Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments
Ginza Rba
The Canonical Prayerbook of the
Mandaeans
http://gnosis.org/library/ginzarba.htm#The%20Letter
Archive Notes:
The texts below
are taken from: E.S. Drower, Canonical
Prayerbook of the Mandaeans, Leiden: 1959.
Drower writes in introduction to this wor
"The
first Mandaean book which came into my hands was a small volume of 200 hundred
and thirty-eight pages in a poor handwriting. It was presented to me by an old
Mandaean silversmith a year or two after the first World War. This volume
inspired me with curiosity, and later when I has read Nodeke's ‘Mandaische
Grammatik’, I found that it contained prayers for minor ablutions, the daily
office (the 'nisania) and the masitqa prayers.
An early visit
to 'Amarah resulted in the acquisition of a damaged and imperfect copy of the
entire codex, I mean prayers considered canonical and still used by priests. A
head priest (a ganzibra) copied into it some of the missing pages and to these
I added others when I had had access to other MSS. Complete copies of the
collection is hard to come by for they are in constant use.
It was not
until many years later in the spring of 1954 that I persuaded the owner of a
prayerbook, himself a ganzibra, to give me his in exchange for a money gift for
sacred manuscripts are never bought. This codex N. 53 of my collection is in a
good hand and from it very little is missing.”
For further study,
a complete edition of E.S. Drower, Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans is
also now available on Google Books.
Sections of Ginza
Rba:
The Book of
Souls (Baptism Liturgy)
The Masiqta
(The Raising Up)
The Letter
Hymns of
Praise
The Responses
The Rus'hma
(Daily Ablution Prayers)
Asiet Malkia
Tab taba
Itabia (The Full Commemoration Prayer for the Dead and Living)
The S'umhita
Honouring of
the Crown
Prayer of
Yahia
Other Hymns
Ginza Rba - The
Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans
The Book of
Souls (Baptism Liturgy)
My Lord be
praised!
In the name of
the Great First Other-Worldly Life! From far-off worlds of light that are above
all works may there be healing, victory, soundness, speech and a hearing, joy
of heart and forgiving of sins for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnus through the
strength of Yawar-Ziwa and Simat-Hiia!
Chapter 1
In the name of
the Life and in the name of Knowledge-of-Life (Manda-d-Hiia) and in the name of
that Primal Being who was Eldest and preceded water, radiance, light and glory,
the Being who cried with His voice and uttered words. By means of His voice and
His words Vines grew and came into being, and the First Life was established in
its Abode.
And He spoke
and said, "The First Life is anterior to the Second Life by six thousand
myriad years and the Second Life anterior to the Third Life by six thousand
myriad years and the Third Life more ancient than any 'uthra by six thousand
myriad years. And any 'uthra is older than the whole earth and older than the
Seven Lords of the House by seven hundred and seventy thousand myriad years.
There is that which is infinite.
At that time
there was no solid earth and no inhabitants in the black waters. From them,
from those black waters, Evil was formed and emerged, One from whom a thousand
thousand mysteries proceeded and a myriad myriad planets with their own
mysteries.
The Seven were
wroth with me, were outraged and said, "The man who set out and came
towards us hath not bound a circlet about his head!" Then I turned my face
toward my Creator who created me, the celestial Lord of Greatness, and I said
to Him, "O my Creator who created me, (O) Lord of lofty Greatness! As I
went (my ways) the Seven were wroth with me and said, 'The man who went and
came towards us hath not bound a circlet about his head!'."
Then that Lord
of Lofty Greatness took a circlet of radiance, light and glory and set it on my
head; He laid on me His hand of Truth and His great right hand of healings and
said to me, "Upon thee shall rest something of the likeness of Sam-Gufna
and of Sam-Gufaian and of Sam-Pira-Hiwara, whose radiance gleams and whose
appearance beams, for they are holy and believing beings in the Place of Light
and in the everlasting Abode."
And
Manda-d-Hiia, the valorous 'uthra, taught, revealed and said "Every
Nasoraean man who is righteous and believing, on arising from sleep, must take
a white turban symbolising the great mystery of radiance, fight and glory and
shall recite this prayer thereon. And he shall twist it round his head and
repeat the prayer secretly. It will be his praise in the house of the great
Celestial Father. And all persons who behold him will be subdued in his
presence: any persecutor, or one who inciteth to wrath, will stand before him
in fear, terror and trembling, (their knees) knocking together. And for me, Adam-Yuhana
son of Mahnus, who have prayed this prayer and (these) devotions, there will be
forgiving of sins and I shall be pure in all my words. And Life is victorious.
[This is the
prayer of the turban].
Chapter 2
Illumined and
illuminating is Zihrun, the great Mystery of radiance, light and glory, from
whom Manda-d-Hiia emanated and was divulged, and from whose very Self noble
sons of the mighty and sublime Life proceeded. He created 'uthras at his right
and his left and installed them in their own shkintas, And they gave out light
and were effulgent in their own raiment and gloried in the knowledge that their
Father had transplanted them from the House of Life. And it is incumbent on a
pupil to honour his Master like his parents, (so) the 'uthras rose on (their ?)
thrones of radiance, light and glory and took off the crowns on their heads and
placed them on the thrones of radiance, light and glory, saying, "A
teacher is superior to parents! Rise, our Father, in praise, and lay on me Thy
hand of truth and Thy great right hand of healings!" And Life be praised!
[This prayer
is the opening prayer of "In the name of that First Being"]
Chapter 3
In the name of
the Life!
Life created
Yawar-Ziwa, son of Light-of-Life, Hamgai-Ziwa son of Hamgagai-Ziwa. Illumined
and illuminating is the Great Mystery of Radiance, Zihrun, a Crown of radiance,
light and glory from whom a flow of living water streamed out to the shkintas.
For he is the revealer (lit. opener) of radiance and light and displayeth his
treasure which emanated from him, to eager 'uthras. All worlds adore and praise
the mighty First Life in its Indwellings, and Life is victorious.
[This is the
prayer of the turban]
Chapter 4
As the 'uthras
stand in their shkintas they adore and praise the Great Place in the Light
which is eternal, and praise Manda-d-Hiia and speak with him. When the 'uthras
are standing in their shkintas they adore and praise that Tarwan-Nhura. To what
shall they dedicate the wreath upon their heads and upon what shall they hang
it? They dedicate it to the Tree of Radiance and hang it (thereon).
And Life be
praised!
[This is the
prayer of dedication of "Life created Yawar-Ziwa]
Chapter 5
In the name of
the Great Life!
Let there be
light, let there be light! Let there be the light of the Great First Life!
There shone forth wisdom, vigilance and praise of the First Mana which came
from its place. He who twineth the wreath is Yufin-Yufafin: the bringer of the
wreath is 'It-'Nsibat-'utria. 'It-Yawar son of 'Nsibat-'utria set on the
wreath. He brought it and placed it upon the head of the implanted manamanas.
The wreath flames and the leaves of the wreath flame! Before the Mana there is
light, behind the Mana glory, and at either side of the Mana radiance,
brilliance and purity. And at the four corners of the House and the seven sides
of the firmanent silence, bliss and glory prevail (lit. are found). And Life be
praised! which was transplanted from guarded (?)
[This is the
prayer for the turban. Read it and set it on thy head.]
Chapter 6
A crown of
ether-fight shone forth dazzlingly from the House of Life. 'Uthras brought it
from the House of Life and the mighty First Life established it in His
shkintas. He who setteth it up shall be set up and he who uplifteth it shall be
raised up into the world of light and he who establisheth it into the enduring
Abode. Ye are established and uplifted to the place (in which) righteous
(beings) are established.
And life be
praised.
[This is the
prayer of "loosing", "Let there be Light". These three
prayers "In the name of that Primal Being", "Life created
Yawar-Ziwa" and "Let there be light" read near thy crown and
place it on thy head. And read "Manda created me" over the
myrtle-wreath and put it on thy head above thy crown. And twine a myrtle-wreath
for thy staff and hold it with thy crown. And when thou goest to the jordan
read "Answer me, Father, answer me!]
Chapter 7
In the name of
the Great Life!
There shall be
healing for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush! Strengthened and enhanced is the
great mystery of radiance, light and glory which resteth on the mouth of the
Great Life! for from it came into being and was manifest Knowledge-of-Life (Manda-d-Hiia)
who knew and interpreted the thoughts of the First Life, which are wondrous.
And Life be
praised!
[Read this
prayer and hold thy pandama for thy baptism.]
Chapter 8
Incense that
is fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea, for the mighty, first, sublime Life
from,worlds of light, the Ineffable above all works! for the ancient Radiance
and for the Primal Light, for the Life which emanated from Life and for Truth
(Kushta) that was pristine, from the beginning.
Incense that is fragrant, incense that is
fragrant! yea, for Yukabar-Ziwa who was mighty in his radiance, and came in his
light and his glory (as) messenger to the first righteous elect (people). He
crossed over the worlds and came and rent the firmament and revealed himself.
Incense that
is fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea, for Yuzataq-Gnosis-of-Life, source
of Life, who interpreteth silence and giveth hope and taketh the prayers of
spirits and souls of righteous and believing men, the virtuous and well
pleasing, into the Place of Light and into the Eternal Abode.
Incense that
is fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea, for the Father of 'uthras, the
Ancient, Lofty, Occult and Guarded, the Man who is high (yet) remaineth deep and
hidden. He seeth and understandeth that which the worlds and generations do in
the worlds of darkness.
Incense that
is fragrant, incense, that is fragrant! yea for the dwelling of Life and the
planting of 'uthras. Incense that is fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea,
for the dwelling of four beings, sons of Perfection. Incense that is fragrant,
incense that is fragrant! yea for the Dwelling of Abathur. Incense that is
fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea, for the dwelling of Hibil, Shitil and
Anush, sons of a living, brilliant, healthy and steadfast stock, beings not
removed by sword, nor burnt by flames of fire, nor drowned in water-floods;
whose (very) sandal-straps on their feet are unwetted by water. They sought and
found, went to judgment and were vindicated, spoke and were heard. They are
complete, lacking in nought; perfect are they and not imperfect. They came from
a pure place and go to a pure place.
Incense that
is fragrant, incense that is fragrant! yea, for the lives of the men who were
our ancestors, of righteous and believing men who rendered up (their souls) and
departed from their bodies; and of those who yet live in their bodies. They
testified and the door of Sin will be shut to them and the door of light open
to them and they will be knit together in the union of Life, in which there is
no separation. Pray ye for us from there, and we will pray from here for you!
All fruits perish; all sweet odours vanish, (but) the perfume of Life is
established for ever and unto world's end upon those who love His name of
Truth.
Those souls
who descend to the jordan and are baptised shall be without sins, trespasses,
follies, mistakes and evil deeds: they will rise and behold the great Place of
Light and the Eternal Abode. And praised be the Great Life in light. And Life
is victorious.
[This saying,
"Incense that is fragrant, yea for the First Life" recite over both
incense and sandalwood and put them before thee on the jordan-bank in a new
incense-pan. And make a fresh fire on the copper incense-pan -- (these) are
aids of all order which ye carried, put (lit. "performed") at the
jordan. Then read the baptismal "We acknowledged" "Praises"
, "Thee, Life,", "I sought to raise eyes" (Prayer 77) and
"Raising eyes".]
Chapter 9
Raising my
eyes and lifting up my countenance toward the Place which is all portals of
radiance, light, glory, beauty, repute and honour and to the Abode which is all
beams of light; I adore, laud and praise the Mighty, Strange (other-worldly)
life, and the Second Life and the Third Life; and Yufin-Yufafin,
Sam-Mana-Smira, and the Vine which is all Life and the great Tree which is all
healings. I adore, laud and worship the precious and guarded Place, the secret
and guarded manas and the Lord of Greatness from the Secret Place and, from the
Hidden Place, the pihta, need(?), truth and faith.
I worship,
laud and praise Sam-Smira, the great radiancy of the First Life, son of the
Great Primal Life who thought and was manifest, seeking His own: His shecinah
resteth on waves of water. The assembly of souls which proceeded from Him, on
the Last Day, when they leave their bodies, will rejoice in Him, will embrace
Him and will rise up and behold the outer Ether and the everlasting Abode.
I worship,
laud and praise the multitudinous Radiancies and great mighty Lights: I
worship, laud and praise Piriawis, the great Jordan of the First Life which is
all healings. I worship, laud and praise the pure Yushamin who abideth on
treasures of the waters and upon mighty celestial wellsprings of light. I
adore, laud and praise the life which proceeded from Life and the Truth which
existed before, in the Beginning. I worship, laud and praise Yukabar-Ziwa,
envoy of the Life and the Word of the first Elect Righteous ones. I worship,
laud and praise the Ancient, Supernal, Occult and Guarded Abathur, who is high,
hidden and guarded, whose throne is placed at the gate of the House of Life. He
sitteth with the scales set before him, weighing deeds and (their) recompense.
He seeth and discerneth that which the worlds and generations do. I worship,
laud and praise Manda-d-Hiia lord of healings, the being whom the Life summoned
and bade him heal the congregation of souls, divesting the congregation of
souls of (their) darkness and clothing them with light; raising (them) and
showing them that a great restoration of life exists, a place where the spirits
and souls of our forefathers sit clothed in radiance and covered with light;
showing the great restoration of life which is before them.
I worship,
laud and praise Shilmai and Nidbai, the two delegates of Manda-d-Hiia, who rule
over the great jordan of Life, for they baptise with the great baptism of
Light.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 10
On the day
that the Jordan was bestowed upon Sam-Smir, the great pure radiance of the First
Life which flowed forth from Him, Bihram and Ram-Rba-Hiia went with him (and ?)
four hundred and forty-four thousand myriads of 'uthras, sons of light, who
descended to the jordan. He baptised them and they rose to the bank. He raised
them up and conferred upon them some of the glory and some of the greatness
which was (conferred) on himself.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 11
I have
worshipped and praised that Yawar-Ziwa whose shkinta is situate in the world of
Outer Ether and in the Enduring Abode. I have worshipped and praised the seven
holy and guarded manas which were transplanted from it. I sought in prayer the
First Life, and, in the presence of the mighty sublime Life, discovered that
which offendeth in myself, (in me), Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush and about what
which causeth my friends to offend, and my friends' friends and the friends of
the great Family of Life.
And Life is
victorious.
[Pray these
three prayers, "Raising eyes", "The day that the Jordan was
bestowed" and "I have worshipped and praised that Yawar-Ziwa" on
the jordan-bank after "I sought to raise eyes". They are the helpers
(aids to) baptism.]
Chapter 12
I am Yur son
of Barit (I shone forth). In great effulgence the radiance glowed (with heat?).
The tanna dissolved and a shkinta came into being, a shkinta came into
existence and was established in the House of Life.
And Life is
victorious.
[Read this
prayer and grasp thy kanzala (stole). It is the opening prayer for the jordan.
Then recite "I went to the jordan"].
Chapter 13
I went to the
jordan, but not I alone, (for) Shilmai and Nidbai, my helpers, went with me to
the jordan; Hibil and Shitil and Anush went with me to the jordan -- they who
baptise with the great baptism of Life. Piriawis-Ziwa and Piriafil-Malaka give
free movement to the limbs of my body!
I go down
before these souls whom the Life delivereth and saveth, and protecteth these
souls from all that is evil and from those who give nothing, but take away; and
from those who lend nothing and (yet) are paid back; and from evil spirits
which hasted yet did not arrive, and from liliths which fell down and did not
arise.
Their hands
fell (powerless) on their knees; their eyes were blinded and unable to see and
their ears became deaf and unable to hear. In your names, Shilmai and Nidbai,
and through the strength of Hibil, Shitil and Anush, secure, seal and guard
these souls who go down to the jordan and will be baptised, by the great seal
of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia, the healer, whose strength none can attain. And Life
is victorious!
[Recite until
thou reachest (the words) "Piriafil, loosen the limbs" (etc.). And
descend (into the water) up to a fourth of thy thighs. If thou art baptising a
single soul, say "my body, and I go down before this the soul of N."
If there are several souls, recite as written (above), and at the place where
it said "secure, seal and guard" say "secure, seal and guard
this soul of N, and establish it" and then recite thy saying over the staff.]
Chapter 14
In the names of Yusmir the First Vine,
from whom Yawar took a staff of water and went to the bank of the jordan,
covered, as it were, with radiance and clothed in light. Over it he pronounced
secret sayings -- these mystic names: "In the name of Yusmir-Yusamir, and
of Sani-Mana-Smira; in the name of Hauran-Hauraran by which the first Yawar
raised up 'uthras, flourishing Vines of life, in the jordan. By it Hibil
raiseth up living souls in the jordan, those worthy of the great Place of Light
and of the Everlasting Abode. By it they will be established and raised up in
the House of the Mighty Life. It will raise these souls,vho go do,vn to the
jordan and are baptised: they will behold the Great Place of Light and the
Everlasting Abode.
[This saying
is for the staff. Recite it over the olivewood staff and stick it into the
jordan (-bed), then recite the baptism(-al prayers).]
Chapter 15
Bound is the
sea, bound are the two banks of the sea! Bound are the devils and demons, the
demon-visitants, haunting spirits, and satanic amulet-spirits. Bound are the
three hundred and sixty mysteries that are in the House!
I am secured
and sealed, I, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, and these souls who are descending
to the jordan and will be sealed by the seal of the Mighty Sublime Life, and by
the great MA and the great YA and the great BAZ and by the great AZIZ and by
the great AS and by the great ASIN and by the sea (of ?) AS. Bound are (Magian)
priests, slaughterers, priests who cut up victims, scorners, those who make
evil signs and the seven mysteries which are in the sea. Every demon
(exorcised) by name, every evil spirit by his appelation, every amulet-spirit
and all idol-demons who raise their heads and show their countenances, lifting
themselves in pride against the Sublime Being and directing their evil Eye
towards these souls who are going to the jordan, shall be struck down and
smitten by Yaha-Yaha and by Zha-Zha and by angels which where sent and come
against them. Flee in fear before them! and before the glory which is mighty
upon them. Depart in fear and avaunt! Seven walls of iron have been set around
me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, with which Haiashum, the first Kushta,
surrounded himself.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 16
I am a
perfected gem: into the midst of the worlds and ages am I cast down. I am an
iron club, a great rocky crag. Any demon that dasheth himself against me will
be shattered and if I strike at him he will be dashed to pieces. Any demon
which reareth its head, any amulet-imp which setteth its countenance against
these souls in malice, overlooking them, will be thrashed and struck by
'Usfar-Manharbiel-'Staqlus, the little child who dwelleth upon pure springs of
light, (yea) beaten with the mace of water by which Fire was beaten out and
extinguished; (and) by the strength of Mân the Healer and by the strength of
elect righteous (men).
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 17
Avaunt! flee
in fear all (ye) evil, restricting, wrathful spirits! Flee, begone, be
vanquished and brought to nought before the glory and light of Manda-d-Hiia!
Piriawis-Ziwa and Piriafil-Malaka have set moving the limbs of my body: I
descend (to the Jordan) before these stedfast, flourishing souls of the living.
Shilmai and Nidbai, fly, approach, arrive! Bear ye witness to these souls who
are going down to the jordan to be baptised. Ye four 'uthras, sons of light,
Rhum-Hai, 'In-Hai, Sum-Hai and Zaniar-Hai, be ye my witnesses on the great day
of departure (from the body). Great Jordan of Life, I laud thee and adjure thee
by 'Usar-Nhura (Treasure-of-Light), the great solace and support of life, that
thou givest no room to evil beings (who are) against these souls who go down
into thee. Healing shall be theirs in the name of the Sublime (Strange) Life
from worlds (of light). May Life be established in Its indwellings, and Life is
victorious.
Chapter 18
In the name of
the Life!
Piriawis, the great jordan of the First Life,
which is all healings, is afire like the glory flaming in the Tanna. When Life
was ardent and life burst forth in the great glory which flameth therein, Life
arose and founded its shkinta above the Tanna. The radiance waxed ardent, the
Tanna dissolved. They opened the waters and Life was established by its own
waters). Yur (brilliant light) established Yur: Life was increased in power by
its own radiance and by the great glory which flamed in It.
And in the
waters Life established living (creatures); above the the waters fruit appeared
and a shkinta was founded.
Thee do I
invoke, great Jordan of Life, by (in the name of) Treasure-of-Light, the great
support and solace of the Life, and by pure Yusamin who dwelleth upon the
treasures of the waters and upon wellsprings of light; by Yusmir, the being who
united with water; by Adatan and Yadatan who sit at the Gate of Life and seek
spirits and souls in the Place of Light; by SiImai and Nidbai who bear witness
before the Great Life. Behold these souls who quit destruction for
construction, (go) from error to truth and (leave) the abode of fear of the
deity of the House (i.e. world) for the great Place of Light and the
everlasting Abode!
If he to whom
I speak listeneth and he to whom I call is established (in the faith) and is
knit into the communion of Life and built into the great fabric of Reality, I
will take his hand and be his saviour and guide to the great Place of Light and
to the Everlasting Abode. If I speak to him and he hearkeneth not and call to
him and he is not uplifted, he will be put to the question. (But) I shall not
be put to the question, because of the Word of Truth (Kushta) and its uplifting
by Yukabar. And Life is steadfast in its Dwellings, and Life is victorious.
