Uthra

 ( Classes Of Angels ) 

However, that etymology is disputed by Charles G. Häberl (2017), who suggests it is the ʾaqtal pattern noun 'excellency', derived from the Semitic root w-t-r 'to exceed'.

Pairs of uthras also typically have rhyming names. The names can be alliterative (e.g., Adathan and Yadathan), or one name may have an infixed consonant or syllable (e.g., Kapan and Kanpan). In Manichaeism, pairs of celestial beings can also have rhyming names, such as Xroshtag and Padvaxtag. Gardner (2010) discusses other parallels with Manichaeism.

• Manda d-Hayyi, the savior uthra whose name means "Gnosis of (the) Hayyi Rabbi"
• The triad consisting of the three sons of Adam according to Book 1 of the Left Ginza:
• Hibil (Abel)
• Shitil (Seth)
• Anush (Enosh)
• The emanationism:
• Yushamin (the Second Life): the primal uthra
• Abatur (the Third Life): father of Ptahil
• Ptahil (the Fourth Life): the creator of the material world
• Sam Ziwa (Shem): Shem is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Sam Ziwa
• Shilmai and Nidbai are a pair of uthras who serve as the guardian spirits ( naṭra; plural: naṭria) of the Jordan River and the delegates of Manda d-Hayyi, who carry out the work of God ( Hayyi Rabbi). (See Xroshtag and Padvaxtag in Manichaeism.)
• Adathan and Yadathan are a pair of uthras who stand at the Gate of Life, praising and worshipping God.

