{{Short description|Inhabitants of the World of Light in Mandaeism}} [[File:Zihrun Raza Kasia eutria.jpg|thumb|right|An illustration of several uthras in ''Zihrun Raza Kasia'' (Ms. DC 27). Clockwise starting from the top-center figure (standing upright): Nidbai, Adathan and Yadathan (as two separate figures), Hibil Ziwa, an ''ašganda'' (priest's assistant, the only figure without a ''margna''), Mara ḏ-Rabuta ("Father of Greatness"), Anuš, Šilmai]] {{Mandaeism}} An '''uthra''' or '''ʿutra''' ({{langx|myz|ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ}}, Neo-Mandaic ''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: '''ʿuthrē''', traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gnosis.org/library/mand.htm|title=Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments|website=The Gnostic Society Library|access-date=9 May 2022}}</ref> Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency".<ref>{{citation|mode=cs1 |url=http://www.gnosis.org/library/The_Mandaean_Book_of_John_Open_Access_Ve.pdf |first1=Charles G. |last1=Häberl |author-link=Charles G. Häberl |first2=James F. |last2=McGrath |author-link2=James F. McGrath |date=2019 |title=The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation |version=Open Access Version |publisher=De Gruyter |place=Berlin/Boston}}</ref> Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras (sing.: 'utra 'wealth', but meaning 'angel' or 'guardian')."<ref name="Buckley 2002">{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}} p8</ref> Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the ''yazata'' of Zoroastrianism.<ref name="Aldihisi 2008">{{cite thesis|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1444088/|last=Aldihisi|first=Sabah|year=2008|title=The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba|type=PhD|publisher=University College London}}</ref> According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life."<ref name="Secret Adam">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=E. S.|author-link=E. S. Drower|date=1960|title=The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis|location=Oxford|publisher=Clarendon Press}}</ref>{{rp|2}}
Uthras are benevolent beings that live in ''škinas'' ({{lang|myz|ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡀ}}, "celestial dwellings") in the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') and communicate with each other via telepathy.<ref name="Aldihisi 2008"/> Uthras are also occasionally mentioned as being in ''anana'' ("cloud"; e.g., in ''Right Ginza'' Book 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts.<ref name="GR Gelbert"/> Many uthras also serve as guardians (''naṭra'');<ref>{{cite web |title=The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon |url=https://cal.huc.edu/oneentry.php?lemma=n%2Br%232%20N&cits=all |website=cal.huc.edu}}</ref> for instance, Shilmai and Nidbai are the guardians of Piriawis, the Great Jordan (''yardna'') of Life. Other uthras are ''gufnas'', or heavenly grapevines.<ref name="GR Gelbert"/>
Uthras that accompany people or souls are known as ''parwanqa'' ({{lang|myz|ࡐࡀࡓࡅࡀࡍࡒࡀ}}), which can be translated as "guide", "envoy", or "messenger".<ref name="Key Gelbert">{{cite book|first=Carlos|last=Gelbert|date=2023|title=The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba|location=Sydney|publisher=Living Water Books|isbn=9780648795414}}</ref>
