The rushma ( myz, ࡓࡅࡔࡌࡀ, translit=rušma, lit=
sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or me ...
) is one of the most commonly recited prayers in
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, S ...
. It is a "signing" prayer recited during daily ablutions (
rishama
A rishama (rišama; riš-ama) or rishema ( myz, ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡌࡀ, lit='head/leader of the people'; ar, ريشما; fa, ریشا اد اما) is a religious patriarch in Mandaeism. It is the highest rank out of all the Mandaean clergical ranks ...
).
The same word can also be used to refer to the ritual signing gesture associated with the prayer.
The rushma is numbered as Prayer 104 in
E. S. Drower's version of the
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 p ...
, which was based on manuscript 53 of the
Drower Collection
This article contains a list of Mandaean texts (Mandaean religious texts written in Classical Mandaic). Well-known texts include the ''Ginza Rabba'' (also known as the ''Sidra Rabbā'') and the '' Qolastā''. Texts for Mandaean priests include ...
(abbreviated DC 53). In Drower's ordering, the ''
Asiet Malkia
The ''Asiet Malkia'' ("Salutation of Kings") is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism. In the prayer, the reciter wishes health and victory (''asuta u-zakuta'' ) upon dozens of heavenly and ancestral figures. According to E. S. Dr ...
'' prayer (''CP'' 105) follows the rushma prayer, while the ''
ʿniana
In Mandaeism, a ʿniana ( myz, ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡀ; plural form: ''ʿniania'' ) prayer is recited during rituals such as the masiqta and priest initiation ceremonies. There is a total of 26 ʿniana prayers. They form part of the Qolasta.
Etymology ...
'' ("response") prayers come before the rushma.
Signing
''Rushma'' literally means "sign" or "signing" (ritual gesture). Many lines in the prayer are repeated three times as the reciter signs the ''rushma'' front of the face with his or her fingers.
See also
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Brakha
Daily prayer in Mandaeism, called ''brakha'' in Mandaic (cognate with Hebrew ''berakhah'' and Arabic ''barakah'') or occasionally ''birukta'' (''birukhta''), consists of set prayers that are recited three times per day. Mandaeans stand facing n ...
(daily prayer in Mandaeism)
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Rahma (Mandaeism)
In Mandaeism, a rahma ( myz, ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀ; plural form: ''rahmia'' ) is a daily devotional prayer that is recited during a specific time of the day or specific day of the week.
Translations
E. S. Drower's version of the Qolasta, the ''Canonic ...
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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 p ...
*
Rishama (ablution)
In Mandaeism, rishama (rišama) is a daily ablution ritual. Unlike the masbuta, it does not require the assistance of a priest. ''Rishama'' (signing) is performed before prayers and involves washing the face and limbs while reciting specific pra ...
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Tamasha (ablution)
In Mandaeism, tamasha or ṭamaša ( myz, ࡈࡌࡀࡔࡀ, translit=ṭmaša) is an ablution ritual that does not require the assistance of a priest. Tamasha is performed by triple immersion in river (''yardna'') water. It is performed by women af ...
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Wudu
Wuḍūʾ ( ar, الوضوء ' ) is the Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, a type of ritual purification, or ablution. The 4 Fardh (Mandatory) acts of ''Wudu'' consists of washing the face, arms, then wiping the head and the feet ...
;Signing
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Sign of the cross
Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...
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Kushta
In Mandaeism, kushta or kušṭa ( myz, ࡊࡅࡔࡈࡀ, lit=truth) can have several meanings. Its original literal meaning is "truth" in the Mandaic language, and is thus typically used to refer to the Mandaean religious concept of truth. The sa ...
*
Mudra
A mudra (; sa, मुद्रा, , "seal", "mark", or "gesture"; ,) is a symbolic or ritual gesture or pose in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. While some mudras involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers.
As wel ...
References
Mandaic words and phrases
Mandaean prayer
Hand gestures
Mandaean rituals
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