeh original: "suyangalayā," likely a corruption of the Persian "Yegāneh" meaning unique/one, or "Yazdān" for God. An angel is called Firishta original: "phīrīgnaḥ," from the Persian "Firishta". Among the demonic beings, the various categories of ghosts, spirits, and flesh-eaters bhūta-preta-piśāca are known as Khabis and Shaitan original: "khavīmaśetāne." "Khabis" refers to an impure spirit and "Shaitan" to the devil/Satan.. 9. Regarding the nectar of immortality amṛta, they call it Ab-i-hayat original: "āvīdayante," a Sanskritization of the Persian "Āb-i-hayāt," the Water of Life.

In the matter of celestial vehicles vimāna, the word is Javāza original: "javaśe". In the context of smoke, the term is used; and for fire agni, its flame or weapon is called Shula original: "śikhāsālaha," likely referring to "Shu'la" for flame. 10. Regarding food and offerings to the gods, text obscured by stain?. In the context of the color red, it is Jamal original: "jamāladaḥ". A demon rākṣasa is called Adwar original: "ādovoraḥ". The king of the people is the Sultan.

In the time of early morning light, the term is Rushan original: "rūṣāmaḥ," from "Roshan" meaning bright. For the evening twilight sandhyā, the word is Saye original: "sāye," meaning shadow or dusk. For the dark? half of the month, the term is Mah-i-siyah original: "māsrimohaḥ". For the calculation of years, the word is Sal. The time of total cosmic dissolution pralaya is known as Qayamat original: "kyāmate," the Persian/Arabic term for the Day of Resurrection. 13.

The delightful spring season surabhi is called Nau-bahar original: "nobahāraḥ," meaning "New Spring". In the rainy season and at the end of the rains, text obscured?. The heat of the summer grīṣma is called Tabistan original: "tāpasnānā," a Sanskritization of "Tābistān". The cold season is Zimistan original: "snājjīmīsnānaḥ," from "Zimistān". 14.

For the autumn season śarad, the word is Khazan. A tablet is Falak. The sky ākāśa is called Asman original: "vāsmāna". In the directions of the white sun and moon, the northern pole is Utara.

Regarding the quality of light: the word Wasl original: "vosala" is used for illumination prakāśa. When there is an abundance of brilliance, the term for moonlight jyotsnā is used. For the "maker of frost," the moon himakara, the word is Mah.

The essence of the milk of the autumn season is described as Sarade. Thus it is said that the planet Saturn śanaiścara is called Zuhal original: "jorū," a corruption of "Zuhal" among the stars.