[Then cry]
"In the name of Life! Let every man whose strength enableth him and who
loveth his soul, come and go down to the jordan and be baptised and receive the
Pure Sign; put on robes of radiant light and set a fresh wreath on his
head". [Here baptise the souls. And they shall descend behind thee and
shall submerge three times. And thy staff shall be (rest) on thy left arm. Dip
them with thy right hand, grasp them with thy left and place them between thee
and thy staff and dip them under thrice and and sign them thrice with thy right
hand. And thy face shall be toward the Gate of Prayer).
When thou hast
signed them, say, "N, son of N., thou hast been signed with the Sign of
Life and the name of the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia were pronounced upon
thee. Thou hast been baptised with the baptism of the great Bihram, son of the
mighty (life). Thy baptism will protect thee and will be efficacious. The name
of the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia are pronounced upon thee!"
And give them
three palmfuls of water to drink and say to them "Drink! and be healed and
be strengthened! The name of the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia have been
pronounced upon thee". Recite "Manda created me" over the
myrtle-wreaths and place them upon their heads. When placing thy hand on their
heads recite these secret names: "The name of the great mystic First
Wellspring be pronounced on thee; the name of the great First Palmtree be
pronounced on thee; the name of the great Sislam be pronounced on thee; the
name of the great 'Zlat be pronounced on thee; the name of the great Yawar be
pronounced on thee; the name of Simat-Hiia be pronounced on thee; the name of
the great Yukabar be pronounced on thee; the name of the Mana and its
Counterpart be pronounced on thee; the name of the Great Mystery and the secret
sayings be pronounced on thee; the name of the great first Shaq-Ziwa be
pronounced upon thee; the name of Sam-Ziwa-Dakia, the Eldest, Beloved, great
First (Being) be pronounced on thee; the name of the Life and the name of
Manda-d-Hiia be pronounced on thee."
Then reach
them (perform with them the rite of) kushta. And he shall go up before thee (on
to the bank). Then dip thy phial, fill it with water and give it to whoever
standeth on the bank. Then dip thy bowl and recite the hymn "At the
waterhead I went forth" and "Blessed art thou, Outer Door", and
recite the dedicatory prayer for the jordan.
When thou
recitest "Bound is the sea", "I am a perfected gem",
"Avaunt, flee in fear", "Piriawis" and all as it is
written, speak as written if there are two, three or many souls; but it only
one soul say "the soul of N, who descended to the jordan and was baptised
and received the pure sign." (And pay close attention to thy baptism.)
Chapter 19
Manda created
me, 'uthras set me up, radiance clothed me and light covered me: Haza-zban set
the wreath on my head, mine, Adam-Yuhana , son of Mahnush, and on these souls
who descend to the jordan and are baptised. Its tendrils shine and its perfume
is sweet, for they (the tendrils) wither not nor do they come apart, and its
leaves do not fall off.
And Life be
praised!
[This is the
set prayer for the baptism wreath. Recite it over the myrtle-wreath and place
it on the heads of the souls that thou baptisest].
Chapter 20
Blessed art
thou, Outer Door, and blessed art thou, Everlasting Abode! Blessed are ye, great
beings of radiance and mighty and powerful beings of light. Blessed, lauded and
honoured be the 'uthras which dwell on the jordan! Jordan! be gentle towards
these souls which have descended into thee! Let healing be theirs by virtue of
the Word of Truth and its upliiting by Yukabar-Ziwa.
[This is the
dedicatory prayer of the jordan. When thou hast extolled the jordan, if thou
baptisest several souls recite as it is written; it only one soul, say
"The soul of N. who hath descended into thee" and rise to the bank
and recite "I rose up from the Jordan".]
Chapter 21
In the name of
the Life!
I rose up from
the jordan
And I met a
group of souls,
A group of
souls I met,
who surrounded
our father Shitil
Saying to him "By thy life, our
father Shitil,
Go with us to
the Jordan."!
"If I go
with you to the jordan
Who will be
your witness?"
"Lo, Sun
hath risen above us;
He will be our
witness!"
"It is
not he whom I seek,
Not he whom my
soul desireth.
The sun of
which ye spake,
Riseth early,
setteth at dusk.
The sun of
which ye spake, the sun
Is vanity and
cometh to an end.
Sun cometh to
an end and becometh vanity
And his
worshippers come to an end and are vanity."
I rose up from
the jordan
And a group of
souls I met,
A group I met
of souls
Who surrounded
our father Shitil,
Saying to him, "By thy life, our
father Shitil,
Go with us to
the jordan!"
"If I go
with you to the jordan,
Who will be
your witness?"
"Lo, Moon
who shineth above us,
He will be our
witness!"
"It is
not he whom I seek,
Not he whom my
soul desireth.
The moon, of
whom ye spake,
Riseth at dusk
and setteth at dawn.
The moon of
which ye spake,
the moon is
vanity and cometh to an end
And his
worshippers come to an end and are vanity."
I rose up from
the jordan
And a group of
souls I met,
A group I met
of souls
Who surrounded
our father Shitil,
Saying to him,
"By thy life, our father Shitil,
Go with us to
the jordan!"
" If I go
with you to the jordan
Who will be
your witness?"
"Lo,
there burns a fire.
It will bear
witness for us."
"That is
not what I seek,
Not that which
my soul desireth.
The fire of
which ye spake
Once a day
needs a firebrand.
The fire of
which ye spake --
Fire, is
vanity and cometh to naught
And its
worshippers come to naught and are vanity."
I rose up from
the jordan
And a group of souls I met,
I met a group
of souls
Who surrounded
our father Shitil,
Saying to him,
" By thy life, our father Shitil,
Go with us to
the jordan!"
"If I go
with you to the jordan,
Who will be
your witness?
"The
jordan and its two banks
Will bear
witness for us;
Pihta, kushta
and mambuha
Will bear
witness for us;
Habshaba,
(Sunday) and Kana-d-Zidqa
Will bear
witness for us;
The sanctuary
in which we worship
Will bear
witness for us;
The alms that
is in our laps
Will bear
witness for us;
And our father
who is our head
Will bear
witness for us."
"this is
that which I seek,
This is that
which my soul desireth!
When I rise to
the House of Life
And travel to
the Everlasting Abode,
When Life
questioneth me, (these) witnesses
Will come and
will bear witness.
Witnesses of
the truth are they,
Sure is all
that they say!"
And Life is
victorious!
[Recite this
prayer after "Thou art blessed, Outer Door."]
Chapter 22
We have
acknowledged the name of Life: (believe in) the great celestial Womb, in that
which is endless and countless, in Yaluz-Yaluz, in Sbabut, the mighty Will of
Life; in Piriawis, fount of living waters; in
"He-provided-a-Dwelling" giving His Likeness its dwelling in the
House of Life; in the Life Whose Eyes were fixed upon the waters. He arose,
gazed and beheld the Nest from which He derived His being.
We believe in
Yufin-Yufafin, in Nbat, the first Upsurge and outflow of Life at its inception,
in its second (outflow), Sam-Smir; in its third, Bihram son of the Mighty (Life),
Yukabar, the Word of Life who came from the House of Life to righteous and
believing men.
Any person
sprinkled by this oil on which I have pronounced the name of the Mighty Sublime
Life and upon whom I have pronounced these mystic names, will have health
(healing) abundant in his body; health abundant and not poor.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 23
In the name of
the Great Life!
Precious oil
art thou, son of white sesame, son of the Euphrates bank, son of the river
-pleasaunce, son of water-pools, son of treasures of light. Upon thee, Oil,
Life laid His hand and sent thee to this world which is all birth, to heal,
uplift, raise up and ameliorate all pains, diseases, complaints, tumours (and)
the seven mysteries that inhabit the body. I praise thee, Oil, and adjure thee,
Oil, by the Life, by Manda-d-Hiia and by the 'uthras, sons of salvation (and)
by this strange being, who is honoured, wondrous and perfect, who summoned
chosen elect beings, sons of light, and said to them: "Give me precious
oil, son of white sesame, son of the Euphrates-bank, son of the river-meadow,
son of water-pools, son of treasures of light.
Anoint, and I
will bring you oil: anoint with radiance, fight and glory, the Oil wherewith I
anointed and (which) I bestowed, not in the name of a god, not in the name of
spirit, not in the name of a messiah nor in the name of a temple-Ishtar. Nay,
the oil with which I anointed, (the oil) which I bestowed is at my name, my
Sign and (given) as the name and sign of a living, glorious, flourishing and
steadfast race. Any man anointed by this oil will live, be whole and be
strengthened: his mouth will assume the nature of Anush, within him he will
take on the nature of Anush. >From him the seven dolours of death and the
eight afflictions of darkness shall violently depart and be expelled. Demons,
devils, shedim, demon visitants, amulet-spirits and liliths will be removed and
driven out of him in the presence of that which increased the strength,
radiance and light of Knowledge of Life".
And Life be
praised!
Chapter 24
In the name of
the Life!
Thou wast
established, First Life; thou wast in existence before all things. Before Thee
no being existed.
For He hath
fulfilled Himself and hath issued in His strength and His steadfastness and in
the radiance and strength which His Father hath bestowed upon Him. For we have
not changed that which thou hast commanded us. Thou enlargest our steps and
liftest our eyes heavenwards. Thou descendest and givest us dwellings by
springs of Life. Thou pourest into us and fillest us with thy wisdom, thy
doctrine and thy goodness. Thou showest us the way by which thou camest from
the House of Life and we will walk therein with the gait of righteous and
believing men, so causing our spirits and souls to dwell in the dwellings of
Life, the place where the spirits of our fathers abide, clothed in radiance and
covered with light, rejoicing, laughing, dancing, exulting about the glorious
splendour resting (upon them) [?].
This is the
Oil wherewith he anointed, the radiance, light and glory which Manda-d-Hiia
blessed with his pure mouth and best-owed on all who love his name of Truth.
From all those who are anointed with this oil every pain, disease, complaint,
tumour, curse and physical evil will be removed. They will be freed from fetter
and bond, from evil curses, from evil slander, from lying accusation, from the
hand of the wicked, from the sword of enemies and from the third tongue which
is softer than fat and sharper than a sword. (They will be delivered) from
incubi and hobgoblins, from wicked outcry, black magic; from a spoilt wreath, from
the male and female biruq and from the second death: they will be driven off
and cast out by thy surpassing Name which is all life. It falleth on the dead
man and he liveth: on the sick man and he stretcheth (himself); on the blind
man and (his eyes) are opened; on the deaf man and wisdom and perception are
infused into him. The accused is successful in his lawsuit and the prisoner is
freed from prison. The hand of Truth and healing will come from the House of
Healings in the name of the Life which emanated from Life and in the name of
Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia. Every man anointed with this oil will be sinless and
blameless in the Place of Life.
And Life is
victorious.
[Read these
three prayers "We acknowledged the name of Life" "Precious oil
art thou", "Thou wast established, First Life", upon the oil and
sign the souls thou hast baptised, when they rise up out of the jordan. Say
"N. son of N., thou hast been signed with the sign of Life and the name of
Life, and the name of Manda-d-Hiia hath been pronounced on thee. Thou hast been
baptised with the baptism of Bihram the Great, son of the Mighty (Life). Thy
baptism shall protect thee and attain its end. The name of Life and the name of
Manda-d-Hiia are pronounced on thee." Sign thrice and grasp their right
hands in the kushta (rite). Then recite and pass (thy finger) over thine (own)
face -- thine own sealing. And then they shall stand up before thee. Recite
over the pihta and mambuha and give them pihta that they may eat and mambuha
that they may drink and take their right hands in kushta. Then make them sit
before thee and read the sealing (prayer) and lay thy hand on their heads.]
Chapter 25
In the name of
the Life!
When a jordan
of living water (Water of Life) was bestowed on Sam-Smir, the great Radiance of
Life, nine hundred and ninety-two thousand myriad 'uthras, sons of light,
opened their mouths, praising Manda-d-Hiia. "Praised be Manda-d-Hiia;
praised be Yawar-Ziwa; praised be Bihram and Ram; praised be Tarwan-Nhura;
praised be Nbat the first great Radiance; praised be Nsab and Anan-Nsab;
praised be Sar and Sarwan; praised be that great and mighty Mana; praised be
that great Presence of Glory; praised be that whole abode of those at rest;
praised be all the ways and paths of the Almighty (Life); praised be all the
mighty celestial worlds of Light; praised be all those occult dwellings
(shkinata); praised be that Voice, Strength, Word and Command which come from
the House of Abathur; praised be Abathur-Rama; praised be the myriad 'uthras
who stand in the presence of Abathur; praised be Shilmai and Nidbai the
guardian 'uthras of the jordan; praised be our father. Hibil, Shitil and Anush
the head of the whole race.
Turn back,
thrust back from me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush and from these souls who have
descended to the jordan and been baptised, terror, fright, fear of devils and
demons, shedim, demon visitants, ghosts, amulet-spirits, liliths, gods, angels,
demons of high places and shrines and idol-spirits: (all those) that the seven
planets and the lords of the House loose against souls in this world.
Manda-d-Hiia!
Lift up thine eyes, (behold) thy devotees, thine offspring and thy priest! Behold
us who stand in this place which is all evil things! At the great Door which is
all principalities do we stand, amongst the wicked, and dwell amongst sinners.
Deliver us from this world which is all sinners and from the sorceries of the
children of Adam and Eve. Forgive us that which we have done, and that which we
do forgive us. Forgive us, Looser of sins, (our) trespasses, our follies, our
stumblings and our mistakes. If thou dost not loose us from our sins,
trespasses, follies, stumblings, and mistakes, no man is clean in thy sight
Manda-d-Hiia!
Accept, (O)
Life, Thy prayer from the Occult and assure (to us) bliss in Thy light in the
name of Sharhabiel the great First Radiance. May the words of Sharhabiel the
Great First Radiance, be established for all who love his name of Truth. And
for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush may darkness be overcome and light set on
high.
And Life be
praised.
Chapter 26
In the name of
the Life!
Bound
(together) and sealed are these souls who went down to the jordan and were
baptised in the name of the Great Life. They have been baptised with the
baptism of Bihram the Great. Their souls have been secured with bonds of
righteousness and with the bonds of Zhir, the great light of Life.
And Life be
praised!
Chapter 27
In the name of
the Life!
We were set up
and raised up by 'Usar-Hiia: through 'Usar-Hai and Pta-Hai union with the House
of Life came to us: Manda-d-Hiia went to us with radiance that is great and
light that is powerful, with our mana, our sign, our way, our jordan and our
baptism; with Hauran our vestment; with Hauraran our covering and with Hazazban
our wreath.
I call on the
mighty, sublime, all-surpassing Life, supreme over all works and I say to It,
"Behold, behold, Great Life, us who at Thy name, Life, descended into the
jordan and for Thy name's sake, Life, we took our name and our sign from the
great Jordan of Life and from the great source of healing, at the word of Truth
and (the power) to uplift of Yukab1ar-Ziwa.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 28
Bound
(together) and sealed are these souls who descended to the jordan and were
baptised. By Hauran-Hauraran, the out-thrust of the Great Life: by Its names,
by Yufin-Yufafin and Sam-Mana-Smira; by Yusmir, vehicle of the First radiance;
and by the being Yukabar, the (well-) equipped 'uthra; seal and guard these
souls who descended to the jordan and were baptised, against the deities of the
House, lest they gain dominion over them. (Protect them) from their devils and
demons so that they shall not go near them nor harm them nor ruin them. Let all
pains, diseases, afflictions and tumours be removed from them. Let all evil
sicknesses and malignant curses of the body be removed and driven off, so that
those who sit before Thee like men attainted shall stand up like clean men. And
healing shall be theirs, those souls who went down to the jordan and were
baptised.
And Life is
victorious.
[Recite these
four "sealing" prayers, "When .. was bestowed",
"Secured and sealed" ".. By 'Usar-Hiia" and the longer
"Secured and sealed" with a loud voice to the souls whom thou hast
baptised after thou hast given them pihta and mambuha. If (several) souls,
recite as written; if a single soul, say "for this, the soul of N."
Then make them stand and recite "Ye are set up and raised up".]
Chapter 29
In the name of
the Life!
Ye are set up
and raised up into the Place of the Good. Established amongst manas of light
are these souls which went down to the jordan and were baptised (and those) of
our fathers and teachers and of our brothers and sisters who have departed the
body and those who are still in the body. There, in the light shall ye be
raised up.
And Life is
victorious.
[Here recite
"What did thy Father do for thee, Soul. "]
Chapter 30
In the name of
the Life!
"What did
thy Father do for thee, Soul,
The great day
on which thou wast raised up?"
"He took
me down to the jordan, planted me,
And took (me)
up and stood me upon its bank.
He broke and
gave me bread (pihta),
Blessed the
cup and gave me thereof to drink.
He placed me
between his knees
And pronounced
over me the name of the Mighty (Life)
He passed into
the mountain before me;
He cried
loudly that I might hear,
That I might
hear he cried loudly,
'If there is
strength in thee, Soul, come!'
'If I climb
the mountain I shall fall;
I shall
overturn and perish from the world!'
I lifted mine
eyes to heaven
And my soul
waited upon the House of Life.
I climbed the
mountain and fell not,
I came
(thither) and found the life of my Self.
"What did
thy Father do for thee, Soul,
The great day
on which thou wast raised up?"
"He took
me down to the jordan, planted me,
And took me up
and stood me upon its bank.
He broke and
gave me bread,
Blessed the
cup and gave me thereof to drink.
He placed me
between his knees
And pronounced
over me the name of the Mighty (Life).
He passed into
the fire before me;
And cried
aloud that I might hear,
That I might
hear he cried aloud,
'If there is
strength in thee, Soul, come!'
'If I go into
fire I shall burn,
I shall scorch
and perish from the world!'
To heaven I
lifted mine eyes
And my soul
waited upon the House of Life.
I went into
fire and burned not,
I came, and
found the life of my Self.
"What did
thy Father do for thee, Soul,
The great day
on which thou wast raised up?"
"He took
me down to the jordan, planted me,
Took me up and
stood me upon its bank.
He broke and
gave me bread,
Blessed the
cup and gave me thereof to drink.
He placed me
between his knees
And pronounced
over me the name of the Mighty (Life).
He entered the
sea before me;
He cried aloud
that I might hear,
That I might
hear he cried aloud.
'If there is
strength in thee, Soul, come!'
'If I go into
the sea I shall sink,
I shall be
overturned and perish from the world!'
To heaven I
lifted mine eyes
And my soul
waited upon the House of Life.
I went into
the sea and was not drowned,
I came, the
life of my Self I found,
Yea, Life! lo,
Life! Life hath triumphed over this world.
And Life is
victorious.
[This is a
baptism hymn. Set up (recite?) the hymns, and where it says "souls"
recite as written, but if it is a single soul say " amongst manas of
light, the soul of N. son of N. who went down to the jordan and was baptised
and received the Pure Sign" and chant "What did thy Father do for
thee, Soul" and recite the antiphonal hymn "How lovely are plants
which the Jordan (planted)" and "Rightly did my baptiser baptise
me", "Shilmai baptised me with his baptism", "The jordan in
which we were baptised", "I rejoice in my priests" and chant
other hymns: "Truly do I say to you", "To you I cry, men who
have received the Sign, and explain", and "A disciple, a new one, am
I who have gone to the jordan-bank".
Then recite
the "Blessed and praised" of Shum (Shem) son of Noah and at the place
where it says "a wreath from the Vine Ruaz" (say) "will be set
on the heads of these souls who have descended to the jordan, been baptised and
received the pure sign and who were called, established and sealed by this
baptism, and (on the heads of) our fathers, teachers, and brothers and sisters
who have departed the body and those who are yet in the body". Should it
be a single soul whom thou hast baptised, say "the soul of N. who went
down to the jordan and was baptised" and finish.
And recite
"Good is the good for the good" and end. And offer up the Petition
and say the Rahmia for the souls thou baptisest. Say " these souls who
went down to the jordan and were baptised and received the pure sign." If
it was a single soul, say "the soul of N. son of N, who went down to the
jordan and received the pure sign. " And beware: from the beginning to
this point recite all thy baptismal prayers with care, attention and knowledge.
And again perform kushta with them and say to them "Kushta make you whole
my brother-'uthras! The communion of the living hath been performed in the manner
in which 'uthras perform it in their shkintas. Fragrant is your perfume, my
brother-'uthras, (for) within ye are full of radiance."
And they shall
say "Seek and find, speak and be heard!" and kiss their hands. If the
souls be female or if the soul thou baptisest is one (woman), perform the
kushta with them and say to them "Kushta heal thee and raise thee up. Thy
kushta shall be thy witness and thine alms thy saviour. When they say
"Seek and find, speak and be heard" and kiss their hands, then say to
them "Your kushta shall be your witness and your alms shall be your
saviour. Your prayer and praise will rise and obtain mercy for you. In the name
of the Great Life; we have acted (according to) the goodness of the Great
(Life). And we have arranged (all things?) according to Thy loving-kindness
from beginning to end. We have called upon the great Jordan of Water of Life
and upon the three hundred and sixty jordans in which Hibil-Ziwa was baptised
". And he (H-Z.) said "Warn them, deliver them, save them and protect
those souls which went down to the jordan, were baptised and received the pure
sign from adultery, theft, black magic, from going to temples and worship in
temples and from eating temple-food. And eat not of that which was killed by
lion or wolf, or of anything disgorged or (found) dead. But immerse yourselves
and purify yourselves. Manda-d-Hiia will be your helper, and your baptism will
be efficacious." Then pray a prayer and Rahmia for thyself, and say
"In the name of the Life! I worship the First Life and praise my lord
Manda-d-Hiia and that great Presence of Splendour which emanated from
Itself". Then recite "The First Life be praised! Truth make you
whole! Ye are established and raised up" and transfer thy staff to thy
right arm and end (the prayer). Then return it to thy left arm and recite the
"Blessed and praised be Life" of Shum son of Noah. And sit and recite
"Good is good for the good" and bend thy knee, sit, and pour out at
"forgiving of sins" (be there for) "our forefathers" (etc.)
