Manda d-Hayyi

In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ, lit. 'the 'Gnosis of Life', 'Knowledge of Life', or 'Knower of the Life'') is an uthra (angel or guardian)[1]: 8  sent by the Great Life (Hayyi Rabbi, or the Transcendent God) 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 (knowledge or gnosis) to Earth (Tibil).[1]

Manda d-Hayyi
Other namesGnosis of Life
AbodeWorld of Light
WeaponsRadiance and Light; a great attire; margna (staff) of Living Water; wreath of the Living Flame; arm or of the Great Ones; mace/club; veil/net; a robe of the Great Ones
OffspringHibil Ziwa
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In Mandaean texts

In Book 5, Chapter 4 of the Right Ginza, Manda d-Hayyi appears to John the Baptist as a "small boy aged three years and one day." John the Baptist baptizes the small boy, after which John is taken up to the World of Light (see also the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, in which a little boy appears to Paul the Apostle, who is then taken up to heaven). Also, in Book 8 of the Right Ginza, Manda d-Hayyi warns the faithful against the dangers of Ruha.[1]

In the Mandaean Book of John and Book 3 of the Right Ginza, Manda d-Hayyi makes a journey into the World of Darkness (underworld), where he meets Gaf and other demons and triumphs against them.[2]

Manda d-Hayyi is sometimes portrayed as harbouring a grudge against Yushamin. In the eighth chapter of the Book of John, Manda d-Hayyi opposes a petition to the King of Light for forgiveness for Yushamin brought by Yushamin's son Nṣab Ziwa (Classical Mandaic: ࡍࡑࡀࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, lit. 'Splendid Plant'), and is rebuked by the King of Light for hating Yushamin due to Yushamin having refused him a wife from his family.[3][4]

In some Mandaean texts, he is also referred to as Yuzaṭaq Manda d-Hayyi.[5] E. S. Drower suggests that "male Holy Spirit" as a probable meaning for Yuzaṭaq.[6]: 79 

Relationship to Hibil
See also: Hibil

E. S. Drower notes in an appendix to her translation of the Scroll of Abatur that Manda d-Hayyi and Hibil are sometimes identified with one another, although they are considered separate figures in the Diwan Abatur.[7] Manda d-Hayyi is sometimes named as Hibil's father;[8] elsewhere, Hayyi Rabbi is.[9]

The ritual passages in The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa describe Hibil as Manda d-Hayyi's son and include Manda d-Hayyi amongst those officiating in Hibil's baptism. However, the same scroll's account of Hibil's descent to the World of Darkness refers to "Hibil-Ziwa" when he is being commanded to descend, switches to referring to "Manda" or "Manda-ḏ-Hiia" while he is in the World of Darkness, and back to referring to "Hibil-Ziwa" when he is seeking to be able to ascend back to the World of Light; furthermore, Manda d-Hayyi is then summoned within the World of Light to send a letter of Kushta to his son Hibil to aid the latter's ascent. Drower notes "read "Hibil" for "Manda"" in a footnote in her translation, and inserts "(Hibil-Ziwa son of)" as a differentiated inline annotation where appropriate.[10]

Weapons

According to the Right Ginza, the weapons of Manda d-Hayyi are:[11]

  1. Radiance and Light (Ziwa u Nhūra)
  2. a great attire
  3. the margna (staff) of Living Water (Mia Hiia)
  4. the wreath of the Living Flame (ʿŠata Haita)
  5. the armor of the Great Ones
  6. a mace (club)
  7. a veil (or a net?)
  8. a robe of the Great Ones

See also

References
  1. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. Haberl, Charles (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Berlin Boston: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC 1129155601.
  3. Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2019). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation (PDF). Open Access Version. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
  4. Häberl, Charles G. (2012). "08 – Yoshamin (Con't.)". The Mandaic Book of John: Translating the ancient text into English for the first time.
  5. Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  6. Drower, E. S. (1960). The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  7. Drower, Ethel Stefana (1950). "Appendix I". Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. pp. 41–44.
  8. "Book Five: The Descent of the Savior". Ginza Rabba. Vol. Right Volume. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais; Al-Saadi, Hamed (2nd ed.). Germany: Drabsha. 2019. p. 83. In gratitude we give thanks to Manda ʼd Hayyi and to his son Hibil, who established the order of Hayyi.
  9. "Book Five: The Descent of the Savior". Ginza Rabba. Vol. Right Volume. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais; Al-Saadi, Hamed (2nd ed.). Germany: Drabsha. 2019. p. 78. My Father, Hayyi, said to me, "Why are you standing down Yawar? You are Yawar Hibil the messenger![…]"
  10. Drower, Ethel S. (1953). The Haran Gawaita and The Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa: The Mandaic text reproduced together with translation, notes and commentary. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
  11. Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
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