and paradise to the righteous.[1] The devout worshipper, in return, dedicates his very body to him.[2] Piety accompanied by joy enters the house in which Haoma dwells.[3]
Haoma implored to rout the wicked. This angel is invoked to guard the faithful from the harm of the wicked, to take away the power of their hands and feet, and to confuse their minds, so that they cannot behold the universe with both their eyes.[4] He is besought to hurl his weapons at the skulls of the wicked for the protection of the righteous,[5] and to crush the thought of the maligner.[6]
Haoma's due. Haoma is to be propitiated with sacrifice. Among other objects animals were sacrificed in the Zoroastrian ritual unto the angels, and the different parts of the consecrated flesh were allotted to the various Yazatas. The Pahlavi books elaborately treat the question of reserving particular parts of the animal for the various Yazatas. We are told that Ahura Mazda has set apart for Haoma as his share in the sacrifice the jaw-bone, the tongue, and the left eye of the immolated animal.[7] In general this is also in accordance with the statement of Herodotus[8] regarding the Persian acts of sacrifice in worship.
Haoma's curse. Haoma does not give good children of priestly virtues to the woman who wrongfully partakes of the sacred cake consecrated to him.[9] Whosoever deprives Haoma of his portion in the sacrifice, displeases him, and the penalty he pays for this slight to Haoma is that a priest, a warrior, or a husbandman is not thereafter born in his house.[10] The faithful is exhorted to propitiate him with his due portion, lest the offended angel should bind him with heavy iron chains as he bound Franrasyan.[11] Haoma pronounces his curse of being childless and of evil name and fame against those who, like thieves, rob him of his legitimate portion in the sacrifice.[12] He hurled down the arrogant Keresani from his throne.[13]
Haoma, king of plants. Haoma is the sovereign lord of all plants among both the Indians and the Iranians. Physically it
