Supplement No. 10

Reference To Keresani, the Satan as Dravand Bivarasp, Azhi Dahaka and Tur-bara-tur, and their Khshnoomic Expositions

(Vide heading 'Geush-aevo-datayao' and 'Keresani' etc.)

Keresani, (Ysn. 9,24), the Satan's deputy on Nisti, the ultraphysical worlds has been referred to in Pazand Afrin-i-Haft- Ameshaspand; 8 as 'Dravand Bivarasp' and stated to have been fettered on Mt. Demavand, for which that mountain has been revered; and in Bundehesh; 29,8 he (Keresani) has been mentioned as 'Azhi Dahaka", who will be unfettered. These different names of Keresani, the Satan, and the fettering and unfettering call for technical expositions.

Dravand Bivarasp literally means 'evil-being of ten thousand horses. In Zoroastrian esoteric numerology the numeral 10 indicates perfection either in blissfulness or wickedness. Since this perfection applies here to the evil-being - the Satan – it means perfection in wickedness; 'thousand' refers to the thousand (i.e., innumerable) wiles of the Satan, of which king Zohak was the living embodiment (Ysn. 9,8);, and 'Asp', horse, indicates spiritual power. Hence Dravand Bivarasp means evil being perfect in the power of innumerable wiles. Thus 'Bivar' does not signify 10,000 in its ordinary numerical sense, nor does 'Asp' signify the quadruped horse.

In the second reference (Azhi Dahaka) Azhi means a serpent, representing destructive characteristic; and Dah means 10, and Aka, wickedness, Here too there is reference to the numeral 10, showing perfection. So it means the evil-being of destructive characteristics perfect in wickedness, that is, the Satan.

 

Tur-bara- Tur, the Monstrous Inflation of Devil's Body of Darkness

It must first be remembered that Keresani (or Dravand Bivarasp or Tur-bara- Tur or Azhi Dahaka) is the phantom of Darkness, and hence cannot be fettered by any material means. The term Tur-bara-Tur, which is much misunderstood, needs for its understanding explanation of its preliminary conditions. According to Nature's mysterious curriculum, this known material world runs its course of one Zarvane-daregho-khadat, literally, self-created long Time, which, according to Khshnoom, comprises 81,000 Solar years. On the termination of this long period, there occurs a World Deluge, exposing Thrishva (Yt. 13,3), the holy one-third of the earthy globe. Here in this Thrishva is situated Airyana Vaeja, the land bearing noble seeds (Vaeja) engendering righteousness, where Zarathushtra was born. At the end of some 27,000 years (on an average), the known material world resumes its run of a new Zarvanedaregho-khadat of 81,000 years when the Thrishva will again be buried under snow, and so the two sections of the earthy globe keep active alternately.

Thus the current Zarvane-daregha has commenced its run since some 14,000 years. For the first about 4,000-5,000 years of the latter period there was no religion as such. There were only two sections of the populace, one, Aryans, who were civilized and worshippers of God, the other, non-Aryans, who were worshippers of inferior spirits and demons. Zoroastrian religion was the first Faith that was established about 9,500 years from today. During the first about 4,000-5,000 years prior to the advent of Zarathushtra, Keresani, with the aid of his deputies like Azhi Dahaka (the Satan, not the King Zohak) caused inflation of inconceivable magnitude of his Kehrp, body of Darkness called Tur-bara- Tur (literally, 'powerful of powerfuls'), which possessed terrific potentiality of destruction. He (Tur-bara-Tur) spread this gigantically expanded body in the sky over the earth right up to the heights of Upairi Dakhyu, raining down untold havoc through bloodshed, plague, _amines, earthquakes, fires, floods etc., on the material world, which made Geush Urva raise her plaint to Ahura Mazda, and prayed for a Saviour (Ysn. 29,1). In response to this appeal Geush Urva was shown the Farohar of Zarathushtra Spitama, and was informed that at the proper time he would take birth, and teach mankind the laws of abstinence from Evil (Bd. 4,3). Geush-Urva is the sub-angelic guardian of the earth and represents the animated collective blissful side of the souls of the earth. Kings and warrior-saints of the ancient Peshdadian and Kayanian dynasties, who belonged to the beneficent Paoiryotkaesha class of souls fought, though often un-successfully, against the above Tur-bara-Tur fiend of Darkness, but could not control him. They knew that only Zarathusptra would be able to accomplish this great feat, and so they eagerly awaited his advent.

