An uthra or ʿutra (,

Neo-Mandaic Neo-Mandaic, also known as Modern Mandaic, sometimes called the "''ratna''" ( "jargon"), is the modern reflex of the Mandaic language, the liturgical language of the Mandaean religious community of Iraq and Iran. Although severely endangere ...

''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" 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, ...

Charles G. Häberl Charles G. Häberl (born June 22, 1976 in New Jersey, United States) is an American linguist, religious studies scholar, and professor. He is currently Professor of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Languages and Literatures (AMESALL) and ...

and

James F. McGrath James Frank McGrath is an American scholar of religion. He is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University. He is known for his work on Early Christianity, Mandaeism, criticism of the Christ myth t ...

translate it as "excellency".

Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley (born Jorunn Jacobsen, 1944) is a Norwegian-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 ...

defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras (sing.: 'utra 'wealth', but meaning 'angel' or 'guardian')." p8 Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the ''

yazata Yazata () is the Avestan word for a Zoroastrian concept with a wide range of meanings but generally signifying (or used as an epithet of) a divinity. The term literally means "worthy of worship or veneration",.. and is thus, in this more general ...

'' of

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religions, Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster, Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, ...

. According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life." Uthras are benevolent beings that live in '' škinas'' (, "celestial dwellings") 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 ...

(''alma ḏ-nhūra'') and communicate with each other via

telepathy Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic ...

. Uthras are also occasionally mentioned as being in ''

anana Anana or Ananas or ''variation'' may refer to: Plants * Pineapple (''Ananas comosus''), also known as "anana" and "ananas" in different languages * ''Ananas'', a plant genus, that includes pineapple Places * Ananás, Tocantins, Brazil, a villag ...

'' ("cloud"; e.g., 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 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts. Many uthras also serve as guardians (''naṭra''); for instance,

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 ...

and

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 ...

are the guardians of

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 a ...

, the Great Jordan (''

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 ...

'') of Life. Other uthras are ''

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 o ...

s'', or heavenly grapevines. Uthras that accompany people or souls are known as ''parwanqa'' (), which can be translated as "guide", "envoy", or "messenger".

Etymology

''Uthra'' is typically considered to be

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

with the

Aramaic Aramaic (; ) is a Northwest Semitic language that originated in the ancient region of Syria and quickly spread to Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, Sinai, southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Arabia, where it has been continually written a ...

'riches', derived from the

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 vowel ...

'to be rich'. Based on that etymology, E. S. Drower suggests a parallel with the South Arabian storm god

Attar Attar, also known as ittar, is an essential oil derived from botanical or other natural sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydrodistillation or steam distillation. Attar can also be expressed by chemical means but generally n ...

, who provides irrigation for the people. However, that etymology is disputed by

(2017), who suggests it is the ʾaqtal pattern noun 'excellency', derived from the

'to exceed'.

Naming

Uthras often have the term ''

Ziwa Ziwa is an archaeological site in Nyanga District, Zimbabwe, containing the remains of a vast late Iron Age agricultural settlement dated to the 15th century. It is one of many sites that compose the Nyanga Iron Age ruins. Ziwa was declared a N ...

'' / ''Ziua'' ( "Radiance') attached after their names, due to their origins from the

. 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 ...

, the Syriac term ''Ziwa'' () is also used to refer to Jesus as ''Ishoʿ Ziwā'' (, '' Jesus the Splendor''), who is sent to awaken Adam and Eve to the source of the spiritual light trapped within their physical bodies. Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names. The names can be

alliterative Alliteration is the repetition of syllable-initial consonant sounds between nearby words, or of syllable-initial vowels if the syllables in question do not start with a consonant. It is often used as a List of narrative techniques#Style, litera ...

(e.g.,

Adathan and Yadathan In Mandaeism, Adathan () and Yadathan () are a pair of uthras (angel or guardian) who stand at the Gate of Life in the World of Light (''Right Ginza'' 15.8), praising and worshipping Hayyi Rabbi (''Qulasta'' prayer 77). In the ''Ginza Rabba'' a ...

), or one name may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan). In

, pairs of celestial beings can also have rhyming names, such as

Xroshtag and Padvaxtag Xrôshtag and Padvâxtag (''Xrōštag and Padvāxtag'') are a pair of Manichaean divinities, always depicted together, who serve as the personifications of the words "call" and "answer".Burkitt, F. C. 1935. Xrôshtag and Padvâxtag, Call and Answ ...

