Tarmida initiates or novices (ࡔࡅࡀࡋࡉࡀšualia) 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. Typically, the novices have been trained as ritual assistants (šganda or ašganda) when they were children. Initiates may or may not be married, although typically they are not yet married.[3]
In order to be ordained as a tarmida, the initiate (ࡔࡅࡀࡋࡉࡀšualia) must go through a complex series of initiation rituals lasting 68 days. Various rituals are performed by the initiator priest (ࡓࡁࡀrba), who recites from priestly esoteric texts such as The Coronation of the Great Shishlam (Šarh d-Traṣa d-Taga d-Šišlam Rabbā),[4] the Scroll of Exalted Kingship (Diwan Malkuta ʿLaita),[5]The Great Supreme World (Alma Rišaia Rba),[6] and the Qolasta. Ritual helpers (šganda or ࡔࡂࡀࡍࡃࡀašganda), 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).[3]
Stages
For the first 7 of the 68 days, both the novice and the initiator stay in the škinta without sleeping. This period is concluded by the novice baptizing the initiator.
Next, the novice goes through 60 days of seclusion, maintains his ritual purity, and cooks his own food. Only the šganda, who visits everyday to exchange kušṭa, is allowed to come in contact with the novice. 180 rahmas (devotional prayers) are recited during these 60 days, with 60 prayers each meant for the soul, spirit, and body (hence 3 sets of 60) as the Coronation text explains.
After the 60 days of seclusion are over, additional rituals are performed with priests, including a zidqa brikha (blessed oblation; Classical Mandaic: ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ) ritual meal.
Finally, the novice baptizes his initiator again, and the 68-day ordination ceremony is complete.[3]
Prayer sequence
Below is the sequence of Qolasta prayer numbers for the tarmida initiation according to both the Coronation and Exalted Kingship. Exalted Kingship contains more detailed descriptions of the rituals, while the Coronation is shorter. During the prayers, pihtaࡐࡉࡄࡕࡀ (sacramental bread) and mambuhaࡌࡀࡌࡁࡅࡄࡀ (sacramental water) are also consumed. Ritual handclasps (kušṭa) are often exchanged between the novice and the initiator, and sometimes also with the ritual assistant (šganda). Various names of the deceased (zharaࡆࡄࡀࡓࡀ) are also uttered along with the prayers.[3]
Initiation begins
Preparation for baptizing novice
Baptism of novice begins
The Coronation contains 3 sets of prayers during the final part of the ritual that are not listed in Exalted Kingship.
An initiate receiving a sacred gold ring called Shom Yawar Ziwa
Priests praying the Baii Rahmi (the Great Prayer)
Priests reading the Baii Rahmi (the Great Prayer)
An initiate performing rishama (ablution) in order to start the lengthy prayer Baii Rahmi (Great Prayer), with the drabsha assembled in the background
An initiate baptizing his initiator
Celebrating the newly ordained tarmidia in Baghdad in 2008
Newly ordained tarmidia in Baghdad in 2008
References
^Drower, E. S. 1960. The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
^Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
^ a b c dBuckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
^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.
^Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (1993). The Scroll of Exalted Kingship: Diwan Malkuta ʿLaita. New Haven, Connecticut: American Oriented Society.
^Drower, E. S. 1963. A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World. Leiden: Brill.
^24 prayers called kḏ azil bhira dakiaࡗ ࡀࡆࡉࡋ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡀ ࡃࡀࡊࡉࡀ ("When the proven, pure one went"), which describe and praise the new priest, now included among his fellow uthras.
^Yuhana Nashmi, "Initiation of a Priest (Slideshow)." The Worlds of Mandaean Priests. Accessed February 23, 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarmida initiation.
