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 ...

, Rūha ( myz, ࡓࡅࡄࡀ, lit=spirit/breath; also known as Namrūs or Hiwat (Ewath; myz, ࡏࡅࡀࡕ)) is the queen of the

World of Darkness ''World of Darkness'' is a series of tabletop role-playing games, originally created by Mark Rein-Hagen for White Wolf Publishing. It began as an annual line of five games in 1991–1995, with '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', '' Werewolf: The Apoca ...

(''alma ḏ-hšuka'') or

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwor ...

. She rules the underworld together with her son Ur, the king of the World of Darkness, and her entourage of the

seven planets 7 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 7 or seven may also refer to: * AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era * 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era * The month of July Music Artists * Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artist * ...

and twelve constellations, who are also her offspring with Ur. Ruha is the daughter of

Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...

, the Mistress of Darkness in the first underworld. She is the ruler of the third ''

maṭarta 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-house or purgatory). She is associated with lust, uncleanness (i.e., menstrual impurity), and other negative feminine qualities.

Names and epithets

The ''

Ginza Rabba The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...

'' refers to Ruha using various

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

s, such as: *''Rūha Masṭanita'' "Ruha the Seductress" *''Rūha ḏ-Qudša'' "

Holy Spirit In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...

" *''ḏlibat ʿstra amamit'' "

Libat In Mandaeism, Libat ( myz, ࡋࡉࡁࡀࡕ) is the Mandaic name for the planet Venus.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen Text ...

Ishtar Inanna, also sux, 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒀭𒈾, nin-an-na, label=none is an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, war, and fertility. She is also associated with beauty, sex, divine justice, and political power. She was originally worshiped in Su ...

- Amamit" (i.e.,

Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never fa ...

) Use of the term "Holy Spirit" for Ruha is primarily confined to

polemic Polemic () is contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position. The practice of such argumentation is called ''polemics'', which are seen in arguments on controversial topic ...

al texts, and not found in esoteric or ritual scrolls. Other epithets mentioned in the ''

'' are: *Amamit *Namrus (Nimrus) *Qananit (in '' Right Ginza'' Book 6, i.e. the ''Book of

Dinanukht Dinanukht (also spelled Dinanukt or Dananukt; myz, ࡃࡉࡍࡀࡍࡅࡊࡕ or ; from Persian 'the one who speaks in accordance with the religion') is a mythological character in the '' Ginza Rabba'', one of the main religious scriptures of Manda ...

'') *Dayum (in ''

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 (200 ...

'' 3.27) Gelbert (2013) connects the name Ruha to the city Urha ( Edessa), although this hypothesis has not been peer reviewed.

Children

Rūha bears a son called Ur with

Gaf GAF may refer to: Military * General of the Air Force, US * Ghana Armed Forces * Guardia alla Frontiera, Italy Other uses * Gaf, a Perso-Arabic letter * Gaf (Mandaeism), a demon of the Mandaean underworld * GAF Materials Corporation, an Amer ...

, one of the giants in the

described in book 5 of the ''

''. She then commits incest with Ur, giving birth to the

and twelve

zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the Sun path, apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

s (listed below). ;Twelve Constellations (''trisar malwašia'') * Daula (

Aquarius Aquarius may refer to: Astrology * Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign * Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages Astronomy * Aquarius (constellation) * Aquarius in Chinese astronomy Arts and entertainme ...

) *

Nuna Nuna is the name of a series of manned solar powered race cars that have won the World Solar Challenge in Australia seven times: in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2017. The vehicles are built by students who are part of the "Brunel Sola ...

(

Pisces Pisces may refer to: * Pisces, an obsolete (because of land vertebrates) taxonomic superclass including all fish * Pisces (astrology), an astrological sign * Pisces (constellation), a constellation **Pisces Overdensity, an overdensity of stars in ...

) * ʿmbra (

Aries Aries may refer to: *Aries (astrology), an astrological sign *Aries (constellation), a constellation of stars in the zodiac Arts, entertainment and media * ''Aries'' (album), by Luis Miguel, 1993 * ''Aries'' (EP), by Alice Chater, 2020 * "Aries" ...

) *

Taura Taura is a municipality in the district of Mittelsachsen, in Saxony, Germany. Personalities * Johann Esche (1682-1752), born in today's local part of Köthensdorf, German stocking manufacturer * Max Unger (1883-1959), musicologist, Beethoven ...

