Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/214

Rh chanted the five holy Gathas of Zarathushtra in order to propitiate the archangels. From his battles against the demons, he returns victorious to the celestial assembly of the archangels. His dwelling is supported by a thousand pillars, is self-lighted from within, and star-spangled from without. 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. They overtake all, but none can overtake them, when Sraosha drives towards Hapta Hindu or the land of seven rivers in India. The sacred formula Ahuna Vairya and the other consecrated spells are his weapons. His sisters are Ashi and Daena, and his brothers are Rashnu and Mithra, and unto him Haoma offered sacrifice. Owing to his victorious courage and wisdom the archangels come down to the seven zones.

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. He is the word incarnate, the valiant wielder of the club, which is levelled against all demoniacal powers, especially against the fiendish Druj. He is courageous, mighty, swift, powerful, terrible, and heroic. 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. His mace does havoc on them. He is the warrior of the strong arms, who breaks the skulls of the demons. 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. 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