Ruben Nikoghosyan, The Middle Persian Text Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān: Contextualizing its Role in the Zoroastrian Literary Tradition, Azhyar Foundation for Ancient Iranian Studies, January 6th, 2024.
The Mādayān ī Wīrāzagān (Wīrāzagān), published by Raham Asha in 2017, is a newly discovered Middle Persian text from Codex TD 26 at the K.R. Cama Oriental Institute, Mumbai. This remarkable work offers unique details about Zoroastrian mythology and theology, differing from the Ardā-Wīrāz Nāmag (AWN). Set during Kay Wištāsp’s reign, it introduces distinctive elements, such as the divine scribe Tīr, the golden-eared dog guarding the Činwad Bridge, and a more inquisitive purpose for Wīrāz’s journey to the afterlife. These features suggest an earlier and more archaic origin than other versions, providing valuable insights into Zoroastrian religious thought.

Ruben Nikoghosyan is an independent scholar specializing in Iranian studies, with a focus on Middle Persian philology, Classical Persian literature, and Zoroastrian studies. He earned his degree from Yerevan State University and has served as a visiting lecturer at Isfahan State University, as well as an instructor at ASPIRANTUM, where he taught Persian language and literature to students from leading global institutions. His research includes the publication of Pahlavi Studies (2018, in Armenian) and several articles on Middle Persian texts and Persian literary traditions in recent years.

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