"and the souls of Mandaeans, priests, ganzivri, treasurers, chief men and
ethnarchs" in the "forgiving of sins". Then rise to thy feet,
take the pihta and mambaha and recite the eight pihta prayers for the pihta and
the two mambaha prayers for the mambuha. Dip the pihta in the mambuha and
recite "The Life spoke and Life opened" for thy pandama and unfasten
it. Eat thy pihta and drink thy mambuha and drink the rinsing-water and take a
second rinsing and recite "Life is fulfilled" and "The (Great)
Life dwelleth on those who love Him" and cast in thine incense at (the
words) "Radiance goeth up to its place" and at the place where it
says "will forgive those that love his name of Truth" he shall say
"those souls who went down to the jordan, were baptised and received the
pure sign, and Life is victorious". Then throw (water) beneath thy staff,
recite "Good is the good for the good" and make the Petition and
repeat the Rahmia for thyself. Perform the kushta with the shganda and when he
goes down, recite "In radiance that is great am I immersed", slip
aside thy pandama and honour thy crown.]
Chapter 31
Radiance goeth
up to its place and Light to the Everlasting Abode. On the day that Light
ariseth, Darkness returns to its place. The Forgiver of sins, trespasses,
follies, stumblings and mistakes will remit them for those who love his name of
Truth, and for those souls who went down to the jordan, were baptised and
received the pure sign. Consuming fire will consume thee and thy ministration
will be (noted?) in the habitations. The fragrance of life riseth to the House
of Life, and we (too) will rise up to the House of Life: we shall be with the
victorious 5). It is our support, and our confidence is in life in the Place of
Light and in the Everlasting Abode. Life is established and set up in its
indwellings, and Life is victorious over all works.
[This is the
"loosing" (consecration) of incense for baptism.]
[In the name
of the Great Life! May my thought, knowledge and understanding be enlightened,
mine, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, by means of these (prayers), admonitions and
hymns of baptism, which were transcribed from the scroll The Great Wellspring.
This is the baptism wherewith Adam the first man was baptised by Hibil-Ziwa
when he breathed the pure mana into him and he got up, sneezed and lived.
And Adam
questioned, and spoke, "Through the power of Hibil-Ziwa have I attained my
end!"
Then
Hibil-Ziwa arose, put on the seven vestments, and went to the jordan-bank. When
Adam had placed the qauqa (and) fire before Hibil-Ziwa, Hibil-Ziwa twined a
wreath for his staff and twined a wreath for Adam, then rose and went to the
jordan and recited the prayer "Answer me, my father, answer me, for I have
gone to the jordan in the strength of my father Yawar, and in the strength of
Manda-d-Hiia a wreath hath been set upon the 'uthras."
Then he arose
and recited "In the name of that First Being" for his crown and set
it on his head, then recited "Life created Yawar-Ziwa", "Let
there be light" and Manda created me" for the myrtle-wreath and set
it beside the crown.
And he held
the end of his stole and recited "Strengthened and enhanced is the great
mystery of radiance, light and glory" over his pandama, folded his pandama
over his mouth and recited "incense that is fragrant, yea, for the First
Life" and cast incense on the fire. And he recited "We have
acknowledged," "Praises", "Thee, Thyself", "I
sought to lift mine eyes", "The day that the jordan was bestowed on
Sam-Smir", "I have worshipped and praised that Yawar-Ziwa" and
"I am Yur son of Barit; in great radiance". And he held his stole and
recited "I went to the jordan, but not I alone" up to the place where
it says "give free movement to the limbs of my body; I go down," and
he went down into the jordan up to a fourth of his thighs. And he recited
"In the name of Yusmir, the First Vine" over his staff, and at the
place where it saith "covered with radiance and clothed in light" he
cast the myrtle-wreath over the staff and "clothed" it with his
stole.
And he recited
"Bound is the sea" and traced three circles thrice over in the
jordan. And he recited "I am a perfected gem", and "Avaunt, flee
in fear" and splashed the water in the jordan at his right, his left and
in front of him and recited "Piriawis" as written. Then he chanted a
hymn and said to him "Any man who hath strength thereto and who loveth his
soul, let him come and go down to the jordan, be baptised, receive the pure
sign, put on robes of radiant light and set a fresh wreath on his head."
And Adam
descended into the jordan and submerged himself thrice behind him (Hibil-Ziwa),
who took him by the right hand transferred him to his left, placed him between
himself and his staff, dipped him thrice and signed him thrice in the jordan.
And he gave
him three palmfuls of water to drink and recited "Manda created me" over
the myrtle-wreath and set it upon his (Adam's) head and pronounced the secret
names over him.
(Then) he took
his hand in kushta over the staff and made him go up before him.
(Then) he took
water from the jordan into his phial and recited the hymn "At the
waterhead I went forth" and "Blessed art thou, Outer Door", and
recited "I rose up from the jordan, and a group (of souls) I met".
And he came up out of the jordan and completed it (the hymn). And he took up
the oil and recited "We have acknowledged the name of Life",
"Precious oil art thou" and "Thou wast established, First
Life" over the oil. Then he signed him thrice and made passes over him
thrice, and at each signing he laid his hand on his (Adam's) head and repeated
those names which he had pronounced over him in the jordan.
And he
performed kushta with him. (Then) he took the pihta and recited the eight
prayers for the pihta over the pihta and the two prayers for the mambuha over
the mambuha. And he gave him the pihta so that he should eat and gave him the
mambuha that he might drink, and he drank the rinsing (water).
And he grasped
his hand in kushta and seated him before him and recited the
"sealing" prayers, "When a jordan of living water and bestowed
upon Sam-Smir, the great Radiance of Life", "Bound and sealed",
"By 'Usar-Hiia" and the greater (longer) "Bound and sealed"
and laid his hand upon him and stood and recited "Ye are set up and raised
up", "What did thy Father do for thee, Soul?", "How lovely
are the plants which the jordan planted and raised up", "Rightly did
my baptiser baptise me", "Shilmai baptised me with his baptism and
Nidbai", "The jordan in which we were baptise will bear us
witness", and "I rejoice in my priests and Nasoraeans who hearken to
my converse".
And he chanted
the hymns "Truly do I say to you", "To you I cry and
explain" and "A new disciple am I who hath come to the jordan
bank".
And he read
all the hymns and homilies unto their end and recited "Blessed and praised
be Life" of Shum son of Noah and "Good is the good for the
good". And he recited "In radiance that is great am I immersed"
and loosed his kanzala (stole) and "honoured" his crown.
And Life is
victorious.]
[Then
Hibil-Ziwa gave judgement and said "The Life hath anathematised and Manda-d-Hiia
hath cried out against and the Great First Word hath pronounced against any
man, priest, who performed a baptism without his pandama. He shall be accursed
by the Name (Vein) Of the Great Wellspring: Shilmai and Nidbai the guardian
'uthras of the jordan will curse him and the Wellspring and Palmtree will curse
him. Yukabar will take away his crown and his seal and hull him back to his
natural home, the Place of Darkness. Moreover, before any Nasoraean who retains
his pandama whilst performing a baptism, a vein of the Great Wellspring will
heap up and all that he doeth will be confirmed. All mischances will avoid him
and darkness will roll away from him. His vestments will be kept in our
safekeeping. Whilst he is alive in his body the Seven will be powerless to
loose fear against him and lofty strength will be sent to him.
When he
departeth the body the clouds which precede 'uthras will come towards him and
dread of purgatory-demons will be powerless over him (for) he will not pass
through the Purgatories.
And Abatur
will clothe him in his glory and all the 'uthras will shed their light upon
him.
And Life is
victorious.
This is the
limit (end) of the baptism which came to this world, the (baptism) wherewith
Hibil-Ziwa baptised Adam the first man and it was preserved in the ages for the
elect righteous, for it was written down in the scroll of the Great Wellspring
belonging to Ramuia son of 'Qaimat. And Bavan-Hibil son of Brik-Yawar wrote it
here and distributed it amongst a hundred Nasoraeans, (copying) it from his own
scroll which he copied from the scroll of Ramuia son of 'Qaimat.
It was written
in the town of Tib and was placed with Haiuna daughter of Yahia, and Bainai son
of Zakia.
Those who hold
to it, (let them) expound it. (But) he who doth not establish it, let him keep
away from it and not approach it.
And Life is
victorious.]
Then said
Yahia-Adam son of Sam-Saiwia, "When the scroll of Ramuia son of 'Qaimat
found in the possession of Haiuna daughter of Yahia and Bainai son of Zakia
came into my possession I put it together and arranged it as it was written
originally, and removed nothing from it.
And Life is
victorious.]
The Masiqta
("The raising up")
i.e. spiritual
resurrection or ceremony to aid the ascent of the soul
Chapter 32
In the name of
the Great Life may there be healing for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush!
Strengthened,
enhanced was the great mystery of radiance, light and glory dwelling on the
mouth of the First Life, for from It came forth Manda-d-Hiia
(Knowledge-of-Life). For he knew and interpreted the thoughts of the First Life
and perceived that they are wondrous.
And Life be
praised!
[Recite this
prayer and hold thy stole for the masiqta.]
Chapter 33
In the name of
the Life!
Water of Life
art thou! Thou art come from the Place which is life-giving and art poured
forth from the House of Life.
(At thy)
coming, Water-of-Life, from the House of Life, the good come and refresh
themselves, (but) the wicked are discomfited and the children of (this) world
abashed and say "Is there (not?) room for us in the Place of Light? For
those that seek (ask) of it find, and those who speak of it are heard".
We have sought
and found and we have spoken and been heard in thy presence, Manda-d-Hiia, lord
of healings. As water when poured out falleth on the earth, so (too) so doth
evil fall abased before good. As the water falleth on the earth, so shall their
sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes be loosed from those who
love the name of Truth (kushta) and from the souls of this masiqta, and from
(the souls of) our fathers, teachers, brothers and sisters who have departed
the body, and those who (still) live in the body And say "Established is
Life (or "the living") in Its (their) dwelling".
And Life is
victorious.
[This is the
mambuha prayer]
Chapter 34
Hail to the
First Life before Whom none existed, the Sublime from worlds of light, the
Ineffable which is above all works; to the Ancient Radiance and the Great
Primal Light, the Life which emanated from Life and the Truth that was of old,
from the beginning. Hail the ancient, lofty, esoteric and guarded father of
'uthras. Hail Yuzataq, Gnosis of Life, Source of Life; He who unveileth the
silence , giveth hope and keepeth the prayers of the spirits and souls of
righteous and believing men into the Place of Light. Hail to the life of
sincere and believing men who have come to their end and departed the body, and
hail to those who are stiff alive in the body. May the gate of sin be barred to
them and the gate of light be open for them. May they be knit together in the
communion of Life in which there is no separation.
Pray ye from
there for us and we will pray from here for you. All fruits wither: all sweet
odours pass away, but not the fragrance of Gnosis of Life, which cometh not to
an end nor passeth away for an age of ages and for world without end. May the
souls of this masiqta rise up without sin, trespass, folly, stumbling and
mistake unto the Place of Light and to the Enduring Abode.
And Life be
praised!
[Read this
ordinance for the incense and cast it on the fire. Then recite the prayers for
the masiqta.]
Chapter 35
In the name of
the Life!
I sought to
lift my eyes, shoulders and arms towards the Place which is all life, radiance
and glory, the place where which is all life, radiance, light and glory; a
place where they who seek of it find, those who speak of it are heard and to
those who ask of it, it is given them, day by day and hour by hour. This hour I
address to thee, my Lord, Manda-d-Hiia, a vital petition, large and not small,
for this congregation of people who have bent their knees to the ground and
stretched forth their hands to the intermediate and upper (worlds). They have
forsaken images, pictures and idols of clay, gods (made) of blocks of wood ,
and vain rites, and have testified to the name of the great, strange (sublime)
Life. To them the gate of sin is closed and for them the gate of life is open.
May our request, our prayer and our humble submission rise before the supreme Life
which is above all works.
Before thee
(in thy sight) all hands are thieving, all lips have lied. Water is in the
jordan. Before thee (in thine eyes), Manda-d-Hiia, no man is clean : we are
slaves who are all sin, and thou a lord who art all mercy. When thou art with
us, who shall conquer us and if thou justifiest us who will convict us? Judge
us not after the fashion of earthly courts of law; despise us not for our
follies and associate us not with the false rites practised by the worlds and
generations.
The worlds
thrust hard at us, but we fell not. Backed by the Truth which is thine own, we
have perfect confidence.
Establish
life, and wilt thou not establish human beings? Thou hast spoken to us in thy
Word and hast commanded us with thy command "Ask on earth and I will
supply you with heavenly fruit : ask from below, (from) reed , swamp and mud,
and I will supply you from the lofty heavens. Make supplication with the
fleshly right hand, and I will bring you (what ye asked) with the right hand of
kushta.
The first
(generations) sought and found: let those that come after seek, and they will
find. Seek and find for yourselves, for your friends, for your friends' friends
and for those who love the great Family of Life. Your eyes shall not turn away
from me unsatisfied.''
Thou art the
father of all the 'uthras, the Support which is all light, the Vine which is
all Life and the great Tree which is all things. For Thou knowest hearts,
understandest minds and searchest out consciences (even) in the nethermost
hells of darkness. Like a servant lying prostrate before Thee, our eyes are
lifted to Thee, our lips give Thee praise and blessing seven hours of the day
and the three watches of the night.
Those who seek
of Him find, and to those who ask of Him it will be given. For to him that
standeth at a closed door Thou wilt open the closed door. In the Place of Light
Thou wilt wipe away and remove from us our sins, trespasses, follies,
stumblings and mistakes and wilt cast them into the hells of the earth and the
nethermost limbos of darkness. Thou wilt raise us up as sinless and not as
guilty, as virtuous and not as vicious before thee, Manda-d-Hiia.
The good
behold and are refreshed: the wicked are discomfited and the children of (this)
world abashed. And they say "Is there no place for me in the Place of
Light, since those who seek therefrom find, and ask thereof and it is given
them?"
We beseech
thee to let some of thy radiance, thy light and thy glory rest upon us. Thou
art the Healer above all means of healing, a Raiser-up above (all) that raiseth
up, a Radiance above all radiancies and a light above all lights. For thou
openest doors of truth and revealest mysteries and wisdom and showest forth
mighty deeds in Jerusalem. Thou confinest demons and devils and frightenest
away the gods from their high places. Great is thy name and praised is thy
name! Thou art the counterpart of the Life, for thou wast in existence before
all. Thou art the Vine, for thou wast in the Ether above heaven and above the
earth. When worlds came into being and creations were called forth, thou didst
hold in thy grasp the worlds and generations. Thou hast laid down a road for
sincere and believing men to the Place of Life. (Though) spirits and souls sit
(here) as guilty, (yet) by thy name they shall rise as innocent, (thy name of)
Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia. To support the hands of good people, thou wilt be (bring?)
healing of life to the souls of this masiqta Life is established in its
indwellings and Life is victorious.
[This prayer
is good for all occasions: (it may be used) on occasion for the Rahmia (daily
office), or for the masiqta, or for baptism and for all purificatory rites. For
the masiqta, after thou hast recited over the pandamta, "water of
prayer" and the ordinance for the incense, pray "We have
acknowledged", "Praises", "To Thee", "Lifting eyes"
and "I sought to raise my eyes". And prepare the pihta, mambuha and
klila (wreath) and set them out for the masiqta. And recite the ordnance for
the oil, (placed) in something clean : in a glass or tin cup when washed and
cleansed. And recite the masiqta.]
Chapter 36
In the name of
the Life!
I worship,
laud and praise that great, secret, First Mana who abode for nine hundred and
ninety-nine thousand myriads of years alone in his own Abode - for no Companion
came to him; (none existed) save that great, secret, First Mana. For he came
into existence therein and developed therein.
Then I
worship, laud and praise that great, occult, First Drop who emanated from Him.
They existed, (but) She abode for four hundred and forty-four thousand myriads
of years in Her own Abode, alone, for She had no consort.
Then I
worship, laud and praise Pirun, that great occult first Vine from whom there
emanated eight hundred and eighty eight thousand myriads of 'uthras.
>From Them
and from those 'uthras proceeded one 'uthra, whose name is the Great
Countenance of Glory who is (at once) less than his brethren and more venerable
than his parents. Manda-d-Hiia, the well-prepared 'uthra, divulged and revealed
and said "Any Nasoraean man who sitteth to recite "Established is the
First Life" and breaketh bread will receive condemnation from the House of
Life,"
And I am
established, in the light of Life and Life is victorious.
Chapter 37
I worship,
laud, and praise that Occult, great First Cloud of Life, with whom in secret,
he broke bread and gave thereof in secret to the Occult Life and to the Mighty
First Life.
And Life if
victorious.
Chapter 38
I have
worshipped and praised Yawar-Ziwa, who arose and praised that great mighty Mana
at whose right and left hand there stand four hundred and forty-four thousand
myriads of 'uthras. A thousand myriads of 'uthras, sons of light, worship and
laud the rays of his Radiance.
He arose and
broke bread in secret and gave thereof to the sons of men and establisheth his
Abode in secret.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 39
I worship,
laud and praise that secret saying which Yawar pronounced secretly. He made it
known, and divulged and established a Life-ray therein. Radiance and light came
and dwelt at his right and glory and resplendence dwelt at his left. And the
'uthras en- treated the Life that they might behold the Likeness of Yawar-Ziwa
in their own glory.
Yawar-Ziwa the
vigilant 'uthra divulged and revealed and said "Sixty-four sins daily will
be forgiven a Nasoraean man who repeats this secret saying, in the Great Place
of Life and the Lasting Abode".
And Life is
praised.
Chapter 40
I have
worshipped and praised 'Usar, who broke bread for the hidden first 'uthras, so
that they (find) rest in their hearts.
The holy
'uthras stood in their dwellings and praise the mighty Life in its Dwelling,
adorable in Its radiance and wondrous in Its light.
I worshipped
and praised that supreme First Vine, for within it is its Sap : its leaves are
'uthras and its tendrils rays of light. 'Uthras sit in its shade. And within
the great first Cloud of Light there came into existence, within the
Treasure-of-Light there was generated, the Secret Mana.
And Life be
praised.
Chapter 41
I worshipped
and praised Treasure-of-Light, the great Awaker (yawar) of Life, who broke
bread in the Hidden and gave (thereof) to the Mighty First Life in Its
Dwelling. I praised the seven mystic precious and preserved manas who derived
existence from Their Place and were transplanted from Their Treasure-house. I
worshipped and praised the mighty First Life that transported Itself from Its
Place, transferred itself from its own Treasurehouse in which it came into
existence, was developed, dwelt and was established; and (whereof) It
discoursed and wherein It had gloried.
It praiseth
and speaketh, "Every Nasoraean who reciteth these secret sayings will seek
and find, will speak and be heard seven times daily. And seven sins will be
forgiven him in the great Place of Light and Eternal Abode."
And Life be
praised!
Chapter 42
I worship,
laud and praise that first secret Word which Yawar imparted in secret. He
expounded and explained it and established therein that which is living, Rays
(of his light). And Yawar said "Enlightenment and praise have come to
pass". And Yawar came and his glory rested upon his own shkinta. Radiance
and Light came and were established before him : Glory and Enlightenment came
and dwelt at his right hand. And the 'uthras ask the Life to behold the
appearance of Yawar-Ziwa in their (its?) radiance, and to commend the prayer
and praise which they pronounced to Shilmai and Nidbai, the 'uthras who are the
two messengers of Manda-d-Hiia
Yawar hath
said, "Every Nasoraean who repeateth this secret prayer seven times daily,
seven sins a day shall be forgiven him. And Life abideth in its Dwelling".
Life is
victorious.
Chapter 43
Thou art
enduring, First Life before Whom no being had existence, Unearthly One from
worlds of light, Supreme Being that art above all works, above the Ancient
Radiance and above the First Light; above the life which emanated from Life and
above the Truth (kushta) which was of old in the Beginning!
Thou,
Manda-d-Hiia, hast established for thy chosen that which thou hast revealed to
us from the book Nhur (Be light) and front Pta usra (They revealed treasure
from the first treasure and from 'Usar Nhura (Treasure of Light), a solace, a
great support of life, that which shineth in light, the light of which
enlighteneth.
It (Manda, gnosis)
came into being, was revealed, fulfilled and went forth in strength abundant
and became mighty by growth of knowledge It increased in radiance and was full
of light which proceeded from the Counterpart (?) of Life, a wondrous
counterpart!
Thereupon the
worlds were ashamed, for none had seen its like, its brilliance or its glory.
Kushta
standeth by his friends and Manda-d-Hiia by his chosen ones.
