Karaka, Dosabhai Framji: History of the Parsis: including their manners, customs, religion and present position ; in two volumes (Band 2) (London, 1884)

chap, in.] A MIRACULOUS BIRTH.

ceremonies. This Honia corresponds to the Soma of
the Hindus, Soma being the Sanscrit form of the
Avesta word Homa. This plant is the Asclepias
acida or Sarcostemma viminale of botanists. It is
said to possess medicinal and stimulating properties.
According to the ninth chapter of the Yasna, it was
Pourushaspa, the father of the Prophet, who, having
performed certain religious ceremonies and prayers,
drank of the juice of this plant, which possessed
properties that improved the health, soothed the mind,
and strengthened the energies. The purport of that
passage seems to be that under the effects of this
soothing elixir, drunk after solemn prayers and cere-
monies, he prayed to the Almighty to favour him
with a child. This request was granted, and Zoroaster
was born unto him. No mention is made of the name
of Zoroaster's mother in the Avesta, but in Pehlevi
works she is known by the name of Dogdho. Zoro-
aster's birthplace, the town of Pae, was, according
to the Vendidad (chapter xix. 4), situated on the
banks of a river named Darji. This river flowed from
a mountain named Jabr situated in Ayriana Vaeja.

We meet with no authentic account of Zoroaster's
infancy in the Avesta. But it appears from the
Pehlevi books that the extraordinary circumstance of
Pourushaspa's performing the Homa ceremonies and
getting a son in answer to his prayer, as a reward for
his extreme piety and virtue, was publicly talked