Supplement No. 12

Demon Keresani cannot be Identical with (Vedic) Demi-god Krishanu

The term 'Keresani' seems not to have been correctly understood in philology. It occurs in Hom Yasht (Ysn. 9,24) where it is stated:

"Haoma lowered Keresani, dethroned him from his throne, for he grew so fond of power, that he treacherously said: No priest behind (and watching) shall walk the lands for me, as a counselor to prosper them, he would rob everything of progress, he would crush the growth of all". (S.B.E. Vol XXXI).

In the footnote under the word Keresani it is stated:

"Comp. the Vedic Krishanu, archer and demi-god who guarded the Soma... .".

In learned Kanga's Avesta dictionary we find the following against the word Keresani :

"The adversary of Haoma, the founder of the Haoma ceremony. Compo Vedic Krishanu; Keresani represents Alexander and the Hellenic oppression, which for a while put down the Mazdayasnian religion (Dar.)".

The above explanation of Keresani is not applicable here, but what is given under the word 'Keresa', appears to be correct:

"An opponent to the Zoroastrian religion; an idolator (Dar.) an oppressor (Har.); a tormentor (Sp.)".

Thus Prof. Darmesteter's conjecture about Alexander does not seem correct. Keresani as stated already is the deva's destructive phantom animated from the combined Drvao, wickedness, of the souls transferred to the Nisti (Space) worlds. It is analogous to Keresa meaning 'oppressor' (Dar.) or 'tormentor' (Sp.) The name of the hero Keresasp who killed the monsters 'Arejo-shaman' and 'Snavidak' (Yt. 19; 42-43), has the same derivative - Keresa plus Asp meaning the warrior-saint who possessed super-human spiritual powers for fighting against and smiting monstrous demons. The suffix '-asp' literally means a horse, and indicates the degree of attainment of divine powers by the king or hero concerned. Just as in modern times University Degree M.A., M.D., etc. indicate the measure of a person's learning, so the suffix '-asp' denotes the high degree of spiritual powers developed by Tehmurasp, Keresasp and other saintly kings and heroes through the practice of certain anti-demoniacal incantations etc. accompanied with great austerity, stoicism and perfect purity.

It was with the development of such powers that they could smite monstrous demons that used to cause untold havoc in pre-Zoroastrian ages, whom the prophet buried under ground (Yasna. 9.15) or transmuted their evil propensities into good by turning their vicious cerebral Chakhras, magnetic nervecentres. (Yt. 13,89).

We give below some extracts from Vedic mythology, from which it will be found that the Vedic Krishanu and Avesta Keresani are not identical.

 

Krishanu, Protector of Holy Soma, not Devil Keresani

The following reference of Rig Veda is met with in "Vedic Mythology' by the learned' A. A. Macdonell (p. 137):

"Gandharva in the RV is often associated with Soma. He guards the place of Soma and protects the races of the gods. Observing all the forms of Soma, he stands on the vault of heaven (9,8512)... It is probably as jealous guardian of Soma that Gandharva in the RV appears as a hostile being, who is pierced by Indra in the regions of air. . . The trait of hostility appears to be old, for in the Avesta (Yt. 5,38) the hostile Gandareva dwelling in the sea Vourukasha, the abode of the white Haoma, is fought with and overcome by Keresasp. However the archer Krishanu who shoots at the eagle that carries off the Soma appears to be a Gandharva."

(It may be noted that "Gandharva is associated with Soma" as stated above).

"Krishanu appears in the Rigveda as a mythological personage (Zimmer Altindisches & c.)"

"Away O Death, depart along the path that is thine own, but different from the road of the gods...

"Here is the impetuous meeting of the two mighty ones.O Indra and Vishnu, the drinker of the pressed Soma-juice avoids you. You two turn aside that which is directed towards mortal man, aye the dart of the archer Krishanu (i. 155.2).

"Soma is a plant, the word is derived from Su, to press. It is pressed again and again. Its character (as a deity) is mostly secondary and only rarely primary. In order to point out its primary use in the hymns relating to Soma-juice while it is purified, we shall quote (the following stanza).

"Be pure with thy sweetest and most gladdening stream, O Soma, thou art pressed for lndra to drink."

(ix, i, 1; Sv.; 458 &c)
-The Nighantu & the Nirukta.

Thus Soma is ambrosia, the food of the gods, and hence holy. Krishanu shoots at the eagle that carries off the Soma. So Krishanu belongs to the holy side, and not wicked, while Keresani (in Avesta) is wicked.

Just as Angra Mainyu is the phantom animated from the collective Drvao, wickedness of the souls of the entire Universe, so as stated above Keresani is the phantom animated from the collective wickedness of the souls transferred to the Nisti (ultraphysical worlds). Thus Krishanu and Keresani, in their respective spheres, are, if anything, antagonistic, though it is possible the 'eagle' and the 'archer' have some hidden meanings also.