==Etymology== ''Uthra'' is typically considered to be cognate with the Aramaic {{transliteration|arc|ʿuṯrā}} 'riches', derived from the Semitic root {{lang|sem-x-proto|ʿ-ṯ-r}} 'to be rich'.<ref name="Haberl 2017"/> Based on that etymology, E. S. Drower suggests a parallel with the South Arabian god of storms, ʿAṯtar, who provides irrigation for the people.<ref name="Aldihisi 2008"/>
However, that etymology is disputed by Charles G. Häberl (2017), who suggests it is the ʾaqtal pattern noun {{transliteration|arc|*awtərā}} 'excellency', derived from the Semitic root {{lang|sem-x-proto|w-t-r}} 'to exceed'.<ref name="Haberl 2017">{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Semitic Studies|volume=62|issue=1|date=Spring 2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|title=The Origin and Meaning of Mandaic ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ|first=Charles G.|last=Häberl|doi=10.1093/jss/fgw044 |quote=The Aramaic verbal root {{transliteration|arc|ʿ-t-r}} 'to be rich' (from {{abbr|PS|Proto-Semitic}} {{lang|sem-x-proto|ʿ-ṯ-r}}) has completely disappeared from Mandaic through merger with the verbal root {{transliteration|arc|*y-t-r}} (from PS {{lang|sem-x-proto|w-t-r}}) 'to exceed' due to the mergers of PS {{lang|sem-x-proto|ʾ}} with {{lang|sem-x-proto|ʿ}} and PS {{lang|sem-x-proto|ṯ}} with {{lang|sem-x-proto|t}} in Mandaic; […] The scholarly consensus that has developed over the past fifteen decades, namely that {{abbr|CM|Classical Mandaic}} {{transliteration|myz|eutra}} is cognate with Aramaic {{transliteration|arc|ʿuṯrā}} '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, {{abbr|NM|Neo-Mandaic}} {{transliteration|mid|oṯrɔ}}, with related words in all other branches of Semitic, I have demonstrated that CM {{transliteration|myz|eutra}} clearly derives from the PS root {{lang|sem-x-proto|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').|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==Naming== Uthras often bear the term ''Ziwa'' "Radiance" ({{langx|myz|ࡆࡉࡅࡀ|Ziua}}) appended to their names owing to their origins in the World of Light. In Manichaeism, the Syriac term ''Ziwa'' ({{lang|syr|ܙܝܘܐ}}) is also used to refer to Jesus in Manichaeism as ''Ishoʿ Ziwā'' ({{lang|syr|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.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gardner |first=Iain |date=2010 |title=Searching for Traces of the 'Utria in the Coptic Manichaica |url=https://poj.peeters-leuven.be/secure/POJ/downloadpdf.php?ticket_id=607cca6cd3fe3 |journal=ARAM Periodical |volume=22 |pages=87–96 |doi=10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131033}}</ref>
==List of uthras== ===Commonly mentioned uthras=== Below is a partial list of uthras. Some names of uthras are always listed together as pairs.
*Manda d-Hayyi, the savior uthra whose name means "Gnosis of (the) Life" *The triad consisting of the three sons of Adam according to Book 1 of the ''Left Ginza'': **Hibil (Abel) **Shitil (Seth) **Anush (Enosh) *The emanations: **Yushamin (the Second Life): the primal uthra **Abatur (the Third Life): father of Ptahil **Ptahil (the Fourth Life): the creator of the material world *Sam Ziwa (Shem): Shem is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Sam Ziwa *Shilmai and Nidbai are a pair of uthras who serve as the guardian spirits (''naṭra''; plural: ''naṭria'') of the Jordan and the delegates of Manda d-Hayyi, who carry out the work of God (''Hayyi Rabbi''). (See Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism.) *Adathan and Yadathan are a pair of uthras who stand at the Gate of Life, praising and worshipping God.