For thou hast
chosen (us), host taken us out of the world of hatred, envy and disputes and
hast set us firmly on paths of truth and faith, so that we stand and praise the
holy and guarded place. And he who partaketh of this bread (pihta), put out
(for him) will be sinless in the Place of Light, the Everlasting Abode.
And Life is
victorious.
[These are the
prayers appointed for the pihta].
Chapter 44
Biriawish,
source of living waters, first upsurging that sprang forth, great outburst of
the radiance of all-abundant Life! (Be) life for the souls of this masiqta.
[This is the
appointed prayer for the mambuha, If there are (several) souls, read as
written; if one soul say 'for this the soul of N.']
Chapter 45
Thy name, (O)
Life, is excellent: its glory is great, its light abundant, Its goodness came
over (or overflowed), inaugurating the First Mystery, life which proceeded from
Life and Truth which existed before the beginning. This is a wellspring of life
which sprang forth from the Place of Life: we drink thereof, of this Fount of
Life which Life transmitted was established in the House of Life, which crossed
worlds, came, cleft the heavens and was revealed.
Thou hast
shown us that which the eye of man hath not seen, and caused us to hear that
which human ear has not heard. Thou hast freed us from death and united us with
life, released us from darkness and united us with light, led us out of evil
and joined us to good. Thou hast shown us the Way of Life and hast guided our
feet into ways of truth and faith so that Life cometh and expelleth darkness
and goodness cometh and casteth out evil. (Like) the mingling of wine with
water, so may Thy truth, thy righteousness and thy faith be added to those who
love Thy name of Truth,
And Life be
praised.
[This is the
set prayer for the mambuga (sacramental drink). Make the pihta and the
mambuhamasiqta, and then make the myrtle wreath.] and place them (ready for)
the
Chapter 46
In the Name of
Life!
The Light
became light, the Light became light! The Light became the light of the First
Life. Glory dawned and (there was) praise of the Mana who came from his Place.
He came (with) all ether-wreath, with benefits that are from the Place of Light
and the Everlasting Abode. Yufin-Yufafin was the weaver of the wreath; she who
brought it was 'Nisbat'-Utria (She- planted i.e. was the mother of uthras). And
he who set wreath on was 'It-Yawar-Ziwa (There-is- dazzling-Radiance) son of
'Nisbat-'Utria: he brought it and set it on the head of the Mana, planted it
(there) so that it was set up (thereon).
The wreath
flames and the leaves of the wreath flame. Before the Mana there is radiance,
behind the Mana there is light and glory, at either side of the Mana are
radiance, brilliance and purity; and at the four corners of the heavens and on
the seven sides of the firmament dwell silence, bliss and glory.
And Life is
victorious.
Chapter 47
Enlightened
and enlightening are words of light to the souls of this masiqta. Sure,
assured, armed and prepared, resplendent and beauteous (are they) when the
wreath with its mysteries is set on the heads of these souls of this ascent
(masiqta) to the great gate of Abathur's house. They will open to them the
great gate of Abathur's house and will guard them by secret and watchful manas.
And Life be
praised!
[These two
prayers are said over the myrtle-wreath in the masiqta.]
Chapter 48
In the name of
the Life!
Manda-d-Hiia
went to the stars. His appearance loosed the bound (souls): he knit (them
into?) the communion that is without parting and without limit or number, by
his word which issued from him in that place. All the worlds were confounded:
the works of the House were destroyed and there was security for sons of the
Great Family of Life.
He planted his
planting and descended to the earth, (where) the hand of Evil, of the Lord of
the House, lay heavy upon them. And when wickedness oppressed them, they beheld
his radiance, and some of the celestial fruits appeared to them, the strength
and name of the Ineffable One Who is all light was revealed to them and some of
His glory was communicated to them and Knowledge of Life (Manda-d-hiia) was
revealed to all who love his name of Truth at the place which is wholly
(inhabited by) those convicted of sin. And when they beheld him, the lords of
the worlds were con- founded but did not, from their thrones, loose (the bonds
of) the captives.
He passed by:
the captives were freed. He loosed them from their sins and trespasses: yea,
release from their bodies was made possible to them. And (as for) the lords of
the House who looked on, their ranks were discomfited and they were unable to
reach him. Yea, the name of Abathur was (set) over them and the name of
Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia was fulfilled and revealed to those who love his name. And
his name shall (aid) the souls of this masiqta: it will be his name. And Life
is victorious.
[This is the
recitation appointed for the masiqta. Read it over pure oil in something (pure
?) and place it before thee and then read the masiqta.]
Chapter 49
In the name of
the Strange (Sublime) Life!
This, the
glory and light of life, is to bring forth the spirit and soul from the body
and to clothe the living soul in a living garment. Yea, she is solaced and liveth,
the counterpart of Life, she that emanated from a Dimat of Life, with the Outer
Life, with Hauraran and Karkawan-Ziwa, with Treasure-of-Light, the solace and
great support of life, with life that emanated from the Life and with the truth
which existed of old in the beginning, They live in their shecinahs, and the
Great Light (abideth) in its purities.
When any human
being departeth from his body, there come towards him seven godlike appearances
, and each standeth by his own, And Sauriel the Releaser cometh -- he who
releaseth spirit and soul from the body. Up there, with those works, he
standeth with the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia which releaseth (the soul).
And Hauraran and Karkawan-Ziwa remove from her that in her which is of the body,
and she putteth on the dress of Yuzataq- Manda-d-Hiia. Garment on garment she
putteth on, she arrayeth herself in robe after robe, When she weareth the
vesture of Yuzataq- Manda-d-Hiia there, she laugheth, rejoiceth, leapeth for
joy, danceth, exulteth and is overjoyed about the glorious splendour resting
(upon her) and the glory that accrueth to her.
Onward she
goeth in the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia, The planets who are in their
places were out of coutenance on seeing it: they clenched their fists, beat on
the forecourt of their breasts and say "Woe on (us) planets! for they (we)
are powerless, but the works of Their hands are victorious!"
And they say
"How beautiful is this radiancy, how steadfast this light, how lovely this
glory and how wondrous this appearance!" And they ask "who will
clothe us with this radiance ? Who will cover us with this light and who will
shed on us this glory ? And what is it that passeth before us in this guise ?
for it is fair, shining and bright: in this world nothing made can be compared
to it!" And they exclaim "How good is Kushta to the good, and
Manda-d-Hiia to all his chosen, (those) who stand in their bodies and dedicate
themselves to the name of the Life and to becoming (thus)!"
She goeth on
in the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia and they let those deeds of hers pass by
and (escape) the hands of all the planets.
And on she
went and reached Abathur's house of detention, (Abathur), the Ancient, Lofty,
Holy and Guarded one. There his scales are set up and spirits and souls are
questioned before him as to their names, their signs, their blessing, their
baptism and every- thing that is therewith.
The soul of N.
hath entered the House of Abathur and hath given her name, her sign, her
blessing, her baptism and everything that is therewith!
The souls of
our fathers were signed with the sign of Life and the name of the Life and the
name of Manda-d-Hiia was pronounced over them. They put them in the scales,
putting in their deeds and rewards I) and weighed them. And the perfect went in
(also), the spirit with the soul, but they took them out (for they were) clean.
Radiance issued from the radiance of Abathur and clothed them and they brought
light and covered their (therewith).
(Like them)
she (the soul) put on garment on garment and robe over robe like the vestments
of Abathur. There she laugheth, rejoiceth, leapeth for joy, danceth, exulteth
and is overjoyed about the glorious splendour which resteth (on her) and
accrueth to her . And she proceedeth in the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia and
went on and reacheth the watch-house (house of detention) of four beings, sons
of perfection, 'In-Hai, Sum-Hai, Ziv-Hai and Nhur-Hai . Each of these beings
clotheth her with his radiance and each covereth her with his light. Garment on
garment she putteth on, with garment after garment doth she clothe herself.
When she puts on the vesture of the sons of perfection she laugheth, rejoiceth,
leapeth for joy, danceth, exulteth and is overjoyed about the glorious
splendour, the honour resting on and belonging to her.
She proceeded
in the vesture of Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia and went onwards and reached the Waters
of Death . The waters covered her, (but) Radiance crossed over- his name abode
in his shkinta : honoured and chosen, he created himself - and said "Life,
I am Thine, and for Thy name's sake came I forth from the world of Pthahil,
from amongst evil plots and from beneath the throne of Abathur the Ancient, so
that we tray bring out this soul of N, of this masiqta (so that) she cometh
before him".
He is the ray
of the great radiance of Life, a being who resteth upon the shkinta, and upon
shkinta doth his name rest. He graspeth her with the palm of his right hand and
handeth her over to two 'uthras, sons of light, to Adatan and Yadatan, of one
gnosis and one mind. And Adatan and Yadatan hand her over to two 'uthras, to
'Usar-Hai and to Pta-Hai who open the Door of Life, plant the plant of Life and
establish the first counterpart of the House of Life. They raised her up beside
the living they bring her in, in the likeness of Life they support her in the
Place where radiance, like light, flameth. And the spirits of N. went and
became of the same nature as the soul and was established in the House of Life.
And Life is
victorious.
50
Rightly did
the baptist baptise me (in the waters of?) Yaluz-Yaluz for their spring is
Hammamulai. My name, Ksasar-Hamamulai is spoken, disseminated, guarded, hidden
and pure. They (the waters?) knew the source from which they proceeded: its
name was on the sky, its glory on the earth. For upon treasure, in treasure,
the Great Life existed and was fulfilled in Its glory.
I sit on a
perfected garment and by the great fountainhead of Yukabar-Hiia, beneath a Vine
which riseth above me. Praise-of-Life standeth before me. "Who will
manifest himself and come and speak to me?" "I am he who is manifest,
for I am great". The life that is beneath me is the Vine which riseth
above me, Praise-of-Life standeth before me. This is my name and my sign which
I received from waves of water and from treasures of radiance and from the
great and lofty Mixing-Bowl (?).
And Life is
victorious.
51
In the name of
the Life!
I am baptised
in the name of the Strange Life, the Sublime (Being) above all works. I am
established in the name of Treasure-of-Light. "I looked upon the Life and
the Life looked upon me, and in the Life put I my trust. When this the soul of
N. casteth off her bodily garment, she shall put on the dress of life and
become a facsimile of the Great Life in light."
Yawar from the
House of Life revealed (himself?) and shone forth , establishing his
counterpart, transplanting the Great Life in his light. The worlds thrust at
us, but we fell not; backed by Thy truth, we have confidence. The first sprout
hath burst forth - a ray of the great radiance of Life in its triumphs; Truth
(Kušta ) and the great Source (kana) of its glory.
And Life be
praised!
52
Whose son am
I? (Of?) the guarded Mana who is Yusmir, the First Great Radiance, son of the
great Primal Life, who pondered and went forth seeking His own, that which came
from Him. The congregation of souls, on the last day, when departing from their
bodies, rejoice in Him, embrace Him and rising up, behold the outer ether and
the enduring Abode and praise the Great Life in Its light.
And Life is
victorious!
53
A letter,
union and victory have come to this the soul of N. from the House of Life. Its
fastening is water, its wreath is light, its weapon the living word, and its
seal the Chosen, the Pure One. Every man who openeth it and readeth therein
shall live, be whole, and his name will beset up in the House of Life in the
name of the Great Sublime Life. And the First Life is established in Its
škinta.
[This is the
seal of the masiqta. Up to this point recite the masiqta, and here take the
pihta and break off a morsel from one upper fatira and the undermost fatira and
bring a portion of the Ba and fold them together. And mingle the "water of
prayer" with the wine and recite over them "Yukasar chose her (the
soul) who passeth over" and recite "The Life spoke and opened"
and part thy pandama and eat thy pihta and drink thy mambuha and recite
"The Water of Life burst forth in splendour in its škinta.]
54
Yukasar chose
her that passeth (crosseth) over; he chose her, called her forth and
established her. He clothed her in radiance ineffable and brought light
abounding and covered her therewith. He raised her up to the Great Place of
Light and the everlasting Abode, and in his own škinta his (the dead man's)
soul was assigned (a place) and found rest in his treasure. Living waters
(water of Life) from the House of Life burst forth (in splendour ) and (like
them?) shall shine forth the souls who are called upon, raised up and signed in
this masiqta, (the souls of) our fathers, teachers, brothers and sisters who
have departed the body, and of those who still live in the body. They shall
rise upward on a smooth road and by the path of the perfect, shall behold the
Place of Light and the everlasting Abode and be established by Him who opened
(revealed) the great first light.
And Life is
victorious.
55
The Great Life
spoke and revealed (opened ) with His mouth, in His own radiance light and
glory. And Life be praised.
[This is for
the loosing of the pandama. Recite this "Yukasar chose her who passeth
over" over the "water of prayer" and wine when they are mingled
together. If it is for (several) souls that he has recited read as written, but
if for a single soul say "the soul of N. , shall be awakened" . And
say "The Great Life spoke and opened with His mouth'' and part thy
pandama, eat thy pihta and drink thy mambuha. And recite "The living water
shone forth in its place" then rise, and read one prayer alter another
until the (prayer) ''Yukasar chose her that passeth over" hath been
offered up.]
56
In the name of
the Life!
Living waters
shone forth (in splendour) in their škinta. The robes of the good were
resplendent in their place. The great Mana was dazzlingly bright in His glory.
So (too) shall these living, (brightly) shining, steadfast and vigorous souls
shine in splendour in the great Place of Light and the Everlasting Abode.
[This is a
prayer of dedication for the "water of prayer"]
57
Fragrant
incense riseth to its place and Thou, Life, be victorious! The Forgiver of
sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes will forgive all those who
love his name of Truth (Kušta ) (likewise) the soul of N.
And Life is
victorious.
[A dedication
prayer for the incense]
58
In the name of
the Life!
Praised be the
First Life, praised be the Word of the First Life: praised be that radiance,
light and glory; praised be that Light which is boundless and endless and none
know when it came into being. Praised be the Lord of Greatness and praised be
all the 'uthras that stand to the right and left of the Lord of Greatness and
praise the Lord of Greatness. Praised be my father Yawar, praised be all the
'uthras who stand and praise my father Yawar. Praised be that great first
Jordan in which the First Life was baptised. Praised be all jordans of living
water: praised be the fruits, grapes and trees which stand by them. Praised be
all the mighty and lofty worlds of light; praised be all those sanctuaries
(shkinata) of the Hidden for in each and every škinta sit a thousand thousand
'uthras, ('uthras) without end, and the myriad myriad sanctuaries that are
countless. Praised are those thousand thousand 'uthras without end and the
myriad myriad sanctuaries beyond count.
Praised be all
those banners of radiance, light and glory unfurled before them which give them
light. Praised be the great gate of the House of Abathur; praised be all
'uthras who stand before Abathur and praise him. Praised be the three hundred
and sixty scales which are set up before the ancient Abathur; praised be that
first great Scales that was set up before Abathur the Ancient. Praised be that
great occult Drop from which he proceeded. Praised be all 'uthras who sit upon
thrones of rest and recite ordinances and masiqtas and secret prayers. Praised
be those recitations, masiqtas, and secret prayers in which the Great (Life) is
praised. Praised be those priests who sit with them.
Praised be all
mountains of radiance, light and glory; praised be all roads and paths of
light.
First Life! Lift up Thine eyes upon these
souls called upon, raised up and signed in this masiqta and (the souls of) our
father, brothers and sisters who have departed the body, and of those who still
tarry in the body. Deliver them, save them and protect them from this world of
the wicked and from those watch-houses (purgatories). Let thy mercy, Great
First Life, rest upon them. And ye shall say "Life is established in its
indwellings".
And Life is
victorious.
[This is an
offering-up of supplications. It is the dedicatory prayers of the masiqta. Pray
"We have acknowledged", "Praises", "Thee,
Thyself", "Raising eyes" and "I sought to raise my
eyes". If thou recitest for (several) souls read as written, if it is one
soul say "Lift thine eyes upon the soul of N"].
59
Life is
fulfilled in its own glory and the Great Light established by its victories.
[This is the
prayer offered up for the pihta].
60
The Great Life
dwelleth in those that love Him, and His devotees dwell in the Great Place of
Light and the Everlasting Abode.
And Life be
praised!
[This is the
dedicatory prayer for the mambuha.]
61
An earthly
wreath fadeth, but the wreath of Life is fresh and living. The wreath of an
elect righteous man is set and shineth on the heads of those who love the name
of Truth (Kušta ). The wreath is from the world of light and the robe from the
Everlasting Abode. The ether-wreath is set, with its purities, and shineth on the
heads of these souls of this masiqta.
And Life is
victorious.
[This is the
prayer put up for the wreath of a masiqta. If thou recitest for several souls,
read as written, but if for a single say "on the head of this soul of
N."]
62
The worlds
glisten (with costly) oil, but Nasoraeans shine with the radiance of Life.
And Life is
victorious.
63
In great
radiance am I immersed and in steadfast light am I established. Manda baptised
me, Kušta confirmed me. A letter, communication (communion) and purity came to
me from the House of Life. Its fastening is water, its wreath is light, its
weapon the living word, and its seal the chosen, pure one. Every man who
openeth it and readeth therein shall live, shall be whole and his name will be
set up in the House of Life, in the name of the great Sublime Life from worlds
(of light?).
And Life is
victorious.
[This is the
prayer offered up for the masiqta oil.]
64
The Life
dwelleth in its own radiance and light.
And Life be
praised!
[This is the
confirmation of the (prayer) "Yukasar chose her who passeth over".
Here recite "Ye are set up and raised up" and the masiqta-hymns.]
65
Ye are set up
and raised up into the Place where the good are established amongst manas of
light, the souls called upon and raised up and signed by this masiqta and (the
souls of) our fathers, our teachers, our brothers and our sisters who have
departed the body, and of those who are(still) living in the body. Your manas
shall be set up in the Light and ye will be established in the Light.
And Life is victorious.
66
In the name of
the Life!
I am crowned
with a wreath and lay me down
In a dress in
which there is no blemish.
No spot is
there in the dress,
Nor is there
aught missing or lacking in it.
The Life knew
about me.
Adam, who
slept, awoke;
He grasped me
with the palm of his right hand
And gave
(not?) into my hand a palmbranch.
Light cast me
into darkness,
But the
darkness was filled with light.
The day that light ariseth,
Darkness
returneth to its place.
The souls of
this masiqta
Approach a
cloud of light.
Their journey
is to the Place of Light.
And Life be
praised.
[This is a
masiqta hymn]
67
With him, with
the Deliverer
The souls of
this masiqta will ascend.
They will
behold the Place of Light
And the
Everlasting Abode.
On their road
the Seven will not detain them,
Nor will the
Judge of the False question them.
The Life will
count you in His reckoning
And the good
will set you up in their midst.
To the place
to which the good go they will guide you
And in the
place in which they stand they will set you up;
Lamps of
radiance are found before you,
Beams of light
behind you.
Kušta will
come at your right
And Piety will
smoothen your path.
For you there
will be loosings
From here to
the Everlasting Abode.
For the ferry
which ferries over the Elect
Will set out
towards you and take you across.
(Then) from
Abathur of the Scales
A saviour will
come forth towards you.
The saviour that cometh towards you
Is all
radiancy and light from head to foot
Like the
wreath in his right hand.
And on his two
arms is a robe.
Bestir
yourselves! Put on your robes!
Put on your
living wreaths, gird on your girdles
In which
nothing is awry or blemished.
Above your
head there will be fruit,
And there, at
your time and season
Your manas
will be set up in the Light.
Your manas in
the Light will be set up.
(So) rise up,
behold the Place of Light!
And Life is
victorious.
68
Between the
Hidden and the Radiance,
Between Light
and the 'uthras,
Between the
Hidden and the Radiance
Stand those
who question the soul,
Saying to her
"Speak! say, soul,
Who
constructed thee? who was thy Builder?
Who built thee
and who was the Being, thy Creator?"
The soul spoke
and said --
The edified,
well-constructed soul spoke --
And saith to
the Being who questioneth her,
Said to him,
'My father, One built me, One constructed me"
One was the
Being who transplanted me;
One of the
sons of salvation in his goodness
Took
(accepted) his lot (duty).
He folded me
in a wrapping of radiance,
Took (me) and
gave me over to Adam.
Adam, in his
simplicity, whilst he knew not nor understood,
Took and cast
me into a physical body;
Took me and
cast me into a physical body
That is all
sour and bitter fluids and decaying substances.
(There) the
soul remaineth and waiteth in the hostel of the body
Which he had
bequeathed her: sitteth and watcheth over it
Till its
measure and count were accomplished.
When its
measure and count were accomplished
The Deliverer
came to her;
To her came
the Deliverer
Who loosed her
and bore her away:
(Yea), he who
had bound her, who had loosed the soul,
Went before
her whom he had bound.
Coming behind
him, the soul hasted
Reached her
Deliverer, ran (after) him
Who had bound
her to her dwelling.
The soul and
her Deliverer (go):
Her course is
to the Place of Light,
To the place
whose sun goeth not down,
Nor do its
lamps of light grow dim.
To it, and to
that place, those souls
That are
called upon in this masiqta
And signed by
this sign, are summoned and invited.
They shall
behold the great Place of Light
And the
abiding Abode.
And Life be
praised.
69
Bliss and
peace there will be
On the road
which Adam attained:
Bliss and
peace there shall be
On the road
which the soul traverseth.
