The Concept of Wisdom in the Manichaeanism

Because of his Gnostic and mystical attitude, Mani put a great deal of emphasis on Wisdom. According to Manichaeanism, the soul has a divine origin that has been entangled in the prison of the body. It requires a great deal of power to save it from the enslavement and return it to the original homeland. Wisdom and awareness is the most important support in the difficult process of soul’s salvation and redemption. The soul is a light that Ahreman (Matter) has stolen and put into the human body which he created. The soul, too, has forgotten that its homeland is not this devilish hell. For this reason, such great gods as Xradēšahryazd, the Great Nous and the Angel of Light rushed to the aid of Human with the weapon of reason and continued this through the prophets. Claiming the salvation of humanity, Mani established a solid religious community called the Elects through whom − according to Manicheans − he tried to continue the path of human’s awareness and his redemption to the Frašegird (end of the world). A lot of Manichaean hymns have survived in different languages describing Wisdom, redeeming gods and wise Elects which show the high position of wisdom, with its mystical concept in the Manichaeism.