Mainyo-i-Khard 48

The sage asked the spirit of wisdom

thus: 'As to these stars which are apparent in the sky, and their number is so great, what is then their duty and influence?

And how is the motion of the sun and moon and stars?'

The spirit of wisdom answered

thus: 'Of the stars which are in the sky the first star is Tistar, which is said to be great and good, more valuable and more glorious.

And prosperity of every kind and the fertility of the world are in the path of Tistar.

And the star of water germs is for the increase of the star of plant germs. 9, 10. And the star of plant germs is for the increase of cattle germs.

And water, fire, plant, and cattle germs are created for the increase of man germs.

And the star Vanand is intrusted with the passes and gates of Albûrz;

so that the demons and witches and fiends may turn from those gates and passes,

that it may not be possible for them to cut off and break up the road and passage of the sun and moon and stars.

And the star Haptôk-ring, with,999 guardian spirits of the righteous, is intrusted with the gate and passage of hell,

for the keeping back of those,999 demons and fiends, witches and wizards, who are in opposition to the celestial sphere and constellations of the zodiac.

Its motion, also, is round about hell;

and its special business is this, as it were it holds the twelve signs of the zodiac by the hand, in their proper going and coming.

And those twelve constellations also proceed in like manner by the power and help of Haptôk-ring;

and every single constellation, when it comes in at Albûrz, provides support for Haptôk-ring,

and begs protection from Haptôk-ring.

The remaining unnumbered and innumerable constellations which are apparent are said to be the guardian spirits of the worldly existences.

Because, as to the creatures and creations of every kind, that the creator Aûharmazd created for the worldly existence, which are procreative and also which are developable (ârôdisnik), for every single body there is apparent its own single guardian spirit of a like nature.

And the motion of the sun and moon is the special illumination of the world,

and the maturing of procreations and growths of all kinds.

And the correct keeping of the day, month, and year, summer and winter, spring and autumn, and other calculations and accounts of all kinds which men ought to obtain, perceive, and understand,

are more fully defined by means of the setting (nisivakŏ) of the sun and moon.'