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Uthra
An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras (sing.: 'utra 'wealth', but meaning 'angel' or 'guardian')." p8 Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the ''yazata'' of Zoroastrianism. According to Ethel S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life." Uthras are benevolent beings that live in '' škinas'' ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡀ, celestial dwellings) in the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') and communicate with each other via telepathy. Uthras are also occasionally mentioned as being in ''anana'' ("clouds"; e.g., in '' Right Ginza'' Book 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts. Many uthras also serve as guardians (''naṭra''); for instance, Shilmai and Nidbai are the guardians of Piriawis, the Great Jordan ('' yardna'') of Life. Et ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Right Ginza
The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza. Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007), are provided below.Häberl, Charles G. (2007). Introduction to the New Edition, in The Great Treasure of the Mandaeans, a new edition of J. Heinrich Petermann's Thesaurus s. Liber Magni, with a new introduction and a translation of the original preface by Charles G. Häberl'. Gorgias Press, LLC. Translated excerpts are from Gelbert (2011), while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021). Book 1 Book 1 contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism. The book begins with the opening line (also in Chapter 2 of Book 1): :Praised be Thou, my Lord, with a pure heart (), :thou Lord of all worlds (). Book 2 Book 2 also contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism. It has a total of four sections, since it also conta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shilmai
In Mandaeism, Shilmai (Šilmai; myz, ࡔࡉࡋࡌࡀࡉ) or Shalmai (Šalmai) is an uthra (angel or guardian) who serves as one of the two guardian spirits of Piriawis, the heavenly '' yardna'' (river) in the World of Light. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' and ''Qolasta'', he is usually mentioned together with Nidbai. Nhar and Kbar and mentioned as the "clouds" ( Mandaic: ''anana'') of Shilmai and Nidbai in Chapter 17.1 of the ''Right Ginza''. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' In Chapter 5.5 (Book 7 in the Drabsha edition) of the ''Right Ginza'', ''The Book of Šilmai, Lord of the House'', is named after Šilmai. In the same chapter and also in Book 6 of the ''Right Ginza'', the uthra Yathrun is mentioned as the father of Shilmai. In this part of the ''Ginza Rabba'', Shilmai is portrayed very differently from all other Mandaean texts. While most Mandaean texts portray Shilmai as a guardian uthra of the heavenly Jordan who is always paired with Nidbai, the ''Book of Šilmai'' portrays him as the " ... [...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' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hibil
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 c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Left Ginza
The Left Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Right Ginza. Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007), are provided below.Häberl, Charles G. (2007). Introduction to the New Edition, in The Great Treasure of the Mandaeans, a new edition of J. Heinrich Petermann's Thesaurus s. Liber Magni, with a new introduction and a translation of the original preface by Charles G. Häberl'. Gorgias Press, LLC. Translated excerpts are from Gelbert (2011), while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021). Book 1 Book 1 is a four-part prose text on the salvation process, beginning with the ascension to heaven of Seth, in advance of his father Adam (compare Sethian Gnosticism). *Chapter 1.1 is about Adam and his three sons. One of Adam's sons, Sheetil (Seth), volunteers to die before his father. 49 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011). The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ziwa (Aramaic)
Ziwa is an Aramaic term that is typically translated as 'radiance' or 'splendor.' It is frequently used as an epithet for celestial beings and manifestations of God in Gnostic religions such as Mandaeism and Manichaeism. The Hebrew cognate is '' ziv'' (). Scripts ''Ziwa'' written in different scripts: *Hebrew script: * Mandaic script: *Syriac script: *Arabic script: Mandaeism In Mandaeism, uthras (celestial beings) often have the Mandaic term ''Ziwa'' / ''Ziua'' ( myz, ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, meaning 'Radiance'; Neo-Mandaic pronunciation ) attached after their names, due to their origins from the World of Light. Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names. The names can be alliterative (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan), or one name may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan). Uthras commonly referred to as "Ziwa" include: *Hibil Ziwa *Sam Ziwa (or Sam Smira Ziwa) *Yawar Ziwa * Qmamir Ziwa (an epithet of Saureil) Other uthras that are also referred to as " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manda D-Hayyi