The soul hath
loosed her chain and broken her bonds;
She hath shed
her earthly garment.
She turned
round, saw it and was revolted
She uttered an
evil curse on the being
Who had
clothed her in the body.
She provoked
the Framer-of-Bodies, she roused him
From the lair
in which he lay. She said to him,
"Rise up,
look, Framer-of-Bodies;
The hollow of
thy hand is filled with water!"
The voice of
the Framer-of-Bodies (is heard),
Who howleth
and weepeth for himself
And saith
"Woe is me that the hollow of my hand
Is filled with
water!" And to her he saith
"Go in
peace, daughter of the free, whom
In the house
of evil ones they called handmaiden.
Go in peace,
pure pearl that was transported
From the
treasuries of Life;
Go in peace,
fragrant one who imparted
Her fragrance
to the stinking body.
Go in peace,
radiant one, who illumined
Her dark
house. Go in peace,
Pure and
chosen one, immaculate and spotless!"
Flying, the
soul went
Until she
reached the House of Life:
She arrived at
the House of Life.
`Uthras went
forth towards her,
Saying to her
"Take and put on thy robe of radiance
And set on thy
living wreath!
Arise, dwell
in the škintas,
The place
where `uthras abide, conversing;
And Life is
victorious and triumphant is Manda-d-Hiia
And lovers of
his name".
And Life be
praised!
70
Blessed and
praised be Life
Who is filled
with compassion for these souls.
Praised be
thou, my lord, Manda-d-Hiia,
For thou
raisest up these souls and dost not condemn them.
Praised be
thou, pure Yushamin,
For thou wilt
give them thy helping hand.
Be ye praised,
Shilmai and Nidbai,
For ye will
give true witness concerning them.
And be ye
praised, Hibil, Shitil, and Anush
For ye will
ransom them from the House-of-Dues
And from
Abathur of the Scales!
For toward you
will go forth a messenger,
And the messenger who goeth toward you
Is all
radiance and light from head to foot.
In his right
hand a kind of wreath
And on both
his arms a robe.
Up! put on
your robes, set on your living wreaths!
Gird on your
girdles that are flawless and faultless!
Above your
heads there will be fruit,
And your lamps
will hang amongst lamps of light
And will shed
light.
The Lord of
Tolls will not confront you
Nor will lying
judges put you to the question.
They will
bring you liberating words
From here unto
the Everlasting Abode,
The building
that was built for you in the House of Life,
Will not come
to nought in an age of ages!
And may some
of Manda-d-Hiia's radiance and light
And the
revivifying-breath of Life rest upon us!
Blessed is the
Voice of Life
And praised be
the great Beam which is all light.
And Life be
praised.
[After thou
hast recited "The Life dwelleth in its own radiance and light",
"Ye are set up", "I am crowned with a wreath and lay me
down", "With him, with the Deliverer", "Between the Hidden
and the Radiance", "Bliss and peace there will be", "My
vigilance and my praise giving", "Go in peace, Pure Chosen one",
"Well, well is it for thee, soul" and the other hymns, as many as
thou art able, then recite the "Blessed and praised is Life" of Shem
son of Noah.
If thou
readest for (several) souls, read as it is written, but if only for one soul,
say "The soul of N." and pay attention, with all watchfulness,
clearness of mind and studious attention and recite "Good is the good for
the good"; perform Kušta with one another and recite "In great
radiance am I immersed".
And pray a
prayer for yourselves and make pihta and mambuha for yourselves and eat your
pihta and drink your mambuha And offer up the prayer "Good is the good for
the good", perform Kušta with one another for yourselves and (then) honour
your crowns. ]
And Life is
victorious.
71
In the name of
the Life!
Blessed and
praised be the Life!
Blessed and
praised be the name of Life in the Place of Light!
Blessed and
praised art thou, my lord, Manda-d-Hiia;
Thou and thy
strength, thy radiance, thy light, thy glory and thy help.
Praised art
thou, my father Yushamin the Pure,
Son of a
transplanting of the mighty Life.
Praised art
thou, Second Life, Life that is from Life.
Praised are
ye, Shilmai and Nidbai, guardian 'uthras of the jordan.
Praised are
ye, Nsab and Anan-Nsab.
(Praised are)
our fathers Hibil, Shitil and Anush
The name and
chief of the whole race.
Praised art
thou, Lofty Abathur;
Blessed and
established is the great škinta in which thou sittest.
Praised are ye
four beings, sons of Perfection, who go to meet the good;
Go forth to
meet the good and clothe the good with robes.
Praised art
thou, Earth of Light and blessed and praised Those who dwell in thee.
Blessed art
thou, Road of the great, path of the perfect
And track that
riseth up to the Place of Light.
Blessed art
thou, Nasirutha from whom the elect learn;
From thee
learn the elect, and deal out reward and pious gift
They deal with
reward and pious gift and rise up and behold the Place of light.
Praised art
thou, jordan of living water, for from thee we obtain purity;
We obtain
purity from thee and receive the pure sign.
My fathers
beheld the Life and my teacher the Place of Light.
The 'uthras of
light are victorious,
And victorious
Abathur and the sons of Perfection
Who stand,
praising the Life.
Enlargement of
life there shall be for the believing
Who have
departed out of our midst;
The believers,
the poor, the lowly and priests.
And my lord
Manda-d-Hiia will lend them his helping hand.
Thankfully
received are the good gifts (tabuta) of life,
The good gifts
of life and of knowledge of life,
The pihla that
..... at the name of the Life.
For any man
who giveth an oblation,
His oblation
will be his helper: elect and perfect men
Who bestow
oblations will rise by Kušta 's path.
To them it
shall be given.
Of the
Ether-wreath they twisted them a wreath
Of speech and
hearing, of joy, purity, goodness and greatness.
A wreath from
the Vine Ruaz He will set on the heads
Of those souls
called on, signed, and raised up by this masiqta;
(And the souls
of) our fathers, our teachers, our brothers and our sisters, of those who have
departed the body and those
who are yet in
the body.
(A wreath like
that) set on Its head by the Great (Life)
And by the
Great (Life) given to 'uthras
And given by
'uthras to their priests.
Healer, whose
medicine is water, come!
Be thou a
healer to thy devotees,
To thy
devotees be thou a healer
And to him
that giveth oblation be thou a helper:
On him whom
thou hast healed, do thou,
My lord,
bestow soundness.
Behold him who
standeth before thee and condemn him not.
My Lord, High
King of Light, Revealer
Whose eyes are
uncovered, seeking justice
And enacting
justice for those who love it,
Do justice on
those who persecute us,
Those
persecutors who pursue us,
And on the
wicked and furious ones
Who scheme to
work evil upon us.
If it please
Thee, High King of Light,
Look on us and
condemn us not!
Behold these
souls who believed in Thee
And for Thy
name's sake stood by on earth
And were
persecuted. Show us pure ether-air
So that we may
forget earthly persecution,
That we may
forget the persecution of earth
And the
vexation of the wicked and liars.
Strengthen our
insight, our voice, our vigilance and our praise!
Thereby the
Great Life communed with thee
And set thee
up completely (?) with His radiance
And His light,
Manda-d-Hiia!
And may the
vivifying-power of Life rest upon us.
My elect, ye
shall say "Blessed be the Voice of Life
And praised be
the great Beam which is all light!"
And Life be
praised!
[This is the
"Blessed and praised be the Life" of Shem son of Noah. Afterwards,
read here "Blessed and praised be Life" of the souls, and then recite
"Good is the Good for the good".]
72
Good is the
Good for the good, and His nature is set upon those who love His name. We will
seek and find, speak and be heard. We have sought and found, have spoken and
been heard in thy presence, my lord, Manda-d-Hiia, Lord of all healings.
Forgive him
his sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes and (those of) him who
furnished this bread, masiqta and (ritual) food. My lord, Manda-d-Hiia and
(Thou) Great First Life, forgive the sins trespasses, follies, stumblings and
mistakes of the donor(s) of fee and oblation, and their wives, children, their
priests and those who placed (brought) this bread and food; (likewise) you, my
parents, teachers, instructors and preceptors when ye support from the Left to
the Right. And ye shall say "Life be established in Its Dwellings and Life
be praised;
Life is
victorious over all works.
[Recite this
"Good is the Good for the good" when thou readest a masiqta. When
thou performest a baptism recite it, when thou distributest oil recite it, when
thou recitest the Rahmia ("Devotions" recite it, and after the
Rahmia. And recite it when thou partakest of the (ritual) dish. ]
And Life is
victorious.
The Letter
Chapter 73
In the name of
the Life!
A sealed
letter which leaveth the world --
A letter
written in good-faith (kushta)
And sealed
with the seal of the Mighty (Life) --
Righteous men
wrote it, believing men tied it on,
And suspended
it about the soul's neck
And despatched
it to the Gate of Life.
The soul, in
her wisdom,
Pressed her
nail on the letter,
Her nail she
pressed on the letter;
She imbued it
with her mystic radiance,
Wrapped it and
veiled it in her light.
How came it
that Daium saw
That the soul
bore a letter?
How was it that
Daium saw it
As her seven
sons gathered about her
And said
"Who hath written the letter
Whose secret
no man knoweth?
Who wrote the
letter that is sealed in
By these
protective strands?"
The letter is
written in good faith,
And sealed
with the seal of the Mighty (Life).
Righteous
(men) wrote it, believing men tied it on
And hung it
about the neck of the soul
And despatched
it to the Gate of Life.
The soul
flieth and goeth until she hath reached
The
watch-house of the Seven.
The
Chief-of-Dues, when he saw her,
(And) the
Governor, when they saw her,
Murmur
discontent and say
"Who hath
written the letter
Whose secret
no man knoweth?
Who wrote
letter that is sealed
By these
protective marks?"
"The
letter is written in good faith
And sealed
with the seal of the Mighty (Life).
Righteous
(men) wrote it;
Believing men
tied it up
And hung it
about the neck of the soul
And despatched
it to the Gate of Life".
The soul
flieth and travelleth on
Until she
reacheth spirits of Purgatory.
The spirits of
Purgatory abased their heads
And the soul
passed the purgatory-spirits by.
The soul
flieth and goeth
Until she came
to the waters of death.
As she reached
the waters of death
There came
forth towards her
A great Beam
of radiance (and) of life, (who)
Grasped her by the palm of her right hand
And brought
her over the waters of death.
The soul
flieth and goeth
Until she
reacheth the House of Life.
When she
reached the House of Life
She uttered a
cry to the House of Life,
And when He
heard her call, the Life
Sent a
messenger towards her,
(Who) grasped
her by the palm of her hand,
Conducted her,
(came) to support her
In the
likeness of the Life to the place
Of radiance,
light and beams of effulgence;
To unite her
to (the company of) 'uthras
And to set her
up amongst beams of light.
Upon her head
they placed a wreath of ether
And took her
out of the world in splendour.
Life supported
life: Life found Its own:
It hath found
Its own, and my soul hath found
That for which
she hoped.
And Life is
victorious.
[Up to here
recite over the flask of oil as it is put into clay up to the mouth of the
bottle. And the clay must be pure and from the jordan.]
Chapter 74
Bound
(secured) and sealed are the spirit and soul of N. by the seal of Kushta and
the great safeguard of truth by the word of Kushta and the raising (power) of Yukabar-Ziwa.
And Life is
victorious.
[This is the
conclusion of the "Letter". Set (press) thy seal-ring and the nail of
thy little finger of thy right hand into the clay, seal it and read this
conclusion over it. And Life is victorious].
[Shouldest
thou wish to administer oil (to a dying person), at the beginning and end order
the chief (relative) or remaining (persons: i.e. of the family?) to throw water
over the dying person. If he is a Mandaean (layman) they shall purify the hand
of the dying person and pour oil on it and sign it with three signings. And he
shall join with him and shall place his hand on his mouth and then put the
dying person's hand on his mouth. If immediate death is near (?) at the place
where they apply the oil they shall cleanse with water and purify him and bring
to him proxies (those like him).]
In the name of
the Great Life!
Health and
victory be mine, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush.
When thou
wishest to administer unction to anyone leaving the body (dying), say "In
the name of the Great Life, union and renewal of life and forgiving of sins be
there for this soul of N. son of N. of this "Letter and masiqta". And
bring a clean new bottle never before used, press out pure oil and place in it.
When enough, twine a wreath of myrtle about the bottle. And set it before thee
and recite for thy crown "In the name of that First Being" and set
thy crown on thy head. And recite beside thy crown "Life created
Yawar-Ziwa", "Let there be light", and "Manda created
me" for thy crown. And recite "Strengthened and enhanced is the great
mystery of radiance light and glory" and bind thy pandama over thy mouth.
And take the
phial into thy hand and recite "Water of Life art thou" over the
bottle. And recite "Hail to the First Life" for the incense and cast
incense on the fire and recite "We have acknowledged",
"Praises", "To Thee" and "Raising my eyes"; and
the bottle shall be in thy hand. And recite "I sought to raise eyes"
and at the place where it says "wilt wipe away and remove from N. his
sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes and cast them into the hells
of earth and into the nethermost Abaddons of darkness and wilt raise him up as
guiltless and not as guilty and as virtuous and not as vicious before thee,
Manda-d-Hiia. With thy radience thou wilt clothe him and with thy light thou
wilt cover him, and wilt set thy living wreath on his head, (the head of) this
the soul of N." And take care that thou readest to the end with attention!
And recite the
eight prayers for the pihta over the bottle and the two prayers for the
mambuhaMana", cover the bottle with the clay and take thy seal-ring with
three of thy fingers -- thy thumb and the finger next thy thumb and the little
finger -- and recite "The sealed letter which leaveth the world" and
at the place where it saith "a letter written in good faith and sealed
with the seal of the Mighty (Life)", seal with thy ring and the nail of
thy little finger. And until the end let thy seal and the nail of thy little
finger rest in the clay. And recite "Bound and sealed are the spirit and
soul of N. with the seal of Kushta and the great safeguard of strength in the
word of Kushta and the raising-up of Yukabar-Ziwa". over the bottle and
recite over the myrtle wreath "The Light became light",
"Enlightened and enlightening" and place the bottle on his head.
Recite "Manda-d-Hiia went to the stars: his appearance loosed" over
the bottle and take with thy forefinger some oil from the mouth of the bottle
and recite "(In the name of the) Strange (Sublime) Life, this, the glory
and light of Life" and at the place where it saith "to send forth
spirit and soul" say "of N". and where it saith "And
Sauriel the Releaser cometh, who releaseth spirit and soul" say "of
N." and at "everything that is therewith" sign the mouth of the
bottle; and at "the house of Abathur" sign the mouth of the bottle.
And where it saith "the spirit of N. went and became like the soul and was
raised up into the House of Life and Life is victorious" sign the mouth of
the bottle. And recite "Truly did my baptiser baptise me", "I am
baptised in the name of the Life", and "Whose son am I? Of the
guarded
And lift thy
seal-ring, thy nail and thy little finger from it and set it before thee and
recite "Praised be the First Life" and at the place where it says
"Lift thine eyes" say "upon N.". And thy pandamamanas
light" (insert) "the soul of N. is established in that place".
must be over thy mouth. And recite "Ye are set up and raised up in the
place where the good are established amongst
And (recite)
"I am crowned with a wreath and lay me down", "With Him, with
the Deliverer", "Between the Hidden and the Radiance",
"Bliss and peace there will be on the road which Adam attained",
"My vigilance and praise", "Go in peace, chosen, pure and
guiltless one in whom there is no spot", "The Mana rejoiceth in his
treasures", "Well is it for thee, well is it for thee, soul that
departed from the world", "Sunday, and Kushta and Oblation",
"I am provided and provisioned", "He rose and took me up with
him", "The day that the soul goeth forth" and "Ye are set
up and raised up, my Chosen".
And recite the
"Blessed and praised be Life" for the souls and here recite the
"Blessed and praised is Life" of Shem son of Noah. And where it saith
"To you it shall be given, of the Ether-wreath" say "to N. son
of N." (it shall be given).
And recite
"Good is the good for the good"; ask mercy for him and remit his sins
and his trespasses. And give it to him to whom thou givest it and grasp in
kushta the hand of him who holdeth (the hand) of the dying person and say to
him "This kushta which I entrust to thee, do thou convey it to
Abathur".
If it is
urgent to carry him away, bestir thyself (hurry) when thou recitest "The
sealed Letter which leaveth the world" and "Bound and sealed are the
spirit and soul of N.". Give him that which thou givest him, and take in
kushta the hand of him who taketh (the hand of )the dying person and say to him
"This kushta I speak to thee do thou speak it to Abathur". Thy
pandama must be over thy mouth. Then thou shalt recite "The First Life be
praised", "Ye are set up and raised up." and (so on) till the
"Good is the good for the good", just as I tell thee.
Offer up for
him the devotional prayers, hymns and the "raising" (prayers) of the
masiqta from beginning to end. And be careful (to insert) the name of him to
whom thou didst administer the oil. Let nothing be lacking and recite with
attention and care.
And Life is victorious.
Then, when
thou holdest thy pandama over thy mouth, pray for thyself. Make pihta and
mambuha for thyself, recite "The Great Life spake and opened Their
mouth" and eat thy pihtamambuha. And recite "Life is full", and
"The Great Life dwelleth" for thyself and recite "Good is the
good for the good" and perform the kushta-rite for thyself and honour thy
crown. and drink thy
And beware,
beware and beware lest thou begin any of the "loosing prayers"
without thy pandama. (Do it) only after thou hast made petitions for thyself.
And Life is
victorious.
This is the
Benediction of Oil, which Bihram-Rba, son of Adam celebrated for his mother
Hawa wife of Adam when she departed the body, whilst Hibil-Ziwa sat before
them.
This
Benediction of Oil was in the Diwan of Ramuia son of 'Qaimat of the town Tib,
written by Zazai-d-Gawazta son of Hawa. And Bayan-Hibil son of Brik-Yawar wrote
it. Here he distributed it, with these books, amongst a hundred Nasoraeans,
from his own Diwan which he had copied from Ramuia son of 'Qaimat's Diwan that
was found in the possession of Haiuna daughter of Yahia and Bainai son of
Zakia.
And
Bayan-Hibil son of Brik-Yawar said "Just as it was written, I wrote it and
all the mysteries of the Oil were therein. As far as Jerusalem, the city of the
Jews, their mysteries (sacramental ceremonies) are like these.
And Life is
victorious.
Exhort those
who administer the oil to be careful. If he (the apparently dying person) doth
not depart the body, let them bring him to thee. Recite "In great radiance
am I immersed", break open the seal, bear it away (?) and throw it into
the jordan.
And when thou
administerest oil, beware lest thou make a mistake. If thou hast committed an
error, it will need a "masiqta of the sixty" for him on whom the oil
falleth and it will be well. If impossible to carry him read a
"sixty" masiqta for him with seven food-trays, and at "that
which is with her" sign him and at "the House of Abathur" sign
him.
(If) the soul
(be that of) a good, pious person, one who hath people who will do good after
him, bring priests and celebrate sixty masiqtas for him in full with
everything. In the upraising of the sixty" sign him alone at (the words)
ma d-bh; at the words bit Abatur sign him alone. And in the last upraising sign
him alone at bit Abatur and (then) sign the souls of our fathers.
For a masiqta
thou requirest meat, water of prayer, incense, pihta, hamra, wreath and oil.
And in (on) the seven trays: - place there all that thou wishest in the trays
together with those mysteries (named above).
And when
(there is) a masiqta, read the homilies about the soul; let them be many, and
be compassionate. It is good (beneficial) for a soul on whom oil falleth.
Recite over him and over the seven rahbata and (pray for) Mandaeans, Nasoraeans
and the faithful. And pray the masiqtapihta and mambuha, the "bindings and
loosings" of the masiqta prayers "We have acknowledged",
"Praises", "Thee", "Lifting eyes", "I sought
to raise eyes" and all the appointed prayers for the from beginning to end.
Be careful;
make enquiry, display kindness, show compassion (during?) the homilies, and
loose him from his sins.
And Life is
victorious.
Then
Hibil-Ziwa taught and said "Great disgrace will fall on any Nasoraean who
(whilst) reading the masiqta openeth his pandama or adulterates the water of
prayer. He will not behold his Creator and will be smitten with that blow which
was administered to the First Eldest One because he sinned and blundered before
his Parents. And I, Hibil-Ziwa, will not reckon him amongst my own, nor count
him as one of my own".
And Hibil-Ziwa
said "Any Nasoraean who holds (to?) the pandama and doth not adulterate
the water of prayer, as long as he remaineth in the body shall have increase,
speech and a hearing because he hath neither removed nor changed aught of that
which his fathers commanded him, nor hath he performed the acts of Yushamin or
rendered a portion to the Well Sumqaq, nor did he stand in the heat of the Well
Sumqaq".
Every man who
celebrateth these mysteries must hold (wear) the pandama. When he holdeth his
pandama all the creatures of darkness are turned back from his presence, his
appearance will shine and all that he hath done will be confirmed by us.
And Life
is-victorious.
This is the
Book of Gadana which Hibil-Ziwa gave to the chosen elect, which I have copied
for myself. I am poor, lowly, child-like and striving, one whom the Seven and
Twelve persecute; one of the Root of the First (Life), one insignificant
amongst my fellow-priests and ganzibras, earth beneath the feet of Nasoraeans
and dust beneath the feet of the pious.
