Studying and Reconstructing of a Manichaean Text: MIK III4970(From Material World to Paradise of Light)

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Abstract

There are many damaged texts among the Manichean texts gained from Tourfan. There have not remained from these texts but a few words. It is obvious that these damages prevent us to understand the meanings and concepts of the texts; however, their possible meanings and connotations can be understood through careful examination of the same remaining words in other texts and understanding their functions. One of these damaged texts with the code of categorization 4970 exists in the Asian Art Museum in Germany. There are some words such asaxšēndān, šādčanīgā, Srōšahrāy Xwadāy, meh and xwar in this text whose functions in other texts have been examined in this study and it is concluded that the text is speaking about princes (human beings freed from the limitation of material world and body) whose freed light elements have ascended the pillars of joyful light, have reached the sun and the moon, have turned into the absolute spirit after purification, and have reached the high position of the new paradise and the light paradise of the great father.

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