Azhi Dahaki

[The Archivist]

Azhi Dahaki comes from Persian mythology. Ashi Dahaki was created by Angra Mainyu (aka Father of Lies).

[Morose]

Azi Dahaki:
Three headed Persian dragon. The Avestan term Azii Dahaki and the Middle Persian azdahag are the source of the Middle Persian Manichaean demon of greed Az, modern Persian Ojdeha and Tajik Persian azhdaha and Urdu azhdaha as well as the Kurdish Hazhdiha which usually mean "dragon". Despite the negative aspect of Azi Dahaki in mythology, dragons have been used on some banners of war throughout the history of Iranian peoples.

The Azhdarchid group of pterosaurs are named from an Persian word for "dragon" that ultimately comes from Azi Dahaki. He is described as a dragon style monster with three mouths, six eyes, and three heads, cunning, strong and demonic. But in other respects Azi Dahaki has human qualities, and is never a mere animal. Azi Dahaki appears in several of the Avestan myths and is mentioned parenthetically in many more places in Zoroastrian literature. In a post-Avestan Zoroastrian text, the Denkard, Azi Dahaki is possessed of all possible sins and evil counsels, the opposite of the good king Jam. His mother is Wadag (or Odag), herself described as a great sinner, who committed incest with her son. In the Avesta, Azi Dahaki is said to have lived in the inaccessible fortress of Kuuirinta in the land of Babri, where he worshipped the Anahita, the divinity of the rivers, and Vayu, divinity of the storm-wind. Based on the similarity between Babri and Old Persian Babiru (Babylon), later Zoroastrians localised Azi Dahaki in Mesopotamia, though the identification is open to doubt. Azhi Dahaki asked these two divinities for power to depopulate the world. Being representatives of the Good, they refused. In one Avestan text, Azi Dahaki has a brother named Spitiyura. Together they attack the hero Yima (Jamshid) and cut him in half with a saw, but are then beaten back by the Yazata Atar, the divine spirit of Fire.

Besides Azi Dahaka, several other dragons and dragon-like creatures are mentioned in Zoroastrian scripture...
Azi Sruvara the 'horned dragon.'Azi Zairita - the 'yellow dragon,' that is killed by the hero Keresaspa (Middle Persian Kirsasp - Yasna 9.1, 9.30; Yasht 19.19).
Azi Raoidita - the 'red dragon' conceived by Angra Mainyu's to bring about the 'daeva-induced winter' that is the reaction to Ahura Mazda's creation of the Airyanem Vaejah. (Vendidad 1.2).
Azi Vizapa - the 'dragon of poisonous slaver' that consumes offerings to Aban if they are made between sunset and sunrise (Nirangistan 48).
Gandareba - the 'yellow-heeled' monster of the sea 'Vourukasha' that can swallow twelve provinces at once. On emerging to destroy the entire creation of Asha, it too is slain by the hero Keresaspa. (Yasht 5.38, 15.28, 19.41)