Rasta (Mandaeism)
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A rasta (Classical Mandaic: ࡓࡀࡎࡕࡀ) is a white ceremonial garment that Mandaeans wear during most baptismal rites,[1] religious ceremonies, and during periods of uncleanliness. It signifies the purity of the World of Light. The rasta is worn equally by the laypersons and the priests.[2] If a Mandaean dies in clothes other than a rasta, it is believed that they will not reenter the World of Light,[3] unless the rite "Ahaba ḏ-Mania" ('Giving of Garments') can be performed "for those who have died not wearing the ritual garment."[4]
A rasta also has a stitched-on pocket called the daša.[5]
Women also wear a robe (ʿabā) over the rasta during masbuta.[6]: 16
Traditionally, a new rasta is worn for Dehwa Daimana (Dihba ḏ-Iamana ࡃࡉࡄࡁࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡌࡀࡍࡀ).[7]
Symbolism
The rasta is expected to be transmuted after death into a "garment of glory" for the soul (Qulasta prayer 76: "the Perfecter of Souls ... will come out toward you and clothe your soul in a garment of radiance"[8][9]) – this is equivalent to the perispirit.
A Mandaic hymn, Left Ginza 3.11, states:
"He created me and clothed me with radiance, like that which the chosen men put on.
That which the chosen men put on, the true and faithful people.
I put my head therein, I was filled like the world.
I opened my eyes in it, my eyes became filled with light."[10]
Related clothing
The rasta for Mandaean laypeople consists of the following seven pieces of clothing. It is usually made of cotton or sometimes muslin.[7][11][12]
- ksuia or sadra (ࡎࡀࡃࡓࡀ) – long-sleeved tunic with V-neck opening, may extend to the knees
- daša (ࡃࡀࡔࡀ) – two cloth pieces that are stitched on the upper right side of the sadra to make a pocket
- šarwala (ࡔࡀࡓࡅࡀࡋࡀ) – loose trousers, consists of four pieces
- tikta (ࡕࡉࡊࡕࡀ) – drawstring
- burzinqa – turban that is wrapped three times around the head. The loose end is called the rugza (ࡓࡅࡂࡆࡀ). For priests, the rugza can be used to veil the lower face to form a pandama. It is made from a cloth that is 10 cm × 3 m long, and can be cut lengthwise as needed.
- naṣifa (ࡍࡀࡑࡉࡐࡀ) – stole ir narrow strip of cloth worn across the neck that is sewn (doubled over) from three sides; one of the long sides is unsewn. It is made from a cloth that is 8 cm × 1.95 m long.
- himiana – belt made of wool that has a sewn and unsewn end. The sewn end, in the form of a loop, is called the arwa (ࡀࡓࡅࡀ). The unsewn end, resembling a tassel, is called the karkuša (ࡊࡀࡓࡊࡅࡔࡀ).
In addition, priests also wear:[7]
- taga – silk crown
- šum Yawar Ziwa (ࡎࡅࡌ ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) – sacred gold ring
- margna – staff made from an olive branch
Special prayers in the Qulasta are also recited when putting on the burzinqa and pandama.[8]
The šiala is a burzinqa that is draped over women's heads.[11][12]
See also
References
- ^ Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley, The Mandaeans: Ancient Texts and Modern People, pg.81, Oxford University Press (2002) ISBN 0-19-515385-5
- ^ Al-Mubaraki, Majid Fandi; Al-Mubaraki, Brayan Majid; Al-Mubaraki, Zaid (2000). The Mandaean Rasta. Sydney. ISBN 0-9585705-6-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ [1] Archived November 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] "Glossary", in E. S. Drouwer, The Mandaeans of Iran and Iraq: Their Cults, Customs, Magic Legends, and Folklore, Gorgias Press (2002) ISBN 1-931956-49-9
- ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ 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. doi:10.3828/9781800856271 (inactive 12 July 2025). ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link) - ^ a b c Al-Mubaraki, Majid Fandi; Al-Mubaraki, Zaid; Al-Mubaraki, Brian (2000). The Mandaean Rasta: Its Making and Wearing. Northbridge, New South Wales. ISBN 0-9585705-6-6. OCLC 50163136.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
- ^ The Gnostic Society Library, Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments: Ginza Rba, The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans
- ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
- ^ a b Abak, Keyvan (2018). Mandaeism: Ancient Gnostic Religion; Living Religious Faith (Ph.D. thesis). Adelaide: Flinders University. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ a b van Rompaey, Sandra (2024). Mandaean Symbolic Art. Turnhout: Brepols. ISBN 978-2-503-59365-4.