From one of the Manichaean psalms we learn that in the final moments of his life Mani was beholding his heavenly double with “eyes of light.” This was not the only encounter this Syrian visionary had with his upper celestial identity. The Cologne Mani Codex tells us that the heavenly counterpart first manifested himself to Mani at the age of twelve and he continued his visits, to assist with revelations, until Mani’s death. In several texts Mani’s celestial alter ego is designated as a spirit an

Unveiled Faces: The Heavenly Counterpart Traditions in Joseph and Aseneth
Andrei Orlov
