{{Short description|Medieval Zoroastrian texts}} {{italic title}} {{Zoroastrianism sidebar}} The '''''Rivayats''''' (also spelled as '''''Revayats''''') are a series of exchanges between the [[Parsi|Zoroastrian community in India]] and their co-religionists in [[Early modern period|early modern]] [[Iran]].<ref name="Stausberg 2015">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YT-kBgAAQBAJ&q=Revayats&pg=PA533|title=The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism|last1=Stausberg|first1=Michael|last2=Vevaina|first2=Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw|last3=Tessmann|first3=Anna|date=2015-06-22|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781444331356|language=en}}</ref> They have been ascribed the same importance of the [[Talmud]] to [[Judaism]] by [[Jivanji Jamshedji Modi]].<ref name="Unvala 1922">{{Cite book |last=Unvala |first=Ervad Manockij Rustamji |title=Dārāb Hormazyār's Rivāyat: By Ervad Manockij Rustamji Unvala. With an introduction by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi |date=1922 |publisher=British India Press |language=fa |hdl=10524/46320}}</ref>
The word ''rivayat'' is derived from the [[Arabic]] ''riwāya'', meaning “narration.”
==Overview== The content of each Rivayat varies but they are usually queries on matters of worship, customs, rituals and observance.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xg5uAAAAMAAJ&q=rivayats|title=The Parsi Mind: A Zoroastrian Asset to Culture|last=Randeria|first=Jer Dara|date=1993|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers|isbn=9788121505604|language=en}}</ref> The issues range form the mundane, such as queries about the preparation of ink for the writing of religious documents, to important issues including conversion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ramiyarkaranjia.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/what-are-the-persian-revayatsrivayats-tmy-james-jamshed-of-26-3-2-4-17/|title=What are the Persian Revayats/Rivayats? (TMY – Jame Jamshed of 26-3 & 2-4-17)|date=2017-04-07|work=Ramiyar Karanjia|access-date=2018-07-03|language=en-US}}</ref>
Over three centuries, twenty-two Rivayats were sent from India to Persia. The first Revayat was brought in 1478 AD by Nariman Hoshang of [[Bharuch|Broach]].<ref name="Stausberg 2015" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=POkC2YC31RgC&q=nariman+hoshang&pg=PA174|title=Zoroastrianism: An Introduction|last=Rose|first=Jenny|date=2011-02-15|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781848850880|language=en}}</ref> Hoshang was a layman, supported by [[Chang Asa]] a notable leader of the [[Navsari]] Parsi community.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Fk9AAAAMAAJ&q=nariman+hoshang|title=Early History of the Parsees in India from Their Landing in Sanjan to 1700 A.D.|last=Paymaster|first=Rustom Burjorji|date=1954|publisher=Zartoshti Dharam Sambandhi Kelavni Apnari Ane Dnyan Felavnari Mandli|language=en}}</ref> Hoshang spent a year in [[Yazd Province|Yazd]], learning [[Persian language|Persian]] and supported himself by 'petty trade'.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=boyce+nariman+hoshang&pg=PA172|title=Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|last=Boyce|first=Mary|date=2001|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415239028|language=en}}</ref> Eventually his Persian improved to the extent that he was able to question the [[dastur]]s of Iran.
After this initial Rivayat, Indian priests would gather up questions and send representatives to Iran with the questions. These Rivayats are known by the emissary who brought them back. Some Rivayats are anonymous as the person who brought them is unknown, these Rivayats are more or less incomplete.<ref name="Unvala 1922" />
In the 17th century the Rivayats were classified according to the subject they pertained to by [[Hormazdyar Framarz]], [[Darab Hormazdyar]], and [[Barzo Kamdin]].
The Rivayats are notable as the only Modern Persian text composed in the [[Avestan alphabet|Avestan script]].
During the 18th Century the [[Kadmi]] sects in both Iran and India exchanged additional Rivayats, which culminated in the Rivayat-e Haftad va Hast (translated as the Rivayat of 78 Questions) (also known as the Ithoter Rivayat).<ref name="Stausberg 2015" />
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Zoroastrian literature}}
[[Category:Zoroastrian texts]]