Anana (Mandaeism)


In Mandaeism, an anana is a heavenly cloud in the World of Light that is considered to be the dwelling place of uthras. An anana can also be interpreted as a female consort.
The Mandaic term anana was also frequently used to refer to women in the Mandaean community.

Names of ananas

Right Ginza Book 17, Chapter 1 lists the names of several ananas and their uthras, many of which are gufnas.
AnanaUthraNotes
Nhur-Hiia-AnanaMara ḏ-Rabuta
Kimṣat-Ananalittle Pirun
Ptula Hibil
Šahrat-ʿbdat-u-KišratGreat Mighty Mana and Niṭufta
YasmusŠarat, the great hidden first gupna
Sidar-KasiaYura
Tatagmurfirst-born son of Yušamin
Pihtat-u-Nihrat-u-Nipqat-mn-gu-mia Nṣab and Anan-Nṣab
Barat and EthrauribatSar and Sarwan
Nhar and KharŠilmai and Nidbai

In Right Ginza Book 3, Adakas Ziwa is paired with Anana ḏ-Nhura.
In the Asut Malkia, Bihrat Anana is mentioned as the name of an anana.

''Niṭufta''

Niṭufta is a similar concept in Mandaeism. In Qulasta prayers such as the Asut Malkia, the word niṭufta, which originally means 'drop' and has sometimes also been translated as 'cloud', is also often used as an appellation to refer to the consorts of uthras. It can also be interpreted as the semen or seed of the Father, or a personified drop of "water of life". The Asut Malkia mentions Šarat and Kanat as names of individual niṭuftas.
Similarly, the Apocalypse of Adam mentions droplets and clouds from heaven.