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Concept
Mandaean cosmology
Summary
Mandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism.
Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by Jewish, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Manichaean and other Near Eastern religions and philosophies.
The three major Emanations or "Lives" (Hayyi) in Mandaeism are:
The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra
The Third Life: Abatur, the weigher of souls, and also the father of the uthri (plural of uthra)
The Fourth Life: Ptahil, the creator of the material world
The Second Life, Third Life, and Fourth Life are emanations of the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi (the Supreme God).
Mandaean cosmology divides the universe into three realms:
World of Light or Lightworld (alma ḏ-nhūra)
Tibil, or Earth
World of Darkness or underworld (alma ḏ-hšuka)
According to Book 3 of the Right Ginza, a "fruit (pira) within the fruit" and "ether (ayar) within the ether" had existed before the World of Light came into being. In a sort of "Big Bang," the World of Light comes into being along with the Great Jordan and uthras. Tibil and the World of Darkness are then formed by Ptahil and others after the World of Light came into existence.
World of Light
The World of Light is the primeval, transcendent 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 Piriawis, the Great Yardena (ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡍࡀ, or (Jordan River)) of Life.
In Mandaean cosmology, ether (Mandaic: aiar or ayar) permeates outer space and the World of Light. Uthras travel by moving through ether. The Father is also sometimes mentioned as Ayar Rba ('Great Ether') or Ayar Ziwa ('Radiant Ether'). In Mandaeism, the "outer ether" (aiar baraia), mentioned in texts such as The Thousand and Twelve Questions, refers to the ether that permeates the cosmos, while the "inner ether" (aiar gawaia) refers to the "breath or pure air of Life within the soul".
The Mshunia Kushta is a section of the World of Light where spiritual counterparts or images called dmuta are found.
Official source
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