===In the ''Ginza Rabba''=== Other uthras mentioned in the ''Ginza Rabba'' are:<ref name="GR Saadi">{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.de/Ginza-Rabba-English-Translation-Drabsha/dp/B00A3GO458|last1=Al-Saadi |first1=Qais Mughashghash |last2=Al-Saadi |first2=Hamed Mughashghash |chapter=Glossary |title=Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book |year=2019 |edition=2 |publisher=Drabsha}}</ref><ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |last2=Lofts |first2=Mark J. |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref>
*{{anchor|Barbag}}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. *{{anchor|Bihrun}}Bihrun – '[the Life] chose me'. Mentioned in Qulasta prayers 105 and 168, ''Right Ginza'' 8, and ''Mandaean Book of John'' 62. *{{anchor|Din Mlikh}}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 ({{langx|myz|ࡍࡁࡀࡈ|lit=Sprout}}) – the King of Air, the first great Radiance *Nṣab ({{langx|myz|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 Qulasta prayers 25, 71, 105, 145, 168, 186, 353, and 379. *{{anchor|Nbaz}}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 (''gufna'') *{{anchor|Rahzeil}}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 Qulasta 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."<ref name="Liturgien">Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. ''Mandäische Liturgien''. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.</ref> *{{anchor|Sar and Sarwan}}Sar and Sarwan – mentioned in Qulasta 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 Qulasta prayer 105. The "land of Tarwan" is mentioned in Qulasta 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 Qulasta 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; {{langx|myz|ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡁࡀࡓ}}) – mentioned in Qulasta 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; {{langx|myz|ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡔࡀࡓ}}) – source of Radiance. Mentioned in Qulasta 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. *Yur (also Yur-Yahur) is one of the matarta guardians. Qulasta prayer 12 begins with the name Yur, son of Barit. Yur is also mentioned in Qulasta prayers 18 and 171. *Yura – "jewel". Mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1 as ''Yura Rba Ganzibra'' (literally "Great Yura the Ganzibra" or "Great Yura the Treasurer"). Yura is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 214 and 379 as well. *Yurba (spelled Jōrabba by Lidzbarski) – also called the fighter. Yurba is identified with Shamish, the sun.<ref name="Haberl2020">{{cite book|last=Haberl|first=Charles and McGrath, James|title=The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary|publisher=De Gruyter|publication-place=Berlin|year=2020|isbn=978-3-11-048651-3|oclc=1129155601}}</ref> Book 18 of the ''Right Ginza'' equates Yurba with Adonai of Judaism, while Gelbert (2017) identifies Yurba with Yao.<ref name="Gelbert 2017"/> 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." Qulasta 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. Qulasta 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 ''Qulasta''=== A few ''Qulasta'' prayers list the names of lesser-known uthras in sets of four. They are referred to as the "four men, the sons of peace" ({{transliteration|myz|arba gubria bnia šlama}}) in ''Qulasta'' prayers 8, 49, 71, 75, and 77, as well as ''Right Ginza'' 5.4, 14, and 15.8. ''Qulasta'' prayer 17 and ''Left Ginza'' 1.2 refer to them as the "four uthras, the sons of light" ({{transliteration|myz|arba ʿutria bnia nhura}}). Mark J. Lofts (2010) considers them to be parallel to the Four Luminaries in Sethian Gnosticism. Qulasta prayers 17 and 77 list them as:<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lofts|first=Mark J.|title=Mandaeism: the sole extant tradition of Sethian Gnosticism|journal=ARAM Periodical|volume=22|year=2010|pages=31–59|doi=10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131031}}</ref>
*Rhum-Hai ("Mercy") *Īn-Hai ("Wellspring" or "Source of Life"<ref name="GR Gelbert"/>) *Šum-Hai ("Name") *Zamar-Hai ("Singer")
''Qulasta'' prayer 49 lists the "four men, the sons of peace" 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 (''malkia'') 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).<ref name="auto2">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|title=The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran|publisher=Oxford At The Clarendon Press|year=1937}}</ref> (See {{slink|Manichaeism|The World of Light}} for similar parallels.)
