Uthra

An uthra or ʿutra (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ, Neo-Mandaic oṯrɔ, traditionally transliterated eutra; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated eutria) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism.[1] Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency".[2] Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras (sing.: 'utra 'wealth', but meaning 'angel' or 'guardian')."[3] Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the yazata of Zoroastrianism.[4] According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life."[5]: 2 

Carving of a ship with four uthras on the front door of the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
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Uthras are benevolent beings that live in škinas (ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡀ, "celestial dwellings") in the World of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) and communicate with each other via telepathy.[4] Uthras are also occasionally mentioned as being in anana ("clouds"; e.g., in Right Ginza Book 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts.[6] Many uthras also serve as guardians (naṭra);[7] for instance, Shilmai and Nidbai are the guardians of Piriawis, the Great Jordan (yardna) of Life. Other uthras are gupnas, or heavenly grapevines.[6]

Etymology

Uthra is typically considered to be cognate with the Aramaic ʿuṯrā ‘riches’, derived from the Semitic root *w-t-r ‘to exceed’.[8] Based on that etymology, E. S. Drower suggests a parallel with the South Arabian storm god Attar, who provides irrigation for the people.[4]

However, that etymology is disputed by Charles G. Häberl (2017), who suggests it is the ʾaqtal pattern noun *awtərā "excellency".[8]

Naming

Uthras often have the term Ziwa / Ziua (ࡆࡉࡅࡀ "Radiance') attached after their names, due to their origins from the World of Light. In Manichaeism, the Syriac term Ziwa (ܙܝܘܐ) is also used to refer to Jesus as Ishoʿ 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.

Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names. The names can be alliterative (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan), or one name may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan). In Manichaeism, pairs of celestial beings can also have rhyming names, such as Xroshtag and Padvaxtag. Gardner (2010) discusses other parallels with Manichaeism.[9]

List of uthras

Commonly mentioned uthras

Below is a partial list of uthras. Some names of uthras are always listed together as pairs.

In the Ginza Rabba

Other uthras mentioned in the Ginza Rabba are:[10][6]

