Mani · The name Maitreya · Elias Thorn
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Mani · The name Maitreya

M801a · Bema liturgy and praises · surviving pages 1–30, lines 1–475

1 […] of the world, and from Ammo, my beloved son, and from all the beloved children who are with me—to all shepherds, teachers and bishops, to all the elect and [hearers, brothers] and sisters, elder and younger, devout, perfect and righteous: to all who have received this good news from me and have been instructed by me in this teaching and in good deeds; who have found fulfilment and remain undivided in firm faith. To each by name. [Here the “Epistle of the Seal” ended. The Bema liturgy begins next.]

2 Let us praise you, Mani, lord. Let us praise you, Mani, lord, master of the holy Religion, wisest of the great apostles.

3 Let us praise your name, god, Lord Mani. Make me rejoice, loving one, reviver of the dead. Give us strength and power, that we may be perfect according to your command, O god.

4 Let us praise the god Mani, the lord. We bow before your great Glory, radiant one. We honour the Holy Spirit together with the Glories and mighty messengers.

5 Teacher Maitreya, Maitragar, Maitr-Chaitr(?), god Messiah, Maniu, Mani, Maniachaios(?), saviour, god, Lord Mani!

6 Mani has come from paradise. Rejoice, brothers! May this day be bright for us, children of the right side.

7 The door of paradise has opened. Joy has appeared to us: the teacher Maitreya, Lord Mani, the master, has come to the new Bema.

8 From eternal paradise the door of the gods has opened. We have seen the Son himself(?); to us […]. [Three pages are lost.]

9 Guard the body and save my soul. Give me perfect righteousness(?), the immortal bright paradise.

10 We praise you, Jesus. We glorify you, Mani. A bright, radiant day has dawned; a bright, radiant day has dawned, Lord Mani, whose name is honoured.

11 We praise you, bright master, son of masters, Mani, lord. Mani, lord, bright master, you are worthy of praise.

12 We glorify you, Lord Mani; Jesus, the Maiden, Wahman, the beautiful Bema and the messengers.

13 To you I cry, lord. Answer me, lord, Lord Mani. Forgive my sins, lord.

14 Buddha Maitreya has come, Lord Mani, the apostle. He has brought liberation from the god—the Judge of Truth(?). I bow before you, O god. Forgive my sins, save my soul, raise me to the new paradise. Maitreya […]. [Several leaves are lost.]

15 And the blessed ancestors, themselves the chariots of the luminous ones, good hunters and helmsmen, chosen messengers, glorious, great organizers and mighty powers, strongest spirits created by the Word, masters of blessed appearance, luminous gods, all-good saviours, great good helpers, bringers of joy, chosen warriors and mighty fighters, who struck down death and overcame the enemies, established themselves in victory and dwell in peace—may they always be sung with the blessing of the bright worlds and the great praise of the holy Religion. May their great peace, protection and care for life extend over the whole holy Religion, especially over this place and blessed assembly. [Several pages are lost.]

16 […] to all of us, the assembled righteous, and to the hearers who gain merit, for ever and ever.

17 May this strength, power, luminous and beneficent god, perfect man, source and beginning, path for all souls, roads for all lights and saved lives, be blessed and praised. Be blessed: may your life-giving radiance shine over the chosen Religion. Grant us peace, health and well-being in all worlds; keep us in wondrous joy. Receive this pure praise, living word and divine song from us all, for ever and ever. [The praise of Srushahray has ended. The praise of Jesus the Life-Giver begins.]

18 May the good holy Jesus, the pure luminous Maiden and the great Wahman—the good saviours who raise the dead of the holy Religion—be glorified. May these great physicians, healers of the exalted soul, be blessed. May they increase for us too peace and health, joy and virtue, salvation and victory for the fighters and workers. May they make us worthy of the great Glory and the eternal crown, for the longest and eternal time. [Kirbkarzad(?).]

19 Be blessed and glorified, Jesus the Life-Giver of the new world, who raises the dead believers, revives his mother(?) and those who died from the disposition and thought of Az and desire. [Be] a physician to those who wander without awareness in the sickness of the corpse(?). You became sight for the blind, hearing for the deaf. [Several leaves are lost.]

20 Seventy-two bishops, three hundred and sixty heads of communities, all the elect, pure and holy, perfect in the five commandments and three seals—may they be remembered in good deeds.

21 The great Glory and the spirit created by the Word of the whole eastern region, guardian and caretaker of this flock and of the righteousness of the gods—may it be remembered in good deeds.

22 At their head, Mar Nazugyazd(?), teacher of the eastern region: may he be remembered in good deeds.

23 And all bishops, heads of communities, singers of blessings, readers, wise good scribes, hymn singers, speakers of the sacred word, and all the brothers, pure and holy—may they be remembered in good deeds.

