Mandaean cosmology
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Mandaean cosmology is the
Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by
Emanations
The three major Emanations or "Lives" (Hayyi) in Mandaeism are:
- The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra
- The Third Life: uthri(plural of uthra)
- The Fourth Life: Ptahil, the creator of the material world
The Second Life, Third Life, and Fourth Life are emanations of the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi (the Supreme God).
Realms
Mandaean cosmology divides the universe into three realms:[1]
- World of Light or Lightworld (alma ḏ-nhūra)
- Tibil, or Earth
- World of Darkness or underworld (alma ḏ-hšuka)
According to Book 3 of the Right Ginza, a "fruit (pira) within the fruit" and "ether (ayar) within the ether" had existed before the World of Light came into being. In a sort of "Big Bang," the World of Light comes into being along with the Great Jordan and uthras. Tibil and the World of Darkness are then formed by Ptahil and others after the World of Light came into existence.[1]
World of Light
The
In Mandaean cosmology, ether (Mandaic: aiar or ayar) permeates outer space and the World of Light. Uthras travel by moving through ether. The Father is also sometimes mentioned as Ayar Rba ('Great Ether') or Ayar Ziwa ('Radiant Ether'). In Mandaeism, the "outer ether" (aiar baraia), mentioned in texts such as The Thousand and Twelve Questions,[3]: 173 refers to the ether that permeates the cosmos, while the "inner ether" (aiar gawaia) refers to the "breath or pure air of Life within the soul".[4]: 14–15
The Mshunia Kushta is a section of the World of Light where spiritual counterparts or images called dmuta are found.[4]
When a
The
The idea has some parallels with the
Tibil
Tibil, or Earth, is the middle, earthly realm in Mandaean cosmology. It is separated form the World of Light above and the World of Darkness below by ayar (aether).[2] Rituals mediated by priests allow for a laufa (or laupa, meaning 'connection' or 'union') to be made from Tibil to the World of Light.
World of Darkness
The
Directions
Mandaeism considers North, and hence also the North Pole and Polaris, to be auspicious and associated with the World of Light. Mandaeans face north when praying, and temples are also oriented towards the north. On the contrary, South is associated with the World of Darkness.[7]
Planets
Overall, the seven
The planets are listed according to the traditional Mandaean order of the planets as mentioned in Masco (2012).[8]: 87
Planet | Mandaic | Mandaic script | Akkadian | Other names | Associations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | Šamiš | ࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ | Šamaš
|
Adunai < Hebrew Adonai
|
light and life-powers Simat-Hiia (Treasure of Life); Yazuqaeans[9]
|
Venus | Libat | ࡋࡉࡁࡀࡕ | Delebat | Amamit (the underworld goddess), Argiuat, Daitia, Kukbat (the diminutive of 'star'), Spindar, ʿstira (i.e., ) | success in love and reproduction |
Mercury | Nbu (ʿNbu) | ࡍࡁࡅ ࡏࡍࡁࡅ |
Nabû | Maqurpiil, Mšiha < Messiah ; ʿaṭarid < Arabic
|
learning, scribes; Christ and Christianity |
Moon | Sin | ࡎࡉࡍ | Sīnu | Agzʿil, Ṭaṭmʿil, Ṣaurʿil, and Sira | miscarriages and abnormal births |
Saturn | Kiwan | ࡊࡉࡅࡀࡍ | Kajamānu
|
Br Šamiš (The Son of the Sun) | Jews; Saturday; Kentaeans[10] |
Jupiter | Bil | ࡁࡉࡋ | Bēlu | Angʿil | male; "hot and moist" |
Mars | Nirig | ࡍࡉࡓࡉࡂ | Nergallu | Marik | violence; Islam |
Each planet is said to be carried in a ship. Drawings of these ships are found in various
Calendar and zodiac
Dual counterparts
In Mandaeism, people, spirits, and places are often considered to have both earthly and heavenly counterparts (dmuta), which dwell in the Mshunia Kushta ("Realm of Truth").
See also
- Ancient Mesopotamian religion
- Babylonian astrology
- Babylonian astronomy
- Biblical cosmology
- Emanationism
- Gnosticism
- Jewish mythology
- Merkabah mysticism
- Seder hishtalshelus (emanations) in Jewish mysticism
- Sefirot (divine attributes) in Jewish mysticism
- Religion and mythology
- Religious cosmology
- Zoroastrian cosmology
References
- ^ a b c d e f Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- ^ OCLC 65198443.
- ^ Drower, Ethel S. (1960). The Thousand and Twelve Questions: A Mandaean Text (Alf Trisar Šuialia). Berlin: Akademie Verlag.
- ^ a b Drower, E.S. (1960). The Secret Adam - The Study of Nasoraean Gnosis (PDF). London: Oxford University Press.
- ^ OCLC 1272858968.
- ^ Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash (2012). Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book. Drabsha.
- ^ . Retrieved 2021-09-03.
- OCLC 864905792.
- .
- ISBN 978-90-04-33943-9.