. Gardner (2010) discusses other parallels with Manichaeism.

List of uthras

Commonly mentioned uthras

Below is a partial list of uthras. Some names of uthras are always listed together as pairs. *

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 ...

, the savior uthra whose name means "

Gnosis Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge ( γνῶσις, ''gnōsis'', f.). The term was used among various Hellenistic religions and philosophies in the Greco-Roman world. It is best known for its implication within Gnosticism, where ...

of (the)

Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

" *The triad consisting of the three sons of

Adam Adam is the name given in Genesis 1–5 to the first human. Adam is the first human-being aware of God, and features as such in various belief systems (including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and Islam). According to Christianity, Adam ...

according to Book 1 of the '' Left Ginza'': **

Hibil 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 ...

(

Abel Abel ( ''Hébel'', in pausa ''Hā́ḇel''; ''Hábel''; , ''Hābēl'') is a biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within the Abrahamic religions. Born as the second son of Adam and Eve, the first two humans created by God in Judaism, God, he ...

) **

Shitil In Mandaeism, Shitil () is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Shitil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Seth. Prayers in the Qulasta frequently contain the recurring formula, "In the name of Hibil, Šitil, and An ...

(

Seth Seth, in the Abrahamic religions, was the third son of Adam and Eve. The Hebrew Bible names two of his siblings (although it also states that he had others): his brothers Cain and Abel. According to , Seth was born after Abel's murder by Cain, ...

) ** Anush ( Enosh) *The emanations: **

Yushamin In Mandaeism, Yushamin () 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 Life'), hence beginning the cre ...

(the Second Life): the primal uthra **

Abatur Abatur (, sometimes called Abathur; Yawar, ; and the Ancient of Days and also pronounced Awāthur) is an Uthra and the second of three subservient emanations created by the Mandaean God ''Hayyi Rabbi'' (, “The Great Living God”) in the Mand ...

(the Third Life): father of Ptahil ** Ptahil (the Fourth Life): the creator of the material world *

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 ...

(

Shem Shem (; ''Šēm''; ) is one of the sons of Noah in the Bible ( Genesis 5–11 and 1 Chronicles 1:4). The children of Shem are Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram, in addition to unnamed daughters. Abraham, the patriarch of Jews, Christ ...

): Shem is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Sam Ziwa *

and

are a pair of uthras who serve as the guardian spirits (''naṭra''; plural: ''naṭria'') of the

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

and the delegates of

, who carry out the work of God (''

Hayyi Rabbi In Mandaeism, Hayyi Rabbi ( Neo-Mandaic; ), 'The Great Living God', is the supreme God from which all things emanate. Hayyi Rabbi is also known as "The First Life", since during the creation of the material world, Yushamin emanated from Hayyi ...

''). (See

.) *

are a pair of uthras who stand at the Gate of Life, praising and worshipping God.

In the ''Ginza Rabba''

Other uthras mentioned in 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 ...

'' are: *Barbag (Bar-Bag), also called Azaziʿil – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 4 as the "head of the 444 škintas." * Bhaq Ziwa – uthra; also

Bihram In Mandaeism, Bihram () or Bihram Rabba (, "Bihram the Great") is an uthra (angel or guardian) who presides over the ''masbuta'', or baptism ritual. Bihram is mentioned in Mandaean texts such as the ''Qulasta''. Many Mandaean masbuta ritual praye ...

– uthra of

baptism Baptism (from ) is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by aspersion, sprinkling or affusion, pouring water on the head, or by immersion baptism, immersing in water eit ...

*Bhir (meaning 'chosen, tested, proven') – mentioned as part of a pair with Bihrun in ''Right Ginza'' 8. *Bihrun – ' he Lifechose me'. Mentioned in Qulasta prayers

105 105 may refer to: *105 (number), the number * AD 105, a year in the 2nd century AD * 105 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC * 105 (telephone number), the emergency telephone number in Mongolia * 105 (MBTA bus), a Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority ...

and 168, ''Right Ginza'' 8, and ''Mandaean Book of John'' 62. *Din Mlikh – uthra who appears in the revelation of

Dinanukht Dinanukht (also spelled Dinanukt or Dananukt; 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 Mandaeism, who is portrayed as an an ...

