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Uthras
An uthra or ʿutra (, Neo-Mandaic language, Neo-Mandaic ''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn Jacobsen 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 E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life." Uthras are benevolent beings that live in ''shkinta, škinas'' (, "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 (Mandaeism), anana'' ("cloud"; e.g., in ''Right Ginza'' Book 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts. Many uthras also serve as guardians (''naṭra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ziwa (Aramaic)
Ziwa (also transliterated as ''ziua'') 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 Gnosticism, Gnostic religions such as Mandaeism and Manichaeism. The Hebrew cognate is ''Ziv (other), ziv'' (). Scripts ''Ziwa'' written in different scripts: *Hebrew alphabet: *Mandaic alphabet: *Syriac alphabet: *Arabic script: Mandaeism In Mandaeism, uthras (celestial beings) often have the Mandaic language, Mandaic term ''Ziwa'' / ''Ziua'' (, meaning 'Radiance'; Neo-Mandaic language, Neo-Mandaic pronunciation ) attached after their names, due to their origins from the World of Light. Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan). Sometimes, one of the names within a pair 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) *Ya ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zihrun Raza Kasia Eutria
Zihrun (; sometimes also spelled Zahrun or Zahroon), is an uthra (angel or guardian) in the World of Light. He is the main subject of the Mandaean scroll ''Zihrun Raza Kasia''. The uthra Zhir (meaning 'secured') is often mentioned as part of a pair with Zihrun. Zihrun is also a Mandaean male given name. Well-known historical Mandaean priests named Zihrun include the 19th-century priest Ram Zihrun. In Mandaean scriptures Zihrun is mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana, with ''Kana'' meaning 'source' or 'place') and ''Right Ginza'' 8, and in ''Mandaean Book of John'' 62 as a "morning star." Qulasta prayers 2, 3, 240, and 319 mention him as Zihrun Raza ("Zihrun the Mystery"). He is described as an uthra of radiance, light, and glory in Qulasta prayers 2 and 3, with prayer 2 mentioning Manda d-Hayyi as an emanation of Zihrun. Qulasta prayers 332, 340, 341, and 374 mention him as the name for a drabsha (banner), and prayer 347 mentions him as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anana (Mandaeism)
In Mandaeism, an anana () is a heavenly cloud in the World of Light that is considered to be the dwelling place of uthras. An anana can also be interpreted as a female consort. The Mandaic term ''anana'' was also frequently used to refer to women in the Mandaean community. Names of ananas ''Right Ginza'' Book 17, Chapter 1 lists the names of several ananas and their uthras, many of which are gufnas (personified grapevines). In ''Right Ginza'' Book 3, Adakas Ziwa is paired with Anana ḏ-Nhura ("cloud of light"). In the ''Asut Malkia'', Bihrat Anana is mentioned as the name of an anana.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press. ''Niṭufta'' ''Niṭufta'' is a similar concept in Mandaeism. In Qulasta prayers such as the ''Asut Malkia'', the word ''niṭufta'' (spelled ''niṭupta'' ), which originally means 'drop' and has sometimes also been translated as 'cloud', is also often used as an appellation to refer to the consort ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gufna
In Mandaeism, a gufna or gupna () is an uthra that is described as a personified grapevine in the World of Light. List of gufnas In various Mandaean texts, several heavenly beings are described as personified grapevines (''gupna'') in the World of Light. For example, ''Right Ginza'' 15.8 lists the following gupnas in order: *Taureil (Taurʿil) – also mentioned in Qulasta prayers 379 and 381. ''Right Ginza'' 4 identifies Taureil as another name for Anan Anṣab. According to ''Right Ginza'' 15.8, the gupna Taureil "rests at the river of the pure Tarwan." *Rwaz (Ruaz) – also mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 6 and 15.7, and in Qulasta prayers 71, 117, 196, 212, and 379 *Yusmir – also mentioned in ''Mandaean Book of John'' 62 and Qulasta prayers 14 (as "Yusmir-Yusamir"), 18, 28, 52, 171, and 379. According to ''Right Ginza'' 15.8, the gupna Yusmir "rests upon the earth of Sam Ziwa." * Šarhabeil (Šarhabʿil) – also described as the Great First Radiance in Qulasta prayers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yardna
