In some books it is related that when Mâni the Zendiq heard of I’sa—o. w. p.—having said, ‘After me the Fâruqleet [Paraclete] will be sent,’ he imagined that he himself was meant, although that sublime word is one of the names of his lordship the prophet [Muhammad] o. w. bl., etc. Accordingly he set himself up as a prophet, produced a book which he called the Injil [Evangel], and alleged that it had been revealed from heaven. Masu’di states that Shâpûr at first made a profession of his religion, but afterwards rejected it, and so persecuted him that he fled by way of Kashmir to India, whence he proceeded to Turkestân and Khatâ [China].
Mâni was a very skilful painter, and is said to have been able to trace with his finger a circle of five cubits in diameter with such accuracy that, when the circumference was examined with compasses, no error was found therein.* In the country of Hindustân and Khatâ he acquired great renown by his pictures. He was always wandering about, and it is said that during his travels he happened to discover a cave in a mountain, with a pleasant climate and a spring of salubrious water. The said cave had but one aperture, and having secretly accumulated provisions enough for one year, he informed his disciples that he would take his departure to heaven, where he would remain during one year, and then, returning, would bring information from the Almighty. He said to his friends, ‘Expect me in the second year, in a certain place, near such and such a cave,’ and then disappeared from their sight. He entered the above - mentioned cave, and occupied himself during a whole year in painting wonderful figures on a table, which he called the ‘Arjank of Mâni,’ and which he held in his hand when he again reappeared among the people, after the period of his seclusion had expired. Everyone who saw the table exclaimed:
Distich: ‘Time brings forth images, varied in kind,
But none like those portrayed in our mind.’
When the people manifested their astonishment at the picture, Mâni exclaimed: ‘I brought it from heaven, that it might be a miracle.’ The people accepted his religion, and Mâni travelled to Persia, under the impression that he would be able to deceive the people thereof likewise. When he arrived in Erân he met Behrâm, and invited him to make profession of his religion.* The righteous sovereign at first lent a willing ear to his pretensions, in order to set him at ease, and to allow him to assemble his followers. Then he convoked the U’lâma of the realm to dispute with Mâni, who was, however, unable to answer them; and when his erroneous and infidel views became manifest to all, he was invited to revoke them, but as he refused to do so, Behrâm ordered him to be flayed alive, and to be hanged on the public gate for an example. His disciples were also persecuted and punished. The reign of Behrâm amounted to three years and three months. His surname was ‘the beneficent king,’ and he is said to have been the most skilled veterinary surgeon of his time.