In variousMandaean texts,several heavenly beings are described as personifiedgrapevines(gupna) in the World of Light. For example,Right Ginza15.8 lists the following gupnas in order:
Taureil (Taurʿil) – also mentioned inQolastaprayers 379 and 381.[1]Right Ginza4 identifies Taureil as another name for Anan Anṣab. According toRight Ginza15.8, the gupna Taureil "rests at the river of the pureTarwan."[2]
Rwaz (Ruaz) – also mentioned inRight Ginza6 and 15.7, and in Qolasta prayers71,117, 196, 212, and 379
Yusmir – also mentioned inMandaean Book of John62 and Qolasta prayers14(as "Yusmir-Yusamir" ),18,28,52,171, and 379. According toRight Ginza15.8, the gupna Yusmir "rests upon the earth ofSam Ziwa."
Šarhabeil(Šarhabʿil) – also described as the Great First Radiance in Qolasta prayers25and 381. InRight Ginza18,Šarhabeil and her husbandŠurbaiwere the only survivors after the world was destroyed during the second epoch of the universe. According toRight Ginza15.8, the gupna Šarhabeil "rests upon the earth ofHibil Ziwa."
Šar (Shar; literal meaning: 'he was firm') – also mentioned in Qolasta prayers36and 374. Šar-Ziwa is mentioned in Qolasta prayer 372. Also identified withHibil Ziwa.According toRight Ginza15.8, the gupna Šar "rests upon the earth of theFirst Life."
Pirun – also mentioned in Qolasta prayers36,374, and 379 and in the first chapter of theMandaean Book of John.Pirun is described as a banner (drabsha) in Qolasta prayer 333, and as a "torrent" (river) in Qolasta prayer 378.
Yawaris identified inRight Ginza15.8 as "the first Gupna."
Right Ginza17.1 mentions Šarat (literal meaning: 'she was firm') as agupna.Šarat-Niṭupta is mentioned inMandaean Book of John68, and Šahrat is mentioned in Qolasta prayer 188.
In Mandaeism, vines are used to symbolize believers, or 'those of the true faith'.[5]
