Zihrun

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Zihrun
Other namesZahrun
AbodeWorld of Light
TextsZihrun Raza Kasia

Zihrun (Classical Mandaic: ࡆࡉࡄࡓࡅࡍ, lit.'he [the Life] warned me'; sometimes also spelled Zahrun or Zahroon), is an uthra (angel or guardian) in the World of Light.[1] He is the main subject of the Mandaean scroll Zihrun Raza Kasia.[2]

The uthra Zhir (meaning 'secured') is often mentioned as part of a pair with Zihrun.[1]

Zihrun is also a Mandaean male given name. Well-known historical Mandaean priests named Zihrun include the 19th-century priest Ram Zihrun.

In Mandaean scriptures[edit]

Zihrun is mentioned in Right Ginza 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana, with Kana meaning 'source' or 'place') and Right Ginza 8,[1] and in Mandaean Book of John 62 as a "morning star."[3][4]

Qolasta 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 Qolasta prayers 2 and 3, with prayer 2 mentioning Manda d-Hayyi as an emanation of Zihrun. Qolasta prayers 332, 340, 341, and 374 mention him as the name for a drabsha (banner), and prayer 347 mentions him as Zihrun-Šašlamiel.[5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  2. ^ Burtea, Bogdan (2008). Zihrun, das verborgene Geheimnis (in German). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3-447-05644-1. OCLC 221130512.
  3. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2017). The Teachings of the Mandaean John the Baptist. Fairfield, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034678. OCLC 1000148487.
  4. ^ Haberl, Charles and McGrath, James (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Berlin: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC 1129155601.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.