Shahrat Explained

In Mandaeism, Shahrat (myz|ࡔࡀࡄࡓࡀࡕ|translit=Šahrat|lit=she kept watch) is a ship or boat mentioned in the Scroll of Abatur. Shahrat ferries souls from Tibil across the river Hitpun and into the house of Abatur.^[1] According to the Mandaean priest Brikha Nasoraia (2021), it is basically a "space-ship" traveling "faster than the speed of light" through ayar (ether) to higher realms.^[2]

In Mandaean Book of John 55:60–61, the ship ferrying souls to the house of Abatur is described as follows.^[3]

I (Hibil Ziwa) made a ship for the good,

a ferry of souls carrying them,

over to Abatur's house,

who gives them strength and truth from head to toe.

See also

• Hitfun
• Solar barque in ancient Egyptian mythology
• Charon, the ferryman of the underworld in Greek mythology
• Nibiru (Babylonian astronomy), "crossing" (especially of rivers)

Notes and References

1. Book: Drower, Ethel S.. Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories. Vatican City. Studi e Testi. 151. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. 1950.
2. Book: Nasoraia, Brikha H.S.. Brikha Nasoraia. The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought. Sterling. New Delhi. 2021. 978-81-950824-1-4. 1272858968.
3. Book: Haberl, Charles and McGrath, James. The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. De Gruyter. Berlin. 2020. 978-3-11-048651-3. 1129155601.