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THE RENOVATION

Any kind of wickedness that may still be lingering, in spite of his supreme beneficence, will perish through his presence.[1] The angels will enable mankind to co-operate with the great apostle Soshyos to rout Druj.[2] In advance of his divine mission to the world he has met Ormazd in conference and has received the supreme sanction for his task.[3] During the fifty-seven years of his work, he will drive out the drujes from the world,[4] and will make the world eternally happy.[5]

The collaborators of Soshyos. Ormazd has ordained that Soshyos will be helped by certain great persons who have departed from the world, but who remain immortal and are still living in the body, and are yet to exert sway. The chief among these personages, potent for the eternal welfare of mankind, are Peshyotan, Aghrerat, Parsadga, Urvatadnar, Narsih, Tus, Giv, Ibairaz, Ashavazd,[6] with a thousand others.[7] Kaikhusru will arise to help Soshyos in the raising of the dead;[8] Peshyotan, or Chitra-mahan, will lend help with his hundred and fifty disciples.[9] Still another Pahlavi passage speaks of fifteen men and fifteen women among the living that are to come to the help of Soshyos.[10] They will all leaven the rest of mankind. Zohak, who is put in chains on Mount Demavand, shall even at the last break loose from the bonds in which he has been confined,[11] and as a monster-man will return to the world and disturb the righteous creation.[12] At the command of Ormazd, his ministers Srosh and Neryosangh approach the body of Kersasp and raise it from the dead. The hero then rises up and slays Zohak.[13] Soshyos and six of his companions, Roshn-chashm, Khur-chashm, Fradat-gadman, Varedat-gadman, Kamak-Vakhshishn, and Kamak-sud, all of which names have a spiritual significance,

  1. ↑ Dk., vol. 1, p. 49; vol. 2, p. 128
  2. ↑ Dk., vol. 2, p. 111, 112.
  3. ↑ Dk., vol. 8, p. 486.
  4. ↑ Ib.
  5. ↑ Dk., vol. 9, p. 617.
  6. ↑ Bd. 29. 5, 6; Dd. 36. 3.
  7. ↑ Jsp. p. 119.
  8. ↑ Dd. 36. 3; Mkh. 27. 59, 63; 57. 7; Dk., vol. 7, p. 485; SBE., vol. 47, bk. 7. 10. 10, p. 114.
  9. ↑ Dk., vol. 5, p. 275; SBE., vol. 47, bk. 7. 8. 45, 46, p. 104; BYt. 3. 27, 29.
  10. ↑ Bd. 30. 17.
  11. ↑ BYt. 3. 55, 56; cf. Revelation, 20. 2, 7–10.
  12. ↑ BYt. 3. 57.
  13. ↑ Bd. 29. 7–9; Dd. 36. 3; 37. 97; BYt. 3. 59–61; Dk., SBE., vol. 47, bk. 7. 10. 10, p. 114; vol. 37, bk. 9. 15. 2, p. 198, 199; Jsp. p. 118, 119.
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