PhD in Religions and Mysticism, Ancient Iranian Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Manichean literature, in a lyrical, symbolic, and enigmatic register, narrates a mystical journey from the soul’s bondage in the material world to liberation in the eternal light. This study aims to analyze the representation of the concept of salvation in Middle Persian and Parthian texts, with particular focus on the hymns “Huwidgamān” and “Angdrušhān,” and to examine the mystical themes within these works. Employing qualitative content analysis, it identifies and analyzes key semantic motifs—cosmic suffering, Gnostic knowledge, liberating deities, and the Heaven of Light—as central themes of the hymns. The findings indicate that these texts, employing literary devices such as the allegory of the “Ship of Light” and metaphors like the “garment of joy,” render the soul’s liberation a poetic and ritual experience. Within this framework, Gnostic knowledge is presented as inner awareness, and savior deities, such as the resplendent Christ, function as guides on the spiritual path. These works are not only conveyors of mystical teachings but also constitutive parts of the ritual process of liberation. The study’s results emphasize the deep linkage between poetry and mysticism in the Manichean tradition and lay the groundwork for comparative studies with other Gnostic and mystical schools.
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