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

190 HATISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. IV.

Thus we see that the supposition of two primeval principles working under one Almighty is no dualism.

In connection with this speculative philosophy of Zoroaster we will speak about a few other notions of the Zoroastrian faith. In the Gathas we come across the names of six Ameshaspends (z.e. immortal increasers or benefactors). It appears clearly from their description and from the etymology of their names that they are, in the words of Dr. Haug, “nothing but abstract nouns and ideas, representing all the gifts which Ahura Mazda, as the only Lord, grants to those who worship Him with a sincere heart by always speaking truth and performing good actions.” They are taken as archangels or guardian spirits under the Almighty and presiding over the following gifts. They are thus described by Dr. Haug :—

“1, Vohumano (afterwards changed into Behman) is regarded as the vital faculty in all living beings of the good creation. He pervades the whole lving good creation, and all the good thoughts and words and deeds of men as wrought by him.

‘“©2?, Ashavahishta (Ardibehesht) represents ‘light and brightness in all different forms. Light being of the nature of Ahura Mazda and being believed to pervade the whole good creation, Ashavahishta repre-_ sents the omnipresence of the divine bemg. Light maintaining the vitality of the whole creation, animate and inanimate, and being the cause of all growth,