Gubran In Mandaeism, Gubran () is an uthra (angel or guardian). He is also referred to as Gubran Uthra. Guban is the female consort of Gubran. In Mandaean scriptures In the ''Mandaean Book of John'', Gubran Uthra helps Nbaṭ lead a rebellion against ...

and Guban – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 5.1. In 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 ...

'', Gubran Uthra helps

Nbaṭ In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ () is an uthra (angel or guardian) who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba ("the Great Nbaṭ" or "Great Sprout") or Nbaṭ Ziwa "the Radiant Nbaṭ", literally "Radia ...

lead a rebellion against

and his 21 sons. *Ham Ziwa and Nhur Ziwa *Kapan and Kanpan *

() – the King of Air, the first great Radiance *

Nṣab In Mandaeism, Nṣab () is an uthra (angel or guardian). He is also called Nṣab Rba ("the Great Nṣab") or Nṣab Ziwa ("the Radiant Nṣab" or "Splendid Plant"). Nṣab and Anana (Mandaeism), Anan-Nṣab ('cloud of Nṣab', a female consort) ...

() – also called Nṣab Rabba and Nṣab Ziwa. Son of

. Frequently mentioned with Anan-Nṣab ('cloud of Nṣab', a female consort) as a pair. Mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 8 and 17.1, and Qulasta prayers 25, 71,

, 145, 168, 186, 353, and 379. *Nbaz (Nbaz Haila) – Mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 1.4 and 6 as the guardian of a

matarta In Mandaean cosmology, a maṭarta (; plural form: ' ) 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-station", "toll-station", "way-s ...

. He is mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 6 as "Nbaz-Haila, the Lord of Darkness, the great anvil of the earth." *Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 5.1. *

Yardna – also a heavenly stream and personified vine (''gufna'') *Rahziʿil – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 11, in which he is described as "the well-armed one who (is) the smallest of his brothers." * Sam Mana Smira (Smir Ziwa 'pure first Radiance', or Sam Smir Ziwa; ''Smir'' means 'preserved') – one of the Twelve. Sam Mana Smira is 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 9, 14, 28, 77, and 171, and ''Right Ginza'' 3 and 5.4. Yawar Mana Smira and Sam Smira Ziwa are mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 14. Lidzbarski (1920) translates ''Sam Mana Smira'' as "Sām, the well-preserved Mānā."Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. ''Mandäische Liturgien''. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin. *Sar and Sarwan – mentioned in

prayers 25,

, 168, and 378, and ''Right Ginza'' 5.1, 8, and 17.1. *

Ṣaureil In Mandaeism, Ṣaureil, also spelled Ṣauriel or Ṣaurʿil (), is the angel of death. Ṣaureil features prominently in Book 1 of the '' Left Ginza'' as the angel who announces the message of death to Adam and Shitil (Seth). Ṣaureil is also ...

(Ṣaurʿil) – the angel of death; also an epithet for the Moon (Sén) * Shihlun (lit. ' he Lifehas sent me') *

Simat Hayyi In Mandaeism, Simat Hayyi or Simat Hiia (), the personification of life, is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light who is married to Yawar Ziwa. The name ''Simat Hayyi'' ("Life's Treasure"), along with the name ''Niṭufta'' ("Dro ...

– treasure of life; typically considered to be the wife of the uthra

Yawar Ziwa In Mandaeism, Yawar Ziwa (; also known as Yawar Kasia "Hidden Yawar", or Yawar Rabba "Great Yawar") is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. He is the personification of light, as well as the head of reproductive powers. Sima ...

* Tar and Tarwan. Tarwan is mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 8 and in Qulasta prayer

. The "land of Tarwan" is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 190 and 379 and ''Right Ginza'' 15.17, while "pure Tarwan" (''taruan dakita''), or sometimes "the pure land of Tarwan," is mentioned as a heavenly place in ''Right Ginza'' 15.2, 15.8, 15.16, and 16.1. "Tarwan-Nhura" (Tarwan of Light) is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 4 and 25. * ʿUrpʿil and Marpʿil * Yasana – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 12.1 as the "gate of Yasana." * Yathrun – father of

– Dazzling Radiance, also known as Yawar Kasia or Yawar Rabba; husband of

. ''Yawar'' can also mean 'Helper.' * Yufin-Yufafin (Yupin-Yupapin) *

Yukabar Yukabar (also Yukhabr; is an uthra (angel or guardian) in the World of Light. He is the envoy of life who raises up the soul, and is also called Yukabar-Manda-Hiia (Yukabar Manda Hayyi). In Mandaean scriptures Yukashar is mentioned in Qulasta p ...

