Ruha

Rūha is the queen of the World of Darkness, ruling alongside her son Ur and her entourage of the seven planets and twelve constellations. She is the daughter of Qin, the Mistress of Darkness in the first Underworld, and is associated with lust, uncleanness, and other negative feminine qualities. She is also the ruler of the third maṭarta (watch-house or purgatory) and is also known as Namrūs or Hiwat.
== Background ==
In the Mandaean Book of John, Ruha is led by Hibil Ziwa out of the World of Darkness and sealed in a world that is neither light nor darkness. She gives birth to Ur, who wishes to wage war against the World of Light. Hibil confiscates Ur's mirror and binds him in chains, noting that Hayyi Rabbi had sent him in anger against Ur. Ruha sleeps with Ur in an attempt to liberate him, giving birth to the seven planets and twelve signs of the Zodiac.
Ruha and Ptahil both play a role in creation, but cannot animate mankind with a soul. Adam is made after Ptahil's image, while Eve is made either after Adam's image or after Ruha's. When Adam dies and ascends to the World of Life, Ruha tempts Eve to mourn his loss and laments her own lack of gnosis of the treasures of salvation. When Eve dies and is led to the World of Light by Hibil, Ruha bewails that Hibil takes away everything desirable, leaving only what is worthless.
Ruha, in command of her sons, sets out to build Jerusalem, which is a city that Anush Uthra warns about 365 Mandaeans. However, Ruha goes ahead with the construction, erecting its seven pillars. Anush preaches Mandaeism in Jerusalem and gains a following, leading to the Jews persecuting and killing the Mandaeans. Ruha begs Anush for a compromise, but Anush accepts neither.
Ruha's interactions with Light World envoys such as Hibil Ziwa and Manda d-Hayyi are often more positive, where Ruha is rebuked but empowered, obtaining guidelines for her own salvation. In Book 6 of the Right Ginza, Ruha makes a speech similar to the Gnostic poem The Thunder, Perfect Mind.
Category:Religion
Category:Goddess