Yushamin
| Yushamin | |
|---|---|
Second Life | |
| Abode | World of Light |
| Offspring | Abatur, Yukabar, Etinṣib, Nṣab |
| Equivalents | |
| Gnostic equivalent | Sophia |
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In Mandaeism, Yushamin[a] (Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ) and also known as the 'Second Life', is the primal uthra and an 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.[6] Yushamin is the father of Abatur.[7]
Name and epithets
The name may be derived from Iao haš-šammayim (in Hebrew: Yahweh "of the heavens").[8]: 39–40, 43 In the Diwan Masbuta d-Hibil Ziwa, he is called the "pure Yušamin",[3]: 38 "Yušamin, son of Dmut-Hiia"[3]: 52 and "Yušamin the Peacock".[3]: 52
Role
Rebellion
The first ten chapters of the Mandaean Book of John give accounts related to the rebellion of Yushamin and his sons against the King of Light (Hayyi Rabbi), and their eventual reconciliation against the wishes of Manda d-Hayyi.[4]
In the first two chapters, Kushta asks questions which are answered by Ptahil and his son Yukashar (Classical Mandaic: 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 (Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡁࡀࡓ) having brought calm.[4]
In the third chapter, twenty-one of the sons of the captive Yushamin, excluding the elder brother Sam (Classical Mandaic: ࡎࡀࡌ) but including his favourite son Yukabar and led by Etinṣib Ziwa (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡑࡉࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, lit. 'Splendid Transplant'), start a battle against Nbaṭ (Classical Mandaic: ࡍࡁࡀࡈ, lit. 'Sprout'), the King of Air, and are slaughtered upon the arrival of the forces of the King of Light. An irate Yushamin breaks his bonds and proceeds from the Nether Gate to the Realm of Air, destroying all in his wake and defeating the uthri, until Hayyi binds him again by the Nether Gate in 904 chains of zenyā (Classical Mandaic: ࡆࡀࡉࡍࡀ).[4]
In the fourth chapter, Nṣab Ziwa (Classical Mandaic: ࡍࡑࡀࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, lit. 'Splendid Plant') admonishes his father Yushamin over his rebellion. In the fifth chapter, Hayyi sends Manda d-Hayyi to admonish Yushamin over his plots to overthrow him, who responds with threats of defeating Manda d-Hayyi had Yushamin come to Manda d-Hayyi as opposed to the latter having been sent as a messenger; the exceedingly brief sixth chapter contrasts this with a throned, non-captive Yushamin revering Manda d-Hayyi as the King of the Uthri.[4]
The seventh chapter recapitulates the rebellion of Yushamin and his sons. The eighth chapter gives an account of Nṣab bringing a petition for forgiveness for Yushamin to the King of Light, who accepts it against the wishes of Manda d-Hayyi, and cautions the latter for hating Yushamin for refusing him a wife. The ninth is a dialogue between Yushamin, Manda d-Hayyi and Nṣab; the tenth is a monologue by Yushamin.[4]
Hibil's descent
Yushamin is dispatched to interrogate Hibil Ziwa's identity and permit him re-entry to the World of Light when he returns from his descent to the World of Darkness.[3]: 38
Other
According to E. S. Drower, in documents giving ritual instruction, Yushamin serves as the spiritual prototype of a priest who makes errors in conducting a ritual.[3]: 52ft9
Parallels
The story of Yushamin in Mandaeism is similar to the Gnostic story of Sophia falling out of the pleroma, thereby starting the process of creating the demiurge.[6]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Romanised spellings vary considerably between translators and commentators but include Yōshamin, Joshamin (Carl H. Kraeling),[1] Yushamin (Qais and Hamed Al-Saadi),[2] Jōšamīn (Mark Lidzbarski), Yušamin (E. S. Drower),[3] Yushamen (Charles Häberl and James F. McGrath)[4] and Juschamin (Matthias Norberg).[5]
References
- ^ Kraeling, C. H. (1933). "The Mandaic God Ptahil". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 53 (2): 152. doi:10.2307/593099.
- ^ Ginza Rabba. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais; Al-Saadi, Hamed (2nd ed.). Germany: Drabsha. 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ a b c d e f Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2019). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation (PDF). Open Access Version. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
- ^ Norberg, Matthias. Codex Nasaraeus Liber Adami appellatus. 3 vols. London, 1815–16.
- ^ a b Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ Lupieri, Edmundo (2001). The Mandaeans: The Last Gnostics. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802833501.
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