Mandaeism Mandaeism (Mandaic language, Classical Mandaic: ),https://qadaha.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nhura-dictionary-mandaic-english-mandaic.pdf sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnosticism, Gnostic, Monotheism, ...

, a gufna or gupna () is an

uthra An uthra or ʿutra (, 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 transl ...

that is described as a personified

grapevine ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

in the

World of Light In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld () 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 Ligh ...

List of gufnas

In various

Mandaean texts This article contains a list of Mandaic manuscripts, which are almost entirely Mandaeism, Mandaean religious texts written in Classical Mandaic language, Mandaic. Well-known Mandaean texts include the ''Ginza Rabba'' (also known as the ''Sidra ...

, several heavenly beings are described as personified

grapevines ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

(''gupna'') in the World of Light. For example, ''

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 ( ...

'' 15.8 lists the following gupnas in order: *Taureil (Taurʿil) – also mentioned in

Qulasta The Qulasta, also spelled Qolastā in older sources (; ), is a compilation of Mandaean prayers. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The prayerbook is a collection of Mandaic prayers regarding baptisms ('' maṣbuta'') and other sa ...

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 In Mandaeism, the Book of John () is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which Mandaeans attribute to their prophet John the Baptist. The book contains accounts of John's life and miracles, as well as a number of polemical conversations w ...

'' 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 In Mandaeism, Sam Ziwa () is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Sam Ziwa is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Shem. He is also considered to be a guardian of the soul. Sam is also a Mandaean masculine given name (see ...

." *

Šarhabeil In Mandaeism, Shurbai and Sharhabeil (Šurbai and Šarhabʿil) were a couple named as the progenitors of the third generation of humans. Shurbai is the husband, while Sharhabeil is his wife. According to Book 18 of the ''Right Ginza'', Shurbai a ...

(Šarhabʿil) – also described as the Great First Radiance in Qulasta prayers 25 and 381. In ''Right Ginza'' 18, Šarhabeil and her husband

Šurbai In Mandaeism, Shurbai and Sharhabeil (Šurbai and Šarhabʿil) were a couple named as the progenitors of the third generation of humans. Shurbai is the husband, while Sharhabeil is his wife. According to Book 18 of the ''Right Ginza'', Shurbai a ...

were the only survivors after the world was destroyed during the second epoch of the universe. According to ''Right Ginza'' 15.8, the gupna Šarhabeil "rests upon the earth of

Hibil Ziwa In Mandaeism, Hibil () and/or Hibil Ziwa () and sometimes pronounced Hīwel is referred to an uthra ("excellency", an angel or guardian) from the World of Light or the son of Adam (then; only referred as Hibil). Hibil, the man, is considered to b ...

." *Šar (Shar; literal meaning: 'he was firm') – also mentioned in Qulasta prayers 36 and 374. Šar-Ziwa is mentioned in Qulasta prayer 372. Also identified with

. According to ''Right Ginza'' 15.8, the gupna Šar "rests upon the earth of the First Life." *Pirun – also mentioned in Qulasta prayers 36, 374, and 379 and in the first chapter of the ''Mandaean Book of John''. Pirun is described as a banner (

drabsha The drabshaDrower, Ethel Stefana (1937). ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. (; Modern Mandaic: ''drafšā'') or darfash () is the symbol of the Mandaean faith. It is typically translated as 'banner'. Etymology T ...

) in Qulasta prayer 333, and as a "torrent" (river) in Qulasta prayer 378. In the ''

Baptism of Hibil Ziwa ''The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa'' or ''Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa'' (, "Scroll of the Baptism of Hibil Ziwa") is a Mandaean illustrated scroll. It describes the soteriological descent of Hibil Ziwa to the World of Darkness, and his baptisms befo ...

'' (DC 35), Pirun is the name of a heavenly tree. * Yawar is identified in ''Right Ginza'' 15.8 as "the first Gupna." Yusmir, Šar, and Pirun are also mentioned in the first chapter of the ''

''. ''Right Ginza'' 17.1 mentions Šarat (literal meaning: 'she was firm') as a ''gupna''. Šarat-Niṭupta is mentioned in ''Mandaean Book of John'' 68, and Šahrat is mentioned in Qulasta prayer 188. In Mandaeism, vines are used to symbolize believers, or 'those of the true faith'.

References

{{Authority control * Mandaean cosmology Mandaic words and phrases Vines in religion

List of gufnas

See also

References