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MAZDA'S MINISTERING ANGELS

Armaiti's devotion.[1] For the union of both furthers the Kingdom of Vohu Manah.[2] The coming of Asha and Armaiti to inspire their lives is eagerly sought by the pious.[3] Armaiti inquires after the misdeeds and shortcomings of the true speaker and the false speaker, the wise and the ignorant.[4] The wicked Bendva, the inveterate foe of the prophet, does not follow Armaiti.[5] Righteousness deserts those who know Armaiti as the beloved of Ahura Mazda, and yet estrange themselves from her devotion.[6] Zarathushtra asks her to give him and Vishtaspa their hearts' desire.[7] He implores her to teach men's consciences through righteousness.[8] She is besought to grant as a gift the riches of the life of Vohu Manah's good thoughts.[9] One serves the Most Holy Spirit the best by the performance of the deeds inspired by Armaiti's devotion.[10] Armaiti is invoked to send righteous sovereigns and not wicked ones to rule over the world.[11] Armaiti will co-operate with Ahura Mazda at the final dispensation.[12]

Armaiti's relation to the earth. Sayana glosses Aramati by bhūmi, 'earth.' Armaiti plays a prominent part as the genius of earth in the later Avestan period. Though the Gathas do not clearly emphasize this aspect of her work, we can trace in them the belief in Armaiti's connection with the earth. Zarathushtra preaches the usefulness of settled agricultural life as opposed to the nomadic life prevailing in his days. He says that Ahura Mazda has laid out the beneficent path of agriculture and asks men to choose it. Armaiti is here conjointly mentioned with Geush Tashan.[13] The noble descendants of the Turanian Fryana, prompted by righteousness, further the settlements of Armaiti through their diligence.[14] The Maker has, in consultation with Vohu Manah, the genius of cattle, created Armaiti or earth and replenished it with pastures.[15]

Haurvatat and Ameretat

The inseparable pair of perfection and immortality. Haurvatat and Ameretat form an indissoluble spiritual pair and are always celebrated together in the Gathas. No single hymn

  1. Ys. 46. 16.
  2. Ys. 34. 11.
  3. Ys. 43. 10; 48. 11.
  4. Ys. 31. 12.
  5. Ys. 49. 2.
  6. Ys. 34. 9.
  7. Ys. 28. 7.
  8. Ys. 33. 13.
  9. Ys. 43. 1.
  10. Ys. 47. 2.
  11. Ys. 48. 5.
  12. Ys. 47. 6.
  13. Ys. 31. 9.
  14. Ys. 46. 12.
  15. Ys. 47. 3.