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The Coronation Of The Great Šišlam
''The Coronation of the Great Šišlam'' (or ''The Coronation of Shishlam Rabba''; myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡕࡓࡀࡑࡀ ࡖࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Šarḥ ḏ-Traṣa ḏ- Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rba) is a Mandaean religious text. The text is a detailed commentary on the initiation of the tarmida (junior priests), with detailed discussions on masbuta and masiqta rituals. '' The Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' is also used extensively alongside the ''Coronation'' in tarmida initiation rituals. Similar esoteric texts that are traditionally used exclusively by Mandaean priests include '' The Thousand and Twelve Questions'', and ''The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa''. ''The Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' is essentially a much more detailed version of the ''Coronation''. Whereas the ''Coronation'' simply lists the sequences of prayers and rituals to be performed, the ''Exalted Kingship'' also provides symbolic explanations for each prayer and ritual that is performed. Man ... [...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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaic Language
Mandaic is a southeastern Aramaic variety in use by the Mandaean community, traditionally based in southern parts of Iraq and southwest Iran, for their religious books. Classical Mandaic is still employed by Mandaean priests in liturgical rites. The modern descendant of Classical Mandaic, known as Neo-Mandaic or Modern Mandaic, is spoken by a small section of Mandaeans around Ahvaz and Khorramshahr in the southern Iranian Khuzestan province. Liturgical use of Classical Mandaic is found in Iran (particularly the southern portions of the country), in Baghdad, Iraq and in the diaspora (particularly in the United States, Sweden, Australia and Germany). It is an Eastern Aramaic language notable for its abundant use of vowel letters (''mater lectionis'' with ''aleph'', ''he'' only in final position, ''‘ayin'', ''waw'', ''yud'')) in writing, so-called ''plene'' spelling ( Mandaic alphabet) and the amount of Iranian and AkkadianStephen A. Kaufman, ''The Akkadian Influences on Arama ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tarmida
A tarmida (singular form in myz, ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡀ, lit=disciple, plural form in myz, ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ ; fa, ترمیدا; ar, ترميذة) is a junior priest in Mandaeism. Ganzibras, or head priests, rank above tarmidas.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Ordination Tarmida initiates or novices ( ) can come from any "pure" family. In other words, the families must be ritually pure, meaning that there are no family members who have committed grave sins. Ritually pure laymen are also known as ''hallali'' in Mandaic. Typically, the novices have been trained as ritual assistants ('' šganda'' or ''ašganda'') when they were children. Initiates may or may not be married, although typically they are not yet married. In order to be ordained as a tarmida, the initiate ( ) must go through a complex series of initiation rituals lasting 68 days. Various rituals are performed by the initiator priest ( ), who recite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Šišlam
In Mandaean scriptures, Shishlam ( myz, ࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ; often transcribed Šišlam) is a figure representing the prototypical priest or prototypical Mandaean. He is also frequently referred to in Mandaean texts as Šišlam Rabba ( myz, ࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Šišlam Rba), which literally translates as the Great Šišlam. In Mandaean scriptures In Mandaean texts, Shishlam communicates with uthras from the World of Light and partakes in rituals to re-establish '' laufa'' (spiritual connection) with the World of Light. Hence, Shishlam is essentially a literary personification or representation of the Mandaean who is participating in the ritual that the text is being used for. ''The Wedding of the Great Šišlam'', a ritual text used during Mandaean wedding ceremonies, is named after Shishlam.Drower, E. S. 1950. Šarḥ ḏ qabin ḏ šišlam rba (D. C. 38). Explanatory Commentary on the Marriage Ceremony of the great Šišlam'. Rome: Ponteficio Istituto Biblico. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taga (Mandaeism)
