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Abathur
Abatur ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ, sometimes called Abathur; Yawar, myz, ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ; and the Ancient of Days) is an Uthra and the second of three subservient emanations created by the Mandaean God ''Hayyi Rabbi'' ( myz, ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, “The Great Living God”) in the Mandaean religion. His name translates as the “''father of the Uthras''”, the Mandaean name for angels or guardians. His usual epithet is ''the Ancient'' (''Atiga'') and he is also called ''the deeply hidden and guarded''. He is described as being the son of the first emanation, or ''Yoshamin'' ( myz, ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ). He is also described as being the angel of Polaris. He exists in two different personae. These include Abatur Rama ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡓࡀࡌࡀ, the "lofty" or celestial Abatur), and his "lower" counterpart, Abatur of the Scales ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡌࡅࡆࡀࡍࡉࡀ, Abatur Muzania), who weighs the souls of the dead to determine their fate. In Mandae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diwan Abatur
The ''Diwan Abatur'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ; "Scroll of Abatur") is a Mandaean religious text. It is a large illustrated scroll that is over 20 ft. long. A similar illustrated Mandaean scroll is the '' Diwan Nahrawata'' ("The Scroll of the Rivers"), a lavishly illustrated geographical treatise which translated into German and published by Kurt Rudolph in 1982. Contents The ''Diwan Abatur'' mentions a heavenly tree called '' Shatrin'' (''Šatrin'') where the souls of unbaptized Mandaean children are temporarily nourished for 30 days. On the 30th day, Hibil Ziwa baptizes the souls of the children, who then continue on to the World of Light. The tree has a length of 360,000 parasangs according to the ''Diwan Abatur''. Additionally, the ''Diwan Abatur'' mentions a ship called '' Shahrat'' (''Šahrat''; lit. "she kept watch") that ferries souls from Tibil across the Hitpun and into the house of Abatur. Manuscripts and translations An English translation of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abatur At The Scales
Abatur ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ, sometimes called Abathur; Yawar, myz, ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ; and the Ancient of Days) is an Uthra and the second of three subservient emanationism, emanations created by the Mandaean God ''Hayyi Rabbi'' ( myz, ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, “The Great Living God”) in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion. His name translates as the “''father of the Uthras''”, the Mandaean name for angels or guardians. His usual epithet is ''the Ancient'' (''Atiga'') and he is also called ''the deeply hidden and guarded''. He is described as being the son of the first emanation, or ''Yoshamin'' ( myz, ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ). He is also described as being the angel of Polaris. He exists in two different personae. These include Abatur Rama ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡓࡀࡌࡀ, the "lofty" or celestial Abatur), and his "lower" counterpart, Abatur of the Scales ( myz, ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡌࡅࡆࡀࡍࡉࡀ, Abatur Muzania), who weighs the souls of the dead to determi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, Aram, Jesus and especially John the Baptist. Mandaeans consider Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem and John the Baptist prophets with Adam being the founder of the religion and John being the greatest and final prophet. The Mandaeans speak an Eastern Aramaic language known as Mandaic. The name 'Mandaean' comes from the Aramaic ''manda'', meaning knowledge. Within the Middle East, but outside their community, the Mandaeans are more commonly known as the (singular: ), or as Sabians (, ). The term is derived from an Aramaic root related to baptism. The term Sabians derives from the mysterious religious group mentioned three times in the Quran alongside the Jews, the Christians and the Zoroastrians as a 'People of the Book', and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaean Texts
