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CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES 269 The Ahuna Vairya is Parsi prayer and Asha-Vabishta a purificatory formula, so that what is meant is that the Enemy, whom the gods are powerless to destroy is actually vanquished by a Master Ascetic who has perfected himself in holiness and piety.
The meeting of the two opposite forces takes place in neutral territory--a sort of "no-man's land”-where the final battle is to be fought. This is because neither the real nature of spirit (the realm of Dharma.Jnana) nor that of Matter (the abode of Evil) can be penetrated by any possibility, so that what is affected by their mingling or commingling is only the manifestation of attributes. Hence it is said of Auhar Mazd and Aharman that “ between them was empty space, that is, what they call air,' in which is now their meeting" (Bundahish, i. 4; SBE. vol. v. p. 4).
The combatants are the angels of light and the progeny of darkness, that is, fiends. The leader of the former is Aubar Mazd who is omniscient, but the leader of fiends is “unobservant and ignorant" (Bundahish, i. 19) and cannot foresee his future doom (Din kart; ERE. vol. i. 237). Accordingly, Ahura Mazda says to the Evil One: "You are not omniscient and almighty, O evil spirit ! so that it is not possible for thee to destroy me, and it is not possible for thee_to force my creatures so that they will not return to my possession" (Bunda. hish, i. 16). The final defeat of Abrman is to be brought about by man (ERE. vol. i. 237).
Dharma-Jnana (Aubar Mazd), therefore, obtains time from bis blind and ignorant adversary for “the inter
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