 

Zarathushtra Shatters Tur-bara-tur's Body of Darkness with Aoj Power

Aoj is the special potentiality of Ameshaspends (vide supplement No.2), which Zarathushtra also possessed in common with them.

Zarathushtra, after the completion of his divine mission of establishing the Zoroastrian Faith, set himself to the great task of delivering the world from the onslaughts of Tur-bara- Tur, the Satan. When the proper time arrived, Zarathushtra convened a large gathering of devotees in his specially consecrated "firetemple", where fire burnt incessantly without being fed with any kind of wood. Here he gave his final sermon, and then commenced concentration and prayers, after which he concentrated all his Aoj powers, and with that darted the ring of his shining halo like a missile towards the centre of Tur-bara-Tur, which shattered the clouds of the potentiality of Darkness.

The unimaginably dire rebound shock of the impact on Turbara- Tur, Zarathushtra drew deliberately upon his purity perfect body, thereby disintegrating the four elements thereof. These disintegrated elements were drawn back to their respective Kurras, the sub-regions of subtle elements in the ultra-physical worlds above. Side by side with this dispersal of his body-elements, took place the ascension of Zarathushtra's sin-free soul to Pahlum Ahwan (Vikhiz; Dk. Vol. VII; Intro. 44,4), the paradisiacal station in the ultra-physical worlds beyond Chinvat Bridge. So tremendously terrific was this rebound shock that if it had struck against the earth, the earth would have been shattered to pieces with thunder.

The above fact is depicted allegorically as a simple incident in Pahlavi, where it is related that while Zarathushtra was offering prayers in his Atash-Behram (fire-temple), a Turk killed him by piercing a dagger in his back, but before dying Zarathushtra flung his rosary on the Turk, by which the latter was killed. If this story be taken literally, as has been done by most scholars, it will be readily understood that not even a little mouse could be killed if an ordinary rosary of beads were hurled against it. In the above allegory the rosary represents the ring of the halo of Zarathushtra cast with all the mighty powers of AOJ, and Asha, holiness; piercing dagger from the back, stands for the rebound-shock, and the killing (of Zarathushtra) represents the dispersal of his elements and Vikhiz, the ascension of his soul to Pahlum Ahwan, the paradisiacal station beyond the Chinvat Bridge.

 

Demons Unable to Kill Zara Thushtra

It will thus be understood that Zarathushtra was not killed, but he voluntarily took the rebound-shock on his own body to save the earth from destruction. We know from Avesta (Vd. 19,1- 3) that the demon Buiti who was ordered by Angra Mainyu to strike Zarathushtra, could not do so upon the latter chanting aloud 'Ahunavar' (Ysn. 19), from Yatha Ahu Vairyo ...,. Vastarem. The druj Buiti, the demon of death said:

"I see no way to kill him, so great is the glory of the holy Zarathushtra".

(S.B.E. Vol. IV).

Again, we find from Pahlavi Dinkard (Vol. VII; 2, 4) that the demon Durasrub who was most notorious for witch-craft became spiteful, and with an evil motive

"……he wished to crush with hands the delicate head of that perfectly glorious child, and to cause (his) death. And here a great miracle was manifested to many, just as the Revelation says that then the hands of that devil were turned backwards towards the ends, that is quite folded on the back; never afterwards that cruel one was a devourer of meat with his mouth by means of those hands."

(Dastur Darab Sanjana; DK. Vol. XIII).

Thus we see that the deadliest demons with all their witchcraft powers were unable to kill Zarathushtra, and hence it was entirely impossible for an ordinary Turk to kill him.

 

Azhi Dahaka Fettered in Post -zarathushtra Ages

Reverting to Azhi-Dahaka, the inflated (Kehrp) body having thus been shattered, the fiend has been reduced to his normal condition. During the aeons following the ascension of Zarathushtra's soul to the paradisiacal region of Pahlum-Ahwan, that is, after his departure from the earth, holy sages of Sraosha-varez class who are his place-holders, by their holy incantations have been keeping in moderation the power of Azhi Dahaka on Mt. Demavand (in Iran). In other words Azhi Dahaka has been fettered on that mountain.

Yet during nightly hours the Satanic power gains momen-. turn, due to the sexual lust of mankind. But again at early dawn by the vibrations of the crowing everywhere of the cock, who is the special fowl of Sarosh Yazad (angel), the clouds of Evil are dispersed, and Azhi Dahaka, the Satan, is fettered once again, that is, brought under control. This fact has been handed down to posterity in the shape of folklore that the Satan is enchained on a mountain. He (Satan) licks the chain all night and thins it down but with the crowing of the cock at the dawn, the chains resume their normal condition.

