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šganda
In Mandaeism, a shganda (''šganda''; ), shkanda (), or ashganda (''ʔšganda'')Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. is a ritual assistant who helps priests with ritual duties. In the Mandaean diaspora, shgandas, or alternatively learned laymen called ''yalufa'', often perform minor priestly roles due to shortages of tarmida and ganzibra priests abroad. Tarmida initiations Tarmida initiates or novices (''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 initiation ceremonies, shgandas, who represent emissaries from the World of Light, also help perform the rituals, many of which are held in a specially constructed priest initiation hut (''škinta'') and also a nearby temporary reed hut (''andiruna''). Notable shgandas * Salem Choheili (born 1935), scribe, teacher, and author in Ahvaz See also *Acolyte * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tarmida
A tarmida (singular form in , plural form in ; ; ) is a junior Mandaean priest, 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. Etymology Charles G. Häberl, Häberl (2022) considers the Mandaic word ''tarmida'' to be a borrowing from Hebrew ''talmid'' (). 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 language, Mandaic. Typically, the novices have been trained as ritual assistants (''shganda, 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. V ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaean Priest
A Mandaean priest or ''Tarmida'' () 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 in Arabic, Sheikh. In Iran, they are also occasionally referred to as Mullah. 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. Many Mandaean diaspora communities do not have easy access to priests. Due to the shortage of priests in the Mandaean diaspora, ''halala'' () or learned Mandaean laymen who are ritually clean (both individually and in terms of family background) can sometimes assume minor roles typically assumed by ordained priests. Such laymen taking on limited priestly roles are called ''paisa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mandaeism
Mandaeism (Mandaic language, Classical Mandaic: ),https://qadaha.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nhura-dictionary-mandaic-english-mandaic.pdf sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnosticism, Gnostic, Monotheism, monotheistic and ethnic religion with Ancient Greek religion, Greek, Iranian religions, Iranian, and Judaism, Jewish influences. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam#In Mandaeism, Adam, Abel#Mandaean interpretation, Abel, Seth#Mandaeism, Seth, Enos (biblical figure)#In Mandaeism, Enos, Noah#Mandaeism, Noah, Shem#In Mandaeism, Shem, Aram, son of Shem, Aram, and especially John the Baptist#Mandaeism, 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 Last prophet, final prophet. The Mandaeans speak an Eastern Aramaic languages, Eastern Aramaic language known as Mandaic language, Mandaic. The name 'Mandaean' comes from th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ganzibra
A ganzibra (singular form in , plural form in , literally 'treasurer' in Mandaic; ) is a high priest in Mandaeism. Tarmidas, or junior priests, rank below the ganzibras.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Symbolically, ganzibras are considered to be uthras on earth ( Tibil). Their responsibilities include performing masbuta, masiqta, wedding ceremonies, and other rituals, all of which can only be performed by priests. They must prepare their own food to maintain ritual purity. Ganzibra priests are also prohibited from consuming stimulants such as wine, tobacco, and coffee. Ordination The ganzibras go through an elaborate set of initiation rituals that are separate from those performed for the tarmidas. According Drower (1937), a ganzibra can only be initiated immediately before the death of a pious member of the Mandaean community. Two ganzibras and two shgandas are required to perform the initiation. Drower, E. S. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 In many Buddhism, Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and studying in preparation for full ordination. The name for this level of ordination varies from one tradition to another. In Pali, the word is samanera, which means 'small monk' or 'boy monk'. Christianity Catholicism A novice in Catholic canon law and tradition is a prospective member of a religious order who is being tried and assessed for suitability of admission to a religious order of priests, religious brothers, or religious sisters, whether the community is one of monks or has an apostolate. After initial contact with the community, and usually a period of time ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Of Light