(Yukhabr; ) – mentioned in

prayers 74, 77, 173, and 379, and in ''Right Ginza'' 15.6 (as Yukabar-Kušṭa), 16.4, and 17.1 (as Yukabar-Ziwa). Yukabar helps

fight a rebellion against

in the ''

''. * Yukašar (Yukhashr; ) – source of Radiance. Mentioned in

prayers 53, 54, 55, 64, 77, and 343, and in ''Right Ginza'' 4 as Yukašar-Kana (''kana'' means 'place' or 'source'). In the ''

'', he is portrayed as the son of Ptahil. *Yur (also Yur-Yahur) is one of the

guardians. Qulasta prayer 12 begins with the name Yur, son of Barit. Yur is also mentioned in Qulasta prayers 18 and 171. * Yura – "jewel". Mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1 as ''Yura Rba Ganzibra'' (literally "Great Yura the

Ganzibra A ganzibra (singular form in , plural form in , literally 'treasurer' in Mandaic; ) is a high priest in Mandaeism. Tarmidas, or junior priests, rank below the ganzibras.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxfor ...

" or "Great Yura the Treasurer"). Yura is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 214 and 379 as well. *

Yurba In Mandaeism, Yurba or Yorabba () is an uthra (angelic or celestial being). Mark Lidzbarski, Lidzbarski (1905, 1920) spells his name as spelled Jōrabba. Yurba, who is also called the fighter, is identified with Shamish, the sun. In Mandaean text ...

(spelled Jōrabba by Lidzbarski) – also called the fighter. Yurba is identified with

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 ...

, the sun. Book 18 of the ''Right Ginza'' equates Yurba with

Adonai Judaism has different names given to God in Judaism, God, which are considered sacred: (), (''Adonai'' ), (''El (deity), El'' ), ( ), (''El Shaddai, Shaddai'' ), and ( ); some also include I Am that I Am.This is the formulation of Josep ...

of Judaism, while Gelbert (2017) identifies Yurba with Yao. Mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 3, 5.3 (which mentions Yurba as a

guardian), 8, 12.1, 15.5, and 18 and ''Left Ginza'' 2.22 and 3.45. ''Mandaean Book of John'' 52 is a narrative dedicated to Yurba. Yurba is often mentioned as engaging in conversation with Ruha. *Zarzeil Ziwa (Zarzʿil Ziwa) – mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 5.1 and 15.8. *Zhir (meaning 'secured') – often mentioned as part of a pair with

Zihrun 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 ...

(sometimes spelled as Zahrun; literally means 'the Life warned me') – Zihrun is mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana) 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 prayers 2 and 3, with prayer 2 mentioning

as an emanation of Zihrun. Qulasta prayers 332, 340, 341, and 374 mention him as the name for a

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 ...

(banner), and prayer 347 mentions him as Zihrun-Šašlamiel. He is the subject of ''

Zihrun Raza Kasia The ''Šarḥ ḏ-Zihrun Raza Kasia'' (; "The Scroll of Zihrun, the Hidden Mystery") is a Mandaean religious text that describes rituals such as the masbuta, masiqta, and other related topics. It is an illustrated scroll. Zihrun (referred to a ...

''. In ''

'' 5.1,

appoints four uthras each over the four directions to watch over Ur (''see also''

Guardians of the directions The Guardians of the Directions (, ) are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism, Jainism and ''Vajrayana, '' Buddhism—especially Kalachakra, . As a group of eight deities, they are called (अष्ट-द� ...

): *''west'': Azaziʿil, Azaziaʿil, Taqpʿil and Margazʿil the Great *''east'': ʿUrpʿil, Marpʿil, Taqpʿil and Hananʿil *''north'': Kanpan and Kapan,

and Guban *''south'': Hailʿil, Qarbʿil, Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil

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 ...
''

A few ''

'' prayers list the names of lesser-known uthras in sets of four. Mark J. Lofts (2010) considers them to be parallel to the

Four Luminaries In Sethianism, Sethian Gnosticism, a luminary is an angel-like being (or heavenly dwelling place in the ''Apocryphon of John''). Four luminaries are typically listed in Sethian Gnostic texts, such as the ''Secret Book of John'', the ''Holy Book of ...

