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The Kabbalistic book the Zohar or "Book of Spendour",
describes the journey of a prayer through the celestial
halls. The actual authorship of the book is unclear but
it is believed that the Kabbala were transmitted from teacher
to teacher, in a long and continuous chain, from the Biblical
era until its redaction by Shimon ben Yochai. The Zohar
itself being a collection of revelations given by God to
the Biblical patriarch Abraham, Moses and other ancient
figures, but were never printed and made publicly available
until the time of the Zohar's medieval publication.
According to the Zohar, prayers must ascend through seven
celestial halls, with each hall acting as a test of the
prayers conviction, emotion and acceptability. If the prayer
is found deserving ( we are not too sure who does the judging),
it continues its upward journey until arrives in front of
God. If the prayer fails, the worshiper has to make greater
efforts, strengthened concentration and inner acceptance
to avoid prayer conflict. At the seventh hall the petitioner
achieves an ecstatic communion with God ( a state of religious
ecstasy) as an indication that the prayer has been accepted
(and presumably granted).
Some indicate that the Seven Hall and the Seven Heavens
are the same, they are not. It may be the case that one
hall is located in each of the Heavens, however this is
not clear.
There are 64 angel wardens who guard the entrance to the
halls, these are as follows:
1. Khabiel (Chief Supervisor) Suria, Tutrechial, Tutrusiai,
Zortek, Mufgar, Ashrulya, Sabriel, Zahabrieli, Tandal, Shokad,
Huzia, Deheboryn, Adririon, Tashriel, Nahuriel, Jekusiel,
Tufiel, Dahariel, Maskiel, Shoel and Sheviel.
2. Tagriel (Chief), Maspiel, Sahriel, Arfiel, Shahariel,
Sakriel, Ragiel and Sehibiel.
3. Sheburiel (Chief), Retsutsiel, Shalmial, Savlial, Harhazial,
Hadrial and Bezrial.
4. Pachdial (Chief), Gvurtial, Kzuial, Shchinial, Shtukial,
Arvial, (AKA: Avial) Kfial and Anfial.
5. Techial, Uzial, Gmial, Gamrial, Sefrial, Garfial, Grial,
Drial and Paltrial.
6. Rumial, Katmial, Gehegial, Arsabrsbial, Egrumial, Parzial,
Machkial (AKA: Mrgial or Mrgiviel) and Tufrial.
7. Zeburial and Tutrbebial
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