flying from the north in the shape of a despicable fly, and takes possession of the corpse.[1] She is expelled, however, when a dog or the corpse-eating birds have gazed at the dead body,[2] and when certain pious formulas have been recited. In reply to the inquiry how one may best drive away the Druj Nasu that rushes from the dead and defiles the living, Ahura Mazda bids the faithful to recite the holy spells.[3] When the purificatory rites have been performed and the sacred formulas uttered upon the one defiled by the dead, the Druj Nasu becomes weaker and weaker and flees from one part of the body to the other, until finally she vanishes towards the northern regions.[4] Whoso offers for consecration water that has in any way been defiled by the dead, or proffers libations after the sun has set, even though with good intent, feeds the Druj and thereby hinders the work of righteousness.[5] The religion of Mazda, as a faith paramount, dispels best this Druj of defilement.[6]
The barrier between the ashavans and dregvants is still impassable. Though the concept Druj as the genius of wickedness has undergone a change in the Later Avesta, the adjectival form, dregvant, meaning wicked, as opposed to ashavan, righteous, remains unaltered. This designation is applied equally to bad men and to demons, in the same manner as it used to be in the Gathas. Angra Mainyu himself is dregvant.[7] The term is applied to Dahaka,[8] Arejataspa,[9] to all Daevayasnians, and to all of evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds. The world of righteousness is opposed by the world of wickedness.[10] The faithful pray that the righteous may have the power to act according to their will, but that the wicked may be bereft of it and be driven out from the world of the Holy Spirit.[11] Every true believer confesses that he belongs to the righteous and not to the wicked.[12] That the righteous may rout the wicked is the fervent prayer of the faithful.[13] Along with the employment of this term, the application of the derogatory title ashemaogha, literally meaning 'one who destroys Asha, Righteousness,' has come into vogue and is equally applied to the wicked. Perhaps
