Canon Status
Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.
Date & Provenance
Composed in the 3rd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Middle Persian manuscripts from Turfan and other Central Asian sites.
Why It Matters for Study
The Shabuhragan was one of Mani's canonical books, written for King Shapur I. Presents Manichaean theology in a Zoroastrian idiom. Important for understanding Mani's mission to the Persian court.
" Shapur, the king of kings, received Mani with honor, and Mani taught him the wisdom of the Light." — Shabuhragan (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- " Shapur, the king of kings, received Mani with honor, and Mani taught him the wisdom of the Light." — Shabuhragan (paraphrase) " Shapur, the king of kings, received Mani with honor, and Mani taught him the wisdom of the Light." — Shabuhragan (paraphrase)
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Boyce, M. A Reader in Manichaean Middle Persian and Parthian. Brill, 1975.
Henning, W. B. " Mani's Last Journey." BSOAS 10 (1942): 941–953.
Middle Persian Manichaean Texts — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_texts|Background and scholarly discussion.