Ma`rifat Adyan

The Dādestān ī Mēnōg ī Xrad is a religious and ethical text in which Ahriman and the demons (dēws) are frequently mentioned. In this book, the concept of "Ahriman" and the "demons," as his assistants and hosts, is explored through multiple manifestations and forms, with examples provided for each. A close reading of this text, informed by the formation of meaning through other texts (intertextuality) and the understanding of the subtext, unveils the genesis, existence, functions, and destiny of the demons, the offspring of the primordial demon. Accordingly, in Mēnōg ī Xrad, we encounter four categories of demons, and based on this, the methods of following and worshipping them, as well as the ways to be delivered from them, are presented to the audience. This article, drawing on textual evidence and references to contemporaneous and linguistically related texts, endeavors to provide a clear picture of these demons and their functions, and to delineate the connection between Ahriman and his agents with earthly life and the afterlife. The conclusion reached by the researcher is the demonstration of the conceptual and existential reality of four categories of demons, the identification of their means of influencing humanity, and the provision of solutions for liberation from them.