  • Barbag (Bar-Bag), also called Azaziʿil – mentioned in Right Ginza 4 as the "head of the 444 škintas."
  • Bhaq Ziwa – uthra; also Abatur
  • Bihram – uthra of baptism
  • Bhir (meaning 'chosen, tested, proven') – mentioned as part of a pair with Bihrun in Right Ginza 8.
  • Bihrun – '[the Life] chose me'. Mentioned in Qolasta prayers 105 and 168, Right Ginza 8, and Mandaean Book of John 62.
  • Din Mlikh – uthra who appears in the revelation of Dinanukht
  • Gubran and Guban – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1. In the Mandaean Book of John, Gubran Uthra helps Nbaṭ lead a rebellion against Yushamin and his 21 sons.
  • Ham Ziwa and Nhur Ziwa
  • Kapan and Kanpan
  • Nbaṭ (Classical Mandaic: ࡍࡁࡀࡈ, lit. 'Sprout') – the King of Air, the first great Radiance
  • Nṣab (Classical Mandaic: ࡍࡑࡀࡁ, lit. 'Plant') – also called Nṣab Rabba and Nṣab Ziwa. Son of Yushamin. Frequently mentioned with Anan-Nṣab ('cloud of Nṣab', a female consort) as a pair. Mentioned in Right Ginza 8 and 17.1, and Qolasta prayers 25, 71, 105, 145, 168, 186, 353, and 379.
  • Nbaz (Nbaz Haila) – Mentioned in Right Ginza 1.4 and 6 as the guardian of a matarta. He is mentioned in Right Ginza 6 as "Nbaz-Haila, the Lord of Darkness, the great anvil of the earth."
  • Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1.
  • Piriawis Yardna – also a heavenly stream and personified vine (gupna)
  • Rahziʿil – mentioned in Right Ginza 11, in which he is described as "the well-armed one who (is) the smallest of his brothers."
  • Sam Mana Smira (Smir Ziwa 'pure first Radiance', or Sam Smir Ziwa; Smir means 'preserved') – one of the Twelve. Sam Mana Smira is mentioned in Qolasta prayers 9, 14, 28, 77, and 171, and Right Ginza 3 and 5.4. Yawar Mana Smira and Sam Smira Ziwa are mentioned in Right Ginza 14. Lidzbarski (1920) translates Sam Mana Smira as "Sām, the well-preserved Mānā."[11]
  • Sar and Sarwan – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 25, 105, 168, and 378, and Right Ginza 5.1, 8, and 17.1.
  • Ṣaureil (Ṣaurʿil) – the angel of death; also an epithet for the Moon (Sén)
  • Shihlun (lit. '[The Life] has sent me')
  • Simat Hayyi – treasure of life; typically considered to be the wife of the uthra Yawar Ziwa
  • Tar and Tarwan. Tarwan is mentioned in Right Ginza 8 and in Qolasta prayer 105. The "land of Tarwan" is mentioned in Qolasta prayers 190 and 379 and Right Ginza 15.17, while "pure Tarwan" (taruan dakita), or sometimes "the pure land of Tarwan," is mentioned as a heavenly place in Right Ginza 15.2, 15.8, 15.16, and 16.1. "Tarwan-Nhura" (Tarwan of Light) is mentioned in Qolasta prayers 4 and 25.
  • ʿUrpʿil and Marpʿil
  • Yasana – mentioned in Right Ginza 12.1 as the "gate of Yasana."
  • Yathrun – father of Shilmai
  • Yawar Ziwa – Dazzling Radiance, also known as Yawar Kasia or Yawar Rabba; husband of Simat Hayyi. Yawar can also mean 'Helper.'
  • Yufin-Yufafin (Yupin-Yupapin)
  • Yukabar (Yukhabr; Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡁࡀࡓ) – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 74, 77, 173, and 379, and in Right Ginza 15.6 (as Yukabar-Kušṭa), 16.4, and 17.1 (as Yukabar-Ziwa). Yukabar helps Nbaṭ fight a rebellion against Yushamin in the Mandaean Book of John.
  • Yukašar (Yukhashr; Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡔࡀࡓ) – source of Radiance. Mentioned in Qolasta prayers 53, 54, 55, 64, 77, and 343, and in Right Ginza 4 as Yukašar-Kana (kana means 'place' or 'source'). In the Mandaean Book of John, he is portrayed as the son of Ptahil.
  • Yura (Yur) – "jewel". Mentioned in Right Ginza 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1 as the Yura Rba Ganzibra, (literally "Great Yura the Ganzibra" or "Great Yura the Treasurer"). Yura is mentioned in Qolasta prayers 214 and 379 as well. Yur (also Yur-Yahur) is also the name of one of the matarta guardians.
  • Yurba (spelled Jōrabba by Lidzbarski) – also called the fighter. Yurba is identified with Shamish, the sun.[12] Book 18 of the Right Ginza equates Yurba with Adonai of Judaism, while Gelbert (2017) identifies Yurba with Yao.[13] Mentioned in Right Ginza 3, 5.3 (which mentions Yurba as a matarta guardian), 8, 12.1, 15.5, and 18 and Left Ginza 2.22 and 3.45. Mandaean Book of John 52 is a narrative dedicated to Yurba. Yurba is often mentioned as engaging in conversation with Ruha.
  • Zarzeil Ziwa (Zarzʿil Ziwa) – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1 and 15.8.
  • Zhir (meaning 'secured') – often mentioned as part of a pair with Zihrun
  • Zihrun (sometimes spelled as Zahrun; literally means 'the Life warned me') – Zihrun is mentioned in Right Ginza 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana) and Right Ginza 8, and in Mandaean Book of John 62 as a "morning star." Qolasta prayers 2, 3, 240, and 319 mention him as Zihrun Raza ("Zihrun the Mystery"). He is described as an uthra of radiance, light, and glory in prayers 2 and 3, with prayer 2 mentioning Manda d-Hayyi as an emanation of Zihrun. Qolasta prayers 332, 340, 341, and 374 mention him as the name for a drabsha (banner), and prayer 347 mentions him as Zihrun-Šašlamiel. He is the subject of Zihrun Raza Kasia.


In Right Ginza 5.1, Yawar Ziwa appoints four uthras each over the four directions to watch over Ur (see also Guardians of the directions):

  • west: Azaziʿil, Azaziaʿil, Taqpʿil and Margazʿil the Great
  • east: ʿUrpʿil, Marpʿil, Taqpʿil and Hananʿil
  • north: Kanpan and Kapan, Gubran and Guban
  • south: Hailʿil, Qarbʿil, Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil

In the Qolasta

A few Qolasta prayers list the names of lesser-known uthras in sets of four. Mark J. Lofts (2010) considers them to be parallel to the Four Luminaries in Sethian Gnosticism. Qolasta prayers 17 and 77 list them as:[14]

  • Rhum-Hai ("Mercy")
  • Īn-Hai ("Wellspring" or "Source of Life"[6])
  • Šum-Hai ("Name")
  • Zamar-Hai ("Singer")

Qolasta prayer 49 lists the "four uthras" as:

  • Īn-Hai
  • Šum-Hai (Šum can mean both Shem and "Name")
  • Ziw-Hai ("Radiance")
  • Nhur-Hai ("Light")

These four uthras are considered to be the kings (malki) of the North Star who give strength and life to the sun. Together with Malka Ziwa (another name for Hayyi Rabbi), they make up the "five primal beings of light." Conversely, Mandaeans consider the "five lords of the World of Darkness" to be Zartai-Zartanai, Hag and Mag, Gap and Gapan, Šdum, and Krun (the paired demons are considered to rule together as single lords).[15] (See Manichaeism § The World of Light for similar parallels.)