Sethian Gnosticism The Sethians (Greek: Σηθιανοί) were one of the main currents of Gnosticism during the 2nd and 3rd century AD, along with Valentinianism and Basilideanism. According to John D. Turner, it originated in the 2nd century AD as a fusion of ...

. Qulasta prayers 17 and 77 list them as: *Rhum-Hai ("Mercy") *Īn-Hai ("Wellspring" or "Source of Life") *Šum-Hai ("Name") *Zamar-Hai ("Singer") ''Qulasta'' prayer 49 lists the "four uthras" as: *Īn-Hai *Šum-Hai (''Šum'' can mean both

and "Name") * Ziw-Hai ("Radiance") *Nhur-Hai ("Light") These four uthras are considered to be the kings (''malkia'') of the

North Star Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris ( Latinized to ''Alpha Ursae Minoris'') and is commonly called the North Star or Pole Star. With an apparent magnitude t ...

, who give strength and life to the sun. Together with Malka Ziwa (another name for

), they make up the "five primal beings of light." Conversely, Mandaeans consider the "five lords 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 ...

" to be Zartai-Zartanai,

Hag and Mag In Mandaeism, Hag () and Mag () are a pair of demons that are usually mentioned together. Hag is a male demon, while Mag is a female demon. Hibil Ziwa encounters Hag and Mag during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in th ...

, Gap and Gapan,

Šdum In Mandaeism, Shdum (Šdum) () or Ashdum (Ašdum) is a demon in the World of Darkness (''alma ḏ-hšuka'') or underworld. Hibil Ziwa encounters Shdum during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the ''Right Ginza'', whe ...

, and

Krun Krun (; ) or Akrun () is a Mandaean lord of the underworld. According to Mandaean cosmology, he dwells in the lowest depths of creation, supporting the entirety of the physical world. In mythology Krun is the greatest of the five Mandaean lor ...

(the paired demons are considered to rule together as single lords). (See for similar parallels.) In ''Qulasta'' prayers such as the ''

Asut Malkia The ''Asut Malkia'' ("Salutation of Kings") is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism. In the prayer, the reciter wishes health and victory (''asuta u-zakuta'' ) upon dozens of heavenly and ancestral figures. According to E. S. Dro ...

'', 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 consorts of uthras. It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father (Hayyi Rabbi), or a personified drop of "water of life". (''See also''

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 ...

.) Other minor uthras mentioned in the ''Qulasta'' are: *Hamgai-Ziwa, son of Hamgagai-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 3 and ''Right Ginza'' 15.5. *Hash (Haš) – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 77 *Hauran and Hauraran – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 14, 27, and 28. In prayer 27, Hauran is described as a vestment, while Hauraran is described as a covering. Hauraran is also mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 15.2, ''Left Ginza'' 3.60, and ''Mandaean Book of John'' 70. *Hazazban (Haza-Zban) – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 19 and 27 as an uthra who sets wreaths (''

klila In Mandaeism, the klila () is a small Myrtus, myrtle () wreath or ring (translated as "circlet" by E. S. Drower) used during Mandaean religious rituals. The klila is a female symbol that complements the ''taga (Mandaeism), taga'', a white crown w ...

'') upon the heads of Mandaeans who are performing

masbuta Maṣbuta (; pronounced ''maṣwottā'' in Neo-Mandaic) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as ritual purification, not of initia ...

. Sometimes the

itself is also called Hazazban. Also mentioned in the

as the

guard ''Zan-Hazazban'' in ''Right Ginza'' 5.3 and 6. Hazazban possibly means 'this time.' *ʿIt ʿNṣibat ʿUtria (or ʿIt Yawar bar ʿNṣibat ʿUtria – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 5. Prayer 46 mentions ʿNiṣbat-ʿUtria. *Kanfiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 168 *Karkawan-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 49 *Piriafil-Malaka – mentioned together with

-Ziwa in Qulasta prayers 13 and 17 *Rham and Rhamiel-Uthra – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 378 *Ṣanaṣiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 77 and

*Šihlbun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer

*Ṣihiun, Pardun, and Kanfun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 77 * S'haq Ziwa (pronounced ʰāq zīwā – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 18,

, and 173. Š'haq is also mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 15.5. In the '' 1012 Questions'', S'haq Ziwa or Adam S'haq Ziwa (literally "Adam was Bright Radiance") is equated with '' Adam Kasia''. *Shingilan (or Šingilan-Uthra) – mentioned in Qulasta prayer

and ''Mandaean Book of John'' 1 and 69. According to ''Mandaean Book of John'' 1, "Šingilan-Uthra takes the

incense Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...

holder and brings it before the

Mana Mana may refer to: Religion and mythology * Mana (Oceanian cultures), the spiritual life force energy or healing power that permeates the universe in Melanesian and Polynesian mythology * Mana (food), archaic name for manna, an edible substance m ...

