Yushamin

In Mandaeism, 'Yushamin' (ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ) and also known as the 'Second Life', is the primal uthra (angel or guardian) and a subservient emanation who was created by the Mandaean God 'The Great Life' (Hayyi Rabbi or 'The First Life'), hence beginning the creation of the material world. Yushamin is the father of Abatur. Jorunn J. Buckley identifies Yushamin as "both a Lightworld utra beyond reproach and the prototype of a priest who has made mistakes in ritual." The name may be derived from the divine name Yao plus šmayn "heaven"). In the The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa, he is called the "pure Yušamin", "Yušamin the Peacock", and "Yušamin, son of Dmut-Hiia", where Dmut-Hiia/Dmuth-Hayyi ("Likeness/Image of Life") refers to Yushamin's mother. Yushamin and his sons set in motion the events leading to creating the material world (tibil), due to deciding to participate in creation without consulting the First Life; this is accounted in book 3 of the Right Ginza. The first ten chapters of the Mandaean Book of John give further accounts related to the progress of the rebellion of Yushamin and his sons against the King of Light (, i.e. Hayyi Rabbi), and their eventual reconciliation against the wishes of Manda d-Hayyi. In the first two chapters, Kushta asks questions which are answered by Ptahil and his son Yukashar (ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡔࡀࡓ). Yushamin is mentioned in the first chapter as having set the eternal great conflict in motion, and in more detail in the second as having revealed the secret of the Great, and been cast down due to starting a fight with the Light, or the Mighty's house, lacking concern and humility, in contrast to Yukabar (ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡁࡀࡓ) having brought calm. In the third chapter, twenty-one of the sons of the captive Yushamin, excluding the elder brother Sam (ࡎࡀࡌ) but including his favourite son Yukabar and led by Etinṣib Ziwa (ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡑࡉࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ), start a battle against Nbaṭ (ࡍࡁࡀࡈ), the King of Air, and are slaughtered upon the arrival of the forces of the King of Light.