chanted the five holy Gathas of Zarathushtra in order to propitiate the archangels.[1] From his battles against the demons, he returns victorious to the celestial assembly of the archangels.[2] His dwelling is supported by a thousand pillars, is self-lighted from within, and star-spangled from without.[3] He drives forth in a heavenly chariot drawn by four white shining horses that are fleeter than the winds, fleeter than the rain, fleeter than the winged birds, and fleeter than the well-darted arrow.[4] They overtake all, but none can overtake them, when Sraosha drives towards Hapta Hindu or the land of seven rivers in India.[5] The sacred formula Ahuna Vairya and the other consecrated spells are his weapons.[6] His sisters are Ashi and Daena, and his brothers are Rashnu and Mithra,[7] and unto him Haoma offered sacrifice.[8] Owing to his victorious courage and wisdom the archangels come down to the seven zones.[9]
Sraosha's attributes. His standing epithets are; holy, well-shapen, victorious, and world-increasing. He is the strongest, the sturdiest, the most active, the swiftest, and the most awe-inspiring of youths.[10] He is the word incarnate, the valiant wielder of the club, which is levelled against all demoniacal powers, especially against the fiendish Druj.[11] He is courageous, mighty, swift, powerful, terrible, and heroic.[12] He is a formidable foe to the wicked. He is not afraid of any one, but the demons tremble at his sight and flee to the region of darkness.[13] His mace does havoc on them. He is the warrior of the strong arms, who breaks the skulls of the demons.[14] Himself unconquerable, he is the conqueror of all.
The work of Sraosha. Mazda has revealed his religion to Sraosha, who now teaches it to the world of humanity.[15] This was the prime function, as we have seen above, that the Gathas allotted him. The Younger Avestan texts speak more of his all-absorbing work of combating the demons. In the Gathas he preached devout submission to Mazda's mandates, in the Later Avesta he does the fighting with the rebels that revolt against
- ↑ Ys. 57. 8.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 12.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 21.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 27, 28.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 29.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 22.
- ↑ Yt. 17. 16.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 19.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 23.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 13.
- ↑ Ys. 3. 20; 4. 23; 57. 1, 33; Yt. 11. 0, 23; Sr. 1. 17; Vd. 18. 14.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 3, 11, 12, 13, 23.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 18; Yt. 11. 13.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 34; Yt. 11. 19.
- ↑ Ys. 57. 24; Yt. 11. 14.