24 The sisters, diligent and holy, together with their assemblies and dwellings—may they be remembered in good deeds.

25 And all the hearers, brothers and sisters from east and west, north and south, steadfast in the light, strength and goodness of god—may they be remembered in good deeds.

26 May praise, blessing, supplication(?), request and offering from us all, in purity and innocence, rise and be accepted before the merciful fathers and ruling ancestors. May they send us strength and help, salvation and victory, health and safety, joy and virtue, peace and well-being, love(?) and protection, diligence in good deeds and perfection, forgiveness of the believers’ sins, the light of health. May this extend over the whole holy Religion, especially over this place and blessed assembly, over me and you, beloved brothers, diligent holy sisters, devout hearers, that we may be preserved and protected by the hands of the luminous messengers and twin workers(?) in the one name of the Living [and Holy], for a long and eternal time.

27 We bless and praise the luminous messengers […]. [One leaf is lost.]

28 Heads of communities, singers of blessings, readers, scribes, pure righteous ones, brothers and sisters everywhere, with their circles(?), assemblies and dwellings—may they be preserved and gathered on the right side of the Elect Spirit, beloved ones(?).

29 And the hearers, assembled brothers and sisters, benevolent and born in peace, in all countries, provinces and regions, believing in the light, strength and wisdom of god—may they be remembered in good deeds.

30 May praise and blessing, prayer and worship, request and offering from us all rise and be accepted before the gods and deities, that they themselves may send us strength and greatness, and that in love, spirit and body we may become perfect.

31 May the Living Soul attain salvation; may those who are generous be free of sin. And may all of us find salvation in the one name of the Living and Holy, for a long and eternal time. [The two praises of the messengers have ended. The praise of the Bema begins.]

32 With gratitude and deep reverence we bow and give praise to that mighty god, glorious master, ruling lord of the bright worlds, by whose will and favour(?) you, our exalted god, came to us.

33 We bow before Jesus, the lord, Son of Greatness, who sent you to us, beloved. We bow before the glorious Maiden, the luminous companion, who was with you in every battle, united in purpose and participation. We bow before the great Wahman, whom you established in the hearts of the devout. We bow before your great Glory, our father, apostle of light, Lord Mani. We bow before this honoured Bema and the radiant seat on which you sat. We bow before the radiant crown placed upon your head. We bow before this honoured image and beautiful form. We bow before the gods and messengers who came with you. We bow before all your elect and blessed assembly(?), lord. We bow before the great teachers, mighty bishops, wise heads of communities, good scribes, hymn singers and speakers of the sacred word. We bow before the pure righteous ones, before the diligent holy [sisters]. We bow and glorify the whole luminous flock that you yourself chose through the Spirit of Truth.

34 And from your Glory, lord, and the Glory of them all, I ask a gift for all my members: memory and remembrance for the heart, perception for the ahw(?), understanding for Manwahmed and […]. [At least one leaf is lost.] [Page 23: the upper ten lines are torn away.] ⟨368 / 23.11: [ ].(d) hy o ʾc⟩ ⟨369 / 23.12: [ ](zʾy) nhwptg⟩ ⟨370 / 23.13: [ ](ʿyg g)wmyxtg⟩ ⟨371 / 23.14: [ ](š)[...].c⟩ [372 / 23.15: the line is eaten through.] ⟨373 / 23.16: šb ʾcy[š ...] o⟩ ⟨374 / 23.17: dryst ʾwr n[..m](r)d⟩ ⟨375 / 23.18: ʿyg ʿspwr o ʿ[y] ʾwzyd⟩ [Page 24: the upper ten lines are torn away.] ⟨376 / 24.11: (ʿy) xʾr [ ]⟩ ⟨377 / 24.12: b(r)ʾdrʾ(n ky)[ ]⟩ ⟨378 / 24.13: dyswys [ ]⟩ ⟨379 / 24.14: ʾw .[...](st)[ ]⟩ [380 / 24.15: the line is eaten through.] ⟨381 / 24.16: (p)[....] pwr dwšʾrm⟩ ⟨382 / 24.17: k[y ...] (š)hr ʿyg⟩ ⟨383 / 24.18: ʾb[dʾ](gʾ)n ʾwd grypṯ⟩ [At least one page is lost.]

35 The light that appeared in the world of tyrants—your own kin ⟨hrwpṯ⟩. [The three praises of the luminous Bema have ended. The hymns of joy begin.]

36 You are radiant, a worthy(?) image in the sign of the Sun; you are the leader of truth, the likeness of the god Zurvan. You have illuminated our heart with your love on this day of joy. Come in good health; may your messengers grant you peace.

37 Be blessed by this good omen, leader who has come on the great day of joy. May the gods grant you peace, may the messengers protect you, and may Wahman grant you new eternal life.

