Yushamin

Lore & Background

Yushamin and his sons set in motion the events leading to creating the material world (tibil) by deciding to participate in creation without consulting the First Life, as accounted in book 3 of the Right Ginza. The first ten chapters of the Mandaean Book of John give further accounts 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 of Manda d-Hayyi. In the first two chapters, Yushamin is mentioned as having set the eternal great conflict in motion and as having revealed the secret of the Great, being cast down due to starting a fight with the Light, lacking concern and humility.

In the third chapter, twenty-one of the sons of the captive Yushamin, excluding the elder brother Sam but including his favourite son Yukabar and led by Etinṣib Ziwa, start a battle against Nbaṭ, 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 until Hayyi binds him again by the Nether Gate in 904 chains of zeynā. In the fourth chapter, Nṣab Ziwa admonishes his father Yushamin over his rebellion. In the fifth chapter, Hayyi sends Manda d-Hayyi to admonish Yushamin, who responds with threats; the sixth chapter contrasts this with a throned, non-captive Yushamin revering Manda d-Hayyi. The seventh chapter recapitulates the rebellion, the eighth gives an account of Nṣab bringing a petition for forgiveness for Yushamin to the King of Light, who accepts it against the wishes of Manda d-Hayyi. The ninth is a dialogue between Yushamin, Manda d-Hayyi and Nṣab; the tenth is a monologue by Yushamin.

Yushamin is also dispatched to interrogate Hibil Ziwa's identity and permit him re-entry to the World of Light when he returns from his descent to the World of Darkness. According to E. S. Drower, in documents giving ritual instruction, Yushamin serves as the spiritual prototype of a priest who makes errors in conducting a ritual.

Reader's Guide

Yushamin holds a central role in Mandaean cosmology as the first emanation from the Great Life whose rebellion inadvertently set in motion the creation of the material world (tibil). His story parallels the Christian Gnostic figure of Sophia, as both seek to create without the consent of the supreme deity, thereby starting the process of material creation. However, in Mandaeism the origin of the demiurgic figure (Ptahil) is attributed to Abatur, the Third Life, while the fallen Sophia pending redemption parallels Ruha. Yushamin's dual nature—both a Lightworld uthra beyond reproach and a prototype of a priest who has made mistakes in ritual—reflects a complex theological figure who embodies both purity and error. The connections between 'Yushamin the Peacock' in Mandaean cosmology and the Yezidi Peacock Angel (Tawûsî Melek) have been demonstrated by the Yezidologist Artur Rodziewicz, suggesting cross-religious parallels. His rebellion, punishment, and eventual reconciliation with the King of Light illustrate themes of pride, humility, and forgiveness within Mandaean scripture.

Did You Know?

• Yushamin is also known as the Second Life and is the father of Abatur.
• His name may be derived from the divine name Yao plus šmayn 'heaven'.
• In The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa, he is called 'Yushamin the Peacock' and 'son of Dmut-Hiia'.
• The story of Yushamin is one of the parallels to the Christian Gnostic story of Sophia.