In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld () 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 '' škinta''s in the World of Light. (A ''škinta'' 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 '' Yardna'' ( Jordan River) of Life, also known as Piriawis. * Ether/Air (), which can be thought of as heavenly breath or energy, permeates the World of Light. *The 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." *Water flows from the World of Light to Tibil via ''hapiqia miia'', or cosmic streams of water, also known as Hitpun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
škinta
In Mandaeism, a shkinta () 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 physical earth), it refers to a reed (plant), reed or mud hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent uthras on earth.Ethel Stefana Drower, Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint). Ceremonial usage During the priest initiation ceremony, the shkinta is constructed to the north of the andiruna. It symbolizes the World of Light and it covered by a white cloth roof. In contrast, the andiruna has a blue cloth roof to symbolize the color of Ruha. Together, the two adjacent huts symbolize complementary masculine and feminine elements. Symbolism The ''škinta'' (cognate with the Hebrew word ''shekhinah''; from the Semitic root ''š-k-n'', associated with dwellings) symbolizes the "male" side, and is associat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andiruna
An andiruna () is a temporary reed (plant), reed hut used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies.Ethel Stefana Drower, Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint). Etymology The term ''andiruna'' or ''ʿndiruna'' (''ʿndruna'') literally means 'chamber' and can also be used to refer to a qabin, wedding chamber or canopy. Ceremonial usage Several different priestly texts, including the ''Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' () and ''Alma Rišaia Rba, The Great Supreme World'' (),Drower, E. S. 1963. A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World'. Leiden: Brill. need to kept in the ''andiruna'' hut during the initiation ceremony, or else the ceremony would be deemed invalid without the presence of the texts. During the tarmida initiation ceremony, the initiating priest (''rba'') and the novice stay in the ''andiruna'' hut for one entire week without sleeping. The priest and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Salem Choheili
Šganda Salem Choheili (; born 1935 in Ahvaz, Iran) is an Iranian Mandaean scribe, teacher, and author. He is also a shganda and ''yalufa'' (learned Mandaean layman) and is one of the leaders of the Mandaean Council of Ahvaz. Salem Choheili is a fully fluent speaker of Neo-Mandaic. Biography Salem Choheili was born in Ahvaz, Iran in 1935 into the Kuhailia (Persian pronunciation: ''Choheili'') family. His Mandaean baptismal name is Bayan bar Šarat (). As a child, he learned to speak colloquial Mandaic from his parents. Salem Choheili later served as Slovak linguist Rudolf Macúch's primary Neo-Mandaic linguistic informant in 1989, as well as a guide for Norwegian-American scholar Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley during her 1996 field trip to Iran. After serving in the Iranian military, Salem Choheili focused on transcribing Mandaic manuscripts. On April 12, 1989, he finished copying a handwritten manuscript of the Mandaean Book of John. Dr. Sinan Abdullah, the son of physicist Ab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahvaz
Ahvaz (; ) is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is home to Persians, Arabs and other groups such as Qashqai and Kurds. Languages spoken in the area include Persian, Khuzestāni Arabic, Southern Kurdish, Neo-Mandaic, and dialects such as Bakhtiari, Dezfuli and Shushtari. Ahvaz is home to over 1.3 million people within its metropolitan area. Census results suggest a steady increase in population. As the most watery river in Iran, the Karun flows through the center of the city, which is one of the two navigable rivers in Iran, alongside the Arvand Rud. Ahvaz has earned the reputation of being the City of Bridges due to its numerous big bridges built on the Karun to facilitate better communication between the east and west parts of the city, although since the beginning of the 20th century, this city has always been known as the Oil Capital of Iran, along with o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 for one who has been inducted into a particular liturgical ministry, even when not performing those duties. Etymology The word ''Wikt:acolyte, acolyte'' is derived from the Greek language, Greek word ἀκόλουθος (''akolouthos''), meaning an attendant, via Late Latin ''acolythus''. Eastern Christianity In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches, the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called the ''taper-bearer'' (κηροφόρος) responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical Entrance (Liturgical), entrances. However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the Reader (liturgy), reader and t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