." *ʿUṣar, also known as ʿUṣar-Hiia or ʿUṣar-Hai ("Treasure of Life"), as well as ʿUṣar-Nhura ("Treasure of Light") – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 17, 27, 40, 42, 49, 75, and 77; mentioned together with Pta-Hai in prayers 27, 49, and 77. * Yukašar – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 53, 54, 55, 64, 77, and 343 *Yaha-Yaha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 15 *Yaluz-Yaluz – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 22 and 50 *Zha-Zha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 15 *Zhir – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 26

In other texts

In the ''

'',

Etinṣib Ziwa In Mandaeism, Etinṣib Ziwa or Ītinṣib Ziwa () is an uthra who starts a battle against Nbaṭ. Etinṣib Ziwa only appears in a few chapters of the ''Mandaean Book of John''. Battle against Nbaṭ In Chapter 3 of the ''Mandaean Book of John' ...

() is an uthra who starts a battle against

. Some uthras mentioned in the '' Diwan Abatur'' include: *Arspan, an uthra connected with water and baptism; also the name of a throne in the '' Diwan Abatur'' *Bihdad, an uthra who assists Abatur at the scales in the '' Diwan Abatur'' *ʿQaimat – daughter of Yushamin, has 15 children by Ptahil *Rahmiʿil – often mentioned in love charms *Samandarʿil – a flower and blossom spirit; also mentioned in Qulasta prayer

*Šarhabiel – In the ''Diwan Abatur'', he is the son of Ptahil who rules over purgatory. Šarhabʿil has been depicted as both male and female, and is also the epithet of the ritual incense cup. *Šhaq – son of Ptahil and ruler of a matarta; means 'cloud(s)' Mentioned in the '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'': *Mdabriel

''Gufna''

In various Mandaean texts, 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 ...

(''

'' or ''gupna'') in the World of Light.

Trees

In various Mandaean manuscripts, uthras can also be described as personified heavenly trees. Many Mandaean scrolls contain illustrations of the trees. Some of them are: *''

Dmut Kušṭa ''Diwan ḏ-Qadaha Rba Šuma ḏ-Mara ḏ-Rabuta u-Dmut Kušṭa'' (; "The Scroll of the Great Prayer, the Name of the Lord of Greatness and the Image of Truth"), or simply ''Dmut Kušṭa'' (or ''Dmuth Kushta''), is a Mandaean religious text. I ...

'' (MS Asiatic. Misc. C. 12) ** Abatur Rama, as a

date palm ''Phoenix dactylifera'', commonly known as the date palm, is a flowering-plant species in the palm family Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet #Fruits, fruit called dates. The species is widely cultivated across North Africa, northern A ...

**Habšaba, as a

fig tree ''Ficus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family (biology), family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few spe ...

, as a great

cotton plant ''Gossypium'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Gossypieae of the mallow family, Malvaceae, from which cotton is harvested. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. There are about 50 ''Gossypi ...

, as a

mulberry tree ''Morus'', a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae, consists of 19 species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries, growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions. Generally, the genus has 64 subordinate ...

*'' Diwan Abatur'' (DC 8) **

Shatrin In Mandaeism, Shatrin () is a heavenly tree mentioned in the '' Scroll of Abatur''. Shatrin is where the souls of unbaptized Mandaean children are temporarily nourished for 30 days. On the 30th day, Hibil Ziwa baptizes the souls of the children, ...

**Gabriel Rihmat ('she-loved-Gabriel', a date palm) *''

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 *'' Alma Rišaia Rba'' (DC 41): Haneil, Marmag, Mašqeil, Nahreil, Nahureil, Rahimeil (depicted twice), Samkieil, Tarwan

''Anana''

The Mandaic term ''

'' () is typically translated as 'cloud,' but can also be interpreted as a female consort of an uthra, and hence also an uthra.

References

{{Authority control Classes of angels Mandaean legendary creatures Mandaic words and phrases