First of all things was Pera Rabba the great Abyss. With him “Shining ether” and the Spirit of Glory (_Mana Rabba_) form a primal triad, similar to the Gnostic and ancient Accadian triads. Kessler goes so far as to say that it is the same. From Mana Raba who is the king of light, emanates _Yardana Rabba_, the great Jordan. (This is an element of Gnosticism) Mana Rabba called into being the first of the æons, Primal Life, or _Hayye kadema_. This is really the chief deity of the Sabeans, and all their prayers begin by invoking him. From him again proceed secondary emanations, _Yushamim_ (_i.e._, Jah of heaven) and _Manda Hayye_, messenger of life. This latter is the mediator of their system, and from him all those that accept his mediation are called _Mandäee_. Yushamim was punished for attempting to raise himself above Primal Light, and now rules the world of inferior light. Manda still “rests in the bosom of Primal light” (_cf._ John i. 18), and had a series of incarnations beginning with Abel (Hibil) and ending with John the Baptist! Besides all these there is yet a third life called ’_Ateeka_, who created the bodies of Adam and Eve, but could not give them spirit or make them stand upright. If the Babylonian trinity or triad has its counterpart in the Mandäen _Pera_, _Ayar_ and _Mana Rabba_, then _Manda Hayye_ is clearly nothing but the old Babylonian Marduk (Merodach), firstborn, mediator and redeemer. _Hibil_, the first incarnation of Manda, also has a contest with darkness in the underworld even as Marduk with the dragon Tiamat.