dhotu in his work of bringing death unto creation. He is most pitiless and his path is most dreadful. A man may be able to traverse a path that is barred by a flowing river, or by a huge serpent, or by a terrible bear, or by an army, but no man can ever cross the path of Vayu and come out safe.[1] It is Vayu who hastens his victim to speedy death by smothering him when he is drowned or thrown in a burning fire.[2] As the good Vayu and the good wind, Vata, are identical, so are also the evil Vayu and the devil Vata personifying the storm-wind.[3]
Minor Demons
Some of the other demons who are merely mentioned by name, and about whose characteristics we do not know anything, are Vyambura, Hashi, Ghashi, Saeni, Buji, Driwi, Daiwi, Kasvi, Akatasha, Aghashi, Paitisha, Zaurva, Ithyejah, Spazga, and other shadowy evil intelligences.[4]
Pairikas
The fairies. A class of bewitching fairies has been created by Angra Mainyu to seduce men from the right path and injure the living world. Nimble as birds they go along flying in the shape of shooting stars between the earth and the heavens.[5] They come upon fire, trees, and other creations from which they are to be driven away by the recital of spells.[6] They try to kill Zarathushtra, but in vain.[7]
Three of the more prominent fairies are mentioned by name. They are Khnanthaiti that clave unto King Keresaspa, who was bewitched by her looks;[8] Duzhyairya,[9] corresponding to Dushiyar, or the fairy of drought according to the Old Persian Inscriptions,[10] and to Dushyari of the Turfan manuscript of Mani;[11] and Mush.[12] Zarathushtra tells Angra Mainyu he will smite Khnanthaiti.[13] Ahura created Tishtrya to rout
- ↑ Aog. 77-81.
- ↑ Vd. 5. 8, 9.
- ↑ Vd. 10. 14.
- ↑ See Gray, op. cit., p. 224-226.
- ↑ Yt. 8. 8.
- ↑ Vd. 11. 9, 12.
- ↑ Yt. 8. 44.
- ↑ Vd. 1. 10.
- ↑ Yt. 8. 51, 53, 54.
- ↑ Darius, Pers. d. 3.
- ↑ Muller, Handschriften-Reste, 2, p. 15, in Abh. d. kgl. Preuss. Akad. d. Wiss., Anhang, Berlin, 1904.
- ↑ Ys. 16. 8.
- ↑ Vd. 19. 5.
