thoughts and words and deeds and with all good things of life and with their beings and with the lives of their bodies.[1] The worshipper strives to make Armaiti's devotion his own.[2] The votaries of Haoma lay before him the Gathas and the songs of praise and the savoury viands and are eager to dedicate their bodies to him in order to obtain from him wisdom and happiness and purity.[3] Mithra is implored by those who sacrifice unto him to come to them for help and freedom, joy and mercy, healing and victory, well-being and sanctification.[4] The pious dedicate their thoughts, words, and deeds, and their property, cattle, and men unto Spenta Mainyu;[5] and unto Staota Yasna their property and bodies for protection.[6]
Benedictory prayers. The priest who helps the Zaotar or the officiating priest at the sacrifice, invokes blessings upon him that, what is of onefold help to himself, may be twofold and threefold and tenfold unto his senior,[7] and that better than the good may come unto him.[8] The Zaotar reciprocates that the better than the good may come to his junior partner and worse than the bad may not overtake him.[9] The sacrificer blesses every Mazdayasnian family with a good home and a joyful home and a happy home.[10] It is prayed that greatness may come unto him who feeds the fire with ceremonial offerings.[11] The fire blesses the householder that a flock of cattle and a multitude of men attend upon him and he may have an active mind and an active spirit be his and that he may live with a joyous life the nights that he may live.[12] The family priest invokes joy and blessings of the righteous, good nature, truth, prosperity, power, and glory for the house in which he offers prayers.[13] He prays that the religion of Zarathushtra be firmly established in the house,[14] and the august Fravashis of the righteous may come to the house with blessings of righteousness as wide as the earth, as long as the river, and as high as the sun for the fulfilment of the wishes of the good and for the withstanding of the wicked.[15] His further blessings for the family are that obedience may
