Herbad

Hērbad (also Hīrbad, hērbed or ērvad) is a title given to Zoroastrian priests of minor orders.

In the present-day, hērbad is the lowest rank in the Zoroastrian priesthood, and is granted following the basic navar ceremony that marks the beginning of theological training. Unlike a mobed or dastur, a herbad may not be the celebrant of a Yasna service. He may however assist. A herbad may also not officiate at a recitation of the Vendidad. This task is reserved for priests of higher grade.

Amongst lay Zoroastrians, the three terms are used interchangeably. Unlike mobed but like dastur, herbad may be adopted as a professional title in a persons name.

History of the term

Middle Persian herbad (Pahlavi ʼyhlpt) derives from Avestan aethrapaiti, which in the Avesta denotes a priestly teacher whose students (aethrii) would be taught to recite the sacred texts. By the 2nd century CE, the term had however come to refer to a clergyman who taught religious subjects, and the term appears to have commanded greater prestige than it does today. In the late 3rd century inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht, the high-priest Kartir refers to himself as herbad. There is some evidence that suggest that already by the 6th century, herbads performed advanced theological tasks, including translations and interpretation of Avestan texts. The 10th century Denkard refers to the high-priest Tansar - who in legend is attributed with the collation of the Avesta - as herbad.