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, S ...

, Bihram ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ) or Bihram Rabba ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, "Bihram the Great") is an

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 'utr ...

(angel or guardian) who presides over the ''

masbuta Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purificati ...

'', or baptism ritual. Bihram is mentioned in

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 ...

such as the ''

Qolasta The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...

''. Many Mandaean

ritual prayers invoke the name of Bihram.

Etymology

The name Bihram may have originally been derived from the Persian name Bahram, in reference to one or several of the

Sasanian kings The Sasanian monarchs were the rulers of Iran after their victory against their former suzerain, the Parthian Empire, at the Battle of Hormozdgan in 224. At its height, the Sasanian Empire spanned from Turkey and Rhodes in the west to Pakistan in ...

of the third century A.D.

Uthra of baptism

Mandaeans consider Bihram to be the uthra of baptism. Similarly, in

Sethianism The Sethians were one of the main currents of Gnosticism during the 2nd and 3rd century CE, along with Valentinianism and Basilideanism. According to John D. Turner, it originated in the 2nd century CE as a fusion of two distinct Hellenistic ...

Micheus, Michar, and Mnesinous In Sethian Gnostic texts, Micheus, Michar, and Mnesinous are the three heavenly spirits that preside over the rite of baptism, performed in the wellspring of Living Water. They are mentioned in the Nag Hammadi tractates of the '' Holy Book of th ...

are three heavenly guardian spirits presiding over the baptism of the Living Water (see also

Five Seals In Sethian Gnostic texts, the Five Seals are typically described as a baptismal rite involving a series of five full immersions in holy running or "living water," symbolizing spiritual ascension to the divine realm. The Five Seals are frequently m ...

Mandaean name

Bihram is also a Mandaean male baptismal name (as opposed to Mandaean birth names). Notable Mandaeans with the name include

Yahya Bihram Yahya Bihram (also spelled Yahia Bihram; myz, ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ) was a 19th-century Mandaean priest. Although initially a learned layman (''yalufa''), he became known for reviving the Mandaean priesthood after a cholera epidemi ...

. In the colophons of

, the name Bihram is also often mentioned for different priests and copyists of various eras.

In Mandaean scriptures

In chapter 3 of the ''

Mandaean Book of John The Mandaean Book of John (Mandaic language ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ') is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by Mandeans to have been written by their prophet John the Baptist. The book contains accounts of Jo ...

'', Bihram, led by

Nbaṭ In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ ( myz, ࡍࡁࡀࡈ, lit=Sprout) is an uthra (angel or guardian) who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba ("the Great Nbaṭ" or "Great Sprout") or Nbaṭ Ziwa ("the Rad ...

and the uthras

Gubran In Mandaeism, Gubran ( myz, ࡂࡅࡁࡓࡀࡍ) is an uthra (angel or guardian). He is also referred to as Gubran Uthra. Guban is the female consort of Gubran. In Mandaean scriptures In the '' Mandaean Book of John'', Gubran Uthra helps Nbaṭ ...

, Yawar, and

Yukabar 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 'u ...

, helps lead a rebellion against

Yushamin In Mandaeism, Yushamin ( myz, ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ) and also known as the 'Second Life', is the primal uthra (angel or guardian) and a subservient emanation who was created by the Mandaean God 'The Great Life' (''Hayyi Rabbi'' or 'The First Lif ...

and his 21 sons. Yawar slays 12 of Yushamin's sons, while Bihram slays 9 of them.

References

{{Authority control Individual angels Uthras Baptism Aramaic-language names Water spirits Masculine given names Mandaean given names Personifications in Mandaeism

Etymology

Uthra of baptism

Mandaean name

In Mandaean scriptures

See also

References