Editing Demon (section)

=== Ancient Zoroastrianism ===
[[File:Arzhang (The Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp).png|thumb|upright|[[Arzhang Div]] (The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp). The demon is inspired by ancient Persian beliefs.<ref>Doostkhah, Jalil. "Az and Niyaz, Two Powerful and Haughty Demons in Persian Mythology and Epics." Sydney Studies in Religion (1998).</ref>]]
[[File:Rostam carried by Akwan-Diwa (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Akvan Div]] (The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp)]]
{{Main|Daeva}}
The [[Zorastrianism|Zoroastrian]] concept of demons (''[[Daeva]]'', later ''{{Lang|pal-latn|dīv}}'')<ref>Eduljee, K. E. "Zoroastrian Heritage." On-line at: http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism (2014).</ref> had strong influence on the [[Abrahamic religion]]s, especially [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]]. By elevating [[Ahura Mazda]] to the one supreme God, the founder [[Zoroaster]] relegated the daevas to demons.<ref name="Russell, Jeffrey Burton 1987. p. 104">Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The devil: Perceptions of evil from antiquity to primitive Christianity. Cornell University Press, 1987. p. 104</ref> Emphasizing [[free-will]], Zoroaster taught that demons became evil by their own volition in rejecting truth over falsehood.<ref name="Russell, Jeffrey Burton 1987. p. 104"/>  At a later stage, [[Mazdaism]] makes [[Ahriman]], the principle of Evil (i.e. the Devil), the creator of demons and leader of daevas.<ref>Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The devil: Perceptions of evil from antiquity to primitive Christianity. Cornell University Press, 1987. p. 105</ref>

The battle between the hosts of deities against evil demons ({{Lang|pal-latn|dīv}} and {{Lang|pal-latn|druz}}) are described in the [[Bundahishn]].<ref>Shaked, Shaul. The Bundahisn: The Zoroastrian Book of Creation. Oxford University Press, 2020. p. xviii</ref> Humankind lives in a world between the good powers of God (Ahura Mazda) and the Devil (Ahriman) and suffers corruption through defection of humankind. Therefore, Zorastrianism proposes a threefold nature for humans: divine, animalistic, and demonic.<ref name="Russell, Jeffrey Burton 1987. p. 115">Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The devil: Perceptions of evil from antiquity to primitive Christianity. Cornell University Press, 1987. p. 115</ref> As such, humans are obligated to keep fighting the demonic traits.<ref name="Russell, Jeffrey Burton 1987. p. 115"/> After death, people must cross the [[Chinvat Bridge]] to enter paradise. However, those who have chosen evil in their life will fall into the pit of hell. In hell, the damned are tormented by the demons.<ref>Russell, Jeffrey Burton. The devil: Perceptions of evil from antiquity to primitive Christianity. Cornell University Press, 1987. p. 119</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nigosian |first=Solomon Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uspf6eDDvjAC |title=The Zoroastrian Faith: Tradition and Modern Research |date=1993 |publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP |isbn=978-0-7735-1144-6}}</ref>

In the [[Avesta|Younger Avesta]], demons (daēuua) cause deseases and death.<ref name="Maul, S. 2006"/> By abiding to ritual purification and recitation of sacred prayers, demons can be warded off and kept at bay.<ref name="Maul, S. 2006"/>