38 Come with a new fortunate lot, come with a new lot and good omens, in days of unbroken joy, to this assembly of gods and messengers. From all directions and from many worlds the Glories, spirits and luminous gods have gathered in joy on this day, to meet you with love, lord, leader of glorious name, and to become your guardians against all enemies and destroyers of the Religion. With great joy we bow before you and bless(?) your good fortune, glorious one.

39 To the tune “pncyxzʾn”: come, illuminating Sun; come, radiant full Moon; come, mighty, good, gracious lord. Receive ever new blessings from Wahman the master. Be joyful and happy in unbroken bliss.

40 Lord Mani has come; he who shines with light has come. The illuminating Sun has risen in the heavens, and its light is in all worlds and regions. It is fitting for our brotherhood to bow before him, that he may give us joy and eternal life.

41 To the tune “by hy ʾbzʾr” (“God, you are mighty”(?)): the bringer of health has come, restoring health to the whole Religion. Increase health for the circle(?), assembly and elect. May health come to you from the mighty and highest [god]; may light, strength and goodness restore you to health. Be glorified and sung by the holy Religion. May the messengers, Glories and spirits grant you peace. Live joyfully, be blessed and rejoice in new peace. Shine for the children with the spirit of life, god Aryaman.

42 This is the Sogdian sacred word(?). A new illuminating Sun has come, and a new messenger, a teacher from the eastern region. He has brought new joy, new well-being and new great wisdom(?) to the whole holy Religion. The messengers, Glories and spirits rejoice in you, blessed leader, master of glorious name. Live in health, in new peace and in new […].

Reading notes

This block joins the end of an epistle, the Bema liturgy, praises and hymns of joy. The addressees and voices change, while prayers for salvation and the community’s well-being recur.

Maitreya appears among the names and titles used to address Mani. This is devotional language within a Manichaean service; historical relationships between traditions require separate sources.

English rendering of the Russian working translation, with the same passage boundaries and uncertainties. The underlying working translation from the ancient text’s transliteration has not received independent philological review. […] marks damage or loss; ⟨…⟩ preserves an undeciphered passage in the edition’s transliteration, including internal editorial marks. Square brackets indicate supplied or conjecturally restored words; (?) marks an uncertain interpretation. The surviving block on manuscript pages 1–30, lines 1–475 (cu.1–42), is included, as published in Anthologia Manichaica Orientalia IV, pp. 86–97. This is not the entire M801a manuscript or a reconstruction of lost leaves. Some segments remain transliterated. The end of the Epistle of the Seal is followed by the Bema liturgy, praises and hymns of joy; missing leaves are marked in place. Bema means a ritual platform or throne. Wahman (Manwahmed) is the Great Mind; Zurvan, Srushahray and Aryaman remain as names. In §15, nʾwʾzʾʾn is rendered “helmsmen”: Durkin-Meisterernst (2004), p. 238, s.v. nʾwʾz, explicitly cites BBB(102), M801a/p7, line 4. This clarification does not resolve neighbouring rhyʾ and wʾywgʾn. Tune names in §§39 and 41 are retained. Several titles and syntactic connections still need checking. The edition prints cu.40 twice, before lines 428 and 436; these are numbered 39 and 40 here. The last phrase breaks off within the transmitted sequence of lines 1–475. In §15, “chariots” follows rhyʾn in eDbMT I.2, p. 8, line 100, and Durkin-Meisterernst (2004), p. 295; the anthology prints rhyʾ. “Hunters” is confirmed by wʾywg, p. 337, line 101; “helmsmen” by nʾwʾz, p. 238. §31 draws on bwγ, p. 116; yʾd-, including the third-person singular subjunctive, p. 372; dʾhwʾnyg, p. 134; and ʾbyʾstʾr, p. 16, each citing lines 300–301. In §42, “teacher” renders srwb(r), whose last letter is partly damaged; the dictionary, p. 309, cites this line and the parallel M276. In §35, hrwpṯ denotes gathering (p. 185, hrwb-, BBB386); the relation of that action to the address to the Light still needs checking. The damaged §34 preserves nhwptg, “hidden” (line 369, dictionary p. 242); (g)wmyxtg, “mixed” (370, p. 167); the greeting dryst ʾwr (374, p. 141); b(r)ʾdrʾ(n), “brothers” (377, pp. 109–110); and pwr dwšʾrm, “full of love” (381, pp. 286 and 145). These are individual surviving words; their lost context has not been reconstructed.

Open source ↗ (https://www.manichaeism.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DB-Antholog.-4-Hymns.pdf#page=88)

Middle Persian and Parthian transliteration · M801a (https://www.manichaeism.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DB-Antholog.-4-Hymns.pdf#page=88)

eDbMT · M801a, lines 100–101 (https://www.manichaeism.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/edbmt-12-bbb-1102019pdf.pdf#page=12)