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 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 ...

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 ''The Wedding of the Great Šišlam'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡒࡀࡁࡉࡍ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. As a liturgical rather than esoteric text, it contains instructions and hymns for the Mandaean marriage c ...

'', 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. (text transliterated and translated) As the priestly prototype or archetype, Shishlam features prominently in several Mandaean priestly esoteric texts used during '' tarmida'' and '' ganzibra'' initiation ceremonies. These texts include: *'' The 1012 Questions'', which mentions Shishlam as the son of

Nbat In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ ( myz, ࡍࡁࡀࡈ, lit=Sprout) is an uthra (angel or guardian) who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba ("the Great Nbaṭ" or "Great Sprout") or Nbaṭ Ziwa ("the Rad ...

, or alternatively as the son of Adam S'haq Rba (literally 'Adam was bright, the Great').

ʿZlat In Mandaeism, ʿZlat ( myz, ࡏࡆࡋࡀࡕ, lit=she wove/she span), also Ezlat, Īzlat, or ʿZlat Rabtia ('ʿZlat the Great'), is the wife or female consort of Shishlam, a figure representing the prototypical priest or prototypical Mandaean. H ...

(literally 'she wove'), described as the "Wellspring of Light," is mentioned as Shishlam's wife or female consort. In Book 2, Part 5.2 of ''The 1012 Questions'', Shishlam is also mentioned as the son of Lihdaia Rba Zadiqa (the "Unique Great Holy One"; or "Unique Great Righteous One," see ''

Right Ginza The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza. Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007 ...

'' 9.2). *'' The Coronation of the Great Šišlam''Drower, E. S. 1962.
The Coronation of the Great Šišlam: Being a Description of the Rite of the Coronation of a Mandaean Priest according to the ancient Canon
'. Leiden: Brill. *''The Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' *''

Alma Rišaia Rba The '' Alma Rišaia Rba'' or ''Diwan Alma Rišaia Rabbā'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, "The Great Supreme World" or "The Great First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation cer ...

''Drower, E. S. 1963.
A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World
'. Leiden: Brill. *''

Alma Rišaia Zuṭa The ''Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, "The Smaller Supreme World" or "The Smaller First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation ceremonies. It is written a ...

Feast

Shishlam is celebrated on

Dehwa d-Šišlam Rabba The Feast of the Great Shishlam or Dehwa d-Šišlam Rabba ( myz, ࡃࡉࡄࡁࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Dihba ḏ-Šišlam Rba) or Nauruz Zūṭa ( myz, ࡍࡀࡅࡓࡅࡆ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, 'Little New Year') is a Mandaean religio ...

Feast of the Great Shishlam The Feast of the Great Shishlam or Dehwa d- Šišlam Rabba ( myz, ࡃࡉࡄࡁࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Dihba ḏ-Šišlam Rba) or Nauruz Zūṭa ( myz, ࡍࡀࡅࡓࡅࡆ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, 'Little New Year') is a Mandaean religi ...

"), celebrated annually by Mandaeans on the 6th and 7th days of the 1st month.

References

{{Mandaeism footer Mandaeism Mythological archetypes Conceptions of self * Personifications in Mandaeism

In Mandaean scriptures

Feast

See also

References