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, Ab ...
, a shganda (''šganda''; myz, ࡔࡂࡀࡍࡃࡀ) or ashganda (''ašganda'')
[Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press.] is a ritual assistant who helps
priests
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
with ritual duties.
Tarmida initiations
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 ...
initiates or
novice
A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession with no prior experience.
Religion Buddhism
...
s (''šualia'') have often been trained as shgandas when they were children. Initiates may or may not be married, although typically they are not yet married.
During
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 ...
initiation ceremonies, shgandas, who represent emissaries 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 Ra ...
, also help perform the rituals, many of which are held in a specially constructed priest initiation hut (''
škinta
In Mandaeism, a shkinta ( myz, ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, translit=škinta, lit=shekinah) or shkina (''škina'') is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the ph ...
'') and also a nearby temporary reed hut (''
andiruna
An andiruna ( myz, ࡏࡍࡃࡉࡓࡅࡍࡀ, translit=ʿndiruna, lit=chamber) is a temporary reed hut used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies. Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).
Ety ...
'').
See also
*
Acolyte
An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In others, the term is used f ...
*
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian liturgy. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helps bring up the gifts, brings up the b ...
References
Mandaeism
Mandaic words and phrases
Mandaean rituals
Mandaean titles
Religious occupations
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