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Laufa
In Mandaeism, laufa or laupa ( myz, ࡋࡀࡅࡐࡀ) is the concept of a spiritual connection forged between Tibil (Earth) and the World of Light. It has been variously translated as "communion," "spiritual union," "spiritual connection," or "vital connection." In rituals ''Laufa'' between the World of Light and Tibil can be established through rituals mediated by Mandaean priests, who serve as "uthras (i.e., beings from the World of Light) on earth" during these rituals. These rituals include masbuta (baptism) and masiqta rituals. Mandaeans believe that ''laufa'' was initially established when the material world was first created. Mandaeans regularly re-establish and reconfirm this connection by regularly performing rituals with priestly assistance. ''Laufa'' can also be reconstituted through written records of unbroken ancestral lineages, such as the '' Ṭabahatan'' ("Our Ancestors") commemoration prayer in the Qolasta with its long list of ancestors' names. According to Mandaea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lofani
In Mandaeism, the lofani, laufani, or laufania ( myz, ࡋࡀࡅࡐࡀࡍࡉࡀAl Saadi, Qais (2012). ''Nhura: English-Mandaic/Mandaic-Mandaic Dictionary''. First Edition, Drabsha.) is a type of ritual meal commemorating the dead. It is etymologically related to the word ''laufa'' ("spiritual communion"), since lofani meals symbolize the connection of the souls of the living and the dead. The meal sometimes contains sacrificed sheep or dove meat.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press. It is distinct from the ''zidqa brika'' and ''dukrana'', which are two other types of ritual meal offered for the dead. Gallery Lofani being prepared by Mandaean laypeople in Ahvaz, Iran: File:Parwanaya 2015 Ahvaz 20.jpg File:Parwanaya 2015 Ahvaz 21.jpg File:Lofani 01.jpg File:Lofani 02.jpg File:Lofani 03.jpg File:Lofani 04.jpg File:Lofani 05.jpg File:Lofani 06.jpg File:Lofani 07.jpg See also *Sacred food as offering *Dukrana *Eucharist *Koliv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brikha Nasoraia
Rabbi Prof. Brikha H. S. Nasoraia (full name: Brikha Hathem Saed Naṣoraia; born 1964 in Iraq) is a Mandaean priest and scholar based in Sydney, Australia. He is affiliated with the University of Sydney and Mardin Artuklu University. He is currently a professor of Comparative Semitics, Literature and Art History. Early life and education Brikha Nasoraia was born in Iraq to Mahdi Saed (father) and Layla (mother). He was ordained as a ganzibra (Mandaean high priest) and later emigrated to Sydney, Australia. In 2005, he obtained a Ph.D. degree from the University of Sydney, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on the translation and analysis of the '' Dmut Kušṭa'' scroll. Career As a ganzibra (head priest), he is currently the President of the Mandaean Spiritual Council (or the Mandaean Nasoraean Supreme Council) of Australia and is also the President of the International Mandaean Nasoraean Supreme Council (or Nasoraean Mandaean Association). Nasoraia lectures at the Univer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, Aram, Jesus and especially John the Baptist. Mandaeans consider Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem and John the Baptist prophets with Adam being the founder of the religion and John being the greatest and final prophet. The Mandaeans speak an Eastern Aramaic language known as Mandaic. The name 'Mandaean' comes from the Aramaic ''manda'', meaning knowledge. Within the Middle East, but outside their community, the Mandaeans are more commonly known as the (singular: ), or as Sabians (, ). The term is derived from an Aramaic root related to baptism. The term Sabians derives from the mysterious religious group mentioned three times in the Quran alongside the Jews, the Christians and the Zoroastrians as a 'People of the Book', and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tibil
In Mandaean cosmology, Tibil ( myz, ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or occasionally Arqa ḏ-Tibil (lit. "Tibil-Earth") is the Earth (World) or earthly middle realm. It is separated from the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') above and the World of Darkness (''alma ḏ-hšuka'') below by ''ayar'' ( aether). To reach the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') from Tibil, Mandaeans believe that need they to establish ''laufa'' (connection, union) to be reunited with the World of Light. The ''laufa'' is re-created and reconfirmed by priests through rituals such as ''maṣbuta'' (baptism). Upon death, priests must perform ''masiqta'' rituals to help the departed soul successfully navigate from Tibil through the various ''maṭarta'' (watch-stations) that lie in between, in order to reach the World of Light. See also *Gaia *Midgard in Norse mythology *Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels *Ki (goddess) ''Ki'' was the earth goddess in Sumerian religion, chief consort of the sky god An. In som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Of Light
In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡍࡄࡅࡓࡀ, translit=alma ḏ-nhūra) is the primeval, transcendental world from which Tibil and the World of Darkness emerged. Description *The Great Life (''Hayyi Rabbi'' or Supreme God/Monad) is the ruler of the World of Light. *Countless uthras dwell in '' škinas'' in the World of Light. (A ''škina'' is a celestial dwelling where uthras, or benevolent celestial beings, live in the World of Light.) *The World of Light is the source of the Great ''Yardena'' (or Jordan River) of Life, also known as Piriawis. *Ether ( myz, ࡀࡉࡀࡓ, ), which can be thought of as heavenly breath or energy, permeates the World of Light. *The Mshunia Kushta (''Mšunia Kušṭa'') is a part of the World of Light considered to be the dwelling place of heavenly or ideal counterparts (''dmuta''). *In some Mandaean texts, Tarwan is a part of the World of Light that is described as a "pure land." Ascension When a Mandaean per ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Uthra
