Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/236

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YAZATAS
203

companies him in the shape of a ferocious boar.[1] This sharp-toothed and sharp-jawed frightful animal symbolizes the terrible power of the curse for injury to the wrong-doer. Furthermore, when Ahura Mazda, the supreme heavenly judge, comes down to attend the ordeal court, Damoish Upamana is one of those to join among the number of his co-adjutors.[2] The contending parties were here put to self-imprecatory oaths. Divine wrath fell upon him who swore falsely and the dreadful boar that typified the awful potency of Dami Upamana's curse fell upon him and killed him at a stroke. He is also seen moving in the company of the Fravashis when they go out to the battlefield to help their favoured army.[3] The sacrificing priest invites him to attend the Yasna-sacrifice.[4]

Airyaman

The genius of health. This Indo-Iranian divinity originally conveys the idea of comradeship and occurs in the Vedas as a groomsman at the wedding rites and casually in the Avesta in connection with the wedding rites. The Fifty-fourth chapter of the Yasna is consecrated to Airyaman. He is invoked to come down to the wedding for the joy of the faithful.[5] In regard to attributes given to Airyaman we may add in this connection that his standing epithet is 'the beloved one.'

But Airyaman plays a more prominent part in the Iranian literature as the genius of health. He is an acolyte to Asha Vahishta, and is invoked together with him.[6] The third Yasht, which bears the name of Asha Vahishta, is, in fact, mostly devoted to Airyaman. Ahura Mazda created this earth immune from any sickness and disease, but the Evil Spirit introduced therein ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine diseases.[7] Ahura Mazda accordingly sends his messenger Nairyosangha to Airyaman with the request to go to the world with his healing remedies. Airyaman quickly obeys the divine command and begins his work.[8] He smites and drives away all kinds of sickness and death, magic and sorcery.[9] Airyaman

  1. Yt. 10. 127.
  2. Yt. 12. 4.
  3. Yt. 13. 47.
  4. Ys. 1. 15; 2. 15.
  5. Ys. 54. 1.
  6. Sr. 1. 3; 2. 3.
  7. Vd. 22. 2, 9, 15.
  8. Vd. 22. 7-20.
  9. Vd. 22. 21-24.