(

Taurus Taurus is Latin for 'bull' and may refer to: * Taurus (astrology), the astrological sign * Taurus (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac * Taurus (mythology), one of two Greek mythological characters named Taurus * '' Bos tauru ...

) * Ṣilmia (

Gemini Gemini may refer to: Space * Gemini (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac ** Gemini in Chinese astronomy * Project Gemini, the second U.S. crewed spaceflight program * Gemini Observatory, consisting of telescopes in the Norther ...

) * Sarṭana (

Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

) *

Aria In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

( Leo) * Šumbulta (

Virgo Virgo may refer to: *Virgo (astrology), the sixth astrological sign of the zodiac * Virgo (constellation), a constellation *Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo *Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy * Virgo Su ...

) *

Qaina Qaina ( myz, ࡒࡀࡉࡍࡀ) is the ninth month of the Mandaean calendar The Mandaean calendar is a 365-day solar calendar used by the Mandaean people.Drower, Ethel Stefana. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press, 1 ...

(

Libra Libra generally refers to: * Libra (constellation), a constellation * Libra (astrology), an astrological sign based on the star constellation Libra may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Libra'' (novel), a 1988 novel by Don DeLillo Musi ...

) *

Arqba Arqba ( myz, ࡀࡓࡒࡁࡀ) is the tenth month of the Mandaean calendar. It is the Mandaic name for the constellation Scorpio. It currently corresponds to Apr / May in the Gregorian calendar due to a lack of a leap year in the Mandaean calend ...

( Scorpio) *

Hiṭia Hiṭia ( myz, ࡄࡉࡈࡉࡀ) is the eleventh month of the Mandaean calendar. The first day of the month is Dehwa Daimana, the birthday of John the Baptist The Nativity of John the Baptist (or Birth of John the Baptist, or Nativity of the F ...

( Sagittarius) * Gadia ( Capricorn) ;Seven Planets (''šuba šibiahia'') *

Shamish In Mandaeism, Shamish or Šamiš ( myz, ࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ) is the Mandaic name for the Sun.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen T ...

(Sun) *

(Venus) *

Nbu In Mandaeism, ʿNbu ( myz, ࡏࡍࡁࡅ) or Nbu is the Mandaic name for the planet Mercury. Nbu is one of the seven planets ( myz, ࡔࡅࡁࡀ, translit=šuba, lit=The Seven), who are part of the entourage of Ruha in the World of Darkness. N ...

(Mercury) *

Sin In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...

(Moon) *

Kiwan In Mandaeism, Kiwan or Kiuan ( myz, ࡊࡉࡅࡀࡍ; fa, کیوان) is the Mandaic name for the planet Saturn.Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühe ...

(Saturn) *

Bil BIL or Bil may refer to: Mythology * Bil, a Norse goddess * Bil (Mandaeism), the Mandaean name for Jupiter People * Bil Baird (1904–1987), American puppeteer * Bil Dwyer (1907-1987), American cartoonist and humorist * Bil Dwyer (born 1962), A ...

(Jupiter) *

Nirig In Mandaeism, Nirig ( myz, ࡍࡉࡓࡉࡂ) or Nerig is the Mandaic name for the planet Mars. Nirig is one of the seven planets ( myz, ࡔࡅࡁࡀ, translit=šuba, lit=The Seven), who are part of the entourage of Ruha in the World of Darkness ...

(Mars) Ruha also disguised herself as Noah's wife Anhuraita, sleeping with him and giving birth to three sons,

Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 39. As a processed meat, the term "ham ...

, Yam, and Yafet.

Cosmological role

According to

Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley (born Jorunn Jacobsen in 1944 in Norway) is an American religious studies scholar and historian of religion known for her work on Mandaeism and Gnosticism. She was a former Professor of Religion at Bowdoin College. She is k ...

, Ruha is a complex character who can not be simply portrayed as an evil

archon ''Archon'' ( gr, ἄρχων, árchōn, plural: ἄρχοντες, ''árchontes'') is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem αρχ-, mean ...

