World of Light
In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld[1] (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡍࡄࡅࡓࡀ, alma d-nhūra) is the primeval, transcendental world from which Tibil and the 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, also known as Piriawis. Ether (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡉࡀࡓ, ayar), which can be thought of as heavenly breath or energy, co-exists with the Great Jordan and the uthras in the World of Light.[2]
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A škina is a celestial dwelling where uthras, or benevolent celestial beings, live in the World of Light.[2]
Ascension
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.[2]
See also
References
- Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
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