The Qulasta, also spelled Qolastā in older sources, is a compilation of Mandaean prayers. The Mandaic word qolastā means "collection".
In Mandaeism, Rūha is the queen of the World of Darkness or 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.
An uthra or ʿutra is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras ." Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the yazata of Zoroastrianism. According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life."
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.
In Mandaeism, ʿUr is the king of the World of Darkness or underworld. He is the son of Ruha, the queen of the underworld, and her brother Gaf, one of the giants in the World of Darkness described in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Ur is typically portrayed as a large, ferocious dragon or snake. He is represented by the image of a serpent on the skandola talisman.
In Mandaeism, Yushamin and also known as the 'Second Life', is the primal uthra and a subservient emanation who was created by the Mandaean God 'The Great Life', hence beginning the creation of the material world. Yushamin is the father of Abatur. Jorunn J. Buckley identifies Yushamin as "both a Lightworld utra beyond reproach and the prototype of a priest who has made mistakes in ritual."
In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia is an uthra sent by the Great Life as a messenger to John the Baptist. Manda d-Hayyi is considered to be the most important uthra, since he is the one bringing manda to Earth (Tibil).
In Mandaeism, Hayyi Rabbi, 'The Great Living God', is the supreme God from which all things emanate.
In Mandaeism, Hibil or Hibil Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.
In Mandaeism, Adathan and Yadathan are a pair of uthras who stand at the Gate of Life in the World of Light, praising and worshipping Hayyi Rabbi. In the Ginza Rabba and Qulasta, they are always mentioned together. Book 14 of the Right Ginza mentions Adathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "first river".
In Mandaean cosmology, Piriawis, also known as the Yardna Rabba, 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.
In Mandaeism, Yawar Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. He is the personification of light, as well as the head of reproductive powers.
In Mandaeism, Simat Hayyi or Simat Hiia, the personification of life, is an uthra from the World of Light who is married to Yawar Ziwa.
The Mandaic word mana (ࡌࡀࡍࡀ) is a term that is roughly equivalent to the philosophical concept of nous. It has been variously translated as "mind", "soul", "treasure", "Garment", "Intellect", "Intelligence", "Heart", "Spirit", "Being"; or alternatively as "nous", "consciousness", or "vessel".
The Asut Malkia or Asiet Malkia is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism. In the prayer, the reciter wishes health and victory upon dozens of heavenly and ancestral figures. According to E. S. Drower, it is recited daily by priests and also before all baptisms (masbuta), ritual meals (lofani), and various rites.
In Mandaeism, a dmuta or dmut is a spiritual counterpart or "mirror image" in the World of Light. People, spirits, and places are often considered to have both earthly and heavenly counterparts (dmuta) that can dynamically interact with each other. A few examples include:
In Mandaeism, Anush or Anush Uthra is an uthra from the World of Light. Anush is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Enos.
In Mandaeism, Nṣab is an uthra. He is also called Nṣab Rba or Nṣab Ziwa. Nṣab and Anan-Nṣab are frequently mentioned together as a pair in the Right Ginza and Qulasta.
In Mandaeism, Shamish or Šamiš is the Mandaic name for the Sun. Shamish is one of the seven classical planets, who are part of the entourage of Ruha in the World of Darkness.
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.
