than once in the ordinary meaning 'evil' as a designation of wicked men.[1] He is given the epithet aka, 'bad.'[2] In one place he is given the name Aka Mainyu, 'the Bad Spirit.'[3] Yet in another instance he is termed dregvant, or the Wicked One.[4]
In his thoughts, words, deeds, faith, conscience, soul, and everything else, he stands at the opposite pole to the Good Spirit.[5] He is himself evil in thought, word and deed,[6] and chose to do worst things.[7] When he first manifested himself he created non-life in opposition to the action of the Good Spirit who created life.[8] He denounces the providence of Ahura Mazda.[9]
The Evil Spirit lures men by his mischievous machinations to the path of wickedness, and lulls their spiritual senses to repose. He is the inveterate foe of humanity. Man, we may infer from the tone of the Gathas, should avoid him as he would a pestilence. Fortunate is he who successfully bridles the tumult of the Evil Spirit and breaks the heavy chains that fetter his spirit. But woe to him who revolts from the Good Spirit, pays homage to the author of evil, and lives in bondage to him. Such a man is a moral pervert, a rebel, and suffers death in the spirit. The normal state of man is to be always on the side of the good, and by any act of going over to the realm of evil he creates for himself an unnatural situation. His sacred duty is to espouse the cause of the Good Spirit.
Daevas
The infernal crew. The diabolic spirits who have entered into a compact with Angra Mainyu to mar the good creation of Ahura Mazda are the Daevas, or demons. They are the offspring of the Evil Mind and spread their mischief over all seven zones.[10] The Evil Spirit has taught them to mislead men through evil thought, evil word, and evil deed.[11] The Daevas instigate the enemies of settled life to give the cattle to violence.[12] Mazda best remembers the misdeeds of these recreants and he judges
