Also known as: Bau, Baba, Ninkarrak, Ninisina, Nintinugga
Hailed as: “Lady of The Wall” (protective barrier), “The Great One”, “Great in Healing”, “Great Physician of the Black Headed Ones”, “Lady of Health”, “Great Healer”, “Queen of the Tempest”, “She Who Makes Heaven Tremble”, “Healer of the Land”,”She Who Makes the Broken Whole Again”, “The Lady Who Restores Life”, “Mistress who Revives The Dead”, “Mother With the Soothing Hands”, “Faithful Hand of Heaven”.
Pray to her for: Healing of body and mind, restoration of bodily energy, reviving the mind, alleviating physical suffering, post operative healing, safe surgery, protection and success for those working in the medical profession.
Invoke her with: Recite the short Gula hymn given below and keep a small figurine of a dog, made of clay or wood, near the person who needs healing .
(Inspired by the Gula Seal at the British Museum, London)
Gula was the goddess of healing and patron deity of doctors and everything associated with medical practices.
But if we go further back, in the very beginning, there was the Sumerian goddess, Bau, the one who was the patron of dogs and all associated with them. As people saw how dogs licked their wounds and caused the sores to heal faster, they started to associate Bau with healing. Her cult spread far and wide, and in every part of the land where people worshipped her, her name was adapted to that part of the land. In Isin, she was Ninisina (Lady of Isin), she was Ninnibru (Queen of Nippur) in Nippur and so on.
In seals and carvings, Gula was shown seated, with a high headdress and with a dog. She would usually be shown surrounded by stars. One of her symbols is the Ningizzida, a staff round which are entwined two serpents. This symbol was later associated with Mercury, Aesclepius ,and is used even today as a symbol for the medical profession.
The goddess Gula has a strange dichotomy in that she was as frequently invoked for healing as she was called upon as a curse goddess.
Infact, a tablet from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar I invokes Gula as a protector for a memorial. The inscription on it warns that in times to come, if anyone should dare to deface or damage it,
May Ninurta, the king of heaven and earth, and Gula, the bride of E-Sharra, destroy his landmark and blot out his seed.
Other inscriptions have been found which also follow the same pattern. In her role as giver of curses, Gula was especially favoured by women as well.
Gula has been associated with surgical instruments, and lancets and knives made of obsidian and bronze have been found at old sites connected with her. Depictions of her wielding knife and lancet show her in her role as healer as well as attacker of evil and those who wish ill. She would defend and protect those who were in her care.
From fever and cough to conception and surgery, Gula was appealed to for all kinds of afflictions. She was specially known as the healer of afflictions of the belly and of the skin – “The One Who is Able to Heal Bound Intestines’ and the ‘cord like system’ of the body. At birth Gula would cut the umbilical cord and determine destiny.
Sickness and disease was believed to be inflicted by the gods as punishment for a transgression. It was believed that even ghosts and spirits of deceased family members could cause ill health as punishment if they were displeased with those close to them who were living. Health and its preservation were seen as being very much in the realm of the supernatural.
It fell to the doctors to solve these problems and dispel the disease. In ancient Mesopotamia, doctors were the Asu (who relied more on the physical and tangible aspects of the disease) and Asipu (who relied more on the supernatural elements and the psychical). They could appease the gods and angry spirits to restore health. This power flowed to them from Gula, through prayer and appeasing her. It was believed that the gods had caused the illness, and it was they who sent the cure through Gula.
Gula’s shrines were always peopled with those wanting to make their obeisance and give an offering. Dogs were always seen in her temple complexes and they were well cared for there- they were the favourites of the great goddess. People who had been healed often left small figurines of dogs, as offerings at Gula’s shrines.
Invocations to Gula
Healing Spells and Hymns
Along with incantations, salves, amulets and fumigants could be used. The healing spells of Gula were usually specific to the type of affliction. The words along with the intonation were important and many of them were to be whispered.
Here, is an old healing spell which was used for coughs:
Sualu, sualu, sualu, mighty is its grip. It sets up its throne between the lungs. Go away, sualu; that is not your seat. May Gula, mistress of life, remove the thick sputum, guhu and sulac.
– To be recited over the breast of the patient.
(Authorities have said guhu and sualu were likely two types of cough, one a barking cough, and the other a brassy cough).
Hymn to Gula
Gula, lady magnified, mother compassionate, dweller in the pure heavens,
I have cried to thee, lady; stand forth and hear me!
I have sought thee, I have turned to thee, like the robe of my god and goddess, thy robe I have clasped.
Forasmuch as to judge a cause, as to make a decision
Forasmuch as to make alive and to bring peace are with thee.
Gula, lady magnified, mother compassionate
Among the multitudinous stars of heaven
Unto thee, lady, have I turned; my ears are unto thee.
Fine meal, accept from me, receive my supplication,
Let me send thee to my angry god, my angry goddess,
To the god of my city who is wrathful and incensed against me,
By reason of a vision and a dream that have occurred
I am afraid, so that I am cast unto gloom.
Gula, lady magnified, mother compassionate, at the word of thy renowned command which in Ekur is Enlil,
And thy steadfast mercy that changeth not
May my wrathful god be reconciled, my angry goddess rest;
May the god of my city who is wrathful and whose heart is enraged against me
Who is furious , rest, who is enraged, relent !
Gula, lady magnified, one who maketh intercession for me art thou,
Unto Marduk, king of the gods, my merciful lord, make intercession for me; command life!
Thy protection is wide, thy reconciliation is mighty,
A bounty of welfare and of life provide for me!
Thy greatness verily I will extol, thy praises verily I will sing.
Gula Hymn of Bullutsa Rabi
Extract - Can be repeated for personal prayer
I am the physician, I can save life,
I carry every herb, I banish illness.
I gird on the sack with life-giving incantations,
I carry the texts which make (one) well.
I give health to mankind.
(My) clean dressing salves the wound,
(My) soft bandage relieves the pain.
At my examination, the moribund revives,
At a word from me, the feeble one arises.
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