The Philosophy : In Depth

Spəṇtā Ārmaiti, or /Spantā Aramati/ in the Gathic Language, is a complex and hard to translate concept. It most conclusively means a ‘Rightfully set/properly ordered mind’ (aramati-) which ‘inspires growth/nourishes life’ (spantā). For Aramati, however, one could also understand this as ‘a mind which sets things right, properly orders (things)’. Neither meaning is clear from the Gathas, and it could easily be both. It the Gathas, this refers to the human mental capacity to have a conclusively whole, healthy, and well ordered mind, as well as the propensity of this type of mind to seek to inspire growth in the world around it.

*Spantā Aramati is also used to refer to the principle in the realm of mind which orders reality and a good and beneficial way. This divine principle is the one which orders the living, breathing world in a holistically good way; it is the one which metes out the goodness of Asha into galaxies, solar systems, planets, eco-systems, living beings, microorganisms, chemical bonds, and even quantum dynamics.

Much has been made of the connection between Gathic *(Spantā) Aramati and the Vedic goddess of Aramati, an obscure and perhaps already fading part of the lexicon of Vedic poets. Some scholars have even made the argument that Zarathushtra chose to specifically ‘rehabilitate’ *Aramati into his pantheon due to his affinity for the goddess. This has multiple issues which should be apparent on face-value. There is clearly a large semantic difference between the Gathic usage and the Vedic usage (a semantic difference which is clear in many cognates between the languages), which precludes a direct connection. There is also no indication that the goddess aramati was a once broadly worshiped goddess that later became obscure (it always could have been a minor deity on the fringes that eventually fell off completely). Most importantly, the role it plays in Gathic philosophy is not of a rehabilitated goddess but of a mental concept which neatly fits into the rest. So, even if it was an obscure goddess at the time of Zarathushtra (which is not provable unless we find more direct evidence on ancient Iranian daēwa worship), he is clearly using the common usage of the word, much like he uses the term miθra in 46.5 solely as the word for contract.

A few of the many examples in the Gathas where Armaiti is a Divine concept are listed below. (tentative translations by Caleb Goodfellow). Full article coming soon.

31.9
θβōi as ārmaitīš | θβə̄ ā gə̄uš tašā as xratūš
maniiə̄uš mazdā ahurā | hiiat̰ ax́iiāi dadā̊ paθąm
vāstriiāt̰ vā āitē | ẏə̄ vā nōit̰ aŋhat̰ vāstriiō

Yours has been Right-Mindedness, Yours, also, has been maker of the Cow, the Intellect
Of that Mental-force, Supreme Wisdom, when you gave her the path
To go over to either a cow-herder, or who would never be a cow-herder.

45.4
at̰ frauuaxšiiā | aŋhə̄uš ahiiā vahištəm
aṣ̌āt̰ hacā | mazdā vaēdā ẏə̄ īm dāt̰
*ptarə̄m vaŋhə̄uš | varəzaiiaṇtō manaŋhō
at̰ hōi dugədā | huš́iiaoθanā ārmaitiš
nōit̰ diβžaidiiāi | vīspā.hišas ahurō

Now I will profess (regarding) the best of existence
On account of Truth, I know Wisdom is who created it
The father of the effective Good Mind
And his daughter through good action is Right-mindedness
Never to be deceived is the all-connected Lord.

46.12
hiiat̰ us aṣ̌ā | naptiiaēšū nafšucā
tūrahiiā uzjə̄n | friiānahiiā aojiiaēšū
ārmatōiš | gaēθā̊ frādō θβaxšaŋhā
at̰ īš vohū | hə̄m aibī.mōist manaŋhā
aēibiiō rafəδrāi | mazdā̊ sastē ahurō

When, through Truth, among the relatives and children
Of the Turanian Fryānā, came forth among these noteworthy ones
Who advanced with passion the living beings of Aramaiti
Now, He would unite them with the Good Mind
To them would Supreme Wisdom instruct (on himself) for support

47.3
ahiiā maniiə̄uš tuuə̄m ahī *ptā spəṇtō
ẏə̄ ahmāi gąm rāniiō.skərətīm hə̄m-tašat̰
at̰ hōi vāstrāi rāmā.dā̊ ārmaitīm
hiiat̰ hə̄m vohū mazdā *fraštā manaŋhā

Of this force, You are the progressive father
Which has put together for this (existence) the joy-bringing Cow
And You did provide Right-Mindedness for Her pasture with peace
When it, Wisdom, took counsel with the good mind.

48.11
kadā mazdā | aṣ̌ā mat̰ ārmaitiš
jimat̰ xšaθrā hušəitiš vāstrauuaitī
kōi drəguuōdəbīš xrūrāiš rāmąm dā̊ṇtē
kə̄ṇġ ā vaŋhə̄uš jimat̰ manaŋhō cistiš

When, Wisdom, will Right-Mindedness, alongside Truth,
Come with Dominion (to provide) a good dwelling and pasture?
Who would make peace with the bloodthirsty deceitful,
To whom would come the understanding of the good mind?