I, a slave who
is all sin, copied this Book of Gadana for myself so that there should be
someone to commemorate my name on earth and yonder in the celestial worlds of
light. For my heart hath loved the Life and mine eyes wait upon Manda-d-Hiia,
who will be to me a support, a deliverer and a rescuer from the sons of Krun
And I testify to the Life and to my lord Manda-d-Hiia with a true and faithful
heart.
I am Rabbi
Adam-Yuhana son of Bihram son of Sa'dan son of Msa'dan, Kamisia by name,
Rish-Draz. I copied it for myself from the book of a righteous and upnght
woman, a believing (creature) whose mind is pure; in it there is no lechery,
lust or harlotry. She consecrated herself to love of Truth (Kushta) and copied
this Book of Gadana so that there should be for her a commemorator on earth and
in the mighty celestial worlds of light, yonder. She was my own paternal
grandmother, her baptismal name was Anhar daughter of Sharat. May there be for
her enlargement of life! And the name by which she was called was 'diia,
daughter of Adam son of Sa'ad-Juwiri. (She copied it from?) the copy of the
great, lofty and respected R. Ram-Yuhana son of R. Yahia-Zihrun son of R.
Zihrun son of R. Adam son of R. Yahia-Adam son of R. Shitil son of R. Ram son
of R. Zakia son of R. Yahia son of R. Zakia son of a father of ganzibras, R.
Mhatam son of R. Sam, known as Manduia, family name 'kuma (Black). He copied it
from the book of the great, lofty and respected R. Yahia-Zihrun son of R.
Yahia-Bihram son of R. Adam son of R. Yahia-Adam known as Manduia, family name
'kuma. He copied it for a shalmana -- the craftsman Hadaiat son of the
craftsman Qasum son of Bihram son of Zakia of the sons of the Dihdaria (tribe),
family name Sabur, from the book of R. Zihrun son of Asta Faruk, Asta Nuruz,
his baptismal name being Bihram son of Adam-Yuhana son of Br-Hiia son of Zihrun
son of Yahia-Anush, son of the great lofty and respected R. Mhatam son of
Yahia-Baian son of Yuhana-Shadan, of the sons of the Dihdaria, family name
Sabur. He copied from the book of Shaha whose baptismal name was Hawa-Mamania
daughter of 'Aziz, family name Wasia. He copied it from a book (copied by?)
Bihram-Br-Hiia son of Adam-Zakia-Br-Hiia son of Baktiar son of Adam-Bihram,
family name Kuhilia, that was copied by the great, lofty and respected
master-builder of knowledge and understanding, a noble and distinguished
ganzibra, an excellent, accomplished man, devoted to the First Life, son of an
orthodox family (root), son of a highly-distinguished family, our teacher, R.
Yahia-Bihram son of a father of ganzibras, R. Sam-Bahran son of Yahia son of
Zakia son of Yuhana known as Buhaiiar, Zakia by name. May Mand-d-Hiia forgive
him his sins for he was kindly and long-suffering, and wrote this book so that
there should be commemoration for him on earth and yonder in the worlds of
light. And he copied it with the rubrics which had been copied by the great,
lofty, respected and reliable ganzibra Zihrun son of Br-Hiia son of Baktiar son
of Adam-Bihram, family name Kuhailia-may Manda-d-Hiia forgive him his sins! He
copied it for Sam-Yuhana son of Mhatam-Bulbul son of Sam, family name 'Asakir
from the book of R. Adam-Baktiar son of Yahia-Zakia-Zihrun son of Yuhana-Shitlan,
family name Rish-Draz ...
[The list of
copyists is so long that I venture to omit the rest this colophon of D.C. 53,
up to p. 98, line 16; (Translator).]
... Ziqa son
of Ninia. And Adam-Sabur said "I went to Bit-Hurdshaiia and travelled
around a great deal, but found no reliable masiqta equal to this masiqta. When
I saw that it was reliable I wrote this masiqta just as it was. And any priest
or Mandaean who prays, shall hold to this masiqta.
And now, ye
priests who hold to it, be staunch to this masiqta so that there may be
forgiveness for your sins, and the Life and Manda-d-Hiia and all the 'uthras
sons of light will be your helpers. But we will abandon and not approach any
man untrue to it.
And Life is
victorious.
So these
prayers were arranged from the "Explanation of Prayers of Baptism and the
Masiqta" which was copied from the Diwan of Ramuia son of 'Qaimat: their
father wrote (it?), Baian-Hibil son of Brik-Yawar and our master Baian son of
Zakia. It was in his library. So that these injunctions were written by Baian
son of Brik-Yawar. He distributed these books here amongst a hundred Nasoraeans
from his own library, which he had copied from the Diwan of Ramuia son of
'Qaimat which was housed by Haiuna daughter of Yahia and Baian son of Zakia.
For it was
written in the town of Tib. And Zakia copied it from the Diwan of Ramuia son of
'Qaimat and Yahia (?) copied from the Diwan of Sam son of Anush-Yahia, and Sam
copied from the Diwan of Bihram son of Brik-Alaha ...? and Anush copied from
the Diwan of 'Qaiam son of Sharat and 'Qaiam copied from Qaiuma son of
Brik-Alaha and Qaiuma copied from Shganda son of Yasmin, and Shganda son of
Yasmin copied from the Diwan Zazai-d-Gawazta br Hawa and Zazai-d-Gawazta copied
from the Diwan of the First Life.
And Ramuia son
of 'Qaimat said "From the day on which it fell from (was written by)
Zazai-d-Gawazta son of Hawa till now, the years in which I wrote it, is (a
space of) 368 years in the ages". And Ramuia son of 'Qaimat said "I
wrote this Diwan in the town of Tib in the years when Anush son of Danqa
departed with the heads of the people (ethnarchs), in the years when the Arabs
advanced".
Then
Baian-Hibil son of Brik-Yawar wrote "I purified myself when I got
possession of these mysteries. And I myself travelled around and went on foot
to Nasoraeans and took many diwansMasiqta and Oil-of-Unction. I have written
them here and have distributed them to a hundred Nasoraeans in order that they
may hold to and be staunch to them. from place to place. And nowhere did I find
"mysteries" as reliable as these Mysteries of Baptism and
"And now,
ye priests! Hold and abide by this end (purpose), like 'uthras of light who
stood by these mysteries, all of them, and confirm it in a communion to which
Yawar is joined.
"And any
man who doth not confirm this end (conclusion) we will avoid and not approach
him. He may go in his clothes and roll in his filth! His habitation will be the
Sumqaq Well."
Then the
writing of Ram-Ziwa-Bihram son of Baian: -- "I have looked into the Diwan
of 'The Great Wellspring' of Ramuia son of 'Qaimat. Any person who writeth the
Book of Gadana and removeth any of the injunctions assigned and written
therein, Thou wilt place in clouds of darkness. And anyone who writeth a book
of rejection, or removeth any of the injunctions written therein so that they
are broken, shall be cursed with a great curse. For this is the curse which the
First Life uttered and pronounced, "Anyone who becometh hostile to the
Life shall die the second death of an enemy: he will belong to the Darkness; he
will fall and for him there will be no uprising".
(But) those who have not removed trust in
the Life or (changed) any part of that which they wrote and taught about it,
any individual, he and his opinion: and hath delivered them from their sins ..
Moreover, anyone who cuts a copy, or extracts therefrom the name of its owner,
shall be cut off (himself and sent) to the watch-houses (purgatories) of the
planets. And at the Great Judgement he will stand up, but Abathur will not take
his hand in kushta.
Life is
victorious over all works and victorious is Yawar-Ziwa and his helpers, his
people, his priests, and his holding (partisans).
And Life and
all Its works are victorious.
Hymns of
Praise
Chapter 75
In the name of
the Great Life! May there be healing, victory, strenght, soundness, speech and
hearing for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnus, from the Life!
We have
acknowledged and praises (are due) To the mighty sublime First Life, The Ineffable
which is over all works. (I come), bringing (dedicating) my head and my mouth
To the Life and to the implanted Word And to 'Usar-Hiia, the great solace and
support of Life In order to praise, honour, magnify, bless and exalt Thee.
(Yet) who shall praise Thee 2), Life? And who, Life, shall magnify the
greatness of Thy victories? Thou art lauded, Thou art magnified, thou art
glorified And Thou art exaltedl (For lo) Thou art come, Thou camest and none
but Thee came. At Thy radiancy the riders were afraid , At Thy light gates and
kingdoms were troubled. on seeing Thee the Jordan turned about, [he waves of
the sea rolled back And the islands of the sea were thrown into confusion,
Chariots were overthrown and they fell on their faces. Cedars of Lebanon were rent,
mountains shook and leaped like stags.
They opened
and gave praise. Does in the desert shed their young untimely; The heights
arise and speak in (Thy) honour. The earth trembled and was shaken. Jordan!
whom didst thou behold that thou didst turn back? Waves of the sea! wherefore
did ye roll back ? Isles of the seal why were ye thrown into confusion?
Chariots! wherefore did ye overturn and fall on your faces ? Cedars of Lebanon!
why were ye rent ? Mountains! wherefore were ye shaken and why did ye leap like
stags?
(Why) did ye
open and give praise ?
Does in the
desert! on account of 'Whom did ye miscarry your young?
Heights! in
Whose honour did ye arise and speak ?
Earth ! Whom
didst thou behold and (at what) didst thou tremble ?
"At the
Radiance which surpasseth all radiance, At the Light which surpasseth all
lights, And at the Good Being who crossed the worlds And came and cleft the
firmament and revealed Himself." When the Life gazed (down) and looked on
the earth And Its Glory alighted upon the roofs of Its Building, (Lo!) they
were sitting on thrones of rebellion. They got down meekly from their thrones
And fell upon their faces. It eclipsed and took away The glory of the worlds
and generations And quenched the flames of their lamps. It set the eyes of the
planets in the depths of the earth And in the lower glooms of Ilarkness. Spirit
(ruha) lifted up her voice, She cried aloud and said, "My Father, my
Father Why didst Thou create me ? My God, my God, My Allah, why hast thou set
me afar off And cut me off and left me in the depths of the earth And in the
nether glooms of darkness So that I have no strength to rise up thither?"
All arose, prayed and praised the majesty of mighty (Life) And their voices sang
to the Glory that is mighty Praising the Radiance which surpasseth (all)
radiance And the Light which surpasseth (all) lights, And the Good Being who
crossed the worlds, Came, cleft the firmament and revealed Himself. He sundered
Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death,
And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and
from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and
Faith. And Thou hast spoken to us with Thy Word And hast commanded us with Thy
commandment - "Be My glory and I will be your Glory. Be my light and I
will be your Light. And my name shall be in your mouths And I will be with
you". Thou art He who overthrowest (false) gods in their high-places And
bringest reproach on the divinity of (false) deities.
They were
broken down by shame on their way And deep ignominy befell their temples And
fettered their might.
Great is the
splendour in which Manda-d-hiia is arrayed! Blest is that day of light, praised
is that dawn On which Thou didst travel and come from worlds of light! (That
day) is not reckoned in a count of days. Nor in a reckoning of months; Except
that day on which Thou wast revealed from worlds of light. We will reveal to
them, that day on which Thou wast revealed, To all who love Thy name of Truth
(kusta).
We offer up
our commemoration, our petition, our prayer, Our submission, our tabuta and our
faith In Thy presence, (O) 'Usar-Hiia, Delight and great Support of Life. Were
we to stand and praise Thee, Thy name, Thy title and Thy goodness seven times a
day, my Lord, Who could praise Thee, Life, Or magnify (worthily) the greatness
of Thy victories ? Can the stinking body praise Thee? or the vain tongue? Were
our mouth like the sea, our lips like its waves And our tongue like cleft
mountains, Then might we praise Thee, magnify Thee, honour Thee and bless Thee!
Thou knoweth
him who feareth Thee with his heart And him who confesseth thee with his lips.
With a pure mouth be Thou blessed And lauded with a tongue of praise.
Supporters who do not waver, interpretations Of Truth (kusta) which vary not
praise Thee. Sons of Perfection beside Thee, (an) endless, countless And
everlasting (company), all shining with reciprocal radiance, Praise Thee, for
amongst them all hatred, Envy and dissensions exist not. The Place which is all
portals of radiance, light and glory Praiseth Thee. The ancient, lofty, occult
And watchful One, Abathur, who sitteth according To his rank, like the Life,
praiseth Thee, The 'uthra Pthahil praiseth Thee and saith to Thee,
"Blessed art Thou, my Lord, Manda-d-Hiia And praised. And blessed is the
Place From which Thou camest: praised, magnified And honoured is the great
Place from which Thou camest. And praised, magnified and honoured is the great
Place To which Thou goest." Elect righteous (men) from lower sanctuaries
Ii Praise thee; for Thy knowledge, Thy wisdom, Thine understanding and Thy
goodness do they praise Thee.
Thou hast
come! Thou comest and art ready to reveal Thyself. Thou art immeasurable,
infinite and everlasting. Thou art the Father, Thou art the Brother, Thou art
the Son; Thou art the Source, Thou art the great Root of Life; Thou art the
First, Thou art the Last, Thou art the Future, for Thou preparest Thyself to
come And didst depart in order to reveal Thyself. Put far from us Thy wrath and
bring near Thy mercy. Turn back, push back, remove and make impotent Angels of
wrath, frost and hail from my land And my house - mine, Adam-Yuhana son of
Mahnus - In the twinkling of an eye and at a turn of the wheels, (Let) our
petition, our prayer and our submission Rise up before Thee, Manda-d-Hiia! That
which we have done forgive us, And that which we do, forgive us, (For) Thou,
(O) Manda-d-Hiia art a forgiver of sins, Trespasses, follies, stumblings and
mistakes. If Thou, (O) Manda-d-Hiia, didst not forgive our sins, Our
trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes, Who would stand guiltless before
Thee, Manda-d-Hiia? Slaves are we, who are all sin And Thou the Lord who art
all mercy. Before Thee, all hands are thieving and all lips lying; In Thine
eyes, Manda-d-Hiia (even) Jordan-waters are not cleansing.
(Set for)
righteous and believing people. Causing our spirit and souls to dwell in abodes
of Life According to the purpose of the Life And the will of the three 'uthras
. And according to the will of Manda-d-Hiia Sublimest of beings, and according
to the will Of the Four Beings, sons of salvation. In Thy presence there will
be restoration For our spirit and our souls. Thou wilt clothe us with Thy
radiance And cover us with Thy light And will stand us before Thee with the
innocent And not with the guilty; With the richly-endowed and not with the
lacking. Knowledge of Life is Thy name, Truth is Thy name. Pure is Thy name,
magnified is Thy name, Honoured is Thy name, blessed is Thy name And abiding is
Thy name. Victorious art Thou And victorious is Thy name. Victorious are the
wvords of Truth which proceed from Thy mouth Over all deeds. Make victorious
and establish This my soul (the soul of) Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnus. And Life is
victorious over all works.
Chapter 76
In the name of
the Life! Praises to the Outer Life
Whom Ye caused
to dwell without (beyond), The abode that hath limit. For Your eyes are open to
(discern) Your own, Your ears hearken at Your Place . Praises to that one great
name of Life Which is above all names. Its name resteth on the great Place of
Light, On the everlasting abode and on the city of 'uthras, And on the Beam who
was greater than all beams, With Whose fight all beams shine And by Whom all
souls are justified;
Who
establisheth our strength and cutteth us not off From the House of our trust;
Who restoreth our souls at the House of Ransom On the Day of Judgement, and
perfecteth our souls On the great Day of joy. Praises (be) to One Who is all
the 'uthras, And to One Who is all prayers, and to the Predestined One Wvho
came and remained for our commemoration And who was established in the presence
of Outer Life. (One) on whose mouth Life rested and whose praise Was
established without. Praises, praises to the Ancient, the First, To the Son of
the great Primal Life Whom Life called, prepared, armed and sent Him forth To
the generations. (Lo) Thou camest and didst open a door, Thou didst level a
road and tread out a path, Didst set up a boundary-stone And didst knit
together a community. Thou wast Helper, Saviour and Guide To the Father of the
great Family of Life , And didst knit it together in a Communion of Life, Didst
build it into a great Building of sound construction And didst bring it forth
to the great Place of Light And the Everlasting Abode.
O callers whom
I have summoned! O nourishers whom I have nourished! O builders whom I have
raised up And brought out from amongst the peoples, nations and tongues!
Behold, here I stand! Behold, here I dwell! Worlds against whom I guard myself
Though your words are not far from my face, If ye take mountains (of food) as
your viaticum for eating,
They will not
satisfy (lit. "complete") you. If ye take seas for your drinking They
will not make you perfect (content you). (But) if with perfections ye stand
before the Outer Life And before the Eternal Abode, I will count your number,
And your reckoning shall be reckoned. Betimes I will come and will fly And will
reach the sons of my Name, the sons of my Sign, And the sons of the great
Family of Life. I will bind you together into the bundle of Life And I will
build you into a great Building of Truth And will bring you forth to the great
Place of Light And to the Everlasting Abode.
If there is no
hatred, rancour, or dissension amongst you The hand of the unbartablas (customs-officers
?) will not search amongst your garments; Ye will not pass over the Bridge Nor
walk in a narrow street; Ye will not stand before the judge Nor look on the
countenance of the Adversary-at-law; Nor will ye see an averted face. The chief
customs-officer will not question you.
Ye will go
forth: ye will behold the Perfecter of Souls, One who setteth on paths of
surety His friends that are made perfect, A great comrade of the faithful, One
of the great band of souls, Who will come out toward you And clothe your souls
in a garment of radiance
And in good
pure vestments of light Which he will bring you from the Great Place of Light
And the Everlasting Abode. He will bring out toward you wreaths, A wreath of
victories. And every leaf of your wreaths will (weigh) One thousand and eighty
mithqals . Its brilliancy will exceed the brightness of the Sun And its light
outshine the light of the moon. Ye will receive your vesture and will receive
your wreaths In the presence of the Great (Life). Ye will be great, and called
'uthras amongst the 'uthras. Ye will open your eyes and behold your Judge.
Betimes will the dayspring dawn upon you, In strength ye will arise and behold
the Outer Ether And the great Beam who is all light, Who was set up before the
Great Life: He whom Life created, prepared and sent forth To the ages and to
the worlds. And every man who giveth oblation; And took part in the communion
from beginning to end. They will make as perfect as the mamas, Like rays of
light he will be made to shine On the day of deliverance, on the Day of
Redemption, The great Day of Joy; so that his righteous act Stretcheth onward.
It will precede you and will uplift, Showing you the Outer Ether and the
everlasting Abode, The place which is ancient, (of) Primal Beings, And sons of
the great Family of Life. They eat of that which is imperishable And drink that
which is not wine, eating well And asking solace. And an 'uthra of Life Cometh
and resteth upon them day by day and hour by hour Praises (be) to the fame of
the righteous And to the existence of Chosen Elect (men), And to the Unearthly
Being who standeth without, Whose eyes are open and fixed upon those Who love
his name of Truth (kusta) - Thou art he, Manda-d-Hiia! for thou knowest About
that in which the perfect man is made perfect, And about the virtuous man, in
what his virtue consisteth . And the Lie , of what doth it consist. Not a word
issueth from the mouth of a perfect man But thou knowest it, hast understood
and expected it In the great Place of Light and the Everlasting Abode. 'the
mountain doth not boast its strength, nor a hero his doughty deeds, Nor doth a
bowman vaunt his bow, nor the physician his drugs, Nor the righteous and sage
man the utterance of his mouth. Not so : it is an 'uthra of Life which cometh
And resteth upon Thy devotees. And those who seek from Him shall find, and to
those who ask of Him
It will be
given. Day by day, hour by hour, behold us Who stand in Thy name and are upheld
by (calling on) Thy name. We hold to Thy Leader of the great company of Truth
We have held staunch because of Thy victories. Humiliate us not; cast us not
into the hands of tormentors, Liars, hypocrites and the censorious. Let not
torturers strike us nor condemners damn our souls! The good will see and wvill
be found ready , (But) The wicked will be discomfited and the children of the
world be shamed
Perfected
(souls) will see that the Life existeth ,And will direct their gaze to the
great Place of Light and the everlasting Abode.
Thou,
Manda-d-Hiia, callest the caller , nourishest the nourisher, buildest the
builder,
Exaltest horns
, enlargest footsteps and settest up a road , And dost knit together in
communion.
Thou art He
who constructeth, and who takest out from amongst the peoples, nations and
tongues every man who is summoned, worthy and invited. To every man whose term
of life is over Thou wilt be a Helper, Saviour and Guide to the great Place of
Light and to the everlasting Abode. As to one whose term is incomplete and he
standeth (liveth) in the body, (able) to open his mouth, lift up his voice,
pray his prayers and to offer up his praise, and whose feet can walk to my
House , thine 'uthra shall come and shall rest upon him, Thy friend.
Diffuse Thy
light over all who love Thy name of Truth (kusta). Thou hast spoken with Thy
Word and hast commanded us with Thy commandment, "Over your words My Word
hath precedence : and at the raising of your right hands (towards Me?) My right
hand will be lifted towards you. Ye will call, and I will answer you quickly.
Ye will seek My hand and I will not withhold it (from) your hands".