• Barbag (Bar-Bag), also called Azazel – mentioned in Right Ginza 4 as the "head of the 444 škintas."
• Bhaq Ziwa – uthra; also Abatur
• Bihram – uthra of masbuta
• Bhir (meaning 'chosen, tested, proven') – mentioned as part of a pair with Bihrun in Right Ginza 8.
• Bihrun – 'the chose me'. Mentioned in Qulasta prayers Asut Malkia and , Right Ginza 8, and Mandaean Book of John 62.
• Din Mlikh – uthra who appears in the revelation of Dinanukht
• Gubran and Guban – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1. In the Mandaean Book of John, Gubran Uthra helps Nbaṭ lead a rebellion against Yushamin and his 21 sons.
• Ham Ziwa and Nhur Ziwa
• Kapan and Kanpan
• Nbaṭ () – the King of Air, the first great Radiance
• Nṣab () – also called Nṣab Rabba and Nṣab Ziwa. Son of Yushamin. Frequently mentioned with Anan-Nṣab ('cloud of Nṣab', a female consort) as a pair. Mentioned in Right Ginza 8 and 17.1, and Qulasta prayers , , Asut Malkia, , , , 353, and 379.
• Nbaz (Nbaz Haila) – Mentioned in Right Ginza 1.4 and 6 as the guardian of a matarta. He is mentioned in Right Ginza 6 as "Nbaz-Haila, the Lord of Darkness, the great anvil of the earth."
• Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1.
• Piriawis Yardna – also a heavenly stream and personified vine ( gufna)
• Rahziʿil – mentioned in Right Ginza 11, in which he is described as "the well-armed one who (is) the smallest of his brothers."
• Sam Mana Smira (Smir Ziwa 'pure first Radiance', or Sam Smir Ziwa; Smir means 'preserved') – one of the Twelve. Sam Mana Smira is mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , , , and 171, and Right Ginza 3 and 5.4. Yawar Mana Smira and Sam Smira Ziwa are mentioned in Right Ginza 14. Lidzbarski (1920) translates Sam Mana Smira as "Sām, the well-preserved Mānā."Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.
• Sar and Sarwan – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , Asut Malkia, , and 378, and Right Ginza 5.1, 8, and 17.1.
• Ṣaureil (Ṣaurʿil) – the angel of death; also an epithet for the Moon (Sén)
• Shihlun (lit. 'The has sent me')
• Simat Hayyi – treasure of life; typically considered to be the wife of the uthra Yawar Ziwa
• Tar and Tarwan. Tarwan is mentioned in Right Ginza 8 and in Qulasta prayer Asut Malkia. The "land of Tarwan" is mentioned in Qulasta prayers and 379 and Right Ginza 15.17, while "pure Tarwan" ( taruan dakita), or sometimes "the pure land of Tarwan," is mentioned as a heavenly place in Right Ginza 15.2, 15.8, 15.16, and 16.1. "Tarwan-Nhura" (Tarwan of Light) is mentioned in Qulasta prayers and .
• ʿUrpʿil and Marpʿil
• Yasana – mentioned in Right Ginza 12.1 as the "gate of Yasana."
• Yathrun – father of Shilmai
• Yawar Ziwa – Dazzling Radiance, also known as Yawar Kasia or Yawar Rabba; husband of Simat Hayyi. Yawar can also mean 'Helper.'
• Yufin-Yufafin (Yupin-Yupapin)
• Yukabar (Yukhabr; ) – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , 173, and 379, and in Right Ginza 15.6 (as Yukabar-Kušṭa), 16.4, and 17.1 (as Yukabar-Ziwa). Yukabar helps Nbaṭ fight a rebellion against Yushamin in the Mandaean Book of John.
• Yukašar (Yukhashr; ) – source of Radiance. Mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , , , , and , and in Right Ginza 4 as Yukašar-Kana ( kana means 'place' or 'source'). In the Mandaean Book of John, he is portrayed as the son of Ptahil.
• Yur (also Yur-Yahur) is one of the matarta guardians. Qulasta prayer begins with the name Yur, son of Barit. Yur is also mentioned in Qulasta prayers and 171.
• Yura – "jewel". Mentioned in Right Ginza 15.7, 15.8, 16.1, and 17.1 as Yura Rba Ganzibra (literally "Great Yura the Ganzibra" or "Great Yura the Treasurer"). Yura is mentioned in Qulasta prayers 214 and 379 as well.
• Yurba (spelled Jōrabba by Mark Lidzbarski) – also called the fighter. Yurba is identified with Shamish, the sun.
  Charles and McGrath, James Haberl (2025). 9783110486513, De Gruyter. ISBN 9783110486513
  Book 18 of the Right Ginza equates Yurba with Adonai of Judaism, while Gelbert (2017) identifies Yurba with Yao. Mentioned in Right Ginza 3, 5.3 (which mentions Yurba as a matarta guardian), 8, 12.1, 15.5, and 18 and Left Ginza 2.22 and 3.45. Mandaean Book of John 52 is a narrative dedicated to Yurba. Yurba is often mentioned as engaging in conversation with Ruha.
• Zarzeil Ziwa (Zarzʿil Ziwa) – mentioned in Right Ginza 5.1 and 15.8.
• Zhir (meaning 'secured') – often mentioned as part of a pair with Zihrun
• Zihrun (sometimes spelled as Zahrun; literally means 'the Life warned me') – Zihrun is mentioned in Right Ginza 4 as Zihrun-Uthra (also called Yusmir-Kana) and Right Ginza 8, and in Mandaean Book of John 62 as a "morning star." Qulasta prayers , , , and 319 mention him as Zihrun Raza ("Zihrun the Mystery"). He is described as an uthra of radiance, light, and glory in prayers 2 and 3, with prayer 2 mentioning Manda d-Hayyi as an emanation of Zihrun. Qulasta prayers , , , and 374 mention him as the name for a drabsha (banner), and prayer mentions him as Zihrun-Šašlamiel. He is the subject of Zihrun Raza Kasia.

