daena

Zoroastrianism

Also known as: daina

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

In Zoroastrianism, daena refers to the moral element within a person, essentially their conscience or self. It also signifies the moral life of humankind, or religion itself.1

The concept of daena is significant in the afterlife. If an individual has lived a just life, their soul encounters their daena in the form of a beautiful maiden. Conversely, if they have lived unjustly, they meet a hideous hag. This encounter is part of the soul's journey after death, which includes judgment and a passage across a bridge, ultimately leading to paradise or hell based on their actions.2

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ancient Iranian religion
Human nature
…judgment, the ruvan encounters the dainā, which is an embodiment of the sum of its deeds during life, manifested as either a beautiful maiden or an ugly hag. Depending on how these deeds are weighed, the soul either crosses safely the Činvat Bridge to the other world or falls into…
Read More
…judgment, the ruvan encounters the dainā, which is an embodiment of the sum of its deeds during life, manifested as either a beautiful maiden or an ugly hag. Depending on how these deeds are weighed, the soul either crosses safely the Činvat Bridge to the other world or falls into…
Read More