Hitfun

An 18th-century manuscript of the Scroll of Abatur in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. The illustration on top depicts the ship Shahrat ferrying Mandaean souls across the Hitfun towards the house of Abatur, while the lower illustration shows the tree of Shatrin with the souls of unbaptized children.
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In Mandaean cosmology, Hiṭfun (written Mandaic: Hiṭpun) or Hiṭfon (Hiṭpon) (Classical Mandaic: ࡄࡉࡈࡐࡅࡍ) is a great dividing river separating the World of Darkness from the World of Light.[1] It is mentioned in Hymn 25 of the third book of the Left Ginza.[2] The river of Hiṭfun is analogous to the river Styx in Greek mythology and Hubur in Mesopotamian mythology.

It is also known as hapiqia mia or hafiqia mia (Classical Mandaic: ࡄࡐࡉࡒࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡀ), which means "streams/springs of water" or "outflowing water." The water is fresh, and is located in a realm that is situated between Abatur's and Yushamin's realms.[3]

In Mandaean scriptures

The Scroll of Abatur has many illustrations of boats ferrying souls across this river.[3]

According to the 1012 Questions, masiqta rituals are needed to guide departed souls across the river and into the World of Light.[4]

In chapters 36, 51, and 55 of the Mandaean Book of John, the river Kšaš is the river that the souls of the dead must cross in order to reach the World of Light.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash (2012). Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book. Drabsha.
  2. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  3. ^ a b Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  4. ^ Drower, Ethel S. (1960). The Thousand and Twelve Questions: A Mandaean Text (Alf Trisar Šuialia). Berlin: Akademie Verlag.
  5. ^ Haberl, Charles; McGrath, James (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Berlin: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC 1129155601.