[Mehrbod]

Asho-zushta
aka: Asho zusta

The bird Asho-zushta has the Avesta on his tongue, and when he recites the words the demons are frightened. When the nails of a Zoroastrian are cut, the faithful must say:
"O Asho-zushta bird! these nails I present to thee and consecrate to thee. May they be for thee so many spears and knives, so many bows and eagle-winged arrows, so many sling-stones against the Maz
ainyan demons".

If one recites this formula, the fiends tremble and do not take up the nails, but if the parings have had no spell uttered over them, the demons and wizards use them as arrows against the bird Asho-zushta and kill him. Therefore, when the nails have had a charm spoken over them, the bird takes them and eats them, that the fiends may do no harm by their means. Asho-zushta is probably the theological name of the owl .

The word literally means 'friend of holiness. For the bird Asho-zushta they recite the Avesta formula; if they recite it, the fiends tremble and do not take up the nails.