Ashavan (Avestan: 𐬀𐬴𐬀𐬬𐬀𐬥ašavan) is aZoroastrian theological term. It literally means "possessing/masteringaša" and has been interpreted as "possessing/mastering truth" or "possessing/mastering righteousness", but has further implications:
It is an epithet ofAhura Mazda[1] (Yasht 1.12). The term may then be applied to anything within the domain of Ahura Mazda and/orAša (i.e. all of Creation), and excludes only that which isdrəgvant "possessing lie" (YAv:drvant).[2]
With respect to mortals and in aneschatological andsotereological context,ašavan is also a quality that can be acquired in life. Then, having acquired the qualities of anašavan, one becomes anašavan (through "blessed union with aša") after death.[3] (See also:aša: in eschatology and sotereology). This soteriological meaning ofašavan is also evident inXerxes'daiva inscription,[4] anOld Persian text (XPh, early5th century BCE). This next-world meaning ofašavan is preserved inMiddle Iranian languages asPahlaviahlav.
Ašavan may be used to denoteany follower of the "Good Religion." This is the most common use ofašavan, applicable to any who walk the "path of truth" (Yasna 68.12 and 68.13). In this context,Ašavan is frequently translated as "righteous person" or "blessed person." This general meaning ofašavan is preserved inMiddle Iranian languages asPahlaviardav.
The linguistic cognate of Avestanašavan isVedic ऋतावन्ṛtā́van, which, however, has some functional differences vis-à-vis the Zoroastrian term:
The dichotomy of theašavan and thedrəgvant is not attested in theVedas.[5]
In Zoroastrianism any mortal may strive to possessaša, but in the Vedas,ṛtá is hidden from ordinary mortals and only initiated seers are allowed to possess it (becomeṛtā́vans).[4]
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.[6]
Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques (1963), "Heraclitus and Iran",History of Religions,3 (1):34–49,doi:10.1086/462470,S2CID62860085.
Gershevitch, Ilya (1955), "Word and Spirit in Ossetic",Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies,17 (3):478–489,doi:10.1017/S0041977X0011239X,S2CID194030467.
Gershevitch, Ilya (1964), "Zoroaster's Own Contribution",Journal of Near Eastern Studies,23 (1):12–38,doi:10.1086/371754,S2CID161954467.
Gnoli, Gerardo (1987), "Ašavan",Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 2, New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul, pp. 705–706.
Gray, Louis H. (1926), "List of the Divine and Demonic Epithets in the Avesta",Journal of the American Oriental Society,46:97–153,doi:10.2307/593793,JSTOR593793.
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