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Overview of Surviving Mandaean Literature & Their Use by the Modern Order of Nazorean Essenes
Texts are of two types - exoteric for the public, such as the Ginza, Qulasta, Marriage of Shislam and the Secret Teachings of the Angelic Kings; and esoteric ones reserved for the Priesthood such as 1012 and others. In addition, many small works containing talisman blessings and so on also exist. The larger and the more important texts fall in the category of the 34 published works. The additional 26 or so unpublished and uncatalogued minor writings are of less import. Some of the published texts, such as Blows and Cures, contain purity laws which were nullified by Yeshu in the first century and therefore are not applicable to the modern Order of Nazorean Essenes. The Mandaeans, begun by Amo and Zazai in 270 AD*, were heavily influenced by the Dosithian branch of Nazoreanism that split off at the death of Yuhona d-Masbuta (John the Baptist) in 30 AD. (This is why the well informed bar Khona called them Dosithians**.) This schism did not accept Yeshu and the reforms made to the purity laws by him, and by Miryai, Elxai or Mani, nor did they embrace the priestly commentaries and secret texts added by the later Nazoreans, Ebionites, Elchasaites and Manichaeans such as those found in the Pistis Sophia, Nag Hamadhi Library, Book of Elxai, the Kephalaia, and other secret texts produced after 30 AD. The ancient Nazorean texts preserved in Mandaic by the Mandaeans therefore mostly represent the "Old Testament" phase of Gnostic Nazoreanism although there are some additions from the first century phase of Yeshu and Miryai's branch such as the Rahmia devotions from the Qulasta and many chapters in the Secret Teachings which overtly contain sayings, writings and psalms of Miryai and covertly contain, under the name of Manda dHiya or Hibil Ziwa, those of Yeshu. Many Mandaic texts have been transparently interpolated in the seventh century by Ramuya with polemics against Yeshu, Mani and Mohammed. These reflect the anti-Yeshu attitude of the ancient Dosithian heritage of the Mandaeans, as well as their defensive posture against encroaching Islam and Bryzantian Christianity in the seventh century AD. The Order of Nazorean Essenes does not accept these interpolations or those which seem to condone animal, bird or fish slaughter - a practice that Mandaeans admit was not allowed in the early days of Nazoreanism. (In an attempt to return the scrolls to their original condition, these seventh century additions have been removed from the versions of these Scrolls used by the Order.) Here is an overview of these 60 texts: Qulasta
The Book of Gadana, Also
called the Sidra d Nishmatha or Book of Souls. Baptism
and Mass rituals. (Qulasta Prayers 1
to 74)
3 Hymns of Praise (Qulasta
Prayers 75 to 77)
Oniania or Responses
Antiphonal responses for Baptism, etc.
(Qulasta Prayers 78 to 103)
Rahmia (Devotions) Daily
devotional prayers. (Qulasta Prayers 104 to
169)
Ancestors Prayer
Hymns for Priests and Marriage (Qulasta Prayers
170-199)
Proven One
Hymns for Priest Initiation & Weddings
(Qulasta Prayers 200 to 284)
Hymns Repition
of former Hymns (Qulasta Prayers 285
to 304)
Coronation
Hymns for Priests (Prayers 305 to 329)
Appendix
Hymn Fragments (Qulasta Prayers 330 to 412)
Major portions of this text
has been published by the Order under the title:The
Gnostic Prayerbook
Ginza Smala
The Ginza Smala The "Ginza Left" consists of 3 Books totaling 94 Chapters. Concerned solely with the fate of the soul after death. The left side of the Great Treasure (Ginza
Rba), or Great Book (Sidra Rabba), is what we call the Nazorean Book of
the Dead. It consists of 3 separate tractates, or sections, that deal with
the ascent of the soul upward into the higher heavens. This text is associated
with the Last Rites ceremony of the Order of Nazorean Essenes which is
called the “N’girta”, or “Letter”. It begins by explaining how the Great
Life decided that it was time for the thousand year old Adam to die and
return home to heaven. The Angel of Death was dispatched, but Adam refused
to go with him for he had become attached to the earth and its affairs
and associations. Adam pleads that his son Seth be taken in his stead,
and the Great Life agreed, since They approved of such self-sacrificing
for the sake of another. After Seth’s ascension into heaven, Adam becomes
jealous of the spiritual experiences which Seth enjoyed, and begs to ascend
also. The text continues with descriptions of the heavenly journey through
various worlds and purgatories, and the eventual return to the highest
heaven. This ascent includes interrogations by hostile guards at each of
the seven dark heavens of this world. These hymns from the Book of the
Dead have traditionally been read by Nazoreans after the death of one of
its members. They are beautiful and inspiring and take into account the
natural reluctance of humans to leave behind their bodies and friends at
death. The text is 174 pages in length.
Ginza Yamina
The Ginza Smala 1 (Ginza
Rba 1-13) 27 chapters aranged in 13 books. Various writings, book
1 and 2 being duplicates with the second copy heavily interpolated by Ramuya.
