History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

194 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. IV,

ences that may affect the soul of the departed. In the tenth “pargarad” of the Vendidad, an ancient religious work of the Parsis, Zoroaster is said to have asked God, ‘‘ How shall I combat the Drukhsh which flies from the dead upon the living? How shall I subdue the Nasush which defiles the living from the dead?” The answer of God (Ahura Mazda) was, “Speak the words which are in the Gathas;” and this is most probably the reason why these “has” are repeated before the dead body. Of this we are certain that its recital was not introduced in later times, because it 1s enjoined in some of the earliest religious books as bemg the most ancient Avesta composition.

The Ahunavaiti Gatha, which is recited before the dead body, as above explained, is the first of the five Gathas ascribed to Zoroaster. It is a metrical composition, to be recited in a chanting tone, and is divided into seven “has” (chapters), which contain one hundred and one verses, each consisting of three lines, and each line having sixteen syllables. It contains “short prayers, songs, and hymns, which generally express philosophical and abstract thoughts about metaphysical subjects.” The first “ha” contains a short prayer imploring God to bestow right-mindedness and piety, which are essential for the good of man, in both the corporeal and the spiritual world.

The second “ha” is a mystical and allegorical de-