We will pray
with Thee the 'uthras' prayer and ask of Thee, of the Great (Life), a petition
for ourselves, for our friends, for our friends' friends and for those who love
the great Family of Life, for the whole Nasiruta of Life, fulfilled and
disseminated on earth. Thou wilt bring us some of Thy radiance, thou wilt lend
us some of Thy light. We will enter into Thy radiance will go forth in Thy
light, will rise in Thy name and be kept right by Thy nature . Truth is Thy
name, Knowledge of Life is Thy name, precious is Thy name, magnified is Thy
name, victorious is Thy name, victorious are the words of truth wvhich issue
from Thy mouth, and victorious are all Thy deeds . And Life is victorious!
Chapter 77
In the name of
the Life!
Thee (O) life,
(is it meet) to praise, to honour, To magnify and to bless; First Life, Second
Life and Third Life, Yufin-Yufafin and Sam-Mana-Smira And the Vine which is
All-Life And the great Tree which is all healings.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour and magnify And to bless 'Usar-Hai and Pta-Hai Who open
(reveal) the pihta of Life And transplant a planting of Light, And instal the
First Counterpart In the House of Life.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Nbat 'The First great Bursting-Forth
(Emanation), The exigence of Life in Its nature.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless The Lord of Great Fruition. the great and
high Being who was fruitful, begetteth and produceth Great fruit for Himself.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Yukabar-Ziwa, who increased in his
brilliancy And was great in his light.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia, the life which
proceeded from Life, The truth (kusta) that was aforetime, in the Beginning;
Who was mightier in His radiance than the worlds of light.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Has, the Stem of splendour, radiance,
light and honour Whose branches are a thousand thousand and its tendrils A
myriad myriad. Well is it for him Who hath looked on that Tree! Bihram , who
saw it, lived, shone, was cured and established And his name hath not died.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Sanasie , who standeth at the Gate of Life
And prayeth for spirits and souls. He interpreteth silence, inspireth hope And
taketh in keeping in the World of Light The prayers of pious and believing
people.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Haiasum-Kusta, messenger of Life, The Word
of the first chosen elect (men). He crossed the worlds, came, pierced the
firmament And revealed himself.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Bhaq-Ziwa , who is called "He acted
and succeeded in his skinta.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Yukas’ar, source of radiance who bestoweth
radiance and displayeth his fight.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Biriawis, the strong source (kana) , The
Kana took thought so that its radiance increased.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Ayar , the pure Vine which abideth In the
great and lofty Treasure-house of Light.
(Meet it is)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless The pure Yusamin who resteth upon The
treasures of the waters And upon mighty wellsprings of light.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless The 'uthra Tauriel , the being who resteth
by The pastures of the water. When a fragment from the little finger of his
right hand Fell (off ?) There was consternation on earth, And vexation( ?) in
the world of falsehood.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Adatan and Yadatan , who stand at the Gate
of Life And praise and extol Life, And pray for the spirits and souls Of
righteous and believing people In the Place of Life.
(Meet is it)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Silmai and Nidbai , two 'uthras Delegates
of Manda-d-Hiia Who are active and do (the work of) the Life. With kusta and
with the testimony of the Life They immerse living, shining, bright and
well-doing souls Who go in sincerity to the Jordan (and are baptised) (But) not
in the name of gods or of a messiah!
(It is meet)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Sum-Hai, Rhum-Hai, 'In-Hai and Zamar-Hai ,
Four Beings, sons of perfection, Who come towards sincere and believing people,
And take them out of bonds (Tied by) the hands of the wicked And from beneath
the claws of scheming men; And lift them up to the great place of Light And to
the Everlasting Abode. They knit them into the Bundle of Life And build them
into a great Building Of sure strength .
(It is meet)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Hibil, Sitil and Anus, Sons of a Stock
which is living, light-giving, Vigorous and sturdy: Beings that cannot be taken
by the sword Nor consumed by flames of fire; Nor swept away by floods of water;
Nor will the thongs of their sandals Be dipped in the water. They were judged
and were justified; They sought and they found; They strove and reached the
Great Place of Light And the Everlasting Abode.
(It is meet)
to praise, honour, magnify and bless Sihiun, and Pardun, and Kanfun , 'Uthras
whose names, each one, are in the House of Life;
And the
'uthras Adam-Kasia, Bihram and Ram whose names are Each one in the House of
life, (but) their nature is two two, (dualistic ? ) And the names of righteous
and believing people Will be established in the Place of Light. Thy name giveth
out light, Thy name is illustrious, Thy name is pleasing and Thy name raiseth
up. Thy name is victorious and victorious are the words of truth Which issue
from Thy mouth, (victorious) over all works. Make victorious and raise up this
my soul, (The soul of) Adam-Yuhana sun of Mahnus! And Life is victorious over
all works.
I copied these
three prayers "We have acknowledged'', "Praises", and "Thee
(Life) " for myself so that there may be commemoration for me on earth and
yonder in the mighty and lofty worlds of light. Fur my heart hath testified to
the First Life and I endure the persecution of the world from suns of the
planets. For one name - Yawar - do I strive with a pious and believing heart
fur the love of precious Truth.
My waiteth on
the Life and mine eyes upon Manda-d-Hiia; for they will be my support, my
deliverer and saviour from the Place of Darkness to the Place of Light. I
copied for myself, poor and lowly a slave who is all sin, dust on the feet of
Nasuraeans .., etc.
(The rest of
the colophon, which resembles the former colophon, is omitted)
The Responses
Chapter 78
In the name of
the Great Life! May my thought, my knowledge and my understanding Enlighten me,
Adam-Yuhana sun of Mahnus, By means of these responses and homilies for baptism
and the masiqta.
Chapter 79
In the name of
the Great Life! When the myrtle , the myrtle, flourished In the gardens of
Hibil; When the wild marjoram grew in the precincts of the manda, They gave me
two twigs of myrtle From which they twisted a wreath for the jordan. For it is
wondrous and fragrant is its perfume!
[Recite this
hymn and twist a wreath of myrtle for thy staff, then read the jordan-hymn
"Hear me my father, hear me".]
Chapter 80
In the name of
the Great Life !
Hear me, my
Father, hear me! Draw me upward
(O) Great One,
son of the mighty (Life),
Our Father,
son of the Lite !
Silmai and
Nidbai, lords of the jordan, hear me!
Jordan, and
both its banks, hear me!
Hear me,
Hibil-Ziwa, whose strength
Resteth upon
his brethren, the 'uthras!
Hear me,
Yawar-Ziwa, (thou)
whose
creations rest on (depend upon?) the jordan!
Hear me,
Mana-Rba-Kabira
And raise that
which ye have planted!
Hear me, hear
me, Hablaba) and Kana-d-Zidqa ,
Hear me, hear
me, Abathur-Rama, whose strength
Presideth over
the Scales!
Hear me, great
Bihram! and raise me up
Yuzataq-Manda-d-Hiia!
Hear me, (ye)
Seven Mysteries which reside
In the Great
Wellspring
Hear me, (ye)
three wellsprings which give out
Radiance,
light and effulgence!
Hear me (ye)
three manas
Who rest upon
the jordan with your treasurel
Hear me,
Anus-'Uthra ,
Whose strength
dwelleth upon met
Chapter 81
In the name of
the Great Lifel
Hear me, my
Father, hear me!
And draw me
upward, great Son of the mighty (Life);
Our Father,
Son of the Life!
Silmai and
Nidbai, lords of the jordan, hear me!
Jordan and its
two banks, hear me!
Habsaba and
Kana-d-Zidqa hear me!
Hear me, Great
Life, from the height,
Hear me!
Chapter 82
In the name of
the Great Life !
At the
Fountain-head came I forth,
At the Source
of springs of life went I hence.
Three skintas
(sanctuaries) did I found
And set over
them guardians as rulers.
The guardians
I appointed to rule over them
Are sublime,
blessed and trusty
To the
uttermost.
[Repeat this
hymn when thou art baptising and takest up the mambuha into the phial from the
jordan, and recite the prayer "At the Fountain-head of Water came I
forth" and then recite "Blessed art thou, Outer Door".]
Chapter 83
In the name of
the Great Life!
How lovely are
plants which the jordan hath planted
And raised up!
Pure fruit have they borne
And on their
heads they set living wreaths.
Yawar-Ziwa
rejoiceth in the good plants
Which the
jordan planted and raised.
The Plants
rejoice and flourish
In the perfume
of Manda-d-Hiia
Which
breatheth upon them.
Chapter 84
Truly did my
baptiser baptise me,
Well did my
baptiser baptise me,
Truly did my
baptiser baptise me
And your
baptism shall attain its end.
Chapter 85
Silmai hath
baptised us with his baptism, Nidbai hath signed us with his pure sign, The
great Anus-'uthra hath placed living wreaths on our heads.
Chapter 86
The jordan in
which we have been immersed Shall be our witness that we have turned not away
From our sign, nor have altered our pure Word.
Chapter 87
I rejoice in
my priests And in nasoraeans who hearken to my converse. I rejoice in you, my
priests, For ye have not changed my pure Word.
Chapter 88
In the name of
the great Life!
May the
sublime Light be magnified!
Rightly do I
say to you, my Chosen,
Who went up
with me to the jordan,
Pervert and
change me not, alter me not by hand,
Pervert not
nor alienate me,
Men who have
heard the Voice of Life!
He who heareth
the voice of Life
Will be
edified, Will be built up,
Built up and
armed. (Such a man's) strength will be doubled.
Moreover,
those who listen to the speech of the Life
Will be
greatly increased,
Will be
enriched and will not lack.
Into the
communion that is great will he be knit,
He will enter the communion that is great
So that he
will be united (therewith) and will arise
And will
behold the Place of Light.
And Life is
renowned and victorious,
And victorious
the man who went hence.
Chapter 89
In the name of
the Great Life The great Light be magnified! To you do I call and (you) do I
teach, Men who have received the Sign. Hearken not to the talk of all peoples
and generations; Let not their stumblings cause you to stumble, Stumble not
because of their stumblings! Be not interrogated at their tribunals, At their
tribunals be not interrogated! Certainly have ye held to established truth, Ye
have held to the certainty about which I instructed you. I call to my chosen ones
so that Ye may not turn your thought away from Me. Because any man who is not
steadfast (in thought) Whose mind is turned against me, Whose mind is turned
from me, Great and not small will be his hurt . If ye have attained my strength
Bear (arms for) me ! If ye bear (arms for) me firmly Stand by me frombeginning
to end! But it ye have not attained my strength (or army) Go from me, and
approach not! For he that entereth it and beareth (arms) for me, His "
garment'' will be adjusted to the House of Perfection. But he that weareth it
and doth not perfect it Will die and his spirit will extinguish, He will die
and extinct will be his spirit, He will become the portion of the world, Thou
hast conquered, Manda-d-Hiia, Good One, who confirmest Thy friends! Renowned
and victorious is Life And victorious the man who went hence,
Chapter 90
In the flame
of the Great Life
The sublime
Light be glorified!
A
disciple am I, a new one;
For I went to
the jordan-bank
And took my
name on my head
And in my
heart I took a Sign,
My Sign is not
that of Fire,
Nor is it that
wherewith the Anointed One
My Sign is a
jordan of living water,
The strength
of which none can attain,
He chose one
out of a thousand
And from two
thousand he chose two,
Making traders
of them
Who labour and
ply their trade on earth.
And they trade
for fee and pious gift,
And shine more
than sun and moon.
I came to the
congregation of souls,
For the Life
sent me, sent me forth.
There were
some who bought my wares,
There those
who came to their end and lay down .
There were
those who bought my wares.
The eyes (of
such a one) were filled with light,
Filled with
light were his eyes
(On) beholding
the Great (One) in the House of Perfection,
There were
those who did not buy my wares.
They went on,
reached their end and lay down.
'they were
blind and saw not,
Their ears
were stopped and they heard not
And their
hearts were not awakened
To behold the
Great One in the House of Perfection.
As They called
them and they answered not,
When they
call, who will answer them?
Because it was
given to them but they took not,
Who will give
to them when they ask ?
They hated the
Way of Life and its Abode
But loved the
abode of the wicked.
And lo! in the
abode of the wicked
Will they be
held captive.
They tied up
their tribute, their money
In a
lappet of their clothes.
When they wish
to lift their heads (hold their heads high)
They hurl them
down to the Gates of Darkness
To my Chosen
do I call, to my Plants Who stand by the jordan. I say to them, "My
children (who walk) in my road, My children (who follow) my road, Swerve not
from it or its boundary! Let him who deviateth from its boundary Cling to the
boundary-stone. He who hath turned aside from both will fall into the uttermost
ends of the world". Thou host conquered, Manda-d-Hiia, Good One, who
confirmeth his friends! Thou wilt forgive us who praise our Lord Our sins and
our trespasses. Renowned and victorious is Life And victorious the man who hath
gone hence.
[Up to here
are the hymns and chants of baptism; and from here to below are the hymns and
chants of the masiqta.]
Chapter 91
My vigilance
and praisegiving
Are my ferrymen
across (the waters of death);
A
transformation brought me over,
A cloud of light took me over.
In purity
shalt thou rise to the Place of Light.
Chapter 92
In the name of
the Life!
Go in peace,
chosen, pure and guiltless one;
Thou art
without spot.
Thou hast
proven thyself by (thy sojourn on ) earth
And thy
destiny leapt upward from its struggles
From its
struggles thy destiny leapt upward.
Above all the world thou hast spoken.
Chosen and
pure one (saying),
"I am a
seer, a diviner;
A seer am I
and a diviner!"
The worlds
assembled for judgement, For judgement the worlds assembled And judgement was
pronounced on them, On them was judgement pronounced, On those who did not
perform the works Of right-dealing Man. But thou alone, Chosen and Pure One,
Fair mana, that art burnished bright, Thou goest not to the judgement hall.
Judgement will not be pronounced over thee, Over thee judgement will not be
pronounced; Because thou didst perform the works Of right-dealing mankind. This
, that they endure and bear, Thou (O) Chosen One, wilt not find before thee.
Escape the clutch of the planets And the forces of this wvorld! Take, put on
thy garment of radiance, Set on thy living wreath! Bow thyself! and worship!
Prostrate (thyself) and praise the Great Life. Praise the Place of Life To
which thy fathers go. Thou (O) Chosen One, Wast not from here; From this place
thou wast not transplanted Thy planting, thy place was the Place of Life, Thy
home the Everlasting Abode. They have set up for thee a throne of rest In which
there is no heat or wrath. There is kept for thee a girdle In which there is no
trouble or fault . Good one! Rise to the House of Life! And go to the
Everlasting Abode !
They will hang
thy lamp amongst lamps of light And they will shine in thy time, and lit thy
moment. Arise! Behold the Place of Light! Renowned is Life and victorious And
victorious the man who went thither.
Chapter 93
The mana
rejoiceth in its treasure
And in the
glory of Life
Which resteth
on it.
I have
acknowledged thee
(O) elect
righteous one,
For thou
settest my soul free
From
transitory things.
Chapter 94
Hail to thee,
hail to thee, soul
That hast
departed from the world!
Thou leavest
corruption and the stinking body
In which thou
hast been: (thou leanest)
Its abode, the
abode of the wicked,
The place
which is all sinning,
The world of
darkness,
Of hatred,
jealousy and dissensions,
The abode in
which the planets go about,
Bringing pains
and blemishes,
Pains they
bring, and blemishes,
Every day
causing them tribulation.
Rise up, rise
up, soul!
Ascend to thy
first homeland.
Rise, rise to
thy first homeland,
The place from
which thou wast transplanted,
To the place
from which thou wast transplanted,
To thy good
dwelling, (the dwelling) of 'uthras,
Bestir
thyself! don thy garment of glory
And set on thy
living wreath.
Rise! inhabit
the S'kintas Amongst the 'uthras, thy brethren. As thou hast learnt, praise thy
first Home; And curse this place, the house of thy fostering; For (during) the
years that thou didst spend therein Every day the Seven were thine enemies, The
Seven were thine enemies and the Twelve Beset thee with persecution. Renowned is
Life and victorious, And victorious the man who hath gone thither.
Chapter 95
Her Sunday,
her kus'ta and her alms
Bear witness
for the soul.
Ye will be her
witnesses
And will pass
her through at the toll-house.
Chapter 96
I am provided
and provisioned:
'Uthras of
light equipped me.
I am
provisioned; for Life provided for me.
And I am
equipped by 'uthras of light.
They provided
me with provision of Truth (ki
I lifted mine eyes to heaven and my soul
waited on the house of life. and the life who heard my cry sent toward me a
deliverer. the deliverer who came to me brought me that which was lovely; he
opened out a robe and showed me its radiance and i cast off the stinking body.
he grasped me with the palm of his right hand and led me over the waters of
death . over the waters of death he brought me and led me onward; in the
likeness of life he supported me. life supported life, life found its own. its
own self did life find and my soul found that for which it had looked. renowned
is life and victorious and victorious the man who went hence.
Chapter 97
He rose and
took me with him and did not leave me in the perishable dwelling.
Chapter 98
The day on
which the soul goeth forth,
on the day
that the perfected one ascendeth,
on the day
that the soul issueth from below
the spheres of
death, of contention ,
strife was
thrown into the earth.
ruha's slaves
sit bewailing
and the seven
sit in consternation.
the robe of
the stars is lent
and dust is
cast on ruha's head.
the
hell-beasts weep
and the demons
of purgatories are panic-stricken.
the being who
brought me hither,
who brought me
that which was beautiful,
put on me a
robe, clothed me in a robe of radiance,
in a
wrapping of light he covered me.
he set on (my
head) a wreath of ether
and (gave me)
of that which life bestoweth on the 'uthras.
he set me up
amongst 'uthras
and stood me
up amidst the perfected (souls).
a wreath of
ether he set on my head,
and gloriously
he brought me forth from the world.
life supported life,
life found its
own,
its own did
life find,
and my soul
found that for which it had looked.
renowned is
life and victorious,
and victorious
the man who went thither.
Chapter 99
Ye are set up
and raised up, my chosen ones,
by the word
and certitude that came to you
the word and
the certitude that came to the good,
the true
word which came to believers.
my chosen, ye
sought and ye found,
moreover ye
shall seek and ye shall find.
ye sought and
found, my chosen ones,
as the first
(souls?) sought and found.
thou art
victorious, manda-d-hiia.
and thou
bringest to victory all who love thee.
and life is
victorious.
[here recite
"Blessed and praised is Life, that souls".]
Chapter 100
In a building
which life buildeth,
good trees
flourish.
fragrant is
the perfume of the trees
with the perfume
of manda-d-hiia
which
pervadeth them.
[here recite
"Blessed and praised be Life"
of Shem son of
Noah,and "Good is good for the good".]
Chapter 101
The life hath
founded a dwelling,
and radiance
dawned
in the sublime
ether!
i and my
brethren, the 'uthras,
have set out
every good thing ,
have set out
the allotted portion of the great (life):
we have
offered it up in purity to the place of light.
Chapter 102
The building
that life buildeth will never come to nought. [repeat this hymn after thou hast
partaken of the communion and then say "Darkness is crushed back into the
Dark and Light set up in its place".]
Chapter 103
Darkness is
crushed back into the dark
and light is
set up in its place.
the life hath
accepted your prayer,
the 'uthras
have accepted your praise
the oblation
is assigned to its lord,
and bounty to
him who giveth it.
this soul ot
n, and the souls of this masiqta rest at
the
great place of
light and the everlasting abode.
and life is
victorious.
[here recite
"In great radiance am I immersed" and lift thy hand for the masiqta and
pray a prayer for thyself. and life is victorious.]
The Rus' hma
Chapter 104
My Lord be
praised!
May Kul(a
strengthen you! In the name of the great Life
may healing
and purity be thine!
0 my Father,
their Father, King Piriawis,
Great Jordan
of living water,
In the name of
the Great Life
We have
cleansed our hands in truth (ku ja)
And our lips
with faith;
We have
uttered words of radiance.
My mind is
absorbed in (thoughts of) Light. Blessed is Thy name, praised is Thy name My
Lord, Manda-d-Hiia, and blessed and praised Is that great Countenance
(Presence) of Glory which emanated from Itself. (Three times.) I, N, son of N
(or daughter of N.), Am signed with the Sign of Life And the name of Life and
the name of Manda-d-Hiia Were pronounced on me. (Three times) My ears have
heard the voice of Life. (Three times) My nostrils have breathed the perfume of
Life. (Three times) My Sign, that is on me, was not in fire, And not in oil,
and not that wherewith the Anointed One anointed.
My Sign is in
the great jordan of living water And the Sign and name of Manda-d-Hiia is
mentioned upon me. Darkness is crushed down, and Light set up And the name of
Manda-d-Hiia is mentioned upon me. (Three times) My mouth was filled with
prayer and praise. (Three times) My knees bless and worship the Great Life.
(Three times) My feet tread the ways of Truth (Kus'ta) and Faith. (Three times)
I, N, son of N., am baptised with the baptism Of the great Bihram, son ot the
Mighty (Life) My baptism shall guard me and will succeed. And the name of Life
and the name of Manda-d-Hiia Are mentioned upon me.
(Three times)
My feet - and
the hands of the Seven and the Twelve Shall be powerless to rule me. The name
of the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia Are mentioned upon me.
