Anush (Mandaeism)

In Mandaeism, Anush (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡍࡅࡔ, romanized: Anuš) (Neo-Mandaic: Ennosh,^[1] Modern Mandaic pronunciation: [ˈænnʊʃ]) or Anush Uthra (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡍࡅࡔ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ, romanized: Anuš ʿUtra) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Anush is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Enos.^[2]

Anush
Anush in the Scroll of Abatur (DC 8)
Other names	Anush Uthra
Abode	Mshunia Kushta in the World of Light
Mantra	"In the name of Hibil, Šitil, and Anuš" (b-šumaihun ḏ-Hibil u-Šitil u-Anuš)
Equivalents
Jewish	Enos

Prayers in the Qulasta frequently contain the recurring formula "In the name of Hibil, Šitil, and Anuš" (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡅࡔࡉࡕࡉࡋ ࡅࡀࡍࡅࡔ b-šumaihun ḏ-Hibil u-Šitil u-Anuš).^[3]

The Mshunia Kushta is considered to be the shkina (dwelling) of Anush Uthra.^[4]

Overview

According to the Mandaean scriptures, including the Qolastā, the Book of John and Genzā Rabbā, Enosh is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Anush Uthra,^[5] (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡍࡅࡔ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ, romanized: Anuš ʿUtra, sometimes translated as "Excellent Ennosh"),^[1] who is spoken of as the son^[6] or brother^[7] of Shitil (Seth). Anush is a lightworld being (uthra) who taught John the Baptist and performed many of the same miracles within Jerusalem typically ascribed to Jesus by Christians.^[8]

See also

• List of angels in theology
• Anush bar Danqa, a 7th-century Mandaean priest, scribe, and leader with the given name Anush