Mani

  • Mani (216-274 CE), which measns ‘Eternity’ in Persian, was a Persian Prophet, born in Ctesiphon, Parthia.
  • Mani styled himself as a Prophet who claimed to be a Reincarnation of the Leading figures in other Religions.

Manichaeism

  • It was a Duallist Gnostic Religion based on the individual choice between Good and Evil.
  • Mani combined elements from three Religions, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism to create a new Religion.

The Spread of Manichaeism

  • Mani organised his Followers into a Church. Manichaeism quickly spread into the Roman Empire and into China.
  • It was influential from the third to seventh centuries CE.
  • Manichaeism became briefly popular in the Roman Empire before Christianity became the State Religion.
  • Mani considered there were four great Empires in his lifetime, the Roman Empire, Persian Empire, Chinese Empire and the Axumite Empire.
  • After travelling to India, Mani returned to Persia and was accepted into the Court of Hormizd I. However, when Hormzid I was succeeded by Bahram I, a Zoroastrian, Mani was imprisoned and died a month later.

Works

  • Shabuhragan (Book of Shapur) written in Persian.
    • This describes Manichaeism in six volumes written in Syriac and one written in Persian which was dedicated to Shapur I (215-272 CE), the Ruler of Persia.
  • The Gospel of Mani
  • The Treasure of Life
  • The Treatise
  • Secrets
  • The Book of Giants
  • Epistles
  • Psalms and Prayers
  • Arhzang (Message of Truth)
    • This is the holy book of Manichaeism with drawings and paintings.

 

 

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