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]

The Mandaic term anana was also frequently used to refer to women in the Mandaean community.^[3]

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(s)	Uthra(s)
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.^[4]^[5]

Niṭufta

Niṭufta is a similar concept in Mandaeism. In Qolasta prayers such as the Asiet Malkia, the word niṭufta (spelled niṭupta ࡍࡉࡈࡅࡐࡕࡀ), 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.^[6] It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father ( Hayyi Rabbi), or a personified drop of "water of life".^[7]^: 13

Similarly, the Apocalypse of Adam (one of the Nag Hammadi texts) mentions droplets and clouds from heaven.^[8]

References

^ Gelbert, Carlos (2021). گینزا ربَّا = Ginza Rba (in Arabic). Edensor Park, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795407.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
^ Gelbert, Carlos (2023). The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795414.
^ Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
^ Drower, E. S. (1959). The 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.
^ Meyer, Marvin (2007). The Nag Hammadi scriptures. New York: HarperOne. ISBN 978-0-06-162600-5. OCLC 124538398.

[Gelbert_Arabic-1] Gelbert, Carlos (2021). گینزا ربَّا = Ginza Rba (in Arabic). Edensor Park, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795407.

[GR_Gelbert-2] Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.

[Key_Gelbert-3] Gelbert, Carlos (2023). The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795414.

[Drower_1937-4] Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.

[Drower_1959-5] Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

[6] Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.

[Secret_Adam-7] Drower, E. S. (1960). The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

[NH-Meyer-8] Meyer, Marvin (2007). The Nag Hammadi scriptures. New York: HarperOne. ISBN 978-0-06-162600-5. OCLC 124538398.

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Names of ananas

Niṭufta

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References

Names of ananas

Niṭufta

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