Other minor uthras mentioned in the ''Qulasta'' are:<ref name="Drower 1959">{{Cite book|title=The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans|last=Drower|first=E. S.|publisher=E. J. Brill|year=1959|location=Leiden}}</ref> *Hamgai-Ziwa, son of Hamgagai-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 3 and ''Right Ginza'' 15.5. *Hash (Haš) – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 77. Haš-u-Fraš Uthra ("Hash and Frash Uthra") is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 168 and 169. *Hauran and Hauraran – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 14, 27, and 28. In prayer 27, Hauran is described as a vestment, while Hauraran is described as a covering. Hauraran is also mentioned in ''Right Ginza'' 15.2, ''Left Ginza'' 3.60, and ''Mandaean Book of John'' 70. *{{anchor|Hazazban}}Hazazban (Haza-Zban) – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 19 and 27 as an uthra who sets wreaths (''klila'') upon the heads of Mandaeans who are performing masbuta. Sometimes the klila itself is also called Hazazban. Also mentioned in the Ginza Rabba as the matarta guard ''Zan-Hazazban'' in ''Right Ginza'' 5.3 and 6. Hazazban possibly means 'this time.'<ref name="DC 8"/> *ʿIt ʿNṣibat ʿUtria (or ʿIt Yawar bar ʿNṣibat ʿUtria – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 5. Prayer 46 mentions ʿNiṣbat-ʿUtria. *Kanfiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 168 *Karkawan-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 49 *Piriafil-Malaka – mentioned together with Piriawis-Ziwa in Qulasta prayers 13 and 17 *Rham and Rhamiel-Uthra – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 378 *{{anchor|Ṣanaṣiel}}Ṣanaṣiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 77 and 105 *Šihlbun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 105 *Ṣihiun, Pardun, and Kanfun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 77 *S'haq Ziwa (pronounced [sʰāq zīwā]) – mentioned in Qulasta 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"<ref name="Secret Adam"/>{{rp|75}}) is equated with ''Adam Kasia''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel S.|title=The Thousand and Twelve Questions: A Mandaean Text (Alf Trisar Šuialia)|location=Berlin|publisher=Akademie Verlag|year=1960|page=228, footnote 3}}</ref> *{{anchor|Shingilan}}Shingilan (or Šingilan-Uthra) – mentioned in Qulasta 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."<ref name="Gelbert 2017">{{cite book|last1=Gelbert|first1=Carlos|last2=Lofts|first2=Mark J.|url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/john-the-baptist/|title=The Teachings of the Mandaean John the Baptist|isbn=9780958034678|location=Fairfield, NSW, Australia|publisher=Living Water Books|year=2017|oclc=1000148487}}</ref> *ʿUṣar, also known as ʿUṣar-Hiia or ʿUṣar-Hai ("Treasure of Life"), as well as ʿUṣar-Nhura ("Treasure of Light") – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 17, 27, 40, 42, 49, 75, and 77; mentioned together with Pta-Hai in prayers 27, 49, and 77. *Yukašar – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 53, 54, 55, 64, 77, and 343 *Yaha-Yaha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 15 *Yaluz-Yaluz – mentioned in Qulasta prayers 22 and 50 *Zha-Zha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 15 *Zhir – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 26
===In other texts=== [[File:MS DC 8 - eutria.jpg|thumb|right|Uthras in the ''Diwan Abatur'' (DC 8): Hibil (upper left corner), Bihram (to the right of Hibil), Simat Hayyi, (upper right corner), along with Adam, Anush, Shitil, and Yadathan (bottom row of uthras)]] In the ''Mandaean Book of John'', Etinṣib Ziwa ({{langx|myz|ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡑࡉࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ|lit=Splendid Transplant}}) is an uthra who starts a battle against Nbaṭ.<ref name="Haberl2020"/>
Some uthras mentioned in the ''Diwan Abatur'' include:<ref name="DC 8">{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel S.|title=Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories|location=Vatican City|series=Studi e Testi|volume=151|publisher=Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana|year=1950}}</ref> *Arspan, an uthra connected with water and baptism; also the name of a throne in the ''Diwan Abatur'' *Bihdad, an uthra who assists Abatur at the scales in the ''Diwan Abatur'' *ʿQaimat – daughter of Yushamin, has 15 children by Ptahil<ref name="SymbolicArt">{{cite book |last=van Rompaey |first=Sandra |title=Mandaean Symbolic Art |publisher=Brepols |publication-place=Turnhout |date=2024 |isbn=978-2-503-59365-4 |url=https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503593654-1}}</ref> *Rahmiʿil – often mentioned in love charms *{{anchor|Samandareil}}Samandarʿil – a flower and blossom spirit; also mentioned in Qulasta prayer 105 *Šarhabiel – In the ''Diwan Abatur'', he is the son of Ptahil who rules over purgatory. Šarhabʿil has been depicted as both male and female, and is also the epithet of the ritual incense cup.<ref name="SymbolicArt" /> *Šhaq – son of Ptahil and ruler of a matarta; means 'cloud(s)'
Mentioned in the ''Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'':<ref name="SymbolicArt"/> *Mdabriel
===''Gufna''=== {{main|Gufna}} In various Mandaean texts, several heavenly beings are described as personified grapevines (''gufna'' or ''gupna'') in the World of Light.