Captivity and role in creation

As part of his descent to the World of Darkness, Hibil Ziwa leads Ruha out of the World of Darkness, claiming to lead her to her parents in the world above, and seals her in a world belonging to neither light nor darkness. When sealed in this world, she gives birth to Ur. Whereas Ur wishes to wage war against the World of Light, viewed in Ruha's mirror, Ruha discourages this intent. Hibil confiscates this mirror and binds Ur in chains, noting that

Hayyi Rabbi In Mandaeism, Hayyi Rabbi ( myz, ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, translit=Hiia Rbia, lit=The Great Life), 'The Great Living God', is the supreme God from which all things emanate. He is also known as 'The First Life', since during the creation of th ...

had sent him in anger against Ur. Ruha sleeps with Ur in a futile attempt to liberate him, giving birth to the

and twelve signs of the Zodiac, with whom she expresses dissatisfaction. Ruha and

Ptahil 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 con ...

both play a role in creation, with each gaining control when the other's power subsides, but cannot animate mankind with a soul, despite providing him with their own mysteries, since Ruha represents the ambivalent "spirit" element rather than the light-world "soul" element. Adam is made after Ptahil's image, while Hawa (Eve) is made either after Adam's image or after Ruha's, depending on account. When Adam dies and ascends to the World of Life, Ruha tempts Eve to mourn his loss, and laments her own lack of gnosis of the treasures of salvation; when Eve dies and is lead to the World of Light by Hibil, Ruha bewails that Hibil takes from her everything which is desirable, leaving only that which is worthless.

Founding of Jerusalem and interaction with envoys

Ruha, in command of her sons the

, including Adonai (Shamish), sets out to build

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

Anush Uthra In Mandaeism, Anush ( myz, ࡀࡍࡅࡔ, translit=Anuš) (also spelled Ennosh) or Anush Uthra ( myz, ࡀࡍࡅࡔ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ, translit=Anuš ʿUtra) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Anush is considered to be the Mandae ...

admonishes that 365 Mandaeans will arise in the city, but Ruha goes ahead with its construction, erecting its

seven pillars Seven pillars may refer to: * Seven Pillars for Prosperity, policy statement of the Progressive Canadian Party * Seven Pillars Institute for Global Finance and Ethics (SPI) in Lawrence, Kansas *Seven pillars of Ismailism in Shia Islam and in Nizari ...

. Anush preaches Mandaeism in Jerusalem and gains a following converting Jews to Mandaeism; due to this, the Jews persecute and kill the Mandaeans, leading Anush to plan to destroy the city in retribution. Ruha futilely begs Anush for a compromise, first for him not to destroy her city, then for her to be permitted to aid him in the destruction by collapsing the walls upon the Jews, killing them; Anush accepts neither plea. Although Adonai is depicted under Ruha's sway, the

Haran Gawaita The ''Haran Gawaita'' ( Mandaic ࡄࡀࡓࡀࡍ ࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡕࡀ "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran") also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media ...

indicates the Mandaeans loved Adonai while in Jerusalem until the birth of Jesus. Ruha's other interactions with lightworld envoys such as Hibil Ziwa and

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 Transcen ...

are often more positive, where Ruha is rebuked but empowered, obtaining guidelines for her own salvation.

Redemption

In chapter 68 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 ...

, Manda d-Hayyi retrieves Kanath-Niṭufta (translated by

Charles G. Häberl Charles G. Häberl (born 1976 in New Jersey, United States) is an American religious studies scholar, linguist, and professor. He is currently Professor of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Languages and Literatures ( AMESALL) and Religion ...

and James F. McGrath as "Droplet Steady") from the World of Darkness, who remains at the outer wall until summoned further under various epithets, including Marganita-Niṭufta (Droplet Pearl) and Simat-Hayyi-Niṭufta (Droplet Life's Treasure). Buckley notes that some of these names appear as epithets of Ruha in the illustrated

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'' ( ...

(an observation which had been noticed, but dismissed as a confusion, by

Mark Lidzbarski Mark Lidzbarski (born Abraham Mordechai Lidzbarski, Płock, Russian Empire, 7 January 1868 – Göttingen, 13 November 1928) was a Polish philologist, Semitist and translator of Mandaean texts. Early life and education Lidzbarski was born in Rus ...

), and that the names

Simat Hayyi In Mandaeism, Simat Hayyi or Simat Hiia ( myz, ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ, lit=Treasure of Life), the personification of life, is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light who is the wife of Yawar Ziwa. The name ''Simat Hayyi'' ("Li ...

