and seas, and unto the righteous creation of the Holy Spirit.[1] If indeed the sun were not to rise high up, the demons would destroy all things that are in the seven regions. Not even the spiritual angels would find means to withstand and repel them.[2] The offering of sacrifice unto the Sun in order to withstand darkness and demons, thieves and robbers, sorcerers and enchantresses, is equivalent to sacrificing unto Ahura Mazda, Amesha Spentas, the Yazatas, earthly and heavenly, and one's own soul.[3] The demons who, in the darkness of night, come out by the million from the bowels of the earth, glide away as soon as the sun mounts the sky and the world is ablaze with its light. Though they feast in the night time, as darkness is congenial to their nature, they fast during the day, for light is destructive to their being. When the light of Hvarekhshaeta breaks through the darkness of night, it drives away, not only darkness, but defilement, disease, and death. Like the moon and the stars, it grieves the sun to shine upon a defiled person.[4] Ahura Mazda has the sun for his eye.[5] In the Vedic literature, the sun is similarly spoken of as the eye of Mithra-Varuna.[6] In the Litany to the sun, homage is paid to the two eyes of Ahura Mazda,[7] which are evidently the sun and the moon. The heavens bathed in the light of the sun form his garments.[8] The eleventh day of the month is sacred to him.[9]
Leprosy is especially regarded as a consequence of sinning against the sun, and Herodotus tells us that persons affected with the disease were not permitted to enter a town.[10]
Maonghah
The moon personified. Herodotus writes that the moon is the tutelary divinity of Persia.[11] The case of this nature divinity is analogous to that of the sun. Maonghah is at one
