called xvaetu, airyaman, and verezena, probably indicating his immediate disciples, the nobility, and the working classes respectively.[1]
The Later Avestan texts speak of distinct functionaries who officiated at the sacrificial ceremonies. The head of this group is zaotar, corresponding to Skt. hotar, 'the sacrificer.' Zarathushtra speaks of himself as a zaotar in one passage though with an ethical implication only. As a zaotar, he seeks the vision of Ahura Mazda and longs to hold communion with him.[2] The food offered as a ceremonial offering is known in the Avestan texts as myazda, and Zarathushtra says that the faithful will offer myazda with homage unto Ahura Mazda and Asha.[3] He alludes once to draonah, 'the sacred cake,' which forms an indispensable article of offering in the later period. He speaks of it probably in the sense of the ambrosia and asks Haurvatat and Ameretat to confer it upon him for ever.[4]
