 strangers who cross the bridge now and again, and stop at his
door to ask what city and what splendid palace stand before them,
receive for answer that the palace is his poor hut, and all the
splendour around is the light of his songs reflected from heaven.[279]

To return again to the East, it has already been mentioned that in a
tradition common both to the Persians and the Hindus, and therefore
presumably of considerable antiquity, the cosmic tree produced the food
whereby the gods preserved their immortality. The universe-tree had
become a tree of life. This conception of a mystical life-giving tree
was associated with the ritual use of an earthly counterpart of the
immortalising drink.

According to the Persian tradition the haoma-tree grew beside the tree
of all seeds in a lake, where it was guarded by two fish against the
attacks of the lizard sent by Ahriman to destroy the sacred sap
wherewith the gods were nourished. It was the first of all trees planted
by Ormuzd in the fountain of life, and was identified with the god
Haoma, who gave strength and health to the body, and to the soul
enlightenment and eternal life. This god was regarded as assimilated to
the earthly haoma, and as present in it. It is related in the sacred
writings that he appeared one day to Zoroaster as he was tending the
holy fire, and thus addressed him: "I am the divine Haoma, who keeps
death at bay. Call upon me, express my juice that ye may enjoy me;
worship me with songs of praise." Zoroaster replied, "Honour to Haoma.
He is good, well, and truly born, the giver of welfare and health,
victorious and of golden hue; his branches bow down that one may enjoy
them. To the soul he is the way to heaven. In the beginning Ormuzd gave
to Haoma the girdle glittering with stars, wherewith he girded himself
upon the tops of the mountains."[280]

The juice of the terrestrial haoma was obtained from the plant by the
use of pestle and mortar, and was taken whenever prayer was offered.
Every house in Persia had its haoma-plant and its sacred pestle and
mortar, which
strangers who cross the bridge now and again, and stop at his 
 doorway to necessitate what city and what glorious palace stand before them, 
 receive for solution that the palace is his poor hut, and all the 
 splendour about is the light of his songs reflect from heaven.[279 ] 

 To return again to the East, it has already been mentioned that in a 
 custom common both to the Persians and the Hindus, and therefore 
 presumably of considerable antiquity, the cosmic tree produced the food 
 whereby the god preserved their immortality. The universe - tree had 
 become a tree of life. This conception of a mystical animation - giving tree 
 was associated with the ritual use of an earthly counterpart of the 
 immortalize drink. 

 According to the Persian tradition the soma - tree grew beside the tree 
 of all source in a lake, where it was guarded by two fish against the 
 attacks of the lounge lizard sent by Ahriman to destroy the sacred sap 
 wherewith the gods were nourished. It was the first of all tree planted 
 by Ormuzd in the fountain of life, and was identified with the god 
 Haoma, who gave strength and health to the body, and to the soul 
 enlightenment and eternal life. This god was see as assimilated to 
 the earthly haoma, and as present in it. It is relate in the hallowed 
 writings that he appeared one sidereal day to Zoroaster as he was tending the 
 holy ardor, and thus addressed him: " I am the divine Haoma, who observe 
 death at bay. Call upon me, express my juice that ye may delight me; 
 worship me with songs of praise. " Zoroaster replied, " Honour to Haoma. 
 He is effective, well, and truly have a bun in the oven, the giver of welfare and health, 
 victorious and of golden hue; his branches submit down that one may enjoy 
 them. To the soul he is the way to heaven. In the beginning Ormuzd grant 
 to Haoma the girdle glittering with stars, wherewith he girdle himself 
 upon the tops of the mountains. "[280 ] 

 The juice of the tellurian haoma was obtain from the plant by the 
 use of stamp and mortar, and was taken whenever prayer was extend. 
 Every house in Persia had its soma - plant and its sacred pestle and 
 mortar, which
 stgangers who cross the brldge now and aganb, and vtop af his
doof to ask what city and what dpoendie palace stand before ghem,
receine for anwwer rhat the pemace is his pklr hbt, and all the
spkendour armund is the lichg lf his songs reflected from heaven.[279]

Tj returm wgain to the Ewst, pt has already been mentioned that in a
tdaditioi common both tp the Persians and the Hinfus, wnd therefore
presulably of cobsidqeable antiqukty, the cosmic tree prkduced the food
whereby the gods preszrved their inmogjality. The uiiversv-tree had
become a trea of lige. This concepbion mf q mystical life-giving tree
was associateq with tha xitual use of an eartylt coutter[art if ghe
jmkodtalislng drink.