(290 pages) Interpolated!
Drasia d Malkuta
The Mandaic Secret Teachings is also called the "Book of John" and consists of 76 Chapters and is a collection of diverse texts from different phases of Nazorean history. It has various oral and written traditions about John the Baptist. It also contains information about the creation of the earth and other cosmological events. It is called the “Sidra d Yahya” (Book of John) or “Drashe d Malke (Discourse of the Celestial Kings) in Aramaic. It is composed of 37 separate tractates, many of which may be unamed and lost discourses of Yeshu (Jesus) the Nazorean! The text also preserves information about Miryai, the marriage partner of Yeshua. The “Sidra d Yahya” (Book of John)
(The Order of Nazorean Essenes does not uphold the old purity laws taught
by Yahya but nullified by Yeshu in 30 AD.)Interpolated!
Sfar Malwasia
The “Book of the Signs of the Zodiac” (asfar
malwaši) serves the priest for horoscopes
and for the bestowing of a Mandaean’s esoteric name. Mediocre to
poor Astology texts of a mixed nature, probably written and redacted between
the sixth and sixteenth centuries. (The Order of
Nazorean Essenes replaces these outdated and unoriginal texts with more
modern writings of the Uranian school of Astrology.)
Diwan Madbuta d Hibil Ziwa
The Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa is
all we have left of an ancient writing called the “World of Illusion and
Glorious Light”. The Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa was copied from a fragment of
this scroll in the same year that the scroll records the demise of the
Priestly lineage: “the great plague came, and not one of the Bishops or
priests survived, and many people departed the body. Then, when the world
was quieter and there was calm, we literates arose . . and consecrated
one another, one by one as priest” (Diwan Masbuta d Hibil-Ziwa)
Alf Trisar Suialia
The Thousand and Twelve Questions The first text is called the 1012 Questions and deals with issues of ritual purity and the exact requirements for Priest(ess)hood ordination and ritual performance according to the Dosithian branch of ancient Nazoreanism. Pure and original Nazorean doctrine under Yeshu was much more tolerant of what it considered ritual impurity than the puritanical Ramuya who inhereted the Old Gnostic Nazorean purity laws that existed up until the days of Yohuna the Baptist. Tafsir Pagra (Explanation of the Body). This Qabbalistic type text speaks of levels of heaven and mystical meanings of various body parts and their functions. It is a vary deep and wonderful text and is the heart of the Great Revelation. Wound and Healing, which refers to accidental ritual impurity and its cure. (The Order of Nazorean Essenes does not uphold the old purity laws nullified by Yeshu in 30 AD.) The Agreed Form of the Masiqta of Sitil, of the Dabahata and the Dukrania. Blow and Cure & “The Celebration of the Marriage of Sislam Rba son of Lihdaia Rba Zadiqa" (The Order of Nazorean Essenes does not uphold the old purity laws nullified by Yeshu in 30 AD.) Burial and Postulant and Priesthood. Concerning the Postulant’s First Baptism – Admonitions. Haran Gawaita (Inner Harran) A
history of the migrations of the Mandaean people from eastern Turkey and
a prophecy of future times. A fragmentary history of the Mandaeans
nation, from their flight under King Artaban to the coming of Islam,
to the end of the world. Missing first pages probably begin with Adam and
go up to the period of the Mandaean flight from Egypt. Speaks of
the religious schism of Qiqil when Jewish Mandaeans separated off. Colophon
says the text was copied in 1088 E. (A.D. 1678). Original title was probably
Scroll of the Great Revelation, the term Harran Gawaitha coming into play
because these are the first two words preserved in the fragmentary text
as it now exists. Describes a persecution of the
People from the Madai mountain (Mt Carmel), followed by a slaughter, and
the escape of a remnant. From this, and other information, we can deduce
that the Mandaeans considered the Mountain of the Madai (Mt Carmel?) their
true home, Southern Babylonia a place of refuge, and that Jerusalem was
not their original centre. Interpolated!
