Ruha (pronounced /ˈruːhə/) is a term with spiritual connotations found across various religious traditions. In Arabic, Ruh () signifies "spirit" or "soul" and is a fundamental concept in Islam, referring to the divine breath of life.Esposito, John L. (2003). *The Oxford Dictionary of Islam*. Oxford University Press. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-19-512558-0. Similarly, in Hebrew, Ruach () means "spirit," "wind," or "breath," and Ruach HaKodesh () denotes the "Holy Spirit" in Judaism.Unterman, Alan (2000). *Dictionary of Jewish Lore and Legend*. Thames & Hudson. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-500-01658-5. In Sanskrit, Ruha () translates to "one who has grown or ascended," often signifying spiritual growth and having positive connotations as a name."Ruha Name Meaning, Origin, Numerology, Rashi & More". *House of Zelena*. Retrieved March 16, 2025. In

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, ...

, Rūha (; also known as Namrūs or Hiwat (Ewath; )) is a significant figure, often depicted as 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 Apocaly ...

(''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 underworld. ...

. She rules the underworld together with her son Ur, the king of the World of Darkness, and her entourage of the seven planets and twelve constellations, who are also her offspring with Ur. Ruha is the daughter of Qin, the Mistress of Darkness in the first underworld. She is the ruler of the third '' maṭarta'' (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 (), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba (), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The Ginza Rabba is composed of two parts: the Right Ginza (GR) and the Left Ginza (GL). T ...

'' refers to Ruha using various

epithet An epithet (, ), also a byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) commonly accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a real or fictitious person, place, or thing. It is usually literally descriptive, as in Alfred the Great, Suleima ...

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

Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creati ...

" *''ḏ-Libat ʿstra Amamit'' "

Libat In Mandaeism, Libat () 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 Texten und bei ihren Nac ...

Ishtar Inanna is the List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of war, love, and fertility. She is also associated with political power, divine law, sensuality, and procreation. Originally worshipped in Sumer, she was known by the Akk ...

- Amamit" (i.e.,

Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...

) 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 to ...

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

'' are: *Amamit *Namrus (Nimrus) *Qananit (in ''

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 ( ...

'' Book 6, i.e. the ''Book of Dinanukht'') *Dayum (in '' Left Ginza'' 3.27) Gelbert (2013) connects the name Ruha to the city

Urha Edessa (; ) was an ancient city (''polis'') in Upper Mesopotamia, in what is now Urfa or Şanlıurfa, Turkey. It was founded during the Hellenistic period by Macedonian general and self proclaimed king Seleucus I Nicator (), founder of the Sel ...

(

Edessa Edessa (; ) was an ancient city (''polis'') in Upper Mesopotamia, in what is now Urfa or Şanlıurfa, Turkey. It was founded during the Hellenistic period by Macedonian general and self proclaimed king Seleucus I Nicator (), founder of the Sel ...

), although this hypothesis has not been peer reviewed.

Children

Rūha bears a son called Ur with

Gaf Gaf (; ), is the name of different Perso-Arabic alphabet, Perso-Arabic letters, all representing . They are all derived from the letter Kaph, kāf, with additional diacritics, such as dots and lines. In name and shape, it is a variant of ''kaph ...

, one of the giants in the

described in book 5 of the ''

''. She then commits incest with Ur, giving birth to the seven planets and twelve

zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north and south celestial latitude of the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Within this zodiac ...

s (listed below). ;Twelve Constellations (''trisar malwašia'') * Daula ( Aquarius) * Nuna ( Pisces) * ʿmbra ( Aries) * Taura ( Taurus) * Ṣilmia ( Gemini) * Sarṭana (

Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

) *

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

( Leo) * Šumbulta (

Virgo Virgo may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Virgo (film), a 1970 Egyptian film * Virgo (character), several Marvel Comics characters * Virgo Asmita, a character in the manga ''Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas'' * ''Virgo'' (album), by Virgo Four, ...

) * Qaina (

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

Shamish In Mandaeism, Shamish or Šamiš () 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 Texten und bei ihren ...

(Sun) *

(Venus) * Nbu (Mercury) *

Sin In religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities. 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 ...

(Moon) * Kiwan (Saturn) * Bil (Jupiter) * Nirig (Mars)

Cosmological role

According to Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley, Ruha is a complex character who can not be simply portrayed as an evil

archon ''Archon'' (, plural: , ''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 , meaning "to be first, to rule", derived from the same ...

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 had sent him in anger against Ur. Ruha sleeps with Ur in a futile attempt to liberate him, giving birth to the seven planets and twelve signs of the Zodiac, with whom she expresses dissatisfaction. Ruha and Ptahil 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 seven planets, including Adonai (Shamish), sets out to build

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

. Anush Uthra admonishes that 365 Mandaeans will arise in the city, but Ruha goes ahead with its construction, erecting its seven pillars. 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: , meaning "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran"; Modern Mandaic: ''(Diwān) Harrān Gawāythā'') also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans as ...

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 () is an uthra (angel or guardian) sent by the Great Life ('' Hayyi Rabbi'', or the Transcendent God) as a messenger to John the Baptist. Manda d-Hayyi is considered to be the most important uthra, si ...

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 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 ...

, Manda d-Hayyi retrieves Kanath-Niṭufta (translated by Charles G. Häberl 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 (an observation which had been noticed, but dismissed as a confusion, by Mark Lidzbarski), and that the names Simat Hayyi (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

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 ...

referring to Simat Hayyi 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, 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 (Earth) reflect the insights of a Mandaean gnostic. In Book 6 (also known as the "Book of Dinanukt") of the ''

'', Ruha makes a speech similar to the Gnostic poem '' The Thunder, Perfect Mind''. 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 (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', which is roughly equivalent to ''

pneuma ''Pneuma'' () is an ancient Greek word for "breathing, breath", and in a religious context for "spirit (animating force), spirit". It has various technical meanings for medical writers and philosophers of classical antiquity, particularly in rega ...

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

nišimta In Mandaeism, the nishimta ( ; plural: ) or nishma ( ) 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 from ''mana'' ('nous'). In Mandaeism, humans are ...

'', or incarnate

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

. 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 Ancient Greek: , romanized: ''gnōstikós'', Koine Greek: �nostiˈkos 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced in the late 1st century AD among early Christian sects. These diverse g ...

story of Sophia falling out of the

pleroma Pleroma (, literally "fullness") generally refers to the totality of divine powers. It is used in Christian theological contexts, as well as in Gnosticism. The term also appears in the Epistle to the Colossians, which is traditionally attributed ...

. Ruha at first dwells 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 ...

, 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, the Second Life, and the origin of the demiurgic ( Ptahil) is attributed to Abatur, the Third Life.

References

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