This article contains a list of Mandaean texts (Mandaean religious texts written in Classical Mandaic). Well-known texts include the ''Ginza Rabba'' (also known as the ''Sidra Rabbā'') and the '' Qolastā''. Texts for Mandaean priests include ''The 1012 Questions'', among others. Some, like the ''Ginza Rabba'', are codices (bound books), while others, such as the various ''diwan'' (illustrated scrolls) are scrolls. This list is by no means exhaustive. Institutional libraries and private collections contain various Mandaean religious texts that are little known or even unknown to the international scholarly community. Background Mandaean copyists may transcribe texts as a meritorious deed for one's own forgiveness of sins, or they may be hired to copy a text for another person. Mandaean sacred scriptures, such as the ''Ginza Rabba'' are traditionally kept in wooden chests wrapped in layers of white cotton and silk cloth. These protected manuscripts are generally not touched ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hibil Ziwa
In Mandaeism, Hibil ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or Hibil Ziwa ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel. Prayers in the Qolasta frequently contain the recurring formula "In the name of Hibil, Šitil, and Anuš" ( myz, ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡅࡔࡉࡕࡉࡋ ࡅࡀࡍࡅࡔ ). Overview According to Mandaean beliefs and scriptures including the Qolastā, the Book of John and Genzā Rabbā, Abel is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Hibil Ziwa, ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, sometimes translated "Splendid Hibel"), who is spoken of as a son of Hayyi or of Manda d-Hayyi, and as a brother to Anush (Enosh) and to Sheetil (Seth), who is the son of Adam. Elsewhere, Anush is spoken of as the son of Sheetil, and Sheetil as the son of Hibil, where Hibil came to Adam and Eve as a young boy when they were still virgins, but was called thei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lightworld
In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡍࡄࡅࡓࡀ, translit=alma ḏ-nhūra) is the primeval, transcendental world from which Tibil and the World of Darkness emerged. Description *The Great Life (''Hayyi Rabbi'' or Supreme God/Monad) is the ruler of the World of Light. *Countless uthras dwell in '' škinas'' in the World of Light. (A ''škina'' is a celestial dwelling where uthras, or benevolent celestial beings, live in the World of Light.) *The World of Light is the source of the Great ''Yardena'' (or Jordan River) of Life, also known as Piriawis. *Ether ( myz, ࡀࡉࡀࡓ, ), which can be thought of as heavenly breath or energy, permeates the World of Light. *The Mshunia Kushta (''Mšunia Kušṭa'') is a part of the World of Light considered to be the dwelling place of heavenly or ideal counterparts (''dmuta''). *In some Mandaean texts, Tarwan is a part of the World of Light that is described as a "pure land." Ascension When a Mandaean pe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Of Darkness (Mandaeism)
In Mandaeism, the World of Darkness ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡔࡅࡊࡀ, translit=alma ḏ-hšuka) is the underworld located below Tibil (Earth). It is ruled by its king Ur (Leviathan) and its queen Ruha, mother of the seven planets and twelve constellations. Description The great dark Ocean of Sup (or Suf) lies in the World of Darkness. The great dividing river of Hitpun, analogous to the river Styx in Greek mythology, separates the World of Darkness from the World of Light. Siniawis is one of the regions of the World of Darkness. The ''Ginza Rabba'' mention the Abaddons ( myz, ʿbdunia) as part of the World of Darkness. The '' Right Ginza'' mentions the existence of the "upper Abaddons" () as well as the "lower Abaddons" (). The World of Darkness is sometimes referred to as Sheol ( myz, šiul) in the ''Ginza Rabba'' and other Mandaean scriptures. Inhabitants Various beings inhabit the World of Darkness. See also *Sheol *Ancient Mesopotamian underworld The ancie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matarta
In Mandaean cosmology, a maṭarta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡈࡀࡓࡕࡀ; plural form: ''maṭarata'') is a "station" or "toll house" that is located between the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') from Tibil (Earth). It has variously been translated as "watch-station", "toll-station", "way-station", or "purgatory". Maṭartas are guarded by various uthras (celestial beings from the World of Light) and demons. Ruha, the queen of the underworld, is the ruler or guardian of the third maṭarta. To reach the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') from Tibil (Earth), souls must pass through the various maṭartas that are situated in between. Rituals such as the ''masiqta'' can help guide souls past the various maṭarta so that they could reach the World of Light. In the Ginza Rabba In the Ginza Rabba, Chapter 3 in Book 5 of the ''Right Ginza'', Book 6 of the ''Right Ginza'' (also known as the "Book of Dinanukht"), and Chapter 4 in Book 1 of the ''Left Ginza'' give detailed descriptions of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Demiurge
