were asked to give heroic offspring and prosperity. Men besought Agni to be near them for their welfare and to be of easy access as a father is to his son. The Adityas were invoked to lead them to the path of pleasantness. Ushas was implored to give them good luck and glory and riches. Indra was besought to render them help in their conflict with the black-skinned Dasyus and to enable them to ward off their enemies. Indra and Vanina were asked to confer upon them happiness and objects of their desires. Yama was invoked to grant them long life upon earth and happy life in the company of gods in heaven. Men dreaded Rudra's wrath and prayed humbly to avert his ill-will. Men prayed to gods and sought protection against hostile demons who worked for harm.
Zarathushtra purifies prayer. Ahura Mazda hears prayers even in thought. Righteous thinking is prayer. Such prayer lifts man to Ahura Mazda. Potent is the power of prayer unto Ahura Mazda, says Zarathushtra.[1] Like unto Ahura Mazda, Zarathushtra addresses his prayers to Vohu Manah, Asha, Khshathra, and Armaiti, either as Ahura Mazda's attributes or as the eternal beings representing holy virtues. He pours out his soul in passionate supplication to Ahura Mazda and longs to win his love.[2] With hands lifted in fervent homage and with devotional hymns, he yearns to come to Ahura Mazda.[3] He praises and beseeches Ahura Mazda to be his own.[4] Steeped in devotion, he comes to him with worship and praise.[5] He seeks to approach Mazda with songs of praise and invocation.[6] Through righteousness of Asha and good deeds of Vohu Manah, he says, he will come to Ahura Mazda worshipping with words of praise.[7] He is anxious to behold his maker and to hold converse with him.[8] He implores Ahura mazda to come to him through Vohu Manah.[9] In another place he beseeches Ahura Mazda to come in his person through Asha and Vohu Manah.[10] He is eager to win Ahura Mazda, Vohu Manah, and Asha for himself.[11] He desires to know when being enlightened he will see Ahura Mazda, Asha, Vohu Manah, Sraosha, and the throne of Ahura Mazda.[12] He appeals to Ahura Mazda, Asha, Khshathra, and Armaiti to come to him;[13] to hearken unto him and have mercy upon him.[14] The