An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras (sing.: 'utra 'wealth', but meaning 'angel' or 'guardian')." p8 Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the ''yazata'' of Zoroastrianism. According to Ethel S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life." Uthras are benevolent beings that live in '' škinas'' ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡀ, celestial dwellings) in the World of Light (''alma ḏ-nhūra'') and communicate with each other via telepathy. Uthras are also occasionally mentioned as being in ''anana'' ("clouds"; e.g., in '' Right Ginza'' Book 17, Chapter 1), which can also be interpreted as female consorts. Many uthras also serve as guardians (''naṭra''); for instance, Shilmai and Nidbai are the guardians of Piriawis, the Great Jordan (''yardna'') of Life. Etymol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purification, not of initiation. They are possibly one of the earliest peoples to practice ritual baptism. Mandaeans undergo baptism on Sundays (''Habshaba''), wearing a white sacral robe (''Rasta (Mandaeism), rasta''). Baptism for Mandaeans consists of a triple full immersion in water, a triple ''signing'' of the forehead with water and a triple drinking of water. The priest (''Mandaean priest, rabbi'') then removes a ring made of myrtle (''klila'') worn by the baptized and places it on their forehead. This is then followed by a handshake (''kušṭa'' - hand of truth) with the priest. The final blessing involves the priest laying his right hand on the baptized person's head. ''Living water'' (fresh, natural, flowing water, called ''mia hayyi'') is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for Mandaeans who have just died. Although usually translated as "death mass", a few types of ''masiqta'' are also performed for living people, such as when priests are ordained. Purpose The complex ritual involves guiding the soul through the ''maṭarta'', or toll houses located between the Earth (Tibil) and the World of Light, which are guarded by various uthras and demons. A successful masiqta merges the incarnate soul ( myz, ࡍࡉࡔࡉࡌࡕࡀ ; roughly equivalent to the ''psyche'' or " ego" in Greek philosophy) and spirit ( myz, ࡓࡅࡄࡀ ; roughly equivalent to the ''pneuma'' or "breath" in Greek philosophy) from the Earth (Tibil) into a new merged entity in the World of Light called the ''ʿuṣṭuna''. The ''ʿuṣṭuna'' can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ṭabahatan
The ''Ṭabahatan'' ( myz, ࡈࡀࡁࡀࡕࡀࡄࡀࡍ, lit=Our Ancestors) is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism, in which the reciter asks for the forgiveness of sins. As a commemoration prayer with a long list of names, the prayer starts with the line ''ṭab ṭaba lṭabia'' ("Good is the Good for the Good"). A different version of this prayer is found in DC 42, ''Šarḥ ḏ-Ṭabahata'' ("The Scroll of Ṭabahata" arents, which is used during Parwanaya rituals. The ''Ṭabahatan'' prayer is numbered as Prayer 170 in E. S. Drower's version of the Qolasta, which was based on manuscript 53 of the Drower Collection (abbreviated DC 53). The ''Šal Šulta'' (Prayer 171) directly follows the ''Ṭabahatan'' prayer. Prayer Drower's (1959) version of the Tabahatan lists the following uthras and ancestors. See also *''Scroll of the Ancestors'' *Brakha (daily prayer in Mandaeism) *''Asiet Malkia'' *Rahma (Mandaeism) *Qolasta *Litany of the Saints *Intercession of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The prayerbook is a collection of Mandaic prayers regarding baptisms (''masbuta'') and other sacred rituals involved in the ascension of the soul (''masiqta''). Date The ''Qolasta'', and two other key texts to Mandaic literature, the ''Mandaean Book of John'' and the ''Ginza Rabba'', were compiled together. However, their date of authorship is heavily debated, some believing it to be during the second and third centuries, and others believing it to be conceived during the first century. In 1949, Torgny Säve-Söderbergh demonstrated that many passages in the Manichaean Psalms of Thomas were paraphrases or even word-by-word translations of Mandaean prayers in the Qolasta. Säve-Söderbergh also argued that the Manichaean psalms had borrowed fro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaean Priest
A Mandaean priest or ''Rabbi'' refers to an ordained religious leader in Mandaeism. Overview All priests must undergo lengthy ordination ceremonies, beginning with tarmida initiation. Mandaean religious leaders and copyists of religious texts hold the title ''Rabbi'' or in Arabic 'Sheikh'. All Mandaean communities traditionally require the presence of a priest, since priests are required to officiate over all important religious rituals, including masbuta, masiqta, birth and wedding ceremonies. Priests also serve as teachers, scribes, and community leaders. Unfortunately, many Mandaean diaspora communities do not have easy access to priests. Names In Mandaean scriptures, priests are referred to as ''Naṣuraiia'' ( myz, ࡍࡀࡑࡅࡓࡀࡉࡉࡀ, lit= Naṣoraeans) or occasionally as ''Tarmiduta''. On the other hand, laypeople are referred to as ''Mandaiia'' ( myz, ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ, lit=Gnostics, Knowers, Enlightened Ones). ''Naṣuraiia'' are considered to have ''naṣ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purification, not of initiation. They are possibly one of the earliest peoples to practice ritual baptism. Mandaeans undergo baptism on Sundays (''Habshaba''), wearing a white sacral robe (''Rasta (Mandaeism), rasta''). Baptism for Mandaeans consists of a triple full immersion in water, a triple ''signing'' of the forehead with water and a triple drinking of water. The priest (''Mandaean priest, rabbi'') then removes a ring made of myrtle (''klila'') worn by the baptized and places it on their forehead. This is then followed by a handshake (''kušṭa'' - hand of truth) with the priest. The final blessing involves the priest laying his right hand on the baptized person's head. ''Living water'' (fresh, natural, flowing water, called ''mia hayyi'') is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