===Trees=== {{See also|Zihrun Raza Kasia#Plants}} In various Mandaean manuscripts, uthras can also be described as personified heavenly trees. Many Mandaean scrolls contain illustrations of the trees. Some of them are:<ref name="SymbolicArt">{{cite book |last=van Rompaey |first=Sandra |title=Mandaean Symbolic Art |publisher=Brepols |publication-place=Turnhout |date=2024 |isbn=978-2-503-59365-4 |url=https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503593654-1}}</ref>
*''Dmut Kušṭa'' (MS Asiatic. Misc. C. 12) **Abatur Rama, as a date palm **Habšaba, as a fig tree **Yawar Ziwa, as a great cotton plant **Yushamin, as a mulberry tree *''Diwan Abatur'' (DC 8) **Shatrin **Gabriel Rihmat ('she-loved-Gabriel', a date palm) *''Baptism of Hibil Ziwa'' (DC 35) **Nṣab **Pirun *''Alma Rišaia Rba'' (DC 41): Haneil, Marmag, Mašqeil, Nahreil, Nahureil, Rahimeil (depicted twice), Samkieil, Tarwan
===''Anana''=== {{main|Anana (Mandaeism)}} The Mandaic term ''anana'' ({{langx|myz|ࡀࡍࡀࡍࡀ}}) is typically translated as 'cloud,' but can also be interpreted as a female consort of an uthra, and hence also an uthra.<ref name="GR Gelbert"/>
In ''Qulasta'' prayers such as the ''Asut 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.<ref>Macúch, Rudolf (1965). ''Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic''. Berlin: De Gruyter.</ref> It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father (Hayyi Rabbi), or a personified drop of "water of life".<ref name="Secret Adam"/>{{rp|13}}
==Parallels in other religions== Mandaean names for uthras have been found in Jewish magical texts. Abatur appears to be inscribed inside a Jewish incantation bowl in a variant form as "Abiṭur". The name ''Ptḥiʾl'' ({{langx|he|פתחיאל}}),<ref>{{cite book|title=Sepher Ha-Razim: The Book of the Mysteries|first=Michael A.|last=Morgan|series=Pseudepigrapha Series|volume=11|publisher=Scholars Press|location=Chico, California|isbn=0-89130-615-3|page=55}}</ref> apparently a variation of Ptahil, is found in ''Sefer HaRazim'', listed among other angels who stand on the ninth step of the second firmament.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vinklat|first=Marek|title=Jewish Elements in the Mandaic Written Magic|url=https://www.academia.edu/1255149|journal=Biernot, D. – Blažek, J. – Veverková, K. (Eds.), "Šalom: Pocta Bedřichu Noskovi K Sedmdesátým Narozeninám" (Deus et Gentes, Vol. 37), Chomutov: L. Marek, 2012. Isbn 978-80-87127-56-8|date=January 2012|access-date=10 February 2022|archive-date=6 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506030108/https://www.academia.edu/1255149|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|210–211}}
==See also== *Angels in Judaism *List of angels in ''Sefer HaRazim'' *Angels in Islam *Jinn in Islam *Christian angelology *Mandaean cosmology *Yazata in Zoroastrianism *Sukkal in Mesopotamian mythology *Kami in Shinto religion *Deva (Buddhism) *Nat (deity) in Burmese folk religion *''Asut Malkia'' *Ziwa (Aramaic) *Anana (Mandaeism) *Gufna
==Further reading== *{{cite book|title=Uthra und Malakha|first=Mark|last=Lidzbarski|author-link=Mark Lidzbarski|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BjNIAQAAMAAJ|publisher=A. Töpelmann (vormals J. Ricker)|date=1906}} ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_BjNIAQAAMAAJ Internet Archive])
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Mandaeism footer}} {{Angels in Abrahamic religions}}
{{Authority control}} Category:Uthras Category:Classes of angels Category:Mandaean legendary creatures Category:Mandaic words and phrases