Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/288

Rh It is Av. baeshaza, and Skt. bheshaja, 'healing.' The plant is deified among both and then it is called Av. hvaresh, and Skt. svarshā, 'celestial,' it is Av. hukhratu, and Skt. sukratu, 'possessed of good intelligence.' It is Av. verethrajā, and Skt. vrtrahā, 'victorious'. Herodotus says that the Magi placed the consecrated flesh upon the tenderest grass, and Strabo refers to the bundle of rods held by the Magi when he stood praying before the fire. These are the baresman twigs employed in varying numbers in different ceremonies by the Zoroastrian priests. They correspond to the Vedic barhis, the carpet of straw upon which the heavenly lords sat when they attended the sacrifices. Some of the minor ceremonies among both peoples resemble one another and same corresponding terms are employed for many ceremonial utensils, implements, and articles of offerings.

Animal sacrifices. Meat was a principal article of diet among the Iranians and it was, likewise, used in sacred feasts and festivals, or in funeral repasts. We learn from the Dinkard that the Pazag Nask dealt with the way in which an animal was to be slaughtered according to the religious rites. The Nirangistan, has several pages devoted to the kind, quality, and size of the animal that was fit for a sacrificial offering, about the way in which it was to be slaughtered, the sacred formulas to be recited while immolating the victim, about the manner in which different parts of the slaughtered animal were to be consecrated and dedicated to the various heavenly beings, and the way in which the consecrated viands were to be eaten at the close of the sacrifice Like the flesh of an animal, fish was also used for sacrificial repasts. The animals generally used in sacrifice were horses, camels, oxen, asses, stags, sheep, and birds. We have already seen that kings and heroes sacrificed male horses, oxen, and small cattle to Ardvi Sura and Drvaspa. Small and large cattle, and winged birds are sacrificed unto Mithra. Vere-