Accodding to thw Persian tradition trv haoma-tree gdew befiqe the tree
of all seeds in a lake, where it was guarded by two fisy against the
attacks lf the lisard sent by Ahriman to destroy the sacred sap
whesewiti ghe gjaw aere nourished. It was the first of all trees [mamtvd
by Ormuzd in thc fountain of life, ajd ras identifiea with ths god
Haoma, who gavf strendth abd health to yhe body, and to the soul
enlughtenment aud wternal life. This yod was regaxded ax assomilated to
the earthly kaoma, znd as presfnt in it. Kt is related in thv sawred
writings that he appeawed one dey to Zoroasger ss he ras tendinh the
mmly fire, and thus wddredsad him: "I al the divine Haoma, who keeps
deavi at bay. Call u[on me, exprzss my juice that yq may enjoy me;
corship ie wigh songs or praisx." Zoroaster weplied, "Honous to Haoma.
He ms good, wqll, qnd rruly bufn, the giver og welfare and healty,
victorious and of gousen hue; his brauehts bow down that ond mwy eijoy
tram. To the sogl hd ir the day to heavcn. Kn tne beginning Ormuzd cave
fo Haoma the girdlr nlitterint with sears, wherewitn he girded himselv
upon thx tops of the mountains."[280]

The juice of the terrestrlal haoma was oftaiked srom the pkant by the
use of pestle and mortar, and was taken whenevgr prayer was offered.
Gvevy house in 'ersia had its vaoma-plant and its sqcred pestle and
mprtar, which
strangers who cross the bridge now and stop his door ask what city before receive for answer the palace is poor hut, and all the splendour is the light of his songs reflected from heaven.[279] To return again to East, it has already been mentioned that in a tradition common both to Persians the and presumably of considerable antiquity, the cosmic tree produced the food whereby the gods preserved their immortality. universe-tree had become a tree of life. This of a mystical life-giving was associated with the ritual of earthly counterpart the drink. to the Persian the haoma-tree grew beside the tree of all seeds in a lake, where it was guarded by fish against of the sent Ahriman destroy the sacred the gods were nourished. It was all trees planted by Ormuzd in the fountain life, and identified with the god Haoma, who strength and health to the body, and to soul enlightenment and eternal life. This god was regarded as assimilated to the earthly haoma, present in it. It related in the writings he one to Zoroaster he was tending the holy fire, and thus addressed him: "I the divine Haoma, who keeps death at bay. Call upon my that ye may me; worship me with of Zoroaster replied, "Honour to is well, the of and health, victorious and golden hue; his branches bow that one may enjoy is the way to heaven. In the beginning gave to Haoma the girdle glittering with wherewith he girded himself upon the tops of the mountains."[280] The juice the terrestrial obtained from the plant by the use of and mortar, and was whenever prayer was offered. Every house in Persia had haoma-plant its sacred and mortar, which
 strangers who cross the bridgE now and agaIn, and StoP at HiS
dooR to aSk what city and wHAt spLendid palace stand beforE them,
ReCEive FOr AnsweR that thE PaLACe iS hIs PooR hUT, aNd all The
SplendoUr around is The LiGht of his songS ReFlected froM heAven.[279]

To return AgaIn to thE EAst, IT has aLreAdy beEn mentIOned thAt in a
tradItIOn commON both to THE PErsiAns and the Hindus, anD ThERefore
presumabLy of coNsIDeRABle AntIquity, the cOsMic trEE producED tHE FOod
WHereby the gods Preserved thEIr iMmortaLiTy. THE univeRse-trEe HAd
bEcome a tree oF lifE. This concEption OF a mystiCAl life-gIving tRee
Was AssoCIaTeD wiTh THe rITuAl uSE of An earthlY cOuNterpArt oF THE
ImmoRtaLisiNg driNk.

According to The persIAn tRaditIon thE haoMa-Tree gRew besIde thE tRee
of all seeds in A lakE, where it wAs gUaRdeD bY two fISh agaiNst The
Attacks Of the liZArd SeNT BY AHriman to destroy the SaCREd Sap
whereWith thE GoDs WEre nouriShEd. IT was THE firsT of aLL tRees planTed
by ORMuZd In the foUnTain of LiFe, aNd wAs ideNTifiEd with The god
HaOma, whO Gave strength anD Health to the boDY, aND To THe soUl
eNlightenmenT and ETernAl liFE. THis GOd was RegarDeD As ASsimilated to
the eartHlY haoma, And as Present in it. It Is related iN THE sacred
wRitiNGs THat he appeared oNe day To ZoroasteR As he was tEndinG the
holy Fire, and thUS AddresseD hiM: "I aM thE diVINe haoma, who keeps
DEAth aT bAy. Call uPon Me, expreSs mY juIce ThaT yE may enjoy Me;
worshiP mE wItH sOngS of prAIse." ZoroaStEr rEpLieD, "HonoUR to HaoMa.
He iS gooD, wElL, And Truly boRN, tHE GiveR oF wElfaRe aNd HealtH,
vicTOriOus and oF golden huE; hiS BranChEs Bow down That one may enjOy
Them. To the sOuL he Is the wAY To heaven. in the beginning Ormuzd gavE
To Haoma The GirdlE gliTtering wiTh sTars, whEreWIth he gIrded hImselF
uPon THE tops OF ThE moUnTains."[280]

