Shihlun ( myz, ࡔࡉࡄࡋࡅࡍ, translit=Šihlun, lit=he sent me; also spelled Shehlon
) 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 'u ...
(angel or guardian) 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 ...
.
In the ''
Mandaean Book of John'', he is noted for his opposition to the creation of the material universe by
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 ...
and his assistant uthras.
In Mandaean scriptures
Chapter 62 of the ''
Mandaean Book of John'' contains a story of Shihlun's opposition to the creation of the material world by
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 ...
and other uthras. Ptahil, who fills the role of the
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'' ...
, creates the material world with the help of the uthras
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 c ...
,
Shitil
In Mandaeism, Shitil or Sheetil (Šītil; myz, ࡔࡉࡕࡉࡋ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Shitil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Seth.
Prayers in the Qolasta frequently contain the recurring formul ...
, and Ayar ("
aether").
However, Shihlun chastises Ptahil and calls him an "evil man, son of an evil man" (''biša br biša'').
Shihlun is mentioned in
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 ...
prayers 194 and 210.
''
Right Ginza'' Book 11 also mentions the uthra Shihlun as "the good light who gives excellent advice for his brothers."
See also
*
List of angels in theology
This is a list of angels in theology, including both specific angels (e.g., Gabriel) and types of angels (e.g., seraphim).
See also
* Angel
* Angels in art
* Fallen angel
* Guardian angel
* Gustav Davidson
* Heaven
* Hierarchy of angels
* Lis ...
References
Individual angels
Uthras
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