 

Un-fettering of Azhi Dahaka

According to the 'Calculations of the heavens' Azhi Dahaka will continue to be under partial control as at present for over 51,000 years from now, where-after will set in the sovereignty in the heavens of 15,000 years of Saturn, practically the whole of which period will be one of great wickedness. However, at the junction of its twelfth and thirteenth millenniums, there will be a small period of the glorious 329 years under the placid minor cycle of the Moon (under the inter cycle of the same planet), when the Saviour Soshyos will manifest himself. He will carry the good souls to Mt. Alborz, as a preparatory step to the impending World Deluge to take place about 2,000 years later, leaving the wicked dross of the souls on this known material world.

Towards the terminal ages of some 1,100 years or so of this Saturnian king-cycle, Azhi Dahaka or Tur-bara-Tur the Satan, will get un-fettered (Bd. 29,5) bringing in his train untold pestilence and devastation through bloodshed, arson_earthquakes, etc., rendering humanity half dead. Azhi Dahaka, who has been fettered_ i.e., held under partial control on Mt. Demavand in Iran since the departure of the holy Prophet, will continue to be so restrained during some 51,000 years by Varjavand-Shah, Hoshedarbami and Hoshedar-Mah. During some of the years towards the end of that final ill-fated major cycle, the differentiation of religions will disappear, and all mankind will become irreligious and mixed together-only to be submerged by the waters of the (next) World Deluge, which will bring to a close all life in this known material world, and also the current Zarvane-daregho-khadat, the long (cycle of) Time of 81,000 years. It may be noted that towards the end of this long period the earthy globe which at present is rotating with an incline will assume vertical position whereby the waters of the Deluge will submerge the whole wicked world. Simultaneously with this submerging the current Zarvane Daregho Khadat will also terminate and the Airyana Vaeja will automatically open up.

For further particulars regarding Soshyos and Airyana Vaeja, please refer head "Manifestation of Soshyos" towards the end of the treatment of "Nav-Gareh" in Part II of this book.

 

Comets, the Vestiges of Tur-bara-tur

Although it is true that Tur-bara-Tur, the dire inflated evil body of Darkness is gone, and has been rarefied, yet certain it is that its vestiges do exist still in the appearances of comets.

Whenever owing to the influence of Time factor the Darkness of Evil increases, it gives birth to comets, the visitations of which portend calamities to follow on the earth, such as, warfare, death of a great personage and the like. Compared to Tur-bara-Tur, the comets may be said to be the trails left of the unimaginable havoc wrought by that dire fiend in pre-Zarathushtra ages.

In "The Sky Is The Limit" by Mr. Llewellyn George of California, under the head "Comets" (p. 57) it is stated as under:

"The records of observations which extend back century upon century are unanimous in agreement that comets produce changes in the atmosphere in the affairs of men, and on the earth. Their passage through the Solar system seems to derange it for a time. Because calamities of various sorts befall the earth with the advent of comets, they are deemed heralds of misfortune."

 

Exposition of King Zohak's Three Mouths, Three Heads and Six Eyes

King Zohak is depicted (in Ysn. 9,8) as the Daruj (evil person) having three mouths, three heads, six eyes, etc. and stated to have been created by Angra Mainyu for the destruction of the holy lands of the material world. The above allegorical description displays the monstrosity of selfishness, cruelty etc., of king Zohak.

It is not generally known that the previous portion of this allegory is given by Firdousi in his Shah Name,h under Zohak's reign, where it is stated that Zohak was so delighted by the tasty dishes prepared from the meat of various types of animals and birds cooked by Satan guised as an expert cook that he told the latter to ask for a boon. Thereupon the Satan requested permission to kiss the king's shoulders, and rub his eyes and mouth on them. On the request being granted, the Satan kissed the King's shoulders and disappeared. Instantaneously there sprang up a serpent on each of Zohak's shoulders, which means that Zohak turned to be veritable Satan incarnate.

Hence he (king Zohak) is depicted as above with three mouths, three heads and six eyes. It will be understood that the extra two mouths, two heads and four eyes are those of the two allegorical serpents, plus Zohak's natural ones. The serpents represent the Satanic age of destruction and perfection of wickedness that ruled on the earth extending over a thousand years. It is stated in Shah-nameh that Zohak was so cruel that he daily partook of two human brains by killing two persons without distinction of their rank or status in life. Here eating of brains is allegorically mentioned to represent the deterioration of human essence by his dreadfully tyrannical rule.