In Qolasta prayers such as the Asiet Malkia, the word niṭufta (spelled niṭupta), which originally means 'drop' and has sometimes also been translated as 'cloud', is also often used as an appellation to refer to the consorts of uthras.[16] It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father (Hayyi Rabbi), or a personified drop of "water of life".[5]: 13  (See also anana (Mandaeism).)

Other minor uthras mentioned in the Qolasta are:[17]

  • Hamgai-Ziwa, son of Hamgagai-Ziwa – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 3 and Right Ginza 15.5.
  • Hauran and Hauraran – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 14, 27, and 28. Hauraran is mentioned in Right Ginza 15.2, Left Ginza 3.60, and Mandaean Book of John 70.
  • Hazazban (Haza-Zban) – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 19 and 27 as an uthra who sets wreaths (klila) upon the heads of Mandaeans who are performing masbuta. Also mentioned in the Ginza Rabba as the matarta guard Zan-Hazazban in Right Ginza 5.3 and 6.
  • Kanfiel – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 168
  • Karkawan-Ziwa – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 49
  • Rham and Rhamiel-Uthra – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 378
  • Ṣihiun, Pardun, and Kanfun – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 77
  • S'haq Ziwa (pronounced [sʰāq zīwā]) – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 18, 105, and 173. Š'haq is also mentioned in Right Ginza 15.5. In the 1012 Questions, S'haq Ziwa or Adam S'haq Ziwa (literally "Adam was Bright Radiance"[5]: 75 ) is equated with Adam Kasia.[18]
  • Shingilan (or Šingilan-Uthra) – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 105 and Mandaean Book of John 1 and 69. According to Mandaean Book of John 1, "Šingilan-Uthra takes the incense holder and brings it before the Mana."[13]
  • Yukašar – mentioned in Qolasta prayers 53, 54, 55, 64, 77, and 343
  • Yaha-Yaha – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 15
  • Zha-Zha – mentioned in Qolasta prayer 15

In other texts

In the Mandaean Book of John, Etinṣib Ziwa (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡑࡉࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, lit. 'Splendid Transplant') is an uthra who starts a battle against Nbaṭ.[12]

Gupna
Main article: Gupna

In various Mandaean texts, several heavenly beings are described as personified grapevines (gupna) in the World of Light.

Anana
Main article: Anana (Mandaeism)

The Mandaic term anana (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡍࡀࡍࡀ) is typically translated as 'cloud,' but can also be interpreted as a female consort of an uthra, and hence also an uthra.[6]

See also

Further reading
  • Lidzbarski, Mark (1906). Uthra und Malakha. A. Töpelmann (vormals J. Ricker). (Internet Archive)

References
  1. "Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments". The Gnostic Society Library. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2019). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation (PDF). Open Access Version. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
  3. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443. p8
  4. Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  5. Drower, E. S. (1960). The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  6. Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  7. "The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon". cal.huc.edu.
  8. Häberl, Charles G. (Spring 2017). "The Origin and Meaning of Mandaic ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ". Journal of Semitic Studies. Oxford University Press. 62 (1). doi:10.1093/jss/fgw044. The scholarly consensus that has developed over the past fifteen decades, namely that CM eutra is cognate with Aramaic ʽuṯrā 'riches' and therefore means 'riches', is not justified either by the internal evidence from the Mandaic literature or by the comparative evidence from the other semitic languages. By comparing its contemporary spoken form, nm oṯrɔ, with related words in all other branches of Semitic, I have demonstrated that CM eutra clearly derives from the PS root *w-t-r 'to exceed', that it is one of an extremely small class of relic C-stem deverbal adjectives in Aramaic, that its original meaning with reference to divine beings is 'excellent', and that in Classical Mandaic (and only in Classical Mandaic) it secondarily came to be used as a proper noun referring to an entire category of supernatural beings ('the excellencies').
  9. Gardner, Iain (2010). "Searching for Traces of the 'Utria in the Coptic Manichaica". ARAM Periodical. 22: 87–96. doi:10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131033.
  10. Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash (2019). "Glossary". Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book (2 ed.). Drabsha.
  11. Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.
  12. 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)
  13. Gelbert, Carlos (2017). The Teachings of the Mandaean John the Baptist. Fairfield, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034678. OCLC 1000148487.
  14. Lofts, Mark J. (2010). "Mandaeism: the sole extant tradition of Sethian Gnosticism". ARAM Periodical. 22: 31–59. doi:10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131031.
  15. Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
  16. Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.
  17. Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
  18. Drower, Ethel S. (1960). The Thousand and Twelve Questions: A Mandaean Text (Alf Trisar Šuialia). Berlin: Akademie Verlag. p. 228, footnote 3.
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