Ziwa (Aramaic)

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Ziwa (also transliterated as ziua) is an Aramaic term that is typically translated as 'radiance' or 'splendor.' It is frequently used as an epithet for celestial beings and manifestations of God in Gnostic religions such as Mandaeism and Manichaeism.

Contents

The Hebrew cognate is ziv ( זיו ). [1]

Scripts

Ziwa written in different scripts:

Mandaeism

In Mandaeism, uthras (celestial beings) often have the Mandaic term Ziwa / Ziua (Classical Mandaic : ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, meaning 'Radiance'; Neo-Mandaic pronunciation [ˈziː.wɔ] [2] ) attached after their names, due to their origins from the World of Light. [3] [4]

Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan). Sometimes, one of the names within a pair may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan).

Uthras commonly referred to as "Ziwa" include: [5]

Other uthras that are also referred to as "Ziwa" include: [5] [6]

Adam Kasia (the "hidden Adam") is also referred to as Adakas Ziwa in the Ginza Rabba . One of the epithets of Adam Kasia is S'haq Ziwa . [5]

Manichaeism

In Manichaeism, the Syriac term Ziwa (Syriac : ܙܝܘܐ) is also used to refer to Jesus as Ishoʻ Ziwā (Syriac : ܝܫܘܥ ܙܝܘܐ, Jesus the Splendor ), who is sent to awaken Adam and Eve to the source of the spiritual light trapped within their physical bodies. In Chinese Manichaean sources, Ziwa is typically translated as 明 (pinyin: míng).

Ṣfat Ziwā, or The Keeper of the Splendor (Syriac : ܨܦܬ ܙܝܘܐ; Latin : Splenditenens; Chinese :催光明使; lit.'Urger of Enlightenment'), who holds up the ten heavens from above, is one of the five sons of The Living Spirit (Syriac : ܪܘܚܐ ܚܝܐruḥā ḥayyā) in the second creation.

In Manichaeism, pairs of celestial beings can also have rhyming names, such as Xroshtag and Padvaxtag.

See also

Related Research Articles

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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."

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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).

Dinanukht is a mythological character in the Ginza Rabba, one of the main religious scriptures of Mandaeism, who is portrayed as an anthropomorphic book. Book 6 of the Right Ginza describes his ascension to the World of Light.

In Mandaeism, Shilmai or Shalmai (Šalmai) is an uthra 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 with Nidbai.

In Mandaeism, Sam Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. Sam Ziwa is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Shem.

In Mandaeism, Yawar Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. He is the personification of light.

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, 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 the Right Ginza, where they are described as "the two manas of darkness." Hag is represented by the image of a scorpion on the skandola talisman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yardna</span> Rivers in Mandaeism

In Mandaeism, a yardna or yardena is a body of flowing fresh water that is suitable for ritual use as baptismal water. The masbuta and other Mandaean rituals such as the tamasha can only be performed in a yardna. Stagnant fresh water, brackish water, and seawater are not considered to be yardnas.

In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ is an uthra who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba or Nbaṭ Ziwa "the Radiant Nbaṭ", literally "Radiance Burst Forth". In The Thousand and Twelve Questions , he is also known as Kušṭa Yaqra "Solemn Truth".

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, a gufna or gupna is an uthra that is described as a personified grapevine in the World of Light.

Zihrun, is an uthra in the World of Light. He is the main subject of the Mandaean scroll Zihrun Raza Kasia.

In Mandaeism, Jesus or Mšiha is mentioned in Mandaean texts such as the Ginza Rabba, Mandaean Book of John, and Haran Gawaita.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Mandaeism.

References

  1. ↑ Gelbert, Carlos (2005). The Mandaeans and the Jews. Edensor Park, NSW: Living Water Books. ISBN   0-9580346-2-1. OCLC   68208613.
  2. ↑ Charles Häberl (2009). The Neo-Mandaic Dialect of Khorramshahr. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 51–. ISBN   978-3-447-05874-2. OCLC   377787551.
  3. ↑ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   0-19-515385-5. OCLC   65198443.
  4. ↑ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  5. 1 2 3 Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN   9780958034630.
  6. ↑ Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
  7. ↑ Haberl, Charles and McGrath, James (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Berlin: De Gruyter. ISBN   978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC   1129155601.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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