In the Platonic, Neopythagorean, Middle Platonic, and Neoplatonic schools of philosophy, the demiurge () is an artisan-like figure responsible for fashioning and maintaining the physical universe. The Gnostics adopted the term ''demiurge''. Although a fashioner, the demiurge is not necessarily the same as the Creator figure in the monotheistic sense, because the demiurge itself and the material from which the demiurge fashions the universe are both considered consequences of something else. Depending on the system, they may be considered either uncreated and eternal or the product of some other entity. The word ''demiurge'' is an English word derived from ''demiurgus'', a Latinised form of the Greek or . It was originally a common noun meaning "craftsman" or "artisan", but gradually came to mean "producer", and eventually "creator". The philosophical usage and the proper noun derive from Plato's ''Timaeus'', written 360 BC, where the demiurge is presented as the crea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ptahil (uthra)
In Mandaeism, Ptahil ( myz, ࡐࡕࡀࡄࡉࡋ) also known as Ptahil-Uthra (uthra = angel or guardian), is the Fourth Life, the third of three emanations from the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi, after Yushamin and Abatur. Ptahil-Uthra alone does not constitute the demiurge but only fills that role since he is viewed as the creator of the material world in the Ginza Rabba, often holding an inherently malicious character. Name Matthias Norberg believed the name Ptahil to be composed of Aramaic and , therefore meaning "God opened", although the verb can also mean "create" in Mandaic, but not in other Aramaic languages. Subsequent scholars have deemed it more probably derived from the Egyptian theonym 'Ptah' and angelic 'il',Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen. 2002. ''The Mandaeans: Ancient Texts and Modern People.'' Oxford: Oxford University Press as originally conjectured by Mark Lidzbarski, although Carl H. Kraeling argued that the influence of Ptah on Mesopotamian syncretic Gnostic traditions is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaean Mythology
Mandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism. Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by Jewish, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Manichaean and other Near Eastern religions and philosophies. Emanations The three major Emanations or "Lives" (''Hayyi'') in Mandaeism are: #The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra #The Third Life: Abatur, the weigher of souls, and also the father of the '' uthri'' (plural of ''uthra'') #The Fourth Life: Ptahil, the creator of the material world The Second Life, Third Life, and Fourth Life are emanations of the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi (the Supreme God). Realms Mandaean cosmology divides the universe into three realms: #World of Light or Lightworld (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') #Tibil, or Earth #World of Darkness or underworld (''alma ḏ-hšuka'') According to Book 3 of the ''Right Ginza'', a "fruit (''pira'') within the fruit" and "ether (''ayar'') within the ether" had existed before the World of L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tibil
In Mandaean cosmology, Tibil ( myz, ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or occasionally Arqa ḏ-Tibil (lit. "Tibil-Earth") is the Earth (World) or earthly middle realm. It is separated from the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') above and the World of Darkness (''alma ḏ-hšuka'') below by ''ayar'' ( aether). To reach the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') from Tibil, Mandaeans believe that need they to establish ''laufa'' (connection, union) to be reunited with the World of Light. The ''laufa'' is re-created and reconfirmed by priests through rituals such as ''maṣbuta'' (baptism). Upon death, priests must perform ''masiqta'' rituals to help the departed soul successfully navigate from Tibil through the various ''maṭarta'' (watch-stations) that lie in between, in order to reach the World of Light. See also *Gaia *Midgard in Norse mythology *Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels *Ki (goddess) ''Ki'' was the earth goddess in Sumerian religion, chief consort of the sky god An. In som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