In Mandaeism, a yardna () or yardena ([]; ) is a body of flowing fresh water (or in ; pronounced ''meyya heyyi'') that is suitable for ritual use as baptismal water. The masbuta and other Mandaean rituals such as the tamasha (ablution), tamasha can only be performed in a yardna. Water stagnation, Stagnant fresh water, brackish water, and seawater are not considered to be yardnas. Examples of yardnas Although etymologically related to the Canaanite languages, Canaanite word ''yarden'' (Hebrew language, Hebrew: ), or the Jordan River, a yardna in Mandaeism can refer to any flowing river. Traditionally, these were typically the Euphrates (Mandaic: ''Praš''), Tigris (Mandaic: ''Diglat''), and Karun (Mandaic: ''ʿUlat'') rivers. The Euphrates is called (; pronounced ) in the ''Ginza Rabba''. In Mandaean scriptures, the Euphrates is considered to be the earthly manifestation of the heavenly yardna or flowing river (similar to the Yazidi concept of Lalish being the earthly manifestat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nidbai
In Mandaeism, Nidbai () 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 ''Qulasta'', he is usually mentioned together with Shilmai. See also *List of angels in theology * Adathan and Yadathan * Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism Manichaeism (; in ; ) is an endangered former major world religion currently only practiced in China around Cao'an,R. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''. SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 found ... References Individual angels Uthras Water spirits {{Mandaeism-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shilmai
In Mandaeism, Shilmai (Šilmai; ) 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 ''Qulasta'', 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 1.1 of the '' Left Ginza'', Shilmai plays the role of Abatur as a matarta guardian during Shitil's ascent to the World of Light. ''Left Ginza'' 1.1 describes Shilmai as such: 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. ... [...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), which is mostly based on Lidzbarski (1925), while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021). Opening lines of each chapter are provided below, since Mandaeans often refer to Mandaic prayers by their opening lines. 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, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Piriawis
In Mandaean cosmology, Piriawis (; 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 River, Jordan"), is the sacred life-giving river (''yardna'') of the World of Light. It is the dmuta, 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. Qulasta prayers s:Translation:Qolasta/Prayer 13, 13 and s:Translation:Qolasta/Prayer 17, 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shkinta
In Mandaeism, a shkinta () 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 or mud 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 is associated with the World of Light, pri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Semitic Root
The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or " radicals" (hence the term consonantal root). Such abstract consonantal roots are used in the formation of actual words by adding the vowels and non-root consonants (or "transfixes"), which go with a particular morphological category around the root consonants, in an appropriate way, generally following specific patterns. It is a peculiarity of Semitic linguistics that many of these consonantal roots are triliterals, meaning that they consist of three letters (although there are a number of quadriliterals, and in some languages also biliterals). Such roots are also common in other Afroasiatic languages. While Berber mostly has triconsonantal roots, Chadic, Omotic, and Cushitic have mostly biconsonantal roots; and Egyptian shows a mix of biconsonantal and triconsonantal roots. Triconsonantal roots A triliteral or triconsonantal root (; , ';, '; , ') is a root containing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Syriac Language
The Syriac language ( ; ), also known natively in its spoken form in early Syriac literature as Edessan (), the Mesopotamian language () and Aramaic (), is an Aramaic#Eastern Middle Aramaic, Eastern Middle Aramaic dialect. Classical Syriac is the academic term used to refer to the dialect's literary usage and standardization, distinguishing it from other Aramaic dialects also known as 'Syriac' or 'Syrian'. In its West-Syriac Rite, West-Syriac tradition, Classical Syriac is often known as () or simply , or , while in its East-Syriac Rite, East-Syriac tradition, it is known as () or (). It emerged during the first century AD from a local Eastern Aramaic languages, Eastern Aramaic dialect that was spoken in the ancient region of Osroene, centered in the city of Edessa. During the Early Christian period, it became the main literary language of various Aramaic-speaking Christian communities in the historical region of Syria (region), Ancient Syria and throughout the Near East. As ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
