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On the material side Vohuman is the patron divinity of animals. In the creation of this world, cattle are placed under the care of Vohuman.^[1] The true follower of Zaratusht nourishes and feeds them, protects them from oppressors, and delivers them not over to cruel tyrants; it is such a one that propitiates Vohuman;^[2] for cattle are the counterparts of Vohuman, and he who is good to them reaps the benefit of both the worlds.^[3] Vohuman, accordingly, asks Zaratusht in his conference with the prophet to maintain the species of certain classes of animals in the world.^[4]

His zeal for the protection of fire now supersedes his primal work of guarding righteousness. Artavahisht is the Pahlavi form of the Avestan name read as Asha Vahishta, and really preserves the older form, Arta. Righteousness, glory, light, and healing are from him.^[5] Righteousness, over which this archangel presides, remains still in the Pahlavi period the cardinal word of the religion, but this divine personality is less frequently mentioned in connection with the abstract virtue than in connection with fire, the physical object which is under his tutelage.^[6] Fire is his earthly counterpart, and whoso procures wood and incense for the fire by honest means propitiates him.^[7] For that reason, Artavahisht in his conference with Zaratusht, commissions the sage to teach the people of the world not to ill-treat fire.^[8] Ormazd has given him sovereignty in heaven, with the power of refusing admission therein to those who have displeased him.^[9] The Dinkart tells us that he excluded the soul of the mighty hero Kersasp, because, despite his great heroic works by which he had saved the world from the atrocities of monsters, he had once extinguished fire.^[10] The Shayast-la-Shayast incidentally records that Artavahisht is invisible.^[11]