| Yushamin | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Second Life |
| Abode | World of Light |
| Offspring | Abatur,Sam,Yukabar,Etinṣib,Nṣab |
InMandaeism,Yushamin[a] (Classical Mandaic:ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ,Modern Mandaic pronunciation:[juˈʃɑmɪn]), also known as theSecond Life, is the primaluthra (angel or guardian)[8]: 8 and a subservientemanation who was created by the Mandaean God 'The Great Life' (Hayyi Rabbi or 'The First Life'), hence beginning the creation of the material world.[9] Yushamin is the father ofAbatur.[8]: 8 Jorunn J. Buckley identifies Yushamin as "both a Lightworld utra beyond reproach and the prototype of a priest who has made mistakes in ritual."[8]: 38
The nameYušamin may be derived from the divine nameYao plusšmayn "heaven".[10]: 39–40, 43 InThe Baptism of Hibil Ziwa, he is called the "pure Yušamin",[4]: 38 "Yušamin thePeacock",[4]: 52 and "Yušamin, son ofDmut-Hiia",[4]: 52 where Dmut-Hiia/Dmuth-Hayyi ("Likeness/Image of Life") refers to Yushamin's mother.[11]
In many prayers of theQulasta, he is known as "Yushamin the Pure" (Classical Mandaic:ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡃࡀࡊࡉࡀ,romanized: Yušamin Dakia).[12]
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 theRight Ginza.[1]: 29–30 The first ten chapters of theMandaean Book of John give further accounts related to the progress of the rebellion of Yushamin and his sons against the King of Light (malka ḏ-nhura, i.e.Hayyi Rabbi), and their eventual reconciliation against the wishes ofManda d-Hayyi.[5]
In the first two chapters,Kushta asks questions which are answered byPtahil and his sonYukashar (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 toYukabar (ࡉࡅࡊࡀࡁࡀࡓ) having brought calm.[5]
In the third chapter, twenty-one of the sons of the captive Yushamin, excluding the elder brother Sam (ࡎࡀࡌ) but including his favourite sonYukabar and led byEtinṣib Ziwa (Classical Mandaic:ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡑࡉࡁ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ,lit. 'Splendid Transplant'), start a battle againstNbaṭ (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 theuthri, until Hayyi binds him again by the Nether Gate in 904 chains of zeynā (ࡆࡀࡉࡍࡀ).[5]
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.[5]
The seventh chapter recapitulates the rebellion of Yushamin and his sons. The eighth chapter gives an account ofNṣab 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.[5]
Yushamin is dispatched to interrogateHibil Ziwa's identity and permit him re-entry to the World of Light when he returns from his descent to the World of Darkness.[4]: 38
According toE. S. Drower, in documents giving ritual instruction, Yushamin serves as the spiritual prototype of a priest who makes errors in conducting a ritual.[4]: 52ft9
The story of Yushamin inMandaeism is one of the parallels to the ChristianGnostic story ofSophia, since both seek to create without the consent of the supreme deity, thereby starting the process of creating the material world.[9] However, the origin of the demiurgic (Ptahil) is attributed toAbatur, the Third Life,[9] and the fallen Sophia pending redemption parallelsRuha.[13]
