Saoshyant

Soshiant ( ) is an Avestan-language term that literally means "one who brings benefit", and which is used in several different ways in Zoroastrian scripture and tradition. In particular, the expression is the proper name of the Soshiant, an eschatological saviour figure who brings about Frashokereti, the final renovation of the world in which evil is finally destroyed. The term was contracted to Soshans in Zoroastrian tradition and came to apply to three saviour figures that were prophesied to progressively bring about the final renovation.

==Etymology== The Avestan word Saoshyant derives from an active participle (indicated by the ) of the future stem of the verbal root /, which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root 'to swell'. The Avestan 'strong' and 'ever-thriving' derive from this root. Over time, the verbal root acquired the extended meanings 'to be of use, profit, advantage' and 'to create profit, use, advantage, to further'. It is in this extended sense that the word Saoshyant was understood by Zoroastrians. In stanzas 128 and 129 of Yasht 13, the following explanation of the word's etymology is given: "we worship the of righteous , who will be the Victorious by name ... (he is called) because he will further () all material life".