In Right Ginza 5.1, Yawar Ziwa appoints four uthras each over the four directions to watch over Ur ( see also Guardians of the directions):

• west: Azazel, Azaziaʿil, Taqpʿil and Margazʿil the Great
• east: Urfeil, Marfeil, Taqpʿil and Hananʿil
• north: Kanpan and Kapan, Gubran and Guban
• south: Hailʿil, Qarbʿil, Nurʿil and Nuriaʿil

• Rhum-Hai ("Mercy")
• Īn-Hai ("Wellspring" or "Source of Life")
• Šum-Hai ("Name")
• Zamar-Hai ("Singer")

Qulasta lists the "four men, the sons of peace" as:

• Īn-Hai
• Šum-Hai ( Šum can mean both Shem and "Name")
• Ziw-Hai ("Radiance")
• Nhur-Hai ("Light")

These four uthras are considered to be the kings ( malkia) of the North Star, who give strength and life to the sun. Together with Malka Ziwa (another name for Hayyi Rabbi), they make up the "five primal beings of light." Conversely, Mandaeans consider the "five lords of the World of Darkness" to be Zartai-Zartanai, Hag and Mag, Gap and Gapan, Šdum, and Krun (the paired demons are considered to rule together as single lords). (See for similar parallels.)

Other minor uthras mentioned in the Qulasta are:

• Hamgai-Ziwa, son of Hamgagai-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer and Right Ginza 15.5.
• Hash (Haš) – mentioned in Qulasta prayer . Haš-u-Fraš Uthra ("Hash and Frash Uthra") is mentioned in Qulasta prayers and .
• Hauran and Hauraran – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , and . In prayer 27, Hauran is described as a vestment, while Hauraran is described as a covering. Hauraran is also mentioned in Right Ginza 15.2, Left Ginza 3.60, and Mandaean Book of John 70.
• Hazazban (Haza-Zban) – mentioned in Qulasta prayers and as an uthra who sets wreaths ( klila) upon the heads of Mandaeans who are performing masbuta. Sometimes the klila itself is also called Hazazban. Also mentioned in the Ginza Rabba as the matarta guard Zan-Hazazban in Right Ginza and . Hazazban possibly means 'this time.'
• ʿIt ʿNṣibat ʿUtria (or ʿIt Yawar bar ʿNṣibat ʿUtria – mentioned in Qulasta prayer . Prayer 46 mentions ʿNiṣbat-ʿUtria.
• Kanfiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayer
• Karkawan-Ziwa – mentioned in Qulasta prayer
• Piriafil-Malaka – mentioned together with Piriawis-Ziwa in Qulasta prayers and
• Rham and Rhamiel-Uthra – mentioned in Qulasta prayer 378
• Ṣanaṣiel – mentioned in Qulasta prayers and Asut Malkia
• Šihlbun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer Asut Malkia
• Ṣihiun, Pardun, and Kanfun – mentioned in Qulasta prayer
• S'haq Ziwa (pronounced sʰāq) – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , Asut Malkia, and Shumhata. Š'haq is also mentioned in Right Ginza 15.5. In the 1012 Questions, S'haq Ziwa or Adam S'haq Ziwa (literally "Adam was Bright Radiance") is equated with Adam Kasia.
• Shingilan (or Šingilan-Uthra) – mentioned in Qulasta prayer Asut Malkia and Mandaean Book of John 1 and 69. According to Mandaean Book of John 1, "Šingilan-Uthra takes the incense holder and brings it before the Mana."
  (2025). 9780958034678, Living Water Books. . ISBN 9780958034678
• ʿUṣar, also known as ʿUṣar-Hiia or ʿUṣar-Hai ("Treasure of Life"), as well as ʿUṣar-Nhura ("Treasure of Light") – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , , , , , and ; mentioned together with Pta-Hai in prayers , , and .
• Yukašar – mentioned in Qulasta prayers , , , , , and
• Yaha-Yaha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer
• Yaluz-Yaluz – mentioned in Qulasta prayers and
• Zha-Zha – mentioned in Qulasta prayer
• Zhir – mentioned in Qulasta prayer