Mandaean cosmology

Mandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism.[1]

Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by Jewish, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Manichaean and other Near Eastern religions and philosophies.[2]

Emanations

The three major Emanations or "Lives" (Hayyi) in Mandaeism are:

The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra
The Third Life: Abatur, the weigher of souls, and also the father of the 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 d-nhūra)
Tibil, or Earth
World of Darkness or underworld (alma d-hšuka)

World of Light

The World of Light is the primeval, transcendent world from which the Tibil and World of Darkness emerged. The Great Life (Hayyi Rabbi or Supreme God/Monad) and his uthras dwell in the World of Light. The World of Light is also the source of the Great Yardena (or (Jordan) River) of Life.[1]

When a Mandaean person dies, priests perform elaborate death rituals or death masses called masiqta in order to help guide the soul (nišimta) towards the World of Light. In order to pass from Tibil (Earth) to the World of Light, the soul must go through multiple maṭarta (watch-stations, toll-stations, or purgatories; see also Arcs of Descent and Ascent and araf (Islam)) before finally being reunited with the dmuta, the soul's heavenly counterpart.[1]

The idea has some parallels with the Gnostic concept of pleroma.

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 World of Darkness is ruled by its king Ur (Leviathan) and its queen Ruha, mother of the seven planets and twelve constellations. The great dark Ocean of Sup lies in the World of Darkness.[1] The great dividing river of Hiṭfon, analogous to the river Styx in Greek mythology, separates the World of Darkness from the World of Light.[3]

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.[4]

Planets

Overall, the seven planets are generally not viewed favorably in Mandaeism, since they constitute part of the entourage of Ruha, the Queen of the World of Darkness who is also their mother. However, individually, some of the planets can be associated with positive qualities. The names of the seven planets in Mandaic are borrowed from Akkadian.[4]

Planet	Mandaic	Akkadian	Other names	Associations
Sun	Šamiš	Šamaš	Adunai < Hebrew Adonai	light and life-powers Yawar-Ziwa (Dazzling Light) and Simat-Hiia (Treasure of Life)
Moon	Sin	Sīnu	Agzʿil, Ṭaṭmʿil, Ṣaurʿil, and Sira	miscarriages and abnormal births
Mars	Nirig	Nergallu	Marik	violence; Islam
Mercury	Nbu	Nabû	Maqurpiil, Mšiha < Messiah; ʿaṭarid < Arabic	learning, scribes; Christ and Christianity
Jupiter	Bil	Bēlu	Angʿil	male; "hot and moist"
Venus	Libat	Delebat	Amamit (the underworld goddess), Argiuat, Daitia, Kukbat (the diminutive of 'star'), Spindar, ʿstira (i.e., Ishtar or Astarte), and Ruha or Ruha ḏ-qudša (Holy Spirit)	success in love and reproduction
Saturn	Kiwan	Kajamānu	Br Šamiš (The Son of the Sun)	Jews; Saturday

Each planet is said to be carried in a ship. Drawings of these ships are found in some Mandaean scriptures.

Calendar and zodiac

References

Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash. Drabsha. 2012.
Bhayro, Siam (2020-02-10). Cosmology in Mandaean Texts. Brill. pp. 572–579. doi:10.1163/9789004400566_046. Retrieved 2021-09-03.

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[Aldihisi_2008-1] Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.

[Buckley_2002-2] Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.

[GR_Saadi-3] Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash. Drabsha. 2012.

[Bhayro_2020-4] Bhayro, Siam (2020-02-10). Cosmology in Mandaean Texts. Brill. pp. 572–579. doi:10.1163/9789004400566_046. Retrieved 2021-09-03.