Mandane, little Cyrus's mother, gazed at her newborn with a gentle smile. Unlike many other infants who would wear out their nurses with incessant cries, Cyrus seemed calm and thoughtful. He rarely fussed and, most of the time, looked around with piercing, intelligent eyes, as if lost in the depths of his own thoughts. Mandane, as she gently held him and hummed a soft lullaby, was delighted by her child's unusual silence and tranquility. She and her handmaidens experienced deep joy amidst their daily fatigue, grateful that their newborn was so calm and undemanding.
Deep in Mandane's heart, a firm belief had taken root; she profoundly believed that Ahura Mazda, the Great God, had placed the Farr-e Izadi within Cyrus and blessed him. This "Divine Glory" or "Kayanian Glory," which in ancient Iranian beliefs was considered a divine light and a heavenly gift for righteous kings and heroes, was, in Mandane's mind, the only explanation for her son's calmness, intelligence, and profound gaze. She believed that Ahura Mazda had a grand plan for this newborn and that he would one day reach the greatness of his ancestors in the history of Media and Parsa, perhaps even surpassing them.
Cyrus's very tranquility and intelligence encouraged Mandane to speak to him for hours and recount ancient stories, as if her newborn understood every word. Today, she decided to tell her son a story about Anahita, the goddess of waters; a story that had been told to her since childhood and had passed down through generations among the Medes and Persians. She gently placed Cyrus in a wooden cradle by a window overlooking the garden, so that the faint morning sun could shine upon his innocent face.
Mandane began in her warm, melodic voice: "My beloved child, among our great gods and goddesses, there is a goddess whose name is Anahita. She is the guardian goddess of waters; the pure waters that spring from the heart of the mountains, the rivers that quench the earth's thirst, and the rains that fall upon the dry desert. She is not merely a protector but also a cleanser and bestower of purity. It is she who purifies the waters of impurities and grants life to the plains." She continued: "Anahita, powerful and majestic, with an eight-pointed crown and a hundred glittering stars on her head, rides a chariot pulled 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 abundance of flocks and victory in battles. It is Anahita who gives life to seeds and brings blossoms to trees, and is the source of abundant harvest."
Mandane took a deep breath and added: "But Anahita is not merely the goddess of fertility and water; she is also the goddess of war and victory. It is she who bestows courage upon warriors and strength upon their spears. Our great companions in the past, before every battle, swore oaths to Anahita and sought her aid to triumph over their enemies. With her power, she overcomes demonic foes and is a symbol of purity, strength, and glory."
Throughout this narrative, little Cyrus remained motionless and focused on his mother's lips, as if recording every word deep within his mind. Mandane, with a strange sense of connection, continued: "Anahita is a glorious name, and many temples have been built for her across our lands; temples that were always constructed near springs and rivers to honor the pure waters. It is she who grants these waters the power of healing and blessing, and wherever there is water, life and hope flow."
At the end of the story, Mandane held Cyrus tighter in her arms and whispered: "My son, may you too, like Anahita's pure waters, be both life-giving and mighty. May the Farr-e Izadi of Ahura Mazda remain with you and transform you into a just and powerful ruler; a ruler who, like water, gives life, and like Anahita's warriors, is brave. You are the peace of my soul, and the future of this land is visible in your eyes."