Persian - Druj

Druj (Drug)

The fundamental principle of falsehood, deception, and cosmic disorder that opposes Asha (Truth). Druj is not merely lying but the active corruption of reality, the dissolution of order, and the principle chosen by Angra Mainyu at the beginning of time. It represents everything that is contrary to truth, justice, and divine order.

⚠️ Fundamental Opposition: Druj is not equal to Asha but parasitic upon it. Druj cannot create, only corrupt. It has no independent existence but depends on perverting what Ahura Mazda has made good. While powerful in the present age, Druj is destined for complete annihilation.

Nature of Druj

Threefold Manifestation

1. Cosmic Disorder (Metaphysical Druj)

Entropy: The breakdown of order and structure
Disease: Corruption of health and wholeness
Death: The ultimate disruption of life
Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, droughts, floods
Decay: Rot, corruption, disintegration of matter

2. Moral Falsehood (Ethical Druj)

Lying: Speaking falsehood, deception
Injustice: Violation of fairness and right
Oath-breaking: Violation of sacred promises
Impurity: Physical and spiritual contamination
Violence: Unjustified harm and cruelty

3. Illusory Reality (Ontological Druj)

Delusion: False perception of reality
Ignorance: Active opposition to truth and knowledge
Doubt: Confusion about cosmic principles
Spiritual Blindness: Inability to perceive divine truth

📚 Primary Sources: Druj

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Avesta - Yasna (Gathas)

Avesta:Yasna 30:Verse 6

"Of these twin Spirits he that followed the Lie chose doing the worst things; the holiest Spirit chose Right, he that clothes himself with the massy heavens as a garment. So likewise they that are fain to please Ahura Mazda by dutiful actions."

Source: Avesta, Yasna 30, c. 1500-1000 BCE

Avesta:Yasna 32:Verse 3

"The Liar stays the supporters of Right from progress in dominion and Right, by his actions; and they deprive them of Good Mind and the Dominion of Ahura Mazda, even those whose actions have been bad. By these actions ye have made yourselves to be the instruments whereby the Liar advances the Druj."

Source: Avesta, Yasna 32, c. 1500-1000 BCE

Avesta:Yasna 45:Verse 2

"No more shall the Evil Teacher destroy the second life by his doctrines, the wicked one, the Speaker of Untruth (Druj-vant), by his tongue has led men to choose the worst."

Source: Avesta, Yasna 45, c. 1500-1000 BCE

Avesta:Yasna 51:Verse 4

"Whoso worketh ill for the liar, by word, or thought, or by his hands, or converts his dependent who is a good citizen from good to evil, such a one meets the desire of Ahura Mazda to his satisfaction."

Source: Avesta, Yasna 51, c. 1500-1000 BCE

Vendidad (Law Against Demons)

Avesta:Vendidad 1:Verse 1-3

"Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathustra, saying: 'I have made every land dear to its people, though it had no charms whatever in it. Then Angra Mainyu, who is all death, counter-created by his witchcraft: The serpent in the river and winter - a work of the Daevas.'"

Source: Avesta, Vendidad 1, c. 1000 BCE - 500 CE

Avesta:Vendidad 8:Verse 72-74

"The Druj is the most baneful of all plagues. The Druj is the most deadly of all deadly things. The Druj is the worst of all evils."

Source: Avesta, Vendidad 8, c. 1000 BCE - 500 CE

Personification: The Druj Demoness

Druj is also personified as a female demon, the arch-daeva who opposes Asha Vahishta. As a demon, Druj:

Corrupts the Righteous: Tempts followers of Asha toward falsehood
Spreads Disease: Brings plague, pestilence, and corruption
Deceives Humanity: Creates illusions and false beliefs
Opposes Truth: Directly battles Asha Vahishta in cosmic conflict
Empowers Other Daevas: Strengthens the forces of Angra Mainyu

The Druj Nasu: One specific manifestation is the Druj Nasu (Corpse Druj), a demon of decay that rushes to inhabit dead bodies. This is why Zoroastrian burial practices emphasize preventing contact with corpses, which are considered highly contaminating.

Followers of Druj (Drujvant)

Those who choose Druj over Asha are called Drujvant (followers of the Lie). They are characterized by:

Actions of the Drujvant

Deliberate Falsehood: Lying, especially about sacred matters
Broken Oaths: Violating promises and contracts
Injustice: Oppressing the weak, taking what belongs to others
Violence: Harming the innocent, cruelty to animals
Corruption of Purity: Deliberate contamination of clean things
Apostasy: Turning from Ahura Mazda to serve Angra Mainyu
Spreading Doubt: Leading others away from truth

Fate of the Drujvant

After death, the Drujvant soul faces judgment at the Chinvat Bridge:

The bridge narrows to a razor's edge
An ugly hag (personification of their evil deeds) greets them
They fall into the House of Lies (Duzh-hoo), a place of torment
They remain there until Frashokereti, when all souls face final judgment
Those who repent may yet be purified; the truly wicked are annihilated

Combat Against Druj

Individual Defense

Every Zoroastrian is called to actively oppose Druj through:

Living in Asha: Following the Threefold Path of good thoughts, words, deeds
Speaking Truth: Absolute honesty in all circumstances
Maintaining Purity: Physical cleanliness and spiritual righteousness
Opposing Evil: Active resistance to injustice and falsehood
Sacred Prayers: Reciting Ashem Vohu and Ahunwar
Fire Worship: Sacred fire purifies and repels Druj

Priestly Purification

Priests perform specific rituals to combat Druj:

Barashnom: Nine-day purification ceremony for severe contamination
Yasna Ceremony: Liturgical ritual that strengthens Asha
Nirang: Consecrated bull's urine for purification
Fire Consecration: Establishing sacred fires that repel evil

The Cosmic Struggle: Asha vs. Druj

Asha (Truth)

Reality, truth
Order, cosmos
Light, knowledge
Life, health
Creation
Justice
Eternal existence
VICTORY ASSURED

Druj (Lie)

Illusion, falsehood
Chaos, disorder
Darkness, ignorance
Death, disease
Corruption
Injustice
Temporary existence
ANNIHILATION CERTAIN

Critical Point: This is not an eternal dualism. Druj is parasitic, temporary, and doomed. In the Frashokereti, all Druj will be purged from existence forever. Only Asha is eternal.