(Life's Treasure) and Niṭufta (Drop), are names used for the consort of Hayyi Rabbi in the World of Light. Buckley interprets a passage in 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 ...

referring to

coming forth from the World of Darkness and eventually being raised to the Place of Light as referring to Ruha, noting that E. S. Drower had interpreted it in reference to

Zahreil In Mandaeism, Zahreil or Zahrʿil ( myz, ࡆࡀࡄࡓࡏࡉࡋ) is the daughter of Qin, sister of Ruha, and mother of Ptahil. According to Book 5 of the ''Right Ginza'', during Hibil Ziwa's descent to the World of Darkness (''alma d-hšuka'') o ...

, but arguing that Zahreil never left the World of Darkness. Buckley therefore argues that the Mandaean texts consider Ruha will eventually attain redemption, and merge with her dmutha (ideal counterpart) in the World of Light.

Revealer of gnosis

Buckley notes that Ruha's insights while still in

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 (' ...

(Earth) reflect the insights of a Mandaean gnostic. In Book 6 (also known as the "Book of Dinanukt") of the '' Right Ginza'', Ruha makes a speech similar to the Gnostic poem ''

The Thunder, Perfect Mind "The Thunder, Perfect Mind" is a text originally discovered among the Gnostic manuscripts in the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. It follows a poetic structure, and has received scholarly attention for its gnomic style and unclear subject. Form Th ...

''. Part of the speech is given as an excerpt below.

I am the Life that was from the beginning.
I am the Truth (''kušṭa'') which existed even earlier in the beginning.
I am radiance; I am light.
I am death; I am life.
I am darkness; I am light.
I am error; I am truth.
I am destruction; I am construction.
I am light; I am error.
I am blow; I am healing.
I am the elevated man who is older and who was there before the builder of heaven and earth.
I have no peers among kings, and there is as yet no crown in my kingdom.
There is no human being who can give me a message in the foggy clouds of darkness.
– Translated by
Buckley Buckley may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Buckley's, a Canadian pharmaceutical corporation * Buckley Aircraft, an American aircraft manufacturer * Buckley Broadcasting, an American broadcasting company * Buckley School (California), ...
(2002) from Lidzbarski (1925), ''Right Ginza'' 6, p. 207, lines 34–42.Lidsbarski, Mark (1925). ''Ginza: Der Schatz oder Das große Buch der Mandäer'', Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht/Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung.

As the spirit

''Ruha'' can also mean '

spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

', which is roughly equivalent to ''

pneuma ''Pneuma'' () is an ancient Greek word for "breath", and in a religious context for " spirit" or "soul". It has various technical meanings for medical writers and philosophers of classical antiquity, particularly in regard to physiology, and is ...

'' or "breath" in Greek philosophy. It is distinct from the ''

nišimta In Mandaeism, the nishimta ( myz, ࡍࡉࡔࡉࡌࡕࡀ ; plural: ) or nishma ( myz, ࡍࡉࡔࡌࡀ ) is the human soul. It is can also be considered as equivalent to the " psyche" or " ego". It is distinct from ''ruha'' ('spirit'), as well as fr ...

'', or incarnate

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

. In Mandaeism, humans are considered to be made up of the physical body (''pagra''), soul (''nišimta''), and spirit (''ruha'').

Parallels

The story of Ruha in Mandaeism is one of the parallels to the

Gnostic Gnosticism (from grc, γνωστικός, gnōstikós, , 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems which coalesced in the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects. These various groups emphasized pe ...

story of Sophia falling out of the

pleroma Pleroma ( grc-koi, πλήρωμα, literally "fullness") generally refers to the totality of divine powers. It is used in Christian theological contexts, especially in Gnosticism. The term also appears in the Epistle to the Colossians, which is t ...

. Ruha at first dwells in the

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 Rab ...

, until she "falls" and bears her son Ur.Deutsch, Nathniel (2003). Mandaean Literature. In However, the conflict arising from seeking to create without the consent of the supreme deity is attributed to

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 ...

, the Second Life, and the origin of the demiurgic (

) is attributed to

Abatur 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 ࡓࡁ� ...

, the Third Life.

References

{{Authority control Demons in Mandaeism Mandaic words and phrases Mandaean philosophical concepts Mythological queens Holy Spirit Personifications in Mandaeism