Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale Research, 1998, ISBN 978-0-7876-2550-4, ... Upon Ardashir's death in 241, Mani returned to western Persia, where he found favor with Ardashir's successor, Shahpur I, to whom he dedicated one of his books, Shapurgan. Mani engaged in intense missionary activities. Eventually, however, the opposition of the Zoroastrian priesthood enlisted the support of Bahram I, who ordered Mani arrested and fettered. He died in prison a martyr ...
Evangelical dictionary of theology, Walter A. Elwell, Baker Academic, 2001, ISBN 978-0-8010-2075-9, ... Mani claimed his first revelation at the age of twelve and his call to apostleship when he was twenty-four. After his efforts to convert his community failed and resulted in his expulsion, he traveled to India, where he founded his first religious group. He returned in 242 to preach his faith in Babylonian provinces, and he became a vassal of the new monarch, Shapur I ...
