Anana (Mandaeism)
In Mandaeism, an anana (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡍࡀࡍࡀ, lit. 'cloud') is a heavenly cloud in the World of Light that is considered to be the dwelling place of uthras.[1] An anana can also be interpreted as a female consort.[2]
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Names of ananas
Right Ginza Book 17, Chapter 1 lists the names of several ananas and their uthras, many of which are gupnas.[2]: 455–456
Anana | Uthra |
---|---|
Nhur-Hiia-Anana | Mara ḏ-Rabuta |
Kimṣat-Anana | little Pirun |
Ptula ("the Virgin") | Hibil Ziwa |
Šahrat-ʿbdat-u-Kišrat | Great Mighty Mana and Niṭufta |
Yasmus | Šarat, the great hidden first Gupna |
Sidar-Kasia | Great Yura the Ganzibra |
Tatagmur | first-born son of Yušamin |
Pihtat-u-Nihrat-u-Nipqat-mn-gu-mia (two clouds) | Nṣab and Anan-Nṣab |
Barat and ʿthrauribat | Sar and Sarwan |
Nhar and Khar | Šilmai and Nidbai |
In Right Ginza Book 3, Adakas Ziwa is paired with Anana ḏ-Nhura ("cloud of light").[2]: 135
In the Asiet Malkia, Bihrat Anana is mentioned as the name of an anana.[3][4]
Niṭufta
Niṭufta is a similar concept in Mandaeism. In Qolasta prayers such as the Asiet 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.[5] It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father (Hayyi Rabbi), or a personified drop of "water of life".[6]: 13
References
- Gelbert, Carlos (2021). گینزا ربَّا = Ginza Rba (in Arabic). Edensor Park, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795407.
- Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
- Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
- Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
- Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.
- Drower, E. S. (1960). The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.