Saoshyant is a figure of Zoroastrian eschatology who brings about the final renovation of the world, the
FrashokeretiFrasho.kereti is the Avestan language term for the Zoroastrian doctrine of a final renovation of the universe, when evil will be destroyed, and everything else will be then in perfect unity with Ahura Mazda...
. The
Avestan languageAvestan is an Eastern Iranian language known only from its use as the language of Zoroastrian scripture, i.e. the Avesta, from which it derives its name. The language must also at some time have been a natural language, but how long ago that was is unknown...
name literally means "one who brings benefit," and is also used as common noun.
In the
GathasThe Gathas are 17 hymns believed to have been composed by Zarathusthra himself. They are the most sacred texts of the Zoroastrian faith.-Structure and organization:...
, the most sacred hymns of Zoroastrianism and believed to have been composed by
ZoroasterZoroaster or Zarathushtra , also referred to as Zartosht , was an ancient Iranian prophet and religious poet. The hymns attributed to him, the Gathas, are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism...
himself, the term is used to refer to the prophet's own mission and to his community of followers, who "bring benefit" to humanity.
Saoshyant is a figure of Zoroastrian eschatology who brings about the final renovation of the world, the
FrashokeretiFrasho.kereti is the Avestan language term for the Zoroastrian doctrine of a final renovation of the universe, when evil will be destroyed, and everything else will be then in perfect unity with Ahura Mazda...
. The
Avestan languageAvestan is an Eastern Iranian language known only from its use as the language of Zoroastrian scripture, i.e. the Avesta, from which it derives its name. The language must also at some time have been a natural language, but how long ago that was is unknown...
name literally means "one who brings benefit," and is also used as common noun.
In scripture
In the
GathasThe Gathas are 17 hymns believed to have been composed by Zarathusthra himself. They are the most sacred texts of the Zoroastrian faith.-Structure and organization:...
, the most sacred hymns of Zoroastrianism and believed to have been composed by
ZoroasterZoroaster or Zarathushtra , also referred to as Zartosht , was an ancient Iranian prophet and religious poet. The hymns attributed to him, the Gathas, are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism...
himself, the term is used to refer to the prophet's own mission and to his community of followers, who "bring benefit" to humanity. 'Saoshyant' may have been a term originally applied to Zoroaster himself (e.g.
Yasna 46.3)
The common noun, which also appears in the Younger Avesta (e.g.
Yasna 61.5), is also used as a generic to denote religious leaders and another common noun
airyamanIn the Avesta, ' is both an Avestan language common noun as well as the proper name of a Zoroastrian divinity.The common noun is a theological and social term literally meaning "member of community or tribe." In a secondary development, the common noun became the proper name of a divinity...
"member of community" is an epithet of these
saoshyants. In contrast, the standing epithet of the saviour figure(s) is
'astvat-ә
rә
ta' "embodying righteousness," which has
arta/ashaAsha or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine. In the moral sphere, aša/arta represents what has been called "the decisive confessional concept of Zoroastrianism." . The opposite of Avestan aša is druj, "lie."The...
"Truth" as an element of the name. These saviours are those who follow Ahura Mazda's teaching "with acts inspired by asha" (
Yasna 48.12).
'Saoshyant' appears as a proper name in the Younger Avesta, explicitly so in
Yasht 13.129 where it is used in the singular and where 'Astvat-ereta' is also invoked as an alternate name of 'Saoshyant'. The singular also appears in
Yasna 59.1 where Verethragna is said to be Saoshyant's weapon in overcoming resistance. A plural form appears for instance in
Yasht 17.1 where
AshiRav Ashi was a celebrated Jewish religious scholar, a Babylonian amora, who reestablished the academy at Sura and was first editor of the Babylonian Talmud...
-- the divinity of "recompense" -- is described to give the Saoshyants the power of "making wonderful" (
frasho.kereti).
In tradition
Already alluded to in scripture (e.g. Yasht 19.92), but only properly developed in the 9th-12th century texts of Zoroastrian tradition is the role of the Saoshyant during the final renovation. In these
Middle PersianMiddle Persian is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as Western Iranian language...
texts, the name is rendered as
Sōshans.
Zoroastrian tradition envisions three future saviours, one for the end of each 1,000-year period that comprise the last 3,000 years of the world. All three will be born of maidens, conceived while their mothers bathed in a lake that miraculously preserved the seed of the prophet Zoroaster himself. The first will be named Hushedar, the second Hushedarmah, and the third will be Saoshyant, who will lead humanity in the final battle against falsehood.
The story of the Saoshyant's conception and early life are described in
DenkardThe Dēnkard or Dēnkart is a 10th century compendium of the Mazdaen Zoroastrian beliefs and customs. The Denkard is to a great extent an "Encyclopedia of Mazdaism" and is a most valuable source of information on the religion...
7.10.15ff as follows: Thirty years before the decisive final battle, a maiden named Eredat-fedhri ("Victorious Helper") and whose nickname is "Body-maker" will enter a lake (in Yasht 19.92, this is "Lake Kansava"). Sitting in the water, the girl, who has "not associated with men" will receive "victorious knowledge." Her son, when born, will not know nourishment from his mother, his body will be sun-like, and the "royal glory" of Khwarenah will be with him. Then, for the next 57 years he will subsist on only vegetables (17 years), then only water (30 years) and then for the final 10 years only on "spiritual food."
The events of the final renovation are described in the
BundahishnBundahishn, meaning "Primal Creation", is the name traditionally given to an encyclopædiaic collections of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology written in Book Pahlavi. The original name of the work is not known....
(30.1ff):
In the final battle with evil, the
yazatasYazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept. The word has a wide range of meaning but generally signifies a divinity...
AiryamanIn the Avesta, ' is both an Avestan language common noun as well as the proper name of a Zoroastrian divinity.The common noun is a theological and social term literally meaning "member of community or tribe." In a secondary development, the common noun became the proper name of a divinity...
and
AtarAtar is the Zoroastrian concept for "burning and unburning fire" and "visible and invisible fire" .In an unrestricted sense, atar is heat - that is, thermal energy, manifest as fire or other luminous source when visible...
will "melt the metal in the hills and mountains, and it will be upon the earth like a river" (
BundahishnBundahishn, meaning "Primal Creation", is the name traditionally given to an encyclopædiaic collections of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology written in Book Pahlavi. The original name of the work is not known....
34.18), but the righteous (
ashavanAvestan ashavan is a Zoroastrian theological term. It literally means "possessing aša", hence "possessing truth" or "possessing righteousness", but has further implications:...
) will not be harmed.
Eventually,
Ahura MazdaAhura Mazda is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator.The Zoroastrian faith is described by its adherents as Mazdayasna, the worship of Mazda. In the Avesta, "Ahura Mazda is the highest object of worship", the first and most frequently invoked...
will triumph, and his agent Saoshyant will resurrect the dead, whose bodies will be restored to eternal perfection, and whose souls will be cleansed and reunited with God. Time will then end, and truth/righteousness (
ashaAsha or arta is the Avestan language term for a concept of cardinal importance to Zoroastrian theology and doctrine. In the moral sphere, aša/arta represents what has been called "the decisive confessional concept of Zoroastrianism." . The opposite of Avestan aša is druj, "lie."The...
) and immortality will thereafter be everlasting.