# Rivayats

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Medieval Zoroastrian texts

Part of a series on Zoroastrianism Primary topics Ahura Mazda Zarathustra Asha Vohu Manah Persia/Iran Faravahar Avestan Divine entities Amesha Spentas Yazatas Mithra Ahuras Daevas Fravashi Angra Mainyu Scripture and worship Zoroastrian literature Avesta Ashem Vohu Ahuna Vairya Yenghe hatam Airyaman ishya Fire Temples 101 Names of Ahura Mazda Adur Burzen-Mihr Adur Farnbag Adur Gushnasp Cypress of Kashmar Gathas Yasna Vendidad Visperad Yashts Khordeh Avesta The Rivayats Ab-Zohr Accounts and legends Dēnkard Bundahišn Book of Arda Viraf Book of Jamasp Story of Sanjan Chinvat Bridge Frashokereti History and culture Zurvanism Mazdakism Khurramites Gayomarthians Azarkeivanian Mithraism Calendar Festivals Initiation Kushti Sedreh Marriage Burial Adherents Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan China Sichuan India Parsis Iranis Iran Iraq Pakistan Russia United States Uzbekistan Persecution of Zoroastrians Related topics Zoroastrianism and slavery Criticism of Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian cosmology Religious influences on Zoroastrianism Religion portal v t e

The ***Rivayats*** (also spelled as ***Revayats***) are a series of exchanges between the [Zoroastrian community in India](/source/Parsi) and their co-religionists in [early modern](/source/Early_modern_period) [Iran](/source/Iran).[1] They have been ascribed the same importance of the [Talmud](/source/Talmud) to [Judaism](/source/Judaism) by [Jivanji Jamshedji Modi](/source/Jivanji_Jamshedji_Modi).[2]

The word *rivayat* is derived from the [Arabic](/source/Arabic) *riwāya*, meaning “narration.”

## Overview

The content of each Rivayat varies but they are usually queries on matters of worship, customs, rituals and observance.[3] 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.[4]

Over three centuries, twenty-two Rivayats were sent from India to Persia. The first Revayat was brought in 1478 AD by Nariman Hoshang of [Broach](/source/Bharuch).[1][5] Hoshang was a layman, supported by [Chang Asa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chang_Asa&action=edit&redlink=1) a notable leader of the [Navsari](/source/Navsari) Parsi community.[6] Hoshang spent a year in [Yazd](/source/Yazd_Province), learning [Persian](/source/Persian_language) and supported himself by 'petty trade'.[7] Eventually his Persian improved to the extent that he was able to question the [dasturs](/source/Dastur) 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.[2]

In the 17th century the Rivayats were classified according to the subject they pertained to by [Hormazdyar Framarz](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hormazdyar_Framarz&action=edit&redlink=1), [Darab Hormazdyar](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darab_Hormazdyar&action=edit&redlink=1), and [Barzo Kamdin](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barzo_Kamdin&action=edit&redlink=1).

The Rivayats are notable as the only Modern Persian text composed in the [Avestan script](/source/Avestan_alphabet).

During the 18th Century the [Kadmi](/source/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).[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Stausberg_2015_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Stausberg_2015_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Stausberg_2015_1-2) Stausberg, Michael; Vevaina, Yuhan Sohrab-Dinshaw; Tessmann, Anna (2015-06-22). [*The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Zoroastrianism*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YT-kBgAAQBAJ&q=Revayats&pg=PA533). John Wiley & Sons. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781444331356](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781444331356).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Unvala_1922_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Unvala_1922_2-1) Unvala, Ervad Manockij Rustamji (1922). *Dārāb Hormazyār's Rivāyat: By Ervad Manockij Rustamji Unvala. With an introduction by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi* (in Persian). British India Press. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10524/46320](https://hdl.handle.net/10524%2F46320).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Randeria, Jer Dara (1993). [*The Parsi Mind: A Zoroastrian Asset to Culture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Xg5uAAAAMAAJ&q=rivayats). Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788121505604](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788121505604).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["What are the Persian Revayats/Rivayats? (TMY – Jame Jamshed of 26-3 & 2-4-17)"](https://ramiyarkaranjia.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/what-are-the-persian-revayatsrivayats-tmy-james-jamshed-of-26-3-2-4-17/). *Ramiyar Karanjia*. 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2018-07-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Rose, Jenny (2011-02-15). [*Zoroastrianism: An Introduction*](https://books.google.com/books?id=POkC2YC31RgC&q=nariman+hoshang&pg=PA174). I.B.Tauris. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781848850880](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781848850880).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Paymaster, Rustom Burjorji (1954). [*Early History of the Parsees in India from Their Landing in Sanjan to 1700 A.D.*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8Fk9AAAAMAAJ&q=nariman+hoshang) Zartoshti Dharam Sambandhi Kelavni Apnari Ane Dnyan Felavnari Mandli.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Boyce, Mary (2001). [*Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices*](https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=boyce+nariman+hoshang&pg=PA172). Psychology Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780415239028](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780415239028).

v t e Zoroastrian literature Old Avestan Ahuna vairya Ahunavaiti Gatha Airyaman ishya Ashem vohu Spentamainyu Gatha Ushtavaiti Gatha Vahishtoishti Gatha Vohukhshathra Gatha Yasna Haptanghaiti Yenghe hatam Young Avestan Afrinagan Gāh Niyayishn Sih-rozag Visperad Vendidad Vishtasp Sast Yasht Yasna Yasna i Rapithwin Middle Persian/Pahlavi Book of Arda Viraf Bundahishn Dadestan-i Denig Menog-i Khrad Letter of Tansar Denkard Frahang-i Pahlavig Frahang-i Oim-evak Dana-i Menog Khrat Shikand-gumanig Vizar Other Sad-dar Jamasp Namag Dasatir-i-Asmani The Rivayats Qissa-i Sanjan Religion portal Category

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