Ziwa (also transliterated as ziua) is an Aramaic term that is typically translated as 'radiance' or 'splendor.' It is frequently used as an epithet for celestial beings and manifestations of God in Gnostic religions such as Mandaeism and Manichaeism.
The Hebrew cognate is ziv ().
Scripts Ziwa written in different scripts:
Hebrew alphabet: Mandaic alphabet: Syriac alphabet: Arabic script:
Mandaeism
In Mandaeism, uthras (celestial beings) often have the Mandaic term Ziwa / Ziua (, meaning 'Radiance'; Neo-Mandaic pronunciation ) attached after their names, due to their origins from the World of Light.
Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan). Sometimes, one of the names within a pair may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan).
Uthras commonly referred to as "Ziwa" include: Hibil Ziwa Sam Ziwa (or Sam Smira Ziwa) Yawar Ziwa Qmamir Ziwa (an epithet of Ṣaureil)
Other uthras that are also referred to as "Ziwa" include: Bhaq Ziwa (an epithet of Abatur) Etinṣib Ziwa Ham Ziwa and Nhur Ziwa Nbaṭ Ziwa Nṣab Ziwa Piriawis Ziwa Fraš Ziwa Zarzeil Ziwa Hamgai Ziwa, son of Hamgagai Ziwa Karkawan Ziwa S'haq Ziwa Šar Ziwa Yukabar Ziwa
Adam Kasia (the "hidden Adam") is also referred to as Adakas Ziwa in the Ginza Rabba. One of the epithets of Adam Kasia is S'haq Ziwa.
Manichaeism
In Manichaeism, the Syriac term Ziwa () is also used to refer to Jesus as Isho Ziwā (, Jesus the Splendor), who is sent to awaken Adam and Eve to the source of the spiritual light trapped within their physical bodies. In Chinese Manichaean sources, Ziwa is typically translated as (pinyin: míng).
Ṣfat Ziwā, or The Keeper of the Splendor (; ; ), who holds up the ten heavens from above, is one of the five sons of The Living Spirit ( ruḥā ḥayyā) in the second creation.
In Manichaeism, pairs of celestial beings can also have rhyming names, such as Xroshtag and Padvaxtag.
See also World of Light Nūr (Islam) Ohr in Jewish mysticism Divine light
References