In Mandaeism, the taga ( myz, ࡕࡀࡂࡀ) is a white crown traditionally made of silk that is used during Mandaean religious rituals. The ''taga'' is a white crown which always takes on masculine symbolism, while the klila (myrtle wreath) is a feminine symbol that complements the taga. Use in rituals Along with the ''klila'', the ''taga'' is used during most Mandaean rituals, including masbuta, masiqta, and priest initiation rituals.Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. In the ''Qolasta'' Several prayers in the '' Qolasta'' are recited when consecrating and putting on the ''taga''. See also * Drabsha *Klila In Mandaeism, the klila ( myz, ࡊࡋࡉࡋࡀ) is a small myrtle (''asa'') wreath or ring (translated as "circlet" by E. S. Drower) used during Mandaean religious rituals. The klila is a female symbol that complements the '' taga'', a white cro ... * Rasta (Mandaeism) References Mandaean religious object ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaean religion. Overview Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a 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''). 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 (''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 a requirement for baptism, therefore can only take place in riv ... [...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 ''ʿuṣ� ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Scroll Of Exalted Kingship
The ''Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉࡕࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. Written as a large illustrated scroll, the text consists of 1,363 lines. The scroll is a commentary on ''tarmida'' (junior priest) initiation. Other related texts include ''The Coronation of the Great Shishlam'', also a commentary on the initiation of the ''tarmida'', and the two esoteric textsDrower, E. S. 1963. A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World'. Leiden: Brill. '' Alma Rišaia Rabbā'' (''The Great "First World"'', DC 41) and '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' (''The Lesser "First World"'', DC 48). Manuscripts and translations An English translation of the text, based on Manuscript 34 of the Drower Collection (commonly abbreviated DC 34), was published by Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley in 1993. Contents The beginning of the scroll, from lines 7–227, references 103 prayers in the Qolasta, w ... [...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 ''na� ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Thousand And Twelve Questions
''The Thousand and Twelve Questions'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡐ ࡕࡓࡉࡎࡀࡓ ࡔࡅࡉࡀࡋࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. The ''1012 Questions'' is one of the most detailed texts on Mandaean priestly rituals. The text contains detailed commentaries on Mandaean religious rituals, such as death masses (''masiqta'') to help guide souls into the World of Light, and the Mandaean wedding ceremony. It is written as a scroll. A detailed overview of the contents can be found in Drower (1941). Manuscripts and translations An English translation of the text was published by E. S. Drower in 1960, which was based on manuscript 36 of the Drower Collection (abbreviated DC 36). DC 6 is an incomplete manuscript of ''The Thousand and Twelve Questions'' in the Drower Collection missing books 1-2, but DC 36 is the complete version with all 7 books included. Contents Contents of the 7 parts of the ''1012 Questions'': *Book 1 **Part 1: The Questions which Shishlam-Rba and Hibil-Ziwa asked of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Baptism Of Hibil Ziwa
''The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa'' or ''Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, "Scroll of the Baptism of Hibil Ziwa") is a Mandaean illustrated scroll. It describes the soteriological descent of Hibil Ziwa to the World of Darkness, and his baptisms before and after. The scroll is essentially also a commentary on the ''masbuta'', or Mandaean ritual baptism. The scroll is lavishly illustrated, showing figures of dozens of uthras and mythological creatures and realms. Synopsis of narrative The beginning of the text is missing, and the text as it exists opens with Yawar Hibil approaching the King of Light, who baptises him in 360 yardeni, clothes him in 360 robes of light, and bestows him with the Great Mystery, seven staves, and other attributes. Hibil is dispatched to the World of Darkness, descends to confront and seal Krun, and ascends to the world of Qin, where he secretly takes the mysteries of the jewel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scroll Of Exalted Kingship
The ''Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉࡕࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. Written as a large illustrated scroll, the text consists of 1,363 lines. The scroll is a commentary on '' tarmida'' (junior priest) initiation. Other related texts include '' The Coronation of the Great Shishlam'', also a commentary on the initiation of the ''tarmida'', and the two esoteric textsDrower, E. S. 1963. A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World'. Leiden: Brill. '' Alma Rišaia Rabbā'' (''The Great "First World"'', DC 41) and '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' (''The Lesser "First World"'', DC 48). Manuscripts and translations An English translation of the text, based on Manuscript 34 of the Drower Collection (commonly abbreviated DC 34), was published by Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley in 1993. Contents The beginning of the scroll, from lines 7–227, references 103 prayers in the Qola ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
