Zihrun (; sometimes also spelled Zahrun or Zahroon), 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 ...
(angel or guardian) 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 ...
.
He is the main subject of the
Mandaean scroll ''
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 ...
''.
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
Ram Zihrun () was a 19th-century Mandaean priest. Although initially a learned layman (''yalufa''), he became known for reviving the Mandaean priesthood together with his cousin Yahya Bihram after a cholera epidemic had killed all living Mandaean ...
.
In Mandaean scriptures
Zihrun is mentioned 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 ( ...
'' 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana, with ''Kana'' meaning 'source' or 'place') and ''Right Ginza'' 8,
and 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 as a "morning star."
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
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
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 ...
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 Zihrun-Šašlamiel.
See also
*
List of angels in theology
This is a list of angels in religion, theology, astrology and magic, including both specific angels (e.g., Gabriel) and types of angels (e.g., seraphim
A seraph ( ; pl.: ) is a Angelic being, celestial or heavenly being originating in Anci ...
References
Uthras
Mandaean given names
Masculine given names
Individual angels
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