antiquity, and even Ahura-mazda
himself, had vied with one another in their worship of her, and she had
lavished her favours freely on all.**

* The popularity of these two deities was already well
established at the period we are dealing with, for Herodotus
mentions Mithra and confuses him with Anahita.

** Her name Ardvi-Sura Anahita seems to signify _the lofty
and immaculate power_.

The less important Yazatas were hardly to be distinguished from the
innumerable multitude of Fravashis. The Fravasliis are the divine types
of all intelligent beings. They were originally brought into being by
Ahura-mazda as a distinct species from the human, but they had allowed
themselves to be entangled in matter, and to be fettered in the bodies
of men, in order to hasten the final destruction of the demons and the
advent of the reign of good.*

* The legend of the descent of the Fravashis to dwell among
men is narrated in the Bundehesh.

[Illustration: 018.jpg MYLITTA-ANAHITA]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from Loftus

[Illustration: 018a.jpg NANA-ANAHITA]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a coin of King Huvishka,
published by Percy Gardner.

Once incarnate, a Fravasliis devotes himself to the well-being of the
mortal with whom he is associated; and when once more released from
the flesh, he continues the struggle against evil with an energy whose
efficacy is proportionate to the virtue and purity displayed in life by
the mortal to whom he has been temporarily joined. The last six days
of the year are dedicated to the Fravashis. They leave their heavenly
abodes at this time to visit the spots which were their earthly
dwelling-places, and they wander through the villages inquiring, "Who
wishes to hire us? Who will offer us a sacrifice? Who will make us their
own, welcome us, and receive us with plenteous offerings of food and
raiment, with a prayer which bestows sanctity on him who offers it?" And
if they find a man to hearken to their request, they bless him: "May his
house be blessed with herds of oxen and troops of men, a swift horse
and a strongly built chariot, a man who knoweth how to pray to God, a
chieftain in the council who may ever offer us sacrifices with a hand
filled with food and raiment, with a prayer which bestows sanctity on
him who offers it!" Ahura-mazda created the universe, not by the work
of his hands, but by the magic of his word, and he desired to create it