ABSTRACT
The central concept of do ut des (‘I give that you might give’), that is the reciprocity of exchange between human being and deity, is at the centre of Zoroastrian theology. The importance of gift-giving as a mutual obligation is characterized by the ritualistic nature of the faith around the sacrifice to the gods. The Indo-Iranian ritual comprises a trilateral pattern of gift-exchange, in which benefactor(s), cleric(s), and god(s) are involved. An erroneously performed ritual, not only does not benefit and satisfy the gods (especially the supreme god Ahura Mazdā), but also might benefit the demons and thus be considered a ‘dangerous gift’. This essay examines the role and place of daēuuas within the scenario of a ritual drama of ‘gift exchange with the gods’. Being part of the ancient stage of Zoroastrianism, the daēuuas (as they appear in the Gāθās, the oldest part of the Zoroastrian sacred canon) can be served by their worshippers and receive ‘the worst (ritual) gift(s)’, whereas a good portion of the different rituals and accompanying prayers aim to prevent the daēuuas from benefitting from the gift-exchange process.
