Gupna

In Mandaeism, a gupna or gufna (Classical Mandaic: ࡂࡅࡐࡍࡀ, lit. '(grape)vine') is an uthra that is described as a personified grapevine in the World of Light.

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List of gupnas

In various Mandaean texts, several heavenly beings are described as personified grapevines (gupna) in the World of Light. For example, Right Ginza 15.8 lists the following gupnas in order:

  • Taureil (Taurʿil) – also mentioned in Qolasta prayers 379 and 381.[1] Right Ginza 4 identifies Taureil as another name for Anan Anṣab. According to Right Ginza 15.8, the gupna Taureil "rests at the river of the pure Tarwan."[2]
  • Rwaz (Ruaz) – also mentioned in Right Ginza 6 and 15.7, and in Qolasta prayers 71, 117, 196, 212, and 379
  • Yusmir – also mentioned in Mandaean Book of John 62 and Qolasta prayers 14, 18, 28, 52, 171, and 379. According to Right Ginza 15.8, the gupna Yusmir "rests upon the earth of Sam Ziwa."
  • Šarhabeil (Šarhabʿil) – also described as the Great First Radiance in Qolasta prayers 25 and 381. In Right Ginza 18, Šarhabeil and her husband Šurbai were the only survivors after the world was destroyed during the second epoch of the universe. According to Right Ginza 15.8, the gupna Šarhabeil "rests upon the earth of Hibil Ziwa."
  • Šar (Shar; literal meaning: 'he was firm') – also mentioned in Qolasta prayers 36 and 374. Šar-Ziwa is mentioned in Qolasta prayer 372. Also identified with Hibil Ziwa. According to Right Ginza 15.8, the gupna Šar "rests upon the earth of the First Life."
  • Pirun – also mentioned in Qolasta prayers 36, 374, and 379 and in the first chapter of the Mandaean Book of John. Pirun is described as a banner (drabsha) in Qolasta prayer 333, and as a "torrent" (river) in Qolasta prayer 378.
  • Yawar is identified in Right Ginza 15.8 as "the first Gupna."

Yusmir, Šar, and Pirun are also mentioned in the first chapter of the Mandaean Book of John.[3][4]

Right Ginza 17.1 mentions Šarat (literal meaning: 'she was firm') as a gupna. Šarat-Niṭupta is mentioned in Mandaean Book of John 68, and Šahrat is mentioned in Qolasta prayer 188.

In Mandaeism, vines are used to symbolize believers, or 'those of the true faith'.[5]

See also

References
  1. Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
  2. Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  3. Gelbert, Carlos (2017). The Teachings of the Mandaean John the Baptist. Fairfield, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034678. OCLC 1000148487.
  4. Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2019). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation (PDF). Open Access Version. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
  5. Drower, E. S. (1960). The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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