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371
IZADS

practises virtue;[1] for he makes his abode in the body of a righteous person; and the man in whose body he is a guest becomes the more polite in his utterances of welcome.[2] Again we see Srosh inspiring an intelligent man to speak good words, as also an unintelligent one who listens to the teachings of the high-priests.[3] When the prophet child was thrown into the lair of a wolf for destruction, Srosh and Vohuman brought a sheep with udder full of milk to the den for the babe's nourishment.[4] Srosh, likewise, escorted Viraf in his journey to heaven above and to hell below; and at the time of the final restoration of the world, Ormazd will depute him with Neryosangh to arouse the sleeping hero Kersasp and fire him with the spirit to kill the accursed Zohak.[5] Srosh, in the final struggle between the angels and the demons, will smite his adversary Eshm.[6] He will then join in officiating with Ormazd in celebrating, once and forever, the final destruction of evil.[7]

A judge of the dead. Srosh is one of the judges who take accounts of the souls of the dead at the Bridge of Judgment.[8] If a man, during his lifetime, performs the three nights ceremonies in honour of Srosh for the future welfare of his soul, the angel will not forsake him for the first days after his death.[9] At the dawn of the fourth day after the death of a righteous person, Srosh accordingly helps to conduct his soul across the bridge.[10] Ceremonies are therefore to be performed in honour of Srosh for the first three days and nights after death, in order that this divine helper may protect the soul from the attack of the demons during this period,[11] and may serve in its favour at the seat of judgment.[12] Specially distinct praise and reverence are to be bestowed upon Srosh, and even the names of the archangels should not be associated with him.[13] In addition, it may be noted, regarding Srosh's relation to mankind, that when

  1. Dk., vol. 11, bk. 6. 90, p. 4, 5.
  2. Dk., vol. 10, bk. 6. 78, p. 21.
  3. Dd., 3. 14.
  4. Zsp. 16. 9; Dk., SBE., vol. 47, bk. 7. 3. 17, p. 39.
  5. BYt. 3. 59, 60.
  6. Bd. 30. 29; Mkh. 8. 14.
  7. Bd. 30. 30.
  8. Dd. 14. 4; 28. 5; Mkh. 2. 118.
  9. Sd. 58. 4, 7.
  10. Mkh. 2. 115, 124.
  11. SLS. 17. 3.
  12. Dd. 28. 6.
  13. Dd. 29. 2.