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Primary topics Ahura Mazda Zarathustra Asha Vohu Manah Persia/Iran Faravahar Avestan
Divine entities Amesha Spentas Yazatas 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
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TheRivayats (also spelled asRevayats) are a series of exchanges between theZoroastrian community in India and their co-religionists inearly modernIran.^[1] They have been ascribed the same importance of theTalmud toJudaism byJivanji Jamshedji Modi.^[2]

The word Rivayat has disputed etymology. Some claim the word to have origins from Arabic but this is contentious.^[2]

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 ofBroach.^[1][5] Hoshang was a layman, supported byChang Asa a notable leader of theNavsari Parsi community.^[6] Hoshang spent a year inYazd, learningPersian and supported himself by 'petty trade'.^[7] Eventually his Persian improved to the extent that he was able to question thedasturs 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 Rivatays are more or less incomplete.^[2]

In the 17th century the Rivayats were classified according to the subject they pertained to byHormazdyar Framarz,Darab Hormazdyar, andBarzo Kamdin.

The Rivayats are notable as the only Modern Persian text composed in theAvestan script.

During the 18th Century theKadmi 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]

• Zoroastrian texts