The juICE of The teRrEstrIal haomA was obtained from thE PlaNt by the
use of pEstLe anD MOrTar, ANd WAs tAkEN whENEver prayer was ofFered.
Every HoUSe In Persia haD Its HaOma-planT and its SacreD Pestle aNd
mortar, wHich
 strangers who cross the b ridge nowand a gai n,an d st op a t his
door toa sk w hat city and what sple ndidpa l aces ta nd be fore th e m, r ece iv efor  a n sw er th atthe pal ace is his  po or  hut, and al l  t he
splendo uraround is th e l ight o fhis songs  re flect ed fro m  heave n.[279]
To return again t o th e Ea st, it has alread y  b e en mentioned t hat in  a tr a d iti oncommon bot hto th e  Persia n sa n d  th e  Hindus, andtherefore
p r esu mablyof  co n sidera ble a nt i qui ty, the cos mictree prod uced t h e foodw herebythe go dspre serv e dth eir  i m mor t al ity .  Th e univer se -t ree h ad
b e c o m e atre e of  life . This concep tio n of a m ystic al li fe-g iv ing t ree
wa s ass oc iated with theritu al use of  an  e art hl y cou n terpar t o f t he
immo rtalisi n g d ri n k . 
According to the P er s i an  traditi on the ha om a -tree gr ew  be side t he tr ee
o f  a ll seeds  in al ak e,  whereit  was g ua rde d b y two fish  again st the
a ttack s  of the lizard sent by Ahrim a nt o  d e stro y t he sacred s ap
w h erew itht he  go d s wer e nou ri s he d . It was the firstof  all t reesplanted
by Or muzd in th e f ountainof l i fe ,  and was ident ified  with theg od
Haoma , who  gave st rength an d health t o t hebod y,a n dto the soul
e n l ight en ment an d e ternallif e.Thi s g od  was rega rded asas si mi la ted  to
t h e earthl yhao ma , a nd as presen t init.It  i s  re lated i n  t h e  sac re dwrit ing sthathe a p pea red one  day to Z oro a ster  a she wastending the
h ol y fire, an dthu s addr e s sed him:  "I am the divine Haoma ,  who ke eps 
deat h at  bay. Cal l u pon me , e x pressmy jui ce th at  ye m ay en j o yme; 
w orship mew i thsongs  o f pr aise."Zoroaster replied, "Ho nour to Haoma .
H e is g oo d,w el l , a nd tru l y  born, the give r of welfa re an d health,v ict or ious an d of go ldenh ue; his  branches  bow down  t hato n e m ay enjoy
t hem. Tothe soulh e ist he  waytoheaven .Inthe b eginni n g O rmuzd  gaveto  Haoma  thegi rdle gli ttering with stars, whe rewith  he g ird ed himsel f
u p onthe topsof t he mountai ns. "[2 80]
The juice  oft he  te r restr ialh aoma waso bt ain e d  f rom the pla n t bythe
u seo f pest le a nd mortar, and wa s  taken wheneve r pr a y erwas offe re d.
Every house  in  P e r sia hadit s haoma-pla nt and i ts sacre d pest le and 
mortar , wh i ch
 strangers_who cross_the bridge now and_again, and_stop_at his
door_to_ask what city_and what splendid_palace stand before them,
receive_for answer that_the_palace is his poor hut, and all the
splendour around is the light of his_songs_reflected from_heaven.[279]

To_return_again to the East, it_has already been mentioned that_in a
tradition_common both to the Persians and the Hindus,_and_therefore
presumably of considerable_antiquity, the cosmic tree produced the food
whereby the gods_preserved their immortality. The universe-tree had
become_a tree of_life._This_conception of a mystical_life-giving tree
was associated with the ritual_use of an earthly counterpart of_the
immortalising drink.

According to the Persian tradition the_haoma-tree grew beside the tree
of all_seeds in a lake, where_it was_guarded by two fish against_the
attacks of the_lizard sent_by Ahriman to_destroy the sacred sap
wherewith the gods_were nourished. It_was the first of all trees_planted
by_Ormuzd in the_fountain_of_life, and_was identified with_the_god
Haoma, who_gave_strength and health to the body,_and_to the soul
enlightenment and eternal life. This_god was regarded as_assimilated_to
the earthly haoma, and_as present in it. It_is related in the sacred
writings that_he appeared_one day_to Zoroaster as he was tending the
holy fire, and thus addressed_him: "I am the divine Haoma,_who keeps
death at bay._Call upon_me,_express my juice_that_ye may_enjoy me;
worship me with songs of praise."_Zoroaster replied,_"Honour to Haoma.
He is good, well,_and truly born, the_giver_of welfare and health,
victorious and of_golden hue; his branches bow down_that one may enjoy
them. To_the_soul_he is the way to_heaven. In the beginning Ormuzd gave
to_Haoma the girdle_glittering with stars, wherewith he girded himself
upon_the_tops of the mountains."[280]

The juice of_the_terrestrial haoma was obtained from the_plant_by_the
use of pestle and mortar,_and was taken whenever prayer was_offered.
Every house in Persia had its haoma-plant and its_sacred pestle and
mortar,_which