Aeshma

Aeshma (Avestan: 𐬀𐬉𐬴𐬨𐬀 ''aēṣ̌ma''; Old Avestan: 𐬀𐬉𐬱𐬆𐬨𐬀 ''aēšəma'') is the Younger Avestan name of Zoroastrianism's demon of "wrath." As a hypostatic entity, Aeshma is variously interpreted as "wrath," "rage," and "fury." His standard epithet is "of the bloody mace."

Tri-syllabic ''aeshma'' is already attested in Gathic Avestan as ''aēšəma'', though not yet—at that early stage—as an entity. The word has an Indo-Iranian root, descendant of the Proto-Indo-European root ''*eis'', making it cognate with the Latin '' īra''. In the Zoroastrian texts of the 9th–12th centuries, ''aeshma'' appears as Middle Persian ''eshm'' 𐭠𐭩𐭱𐭬 or 𐭧𐭩𐭱𐭬 ''kheshm'', continuing in Pazend and New Persian as ''khashm''. Judaism's Asmodeus ( he, אַשְמְדּאָי ''ʼšmdʼy'') may derive from Avestan ''aeshma.daeva''.. The Georgian language word for devil—''eshmaki''—likewise derives from ''aeshma''.

In scripture

In the hierarchy of Zoroastrian demons (''daeva''s) that mirrors a similar hierarchy of divinities, Aeshma is opposed to Asha Vahishta, the Amesha Spenta that is the hypostasis of "Truth." This opposition also reflects Aeshma's position as messenger of Angra Mainyu (''Yasht'' 19.46), for in the hierarchy of divinities, Asha is the messenger of ''Spenta Mainyu'', the instrument through which Ahura Mazda has realized ("created by His thought") creation.

The demon's chief adversary however is Sraosha "Obedience", the principle of religious devotion and discipline. The opposition between religious obedience and distraction from it is also expressed in the Yasna 10.8's portrayal of Aeshma as the metaphysical endangerment of the Good Religion. Aeshma distracts from proper worship, distorting "the intention and meaning of sacrifice through brutality against cattle and violence in war and drunkenness.". (''Yasna'' 10.8, ''Yasht'' 17.5)

According to ''Yasht'' 11.15, Ahura Mazda created Sraosha to counter the demon's mischief, and in ''Yasna'' 57.25, Sraosha protects the faithful from the fiend's assault. At the renovation of the world, Sraosha overthrows Aeshma, who will flee before the ''saoshyant'' (''Yasht'' 19.95), but in the present the fiend flees before Mithra (''Yasna'' 57.10; ''Yasht'' 10.97).

The demon's opposition to Sraosha is also reflected in their respective standard epithets. While Aeshma's is ''xrvi.dru-'' "of the bloody mace" (e.g. ''Yasna'' 10.8, ''Yasht'' 11.15), Sraosha's is ''darshi.dru-'' "of the strong ( Ahuric) mace." Aeshma's other epithet's include "ill-fated" (''Yasht'' 10.95) "malignant" (''Yasna'' 11.9)

In tradition and folklore

In the Zoroastrian texts of the 9th–12th centuries, the function of battling Aeshma is also ascribed to Mithra (''Zand-i Wahman yasn'' 7.34), and Denkard 3.116 places him in opposition to Vohu Manah. The demon is made commander by Angra Mainyu (''Zatspram'' 34.32) and although he is closely related to Az, the demon of "avarice", Az will eventually swallow him up. The opposition to Sraosha is continued into the later tradition.

In the even later ''Rivayats'' (epistles), a ''Yasna'' ceremony that is not properly executed is said to have been done as if the ceremony were for Aeshma.

References

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Daevas