Ashavan

Ashavan (Avestan: 𐬀𐬴𐬀𐬬𐬀𐬥 ašavan) is a Zoroastrian theological term. It literally means "possessing/mastering aša" and has been interpreted as "possessing/mastering truth" or "possessing/mastering righteousness", but has further implications:

• It is an epithet of Ahura Mazda (Yasht 1.12). The term may then be applied to anything within the domain of Ahura Mazda and/or AÅ¡a (i.e. all of Creation), and excludes only that which is drəgvant "possessing lie" (YAv: drvant).
• With respect to mortals and in an eschatological and sotereological context, aÅ¡avan is also a quality that can be acquired in life. Then, having acquired the qualities of an aÅ¡avan, one becomes an aÅ¡avan (through "blessed union with aÅ¡a") after death. (See also: aÅ¡a: in eschatology and sotereology). This soteriological meaning of aÅ¡avan is also evident in Xerxes' daiva inscription, an Old Persian text (XPh, early 5th century BCE). This next-world meaning of aÅ¡avan is preserved in Middle Iranian languages as Pahlavi ahlav.
• AÅ¡avan may be used to denote <u>any</u> follower of the "Good Religion." This is the most common use of aÅ¡avan, applicable to any who walk the "path of truth" (Yasna 68.12 and 68.13). In this context, AÅ¡avan is frequently translated as "righteous person" or "blessed person." This general meaning of aÅ¡avan is preserved in Middle Iranian languages as Pahlavi ardav.

The linguistic cognate of Avestan ašavan is Vedic ऋतावन् ṛtā́van, which, however, has some functional differences vis-à-vis the Zoroastrian term:

• The dichotomy of the aÅ¡avan and the drəgvant is not attested in the Vedas.
• In Zoroastrianism any mortal may strive to possess aÅ¡a, but in the Vedas, ṛtá is hidden from ordinary mortals and only initiated seers are allowed to possess it (become ṛtā́vans).

That the souls of the dead dwell in the radiant quarters of Asha (Yasna 16.7) has a Vedic parallel in which the seat of truth is located in the other world.

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