In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia ( myz, ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ, lit=the ' Gnosis of Life', 'Knowledge of Life', or 'Knower of the Life') is an uthra (angel or guardian) sent by the Great Life (''Hayyi Rabbi'', or the Transcendent God) as a messenger to John the Baptist. Manda d-Hayyi is considered to be the most important uthra, since he is the one bringing ''manda'' (knowledge or gnosis) to Earth ( Tibil). In Mandaean texts In Book 5, Chapter 4 of the ''Right Ginza'', Manda d-Hayyi appears to John the Baptist as a "small boy aged three years and one day." John the Baptist baptizes the small boy, after which John is taken up to the World of Light (see also the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, in which a little boy appears to Paul the Apostle, who is then taken up to heaven). Also, in Book 8 of the ''Right Ginza'', Manda d-Hayyi warns the faithful against the dangers of Ruha. In the ''Mandaean Book of John'' and Book 3 of the ''Right Ginza'', Manda d-Hayyi makes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Piriawis
In Mandaean cosmology, Piriawis ( myz, ࡐࡉࡓࡉࡀࡅࡉࡎ; sometimes also spelled Biriawiš Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. ''Mandäische Liturgien''. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.), also known as the Yardna Rabba ( "Great Jordan"), is the sacred life-giving river ('' yardna'') of the World of Light. It is the heavenly counterpart of rivers on earth (Tibil), which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of the heavenly Piriawis. Shilmai and Nidbai are the two guardian uthras (celestial beings) watching over Piriawis. Qolasta prayers 13 and 17 mention Piriawis-Ziwa and Piriafil-Malaka together as uthras. Other names In Book 4 of the ''Right Ginza'', Sindiriawis is mentioned as "the great '' yardna'' of the Life" () See also * Yardna *Ganga (goddess) in Hinduism *Siniawis, its corresponding opposite in the World of Darkness *Jordan River * Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the name of the Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
škina
In Mandaeism, a shkinta ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, translit=škinta, lit=shekinah) or shkina (''škina'') is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the physical earth), it refers to a reed hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent uthras on earth. Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint). Ceremonial usage During the priest initiation ceremony, the shkinta is constructed to the north of the andiruna. It symbolizes the World of Light and it covered by a white cloth roof. In contrast, the andiruna has a blue cloth roof to symbolize the color of Ruha. Together, the two adjacent huts symbolize complementary masculine and feminine elements. Symbolism The ''škinta'' (cognate with the Hebrew word shekhinah; from the Semitic root ''š-k-n'', associated with dwellings) symbolizes the "male" side, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Of Light
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 Mandae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abel
Abel ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hābīl is a Biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within Abrahamic religions. He was the younger brother of Cain, and the younger son of Adam and Eve, the first couple in Biblical history. He was a shepherd who offered his firstborn flock up to God as an offering. God accepted his offering but not his brother's. Cain then killed Abel out of jealousy. According to Genesis, this was the first murder in the history of mankind. Genesis narrative Interpretations Jewish and Christian interpretations According to the narrative in Genesis, Abel ( ''Hébel'', in pausa ''Hā́ḇel''; grc-x-biblical, Ἅβελ ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, ''Hābēl'') is Eve's second son. His name in Hebrew is composed of the same three consonants as a root meaning "breath". Julius Wellhausen has proposed that the name is independent of the root. Eberhard Schrader had previously put forward the Akkadian (Old Assyrian dialect) ''ablu'' ("son") as a more likely ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adathan And Yadathan
In Mandaeism, Adathan ( myz, ࡀࡃࡀࡕࡀࡍ) and Yadathan ( myz, ࡅࡀࡃࡀࡕࡀࡍ) are a pair of uthras (angel or guardian) who stand at the Gate of Life in the World of Light, praising and worshipping Hayyi Rabbi. In the ''Ginza Rabba'' and ''Qolasta'', they are always mentioned together. Book 14 of the ''Right Ginza'' mentions Adathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "first river" (). See also *Shilmai and Nidbai * Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism Manichaeism (; in New Persian ; ) is a former major religionR. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian prophet Mani (A ... * Shuqamuna and Shumaliya References Pairs of angels Uthras {{Mandaeism-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