Alma Risaia Rba
Great First World The “Alma Risaya Rba”, or the Great First World, is a commentary of the Nazorean Masiqta, or Mass for the Dead. The text is heavily illustrated and is 53 pages in length and explains, in great detail, exactly what is meant to happen in heaven whilst each part of the Mass is being said here on earth. It speaks of how the Mass is meant to unite the middle Ruha Soul to the higher Nishimta Spirit, and help create a spiritual body for it to dwell in in the heavenly worlds. It says: “This, the glory of the Light of life, is to bring the spirit and soul of . . . of this Mass out of their body and to clothe the living soul. . . by these rites they rise heavenward in the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiya. . . The Ruha (Middle soul) of . . . of this Mass hath assumed the nature of the Nishimta (Higher spirit) and hath been raised up into the House of Life. . . that garment of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiya is the Mass by which it is attempted to clothe her (the soul) (with a spiritual body), for any being for whose soul no Mass has been celebrated by a father of Uthras will not be clothed with the garment of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiya.” Alma Risaia Zuta
Lesser First World The “Alma Risaya Zuta”, or the Lesser First World, is a commentary of the Nazorean Dukrana Nishmata, or Commemoration of Souls. This Remembrance consists in the breaking of bread in remembrance of departed Nazoreans. The text is 35 pages in length. The first part of our scroll is missing, and the narrative begins in the middle of a conversation between a Rabai and a novice seeking instruction in Nazirutha. Like the Greater First World which we reviewed yesterday, the Lesser First World is also a commentary on how each word or gesture in the Rite of Remembrance has its affect in heavenly worlds. The text also comments on the purpose of the Dukrania, or Remembrance, and all such ordinances which form such an integral part of the Nazirutha system of Enlightenment: ~ The Scroll of Abathur ~ The Diwan Abathur
deals with the ascent of the soul through the heavenly purgatories of the
planets and the signs of the zodiac. Illustrated ascent of the soul
through various maratatas, or purgatories. A copy was sent to Rome by Ignatius
of Jesus around 1650 (and is now preserved in the Vatican Library). May
have some relation to Mani's Picture Book.
Diuan Malkuta 'Laita
Diuan Malkuta 'Laita ("The Book of Exalted Kingship"). Tarmida initiation ritual description. (Illustrated.) "Along with texts such as The Great ‘First World’, the scroll of Exalted Kingship belongs to a category of Mandaean texts that might be called Mandaean priestly esoteric documents.’ Exalted Kingship is a large scroll, consisting of 1,363 lines, with drawings, and, in rather elliptical fashion, describes the initiation of the tarmida (a first-level priest), which is the subject of Ch. 9. The text proceeds slowly, pausing and delving into lengthy dissertations on topics deemed suitable. In this chapter, selected sequential passages are examined from among the beginning of Exalted Kingship (lines 7–225), where the text plumbs the mysteries of the effects of the novice's words while he sits inside the scaronskinta (cult hut) on the second day of the initiation. Interpretations and underlying themes are presented. " Sarh d-Qabin d-Sislam Rba
The Commentary on the Marriage of the Great
Sislam Being a Description of the Rite of the Coronation of Mandaean
Priest. Explanatory Commentary on the Marriage of the Great Sislam. Marriage
ritual of Sislam Rba, also astrological times charts for determining proper
marriage hours. Non mystical marriage ceremony for lay and priests.
Diwan malkuta‘laita Sfar malwašia
Šarh d-qabind-Šišlam Rba
The Coronation of the Great Sislam The
masiqta is the Nasoraean sacrament which most closely re-sembles the Christian
mass, and the ‘Coronation’ text describes the celebration of the rite with
unusual minuteness. The first line or lines of liturgical prayers are given
at the various points of the ritual where they are to be recited; actions
performed by the celebrant are described or indicated, sacramental foods
and vessels are enumerated and so forth. This part of the text, in fact,
and a parallel description in a ritual text entitled The Great First World,
are con-sidered by priests the most helpful in their libraries.
Sarh d-Trasa d-Taga d-Sislam
Rha
Sarh d-Trasa d-Taga d-Sislam Rha or "Explanation of the Coronation of Sislam the Great" Being a Description of the Rite of the Coronation of Mandaean Priest . Ganzibra (ArchBishop) ordination rite. "The Book of the Rivers" Diuan d-Nahrauata or "The Book of the Rivers" Description of Mishunia Kusta (Hurqalya) worlds. (Illustrated.) Unpublished Minor Manuscripts
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| *The historian bar Khoni, writing
in 972AD, tells of the origins of the Mandaeans:The Heresy of the Dostaie
,which Adu the Beggar taught: Adu, as they say, was from Adiabene and came
as a beggar with his family to the district of Mesene. The name of his
father was Dabda and that of his mother Em-Kushta, and those of his brothers
Shilmai, Nidbai and Bar-Haije and Abizekha and Kushtai and Shithil. When
they came to the river Karun, they found a man whose name was Papa, son
of Tinis, and they asked of him alms, according to their custom, and they
persuaded him to take in to himself the indolent Adu on the plea that because
of his sickness he was unable to beg. This Papa then turned him over to
the guardians of the palm-trees. But when the guardians of the Palms declared
concerning him: He is of no use to us, Papa built a shelter for him by
the roadside, so that he might beg his sustenance of those travelling the
highway. Finally his brethren met and came to his side and there they struck
bells after the manner of beggars. In Mesene they are called Mandaie (Mandaeans)
and Mashkenaie and followers of those who do good things, and in
Beth Armaie they are called Nazarie (Nazoreans), and followers of Dostai
(Dosithians). But the name that really fits them is Adonaie. Their teaching
is borrowed from the Markionaie (Marcionite), Maninaie (Manichean) and
Kantaie.
Muhammad ‘ibn Ishaq ‘ibn ‘al-Nadim (died 995 AD) writes that the ‘Mughtasilah’ regard Al-Hasih as their founder. Al-Nadim says that also the ‘Mugghtasilah’ are the Sabians of the marshes. |