Chista

Chista (Avestan: 𐬗𐬌𐬯𐬙𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬃, romanized: cistaiiā̊)^[1] is the yazata most closely associated with wisdom, knowledge, and insight in Zoroastrianism.^[2] Her name is derived from the Avestan derivative of the verb Cit, 'to notice, to understand'. The sixteenth yasht (or "hymn") of the Avesta is dedicated to Chista and she is also mentioned in the tenth yasht (Yt. 10.126).^[3][2]

Chista
Wisdom, knowledge, insight
Native name	𐬗𐬌𐬯𐬙𐬀𐬌𐬌𐬃
Affiliation	Zoroastrianism
Texts	Avesta
Region	Greater Iran
Ethnic group	Iranian peoples (Parsis, Iranis)
Equivalents
Greek	Athena

Zarathustra's youngest daughter was named "Pouro Chista" or "Pouručistā", meaning “the one who is noticed by many people, the charming one,"^[2] or a very wise and knowledgeable person.^[4]

The Iranian cultural magazine Tchissta, founded in 1981 by mathematician and activist Parviz Shahriari, was named after Chista.^[5]

Nomenclature and etymology

Though a direct etymology is unknown, the name Chista is probably derived from the feminine form of the Avestan participle čista “noticed, noticeable.” The action noun čisti “intuition, idea” appears only within the special vocabulary of the Gathas and the Yasna haptaŋhāiti.^[2]

In scripture

Together with Verethragna, Chista is a principal companion of Mithra (Mihr Yasht 10.70).