Mandane, little Kourosh's mother, gazed at her infant with a calm smile and a look full of affection. Kourosh, unlike many other newborns who exasperated their nurses with incessant crying and robbed them of sleep, seemed calm and contemplative. He rarely grew restless and spent most of his time looking around with piercing, intelligent eyes, as if lost deep in his own thoughts, pondering the secrets of the universe. Mandane, while gently holding him and humming ancient Persian lullabies, was delighted by her son's unusual silence and tranquility. She and her handmaidens, relieved from the care of such a calm and untroubled infant, experienced a deep joy and wonder amidst their daily fatigue, considering him a heavenly gift.
In Mandane's heart, a firm and deep-rooted belief, like an ancient tree, had taken hold; she deeply believed that Ahura Mazda, the great god and creator of existence, had placed his Divine Glory within Kourosh and blessed him. This "Farrah-e Izadi" or "Royal Fortune," which in ancient Iranian beliefs was considered a divine light and a celestial gift for righteous kings and heroes, was, in Mandane's mind, the only explanation for her son's unparalleled calm, astonishing intelligence, and deep, penetrating gaze. She believed that Ahura Mazda had a grand plan for this infant, and that one day he would achieve the greatness of his ancestors in the history of Media and Persia, perhaps even surpassing them, and would make the name of Iran eternal for thousands of years.
This very calmness and boundless intelligence of Kourosh encouraged Mandane to speak to him for hours, recounting ancient and epic tales, as if her infant understood all her words and recorded every syllable in the depths of his soul. Today, she decided to tell her son a story of Anahita, the great goddess of the waters and fertility; a story that had been told to her since childhood and had been passed down from generation to generation among the Medes and Persians, woven into the fabric of their culture. She gently placed Kourosh in a wooden cradle, adorned with delicate Persian carvings, next to a window facing the garden, so that the faint morning sunlight would fall upon his innocent and calming face, as if to bless him.
Mandane began with her warm and melodic voice, which echoed in the space like the sound of a harp: "My beloved child, among our great gods and deities, there is a goddess named Anahita. She is the guardian goddess of the waters; the pure waters that spring from the high mountains, the rivers that quench the earth, and the rains that fall on the dry desert and give life. She is not only a protector but also a purifier and a bestower of purity. It is she who cleanses the waters of impurities and brings life and greenery to the plains and is the source of life." She continued, "Anahita, powerful and magnificent, with an eight-rayed crown and a hundred shining stars on her head, rides a chariot drawn by four horses; horses of wind, rain, cloud, and hail. She is a symbol of fertility and birth, for water is the source of life and greenery. Women pray to her for fertility, and men for the increase of their flocks and for victory in battles. It is Anahita who gives life to seeds and blossoms to trees and is the source of abundant harvests."
Mandane took a deep breath and added in a tone full of respect, "But Anahita is not only the goddess of fertility and water; she is also the goddess of war and victory. It is she who instills courage in the hearts of warriors and gives strength to their spears, so they may stand against demonic enemies. Our great companions in the past, before every battle, would swear an oath to Anahita and seek her help to be victorious against their foes. With her power, she overcomes demonic enemies and is a symbol of purity, strength, and glory. It is she who boosts the morale of our soldiers and paves the way for their victory." Her voice echoed in the room, seemingly bringing the images of this powerful goddess to life in Kourosh's mind.
Throughout this narrative, little Kourosh stared motionlessly and intently at his mother's lips, as if recording every word in the depths of his mind and analyzing them in connection with his prior knowledge. Mandane, with a strange sense of connection and an unspoken understanding, continued, "Anahita is a glorious name, and many temples have been built for her throughout our lands; temples that were always built next to springs and rivers to honor the pure waters and for people to benefit from their blessings. It is she who gives these waters the power of healing and blessing, and wherever there is water, there is also life and hope. For this reason, our people respect water and consider it the source of life."
At the end of the story, Mandane held Kourosh tighter in her arms and planted a warm kiss on his forehead. She whispered in a soft and emotional voice, "My son, may you, like the pure waters of Anahita, be both life-giving and powerful. May the Divine Glory of Ahura Mazda remain in you and turn you into a just and powerful ruler; a ruler who, like water, is life-giving, and like the warriors of Anahita, is courageous and vanquishes the enemy on the battlefield. You are the peace of my soul, and the future of this land is visible in your eyes." She looked into Kourosh's eyes and saw in them a light of Persia's bright future.
Mandane, with a heart full of love and hope, looked at this little infant nestled in her arms. She knew that Kourosh was no ordinary child; he was a gift from Ahura Mazda, with a great destiny awaiting him. Although at that time, she was just a mother who loved her child with all her being, in her heart, the belief had taken root that her son would one day not only become a great king but also the savior of his people and the bringer of peace and justice to the entire world. This motherly love was the force that would keep Mandane steadfast against all future hardships and intrigues and would make her an unwavering supporter of Kourosh.