In Mandaean cosmology, Piriawis (, ; sometimes also spelled Biriawiš Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.), also known as the Yardena Rabba ( "Great Jordan"), is the sacred life-giving river (yardna) of the World of Light. It is the heavenly counterpart of rivers on Earth (Tibil), which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of the heavenly Piriawis.
Shilmai and Nidbai are the two guardian uthras (celestial beings) watching over Piriawis.
Qulasta prayers 13 and 17 mention Piriawis-Ziwa and Piriafil-Malaka together as uthras.
Etymology Drower & Macúch (1963) consider the name Piriawis to be of Iranian origin, literally meaning 'full of water' (cf. modern Persian ).
Other names In Book 4 of the Right Ginza, Sindiriawis is mentioned as "the great yardna of the Life" ().
See also Yardna Ganga (goddess) in Hinduism Siniawis, its corresponding opposite in the World of Darkness Jordan River Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the name of the Living Water in Sethianism
References