Classical Mandaic: ࡐࡉࡓࡉࡀࡅࡉࡎ; sometimes also spelled Biriawišࡁࡉࡓࡉࡀࡅࡉࡔ[1]), also known as the Yardna Rabba (ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡍࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ "Great Jordan"), is the sacred life-giving river (yardna) of the World of Light. It is the heavenly counterpart of rivers on Earth (Tibil), which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of the heavenly Piriawis.[2][3][4]
Shilmai and Nidbai are the two guardian uthras (celestial beings) watching over Piriawis.[2]
Qolasta prayers 13 and 17 mention Piriawis-Ziwa and Piriafil-Malaka together as uthras.[5]
Other names
In Book 4 of the Right Ginza, Sindiriawis is mentioned as "the great yardna of the Life" (sindiriauis, iardna rba ḏ-hiia).[2]
^Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.
