Matarta
In Mandaean cosmology, a maṭarta (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡈࡀࡓࡕࡀ) is a "station" or "toll house" that is located between the World of Light (alma d-nhūra) from Tibil (Earth). It has variously been translated as "watch-station",[1] "toll-station",[2] "way-station", or "purgatory". Maṭartas are guarded by various uthras (celestial beings from the World of Light) and demons. Ruha, the queen of the underworld, is the ruler or guardian of the third maṭarta.[1]
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To reach the World of Light (alma d-nhūra) from Tibil (Earth), souls must pass through the various maṭarta that are situated in between. Rituals such as the masiqta can help guide souls past the various maṭarta so that they could reach the World of Light.[2]
In the Ginza Rabba
In the Ginza Rabba, Chapter 3 in Book 5 of the Right Ginza, Book 6 of the Right Ginza (also known as the "Book of Dinanukht"), and Chapter 4 in Book 1 of the Left Ginza give detailed descriptions of the maṭartas.[3]
Some of the matarta guards are:[4]
See also
- Aerial toll houses in Eastern Orthodox theology
- Araf (Islam)
- Arcs of Descent and Ascent in Neoplatonism
- Barzakh in Islam
- Chinvat Bridge in Zoroastrianism
- Gehenna
- Limbo in Roman Catholic theology
- Masiqta, a Mandaean ritual
- Seven Heavens
- Apocryphal texts
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.
- Häberl, Charles G. (2007). Introduction to the New Edition, in The Great Treasure of the Mandaeans, a new edition of J. Heinrich Petermann’s Thesaurus s. Liber Magni, with a new introduction and a translation of the original preface by Charles G. Häberl. Gorgias Press, LLC. https://doi.org/10.7282/T3C53J6P
- Ginza Rba. Translated by Gelbert, Carlos. Sydney: Living Water Books. 2011. ISBN 9780958034630.
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