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| Mandaean Glossary This glossary is found in: Mandaeans of Iraq And Iran By E.S. Drower |
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| Ahaba d Mania <Pr. Hava d Mani> The Giving of Garments. A form of Zidqa brikha for those who have died not wearing the ritual garment Andiruna A ritual hut built for marriage rites and the consecration of a priest Anhura (nhura) Light Bimanda (bit manda) Place of religious ceremonies Brihi Fire saucer Burzina Turban Butha (plural butha or bawatha) Petition, prayer, a section in the Book of Devotions Deywa (plural Deyvi) Written daiwa A div, an evil Spirit Drabsha <|Pr. dravsha or drafsha> A banner, standard-- Also a ray of light Dukrana Mention, remembrance by mentioning Ehshukha (see Hshukha) Fatira (plural fatiria)<Pr. fut-ira, plu. fut-ir-i.> A disc of unleavened bread. The size varies. The fatira used in the masiqta are saltless, small and receive only a token baking. Word means also departed. Ganzibra (plural--ganzibria). < Pr. gan-ziv-ra or gan-za-o-wra --plural gan-zivri> Head Priest Gdada White cloth to insulate contamination or protect from contamination Hallali A ritually and racially pure Mandaean Hamra Water in which white grapes or sultanas have been pressed out Hawan Mortar Hava d Mani see Ahaba d Mania Himiana Ritual girdle. Hshukha Darkness Ingirtha ('ngirta) Letter, a message in portable form Jemali (Arabic word) A reed hut with a pent roof Kangana A clay ring used as a stand or seat Kaptha Small ritual drinking bowl Klila Wreath Kukh (Arabic word) Hut Ksuya See Sadra Kushta Right or Truth, the ritual clasp of a right hand Lofani Communion ; a ritual meal for the dead eaten by laymen Malka (pronounced Melka) King, spirit of Power Malwasha Religious name Mambuha (or Mambugha) Sacramental water Manda -- colloquially mandi Pl. mandia <Pr. Man-da> Learning Knowledge---When pronounced mandi it is the ritual area and enclosure Mandelta A triple betyl Margna The Ritual Staff Mshunia Kushta The eternal and ideal double of the earth Masiqta <Pr. Mass-ekh-tha> A commemorative sacrament for the benefit of the dead performed by priests only. It is performed with the cult-hut. The word means “raising up” “resurrection” Melka See Malka Misa <Pr. Mi-sha> Oil of unction, usually sesame oil prepared by the priest at a baptism. In the masiqta and ‘ngirta the heated sesame is poured with dates in a mortar and the resulting juice is strained into a vessel. Misra (plural misria) <Pr. misri> A furrow to shut out pollution and enclose purified areas Nasifa Stole-like strip of white cloth or muslin Nhura see Anhura Niara Bowl, or dish. Paisaq (plural peysaq) Priest debarred from all priestly duties but that of performing marriage rites for women not virgin. Pandama The cloth which covers the lower part of the face during some parts of the ritual, or at a funeral. Panja (colloquial for Parwanaia ) Persian Word The five (days) Parwanaiia The five intercalary days Pihtha <Pr. pehtha> sacramental bread Qania Bottle for sacramental water Qauqa A terra-cotta cube for holding incense Quintha A clay box stand Rabai ( Rbai) < Pr. Rabbey> A rabbi master imitating priest or head priest Rahmia = “devotions” <Pr. rah-mi> Devotions, prescribed preliminary ritual ablutions Ratna Modern Mandaean colloquial dialect Rishama The minor daily and preliminary ritual ablutions. Sa A roll or scroll of bread used in ritual meals for the dead Sabbi (plural Sabba) see Subbi Sadra Sacred Shirt Sarifa (Arabic word) Reed Hut Sharwala drawers, leggings Shganda Acolyte, literally messenger Shwalia Candidate for priesthood Skandola Priest Signet-Ring Subbi (plural Subba) Mandaean --one who immerses Tabutha The sacred food at ritual meals Tarmida plural- tarmidia <Pr. tar-mi-da / tar-mi-di> priest Tura Mountain ‘utra plural- ‘uthria <Pr. uth-ra> A good Spirit Yalufa A literate person Yardna <Pr. yard-na> Running water, river, a pool of flowing water Zrazta A scroll on which a protective charm is written Zidqa brikha <pR. zedqa brikha> A ritual meal for the dead |