Asiet Malkia
Chapter 105
Kus'ta heal
you! In the Name of the Great Life! Healing and victory be thine, O great Gate
of the precious House of Mercies! Healing and victory be yours; My honoured
First Parents Healing and victory be yours; Treasure of the great First
honoured Life. Healing and victory be thine; King Mara-d-Rabutha-'laita Healing
and victory be thine; King Yus'amin the Pure, son of Nis'ibtun Healing and
victory be thine; King Manda-d-Hiia, son of Nis'ibtun, Healing and victory be
thine; King Hibil-Ziwa Healing and victory be thine; King Anus'-'uthra Healing
and victory be thine; King S'is'lam-Rba Healing and victory be thine; King
'Shaq-Ziwa-Rba-Qadmaia Healing and victory be thine; King Sam-Ziwa, pure,
eldest, beloved, great, first Radiance Healing and victory be yours, Hibil,
S'itil and Anus', Healing and victory be yours Adatan and Yadatan, Healing and
victory be yours
S'ilmay and
Nidvay, (ye) two guardian 'uthras of the jordan, Healing and victory be yours;
(Ye) twenty-four 'uthras, sons of light, Healing and victory be yours; (Ye)
four beings, sons of Salutation, Healing and victory be yours; Njab and
Anan-Ns'ab , Healing and victory be yours; Sar and Sarwan, Healing and victory
be yours; Zhir and Zahrun and Bhir and Bihrun, And Tar and Tarwan Healing and
victory be yours; Yufin (and ?) Yufafin, Healing and victory be yours; Habs'aba
and Kana-d-Zidqa, Healing and victory be yours; King Baibag-'uthra, Healing and
victory be thine; King S'ingilan-'uthra, Healing and victory be thine;
Simat-Hiia, Healing and victory be thine; Great 'Zlat , Healing and victory be
thine; S'arat-Nit'ufta , Healing and victory be thine; Kanat-Nit'ufta, Healing
and victory be thine; Bihrat-Anana, Healing and victory be thine; King
Abathur-Rama , Healing and victory be thine; King 'Us' t'una-rba ,
Healing and
victory be thine; King Abathur-Muzania, Healing and victory be thine; King
Pthahil, son of Zahriel , Healing and victory be thine; King Yahia-Yuhana,
Healing and victory be thine; King Adam, the first man, Healing and victory be
thine; King S'itil, , son of Adam the first man, Healing and victory be thine;
O (ye) kings and'uthras, And Indwellings and jordans, And running streams and
s'kintas Of the worlds of light, All of you, healing and victory (be yours!)
And (may there be) forgiving of sins For myself, (Adam Yuhana) son of
(Mahnus'), (N. son of N.) Who have prayed this prayer !
May there be
forgiveness of sins for me! (Note. - The part which follows forms the main part
of the RAHMIA or "Devotions", I.e. the prayers prescribed for the
three prayer- times daily, i.e. at sunrise, at noon and before sunset; each day
of the week having its own set of prayers. These must be got by heart, and
their correct recitation is an essential part of every priest's training.)
My Lord be
praised! In the name of the Great First Sublime (Strange) Life, from the worlds
of light, the Transcendent, above all works, be there healing and purity
(victory), strength and soundness, hearing and being heard, joy of heart and
forgiving of sins for me, Adam Yuhana son of Mahnus'. May my thought, my
knowledge and my intelligence enlighten me by means of this treasure, a section
of the Devotions (Rahmia), and the strength of Yawar-Ziwa and Simat-Hiia.
Prayer 106
Up, up! ye
Elect Righteous Ones
Pray this
prayer in the "Devotions" of the early hours (daybreak) for it is the
opening (prayer) of the "Devotions".
Here recite
"My good messenger" and "I worship Life" and recite
"In the name of..."]
In the Name of
the Great Life!
Up, up! ye
Elect righteous ones,
Rise up, ye
perfected and believing ones!
Rise, worship
and praise the Great Life!
And praise the
great king ŠiŠlam-Rba,
And praise the
Occult Tanna and Ham-Ziwa,
And praise the
great Yawar and 'Zlat the great,
And praise
Simat-Hiia,
From whom all
worlds came into being;
And praise the
Wellspring and Datepalm
From Whom the
Father of 'uthras came into being.
I worship and
praise that lofty and great
King of light,
the Compassionate One
Who is full of
loving-kindness.
[Prayers 107
-108 Pray these two prayers after "Up, up elect righteous" (#106) in
the early morning devotions, then recite "In their name.., in the name of
that Primal Being"]
107
In the name of
the Great Life!
My good
messenger of light
Who travelleth
to the house of its friends,
Come, direct
my speech and open my mouth in praise
That I may
praise the Great Life
Wholly.
108
In the name of
the Great Life!
I worship Life
And I praise
my Lord Manda-d-Hiia
And that great
Presence of Glory
Which emanated
from Itself.
(Prayers 110 -
112 This prayer, "The time of devotions" is the opening prayer of the
eventide devotions. Then recite "In their name (In the name of the Life)
and "In the name of that (Primal Being) and set on thy crown and recite
beside is "Life created (Yawar-Ziwa)", "Let there
be light"
and "Manda created me" and then recite "Incense that is
fragrant", and "Lo for the First Life" for the incense and cast
it on the fire. And here recite the Sunday prayer.)
110
In the name of
the great Life!
The time, the
time for devotions arriveth
The time of
the Lord of Prayer hath come.
My awakener is
Hibil, my instructor is Šitil,
Anuš lifteth
up my hymns.
The immerser
in my immersion is Šilmai
And he who establisheth
prayers is Nidbai.
111
In the name of
the Great Life!
My good
messenger of light
Who travelleth
to the house of its friends
Come, direct
my speech and open my mouth in praise
That I may
praise the Great Life
Wholly.
112
In the name of
the Great Life!
I worship the
Life
And I praise
my lord Manda-d-Hiia
And that great
Presence of Glory
Which emanated
from Itself.
(Prayers 113 -
116 Pray these four prayers:
"On the
Ether-Light do I stand" (#113),
"Early I
rose from my sleep" (#114),
"We have
purified our hands in kušta"(#115),
"Blessed
be thy name and praised be thy name"(#116).
Recite them
for the "Devotions" for daybreak after incense)
#113
On the light
of Ether do I stand
In the name of
the Great Life, may healing be mine,
Adam-Yuhana
son of Mahnuš, through this Sunday prayer!
"On the
light of Ether do I stand,
I stand for
the Great Light with its purities!
I am
Manda-d-Hiia, emanation (planting) of the Mighty First Life.
I cried to the
first day of the week, (Habšaba)
The lauded,
the pure guardian of the Light
Who
enlighteneth 'uthras.
To him I said
"Rise up,
go, set off, descend to the earthly world,
To that world
which is all birth,
To be with the
Elect Righteous,
Men formed of
flesh and blood.
Hold them in
thy grasp, strengthen them,
Stand by them,
take care of them,
Give them
strength and fortitude
So that they
may stand and worship and praise
The Mighty
Sublime Life! "
Then Sunday
spoke, saying to Manda-d-Hiia
"How
canst thou send me to this world that is all birth
To be with
elect righteous (men)
Formed of
flesh and blood who do not respect me!
They treat me
with contempt, hold me in no great honour,
And remit not
my sin and transgression!"
Then
Manda-d-Hiia spoke, saying to Sunday,
"Up with
thee! Go, set off, descend to the earthly world
To this world
that is all birth, to be with
Elect,
righteous men formed of flesh and blood.
And grasp them
in thy grasp, confirm them,
Stand by them
and take care of them!
Turn back and
drive away from them
The seven
planets together with their demons and devils,
And their
amulet-imps and their evil creatures;
So that they
will forgive thee thy sins
And thy
transgressions; will hold thee in great esteem
And victory
will be ours and will be thine"
Then
Manda-d-Hiia spoke and said to the elect righteous,
"Give
heed to Sunday the Enlightener whom
I have sent to
be with you in order to enlighten you,
To uplift you
and make you upright,
And to bring
you prayer and praise.
Forgive him
his sins and transgressions
And hold him
in great esteem."
Manda-d-Hiia
taught and expounded and said,
"Anyone
who doth not forsake his sins and trespasses
On Sunday, nor
holdeth him in high esteem,
Will have no
seat amongst the 'uthras
Nor will he
behold the great Countenance of Glory.
For Sunday is
more precious, greater and more beauteous
And bright
than all the 'uthras!"
Blessed and
praised is Manda-d-Hiia and the Confirmed"
And Life is
victorious over all works.
# 114
Early I arose
from my sleep
In the name of
the Great Life!
Sublime Light
be glorified!
Early I arose
from my sleep: I stood,
Into radiance
that was great I looked,
I gazed into
radiance that was great,
Into the Light
which is boundless.
When clothed')
in robes of radiance
And light was
thrown on my shoulders
A wreath of
ether He set on my head
And set it on
the head of all His race
He hymned, and
the 'uthras with Him hymn
And the
Light-rays answer His voice.
And it rouseth
sleepers and maketh them rise up
From their
sleep.
He said to
them
"Arise,
ye sleepers who lie there,
Rise up, ye
stumblers who have stumbled,
Arise, worship
and praise the Great Life
And praise His
Counterpart, that is the image of the Life
Which shineth
forth and is expressed
In sublime
light."
And Life be
praised!
#115
We have
purified our hands in Kušta
In the name of
the Great Life!
We have
purified our hands in Kušta (truth)
And our lips
in faith
We have
uttered words of radiance
And were
absorbed in thoughts of light.
Thou, my lord
Manda-d-Hiia, art blessed and praised
And thy praise
is established (on high).
Great is the
strength of Life;
Abounding the
glory of the mighty (Life)!
Honour resteth upon the 'uthras who sit in
glory.
This is prayer
and praise which came to them from
The great
place of Light and the everlasting Abode.
We praise
(Him) with it when we have risen from our sleep,
Before any
have spoken falsehood.
For any man
who prayeth this prayer there will be forgiving of sins and transgressions in
the great place of Light and in the everlasting Abode.
And Life is
victorious.
#116
Blessed be thy
name and praised be thy name
Blessed be thy
name and praised be thy name
My lord,
Manda-d-Hiia!
Pure mountains
that quake not have blessed thee:
'Ufalnia
(interpretations!) of truth which are unchangeable
Have blessed
thee.
Sons of
salvation who sit in thy company
Have blessed
thee.
Yawar-Ziwa,
the great king of Nasirutha
Hath blessed
thee;
Ayar-Nhura,
the pure, the envoy who is all righteousness,
Hath blessed thee
And I worship
and praise that channel of light,
The messenger
of all rays-of-light.
Blessed is thy
name and praised is thy name,
Being who
resteth upon the Škintas!
Upon Škintas
doth his name rest.
Every day,
daily, they gaze on his likeness
And upon the
great Countenance of Glory.
And Life be
praised!
#117
[Prayer
117: Pray this prayer in the Rahmia
(Devotions) of the seventh hour after incense on the fire (and after) "On
the Ether-Iight do I stand” (#113)]
I worship,
praise and laud
That Šrar, the
great occult First Vine
Whose fruits
are a thousand thousand,
And a myriad
myriad His tendrils;
Upon Whom I
called and He answered me·
Further, when
I call on him, He will answer me;
For He will
come and will heal me,
Will lift me
up, raise me and confirm me
Will direct my
eyes to the Light,
And my feet to
steadfastness
My mouth to
wisdom and my heart to vigilance.
Then I
worship, praise and laud
That first
great occult Škinta
That is the
house of dazzling beings.
Then I
worship, praise and laud
That occult,
first Škinta
Which my
Parents inhabit.
Then I
worship, praise and laud
Yon Ruaz, the
great first secret Vine
Which loosed
its milky juices into the habitations.
Then I
worship, praise and laud
That Ruaz, the
great first Light
Who hath
sovereignty over all worlds of light.
Then I
worship, praise and laud
That great,
occult, first Škinta
To which the
eyes of Nasoraeans.
Men set apart,
and the elect righteous
Look, that
they may rise and behold
The great
place of Light and the Everlasting Abode.
And Life be
praised: Life is victorious.
#118
[Prayer 118:
Pray this prayer in the evening devotions after incense (and) after "For
the Ether-light do I stand". (#113) ]
It is time to
pray the "Devotions"
The great
moment for humble worship
For offering
up propitiatory prayer
To my lord,
Manda-d-Hiia,
For arousing
the elect righteous.
The priests
say to Manda-d-Hiia:
"We will
abjure that which we possess
Of fee, alms
and benefit
And the
(false) deity of the House
We will come
and will be believers."
Manda-d-hiia
saith to them, to the priests:
"Your
Father hath great strength,
Surpassing all
limit, (stronger)
Than
passionate thoughts, vain things
And the
devouring flame.
The Good One
clotheth His children
He covereth
them and raiseth and showeth them
That there is
great enlargement of Life
And your souls
shall rejoice
With clouds
(spouses?) of light.
But other
souls will die and become
As though they
had never existed.
Ye shall
receive your vestments
Ye shall
receive your wreaths.
In the
presence of the Great (Life?)
Ye will be
great, and will be called
'Uthras
amongst the 'uthras.
And ye will
say "The Living stand
In the
dwelling of the Life"
And Life is
victorious over all works.
#119
[Prayers 119 -
124 SUNDAY The following three antiphonal hymns and three chants are for the
first day of the week.]
In the name of
the Great Life
Be the sublime
Light glorified!
On Sunday, the
first of days,
Who hath seen
that which I have seen?
Who saw
Manda-d-Hiia
When he went
and came to the world?
He went
(thence) and came to the world
The Earth lay
prostrate and was affrighted.
He taught, and
lovely was his voice!
And he lifted it up, in his mouth there
was eloquence,
Eloquence he
put into his mouth.
He
revolutionized and forsook the world:
The world he
revolutionized and forsook.
Spirit (Ruha)
sitteth in lamentation
In lamentation
sitteth Ruha;
And the Seven
sit in consternation;
They weep and
prolong their mourning
Because their
mysteries are disclosed,
Because
disclosed are their mysteries.
They will be
brought to an end
On the great
Last Day.
Namrus (Ruha)
feared and trembled,
Her weapon
fell from her shoulder,
From her
shoulder fell her weapon
And her bows
from the palm of her hand,
Ruha
addresseth her sons,
Her
good-for-nothing idle (sons),
She saith to
them,
"Sons,
when terror overtaketh your mother,
What will you
Seven do!
When the
Strange Being cometh,
Who will rise
to confront him?"
A consuming
ray of light
Is in
Manda-d-Hiia’siirr's hand; felling· them
He cometh
(to?) the rebels.
The
Son-of-Life raiseth his Voice
At departure
of the Seven
Saying to them
"I have brought wares
To my friends.
I brought
truthful words to believers.
Men who buy my
wares,
Their merits
wreathe their heads
Twined are
their merits,
And their
horns are exalted
On their
heads.
They will
arise and will behold
The Place of Light.”
Renowned is
Life and victorious,
And victorious
the man who went hence.
#120
My day -- what
is it amongst the days?
A day, My day!
What amongst
the hours is one hour?
My day, what
is it amongst the days?
The day on
which the radiance of Manda-d-Hiia shone forth,
My day is
Sunday, chief of days,
The day on
which the radiance of Manda-d-Hiia dawned
On my day the
radiance of Sunday dawned
Upon us and
enlightened us beyond measure.
# 121
Before the
Wellsprings were transmuted
Before the
Awakening without,
Before ye were
in existence
I was in the
world.
The Voice of
living waters (Water of Life),
(Waters) which
transmute the turbid waters.
They become
clear and shining
They gush
forth and cast out impurities.
Wherefore
should the First (Life) desire sons from the dregs?
Voices cry
aloud proclamations
Planning
schemes, all of them talk!
(But) one
Voice cometh and teacheth all sayings,
One Being
cometh and teacheth about this and that.
(As for) us,
who have praised our Lord
Thou wilt
forgive us our sins.
Thou wast
victorious, Manda-d-Hiia
And thou
leadest all thy friends to victory.
And Life is
victorious.
# I22
O Lord of
devotions,
O Lord of
Prayers
And of hymns
and good books,
O Lord of
prayer and praise,
Hear my voice
and condemn me not!
#123
Except for six
or seven nations,
Fruit is set
up on the Tree
On the Tree
fruit is set up
And (other)
trees gather together toward it.
Toward it do
the trees assemble,
And a throne
is set up for the Lord of Radiance
For the Lord
of Radiance a throne is set up
And the Lord
of Radiance sitteth thereon.
Before him are
set up recompenses
Which he
delivereth to the perfect,
To the perfect
doth he deliver them
And said:
"To each
according to the works of his hands
It is
awarded".
And he said:
“Every man who
toiled
And was long-suffering
shall come
and take with
both hands,
But he who did
not toil nor endure,
Standeth empty
in the House of Dues.
He will seek
but will not find,
And ask, but
nought will be given him,
Because he had
in his hand and gave not,
He will search
there in his bosom and will find nothing."
Thou art
praised, Manda-d-Hiia
Who dost not
condemn thy friends.
# I24
I seek a boon
from the Life,
From Thee,
mighty Life.
I seek a boon
from the Life -
That Ye will
rightly guide Your praise
For me.
(....)
Chapter 170
Tab taba
Itabia (The Full Commemoration Prayer for the Dead and Living)
Good is the Good (one ?) for the good, and
He set His nature upon those who love His name. We will seek and find, and will
speak and be heard. We have sought and found, we spoke and were heard in Thy
presence, my Lord Manda-d-Hiia, Lord of Healings. Forgive the sins, trespasses,
follies, stumblings and mistakes of him who made (furnished) this bread ,
masiqta and tabuta . His sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes
thou wilt remit for him, my lord Manda-d-Hiia and Great First Life, (those of)
the donor of fee and oblation.
For our
forefathers there shall be forgiving of sins. For Yus'amin son of Dmut-Hiia
there shall be forgiveness of sins. For Abatur son of Bihrat there shall be
forgiveness of sins. For Hablaba and Kana-d-Zidqa there shall be forgiveness of
sins. For the twenty-four 'uthras, sons of light, there shall be forgiveness of
sins. For Pthahil son of Zahriel there shall be forgiveness of sins. For Adam
son of Qin and Eve his wife there shall be forgiveness of sins. For S'itil son
of Adam there shall be forgiveness of sins. There shall be forgiveness of sins
for Ram and Rud . There shall be forgiveness of sins for S'urbai and
S'arhabiel). There shall be forgiveness of sins for S'um son of Noah and
Nuraita his wife. There shall be forgiveness of sins for Yahia-Yuhana son of
'Nis'bai and Qinta and Anhar his wives. There shall be forgiveness of sins for
those three hundred and sixty priests who went forth from the district of
Jerusalem the city. There shall be forgiveness of sins for the souls of our
good fathers and for this my soul, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus', who hath prayed
this prayer and devotions. There shall be forgiveness of sins for the soul of
my father, Yahia-Bihram son of Hawa-Mamania. There shall be forgiveness of sins
for the soul of my mother, Mahnus' daughter of Simat. There shall be
forgiveness of sins for the soul of my teacher Bihram son of Mudalal. There
shall be forgiveness of sins for his wife, Anhar daughter of Hawa. There shall
be forgiveness of sins for the souls of my children Anhar daughter of Anhar.
There shall be forgiveness of sins for my brothers (and sisters) Anhar, and
Sam, and Mudalal, and Ram; and Muhatam-Yuhana, and Adam-Yuhana, the sons of
Mahnus' : forgiveness of sins be there for them. The souls of Mandaeans; Ram
son of S'arat-Simat ,-forgiveness of sins be there for him; Zihrun son of
Simat, forgiveness ot sins be there for him; Anhar daughter of Simat,
forgiveness of sins be there for her; Simat daughter of Hawa, forgiveness of
sins be there for her; Ram son of Simat, forgiveness of sins be there for him;
Yasmin daughter of Yasman, forgiveness of sins be there for her. All the souls
of our good fathers, be there forgiveness for them. And for this my soul, mine,
Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnul, be there forgiveness for me. The soul of my teacher,
Bihram son of Mudalal, be there forgiveness for him. The souls of priests,
Adam-Zihrun son of Mamania, forgiveness of sins be there for him. Yahia-Anus'
son of Maliha, forgiveness of sins be there for him. Yahia-Ram- Zihrun son of
Hawa-Simat, forgiveness of sins be there for him. Yahia-Zihrun son of Mudalal,
forgiveness of sins be there for him. Sam-Bihram son of Mudalal, forgiveness of
sins be there for him. All souls of our good forefathers, forgiveness of sins
be there for them. And for this my soul, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus' who have
prayed this prayer and devotions, forgiveness of sins be there for me- And the
soul of my teacher Bihram son of Mudalal, forgiveness of sons be there for him.
The souls of ganzibria: Yahia-Yuhana son of Hawa-Simat, forgiveness of sins be
there for him; Zihrun son of Simat, forgiveness of sins be there for him;
Sam-Bihram son of Simat, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Bihram-S'itil
son of S'arat, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Zihrun son of Maliha,
forgiveness of sins be there for him; Adam son of S'adia-Maliha forgiveness of
sins be there for him; Yahia-Bayan and Yahia-Bihram sons of Hawa-Mamania,
forgiveness of sins be there for them; Ram-Yuhana son of Mamania, forgiveness
of sins be there for him; Bayan-Zangia son of Anhar-Simat, forgiveness of sins
be there for him; Sam-Saiwia son of S'arat, forgiveness of sins be there for
him; Bihram son of Madinat, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Yahia son of
Anhar-Ziwa, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Ram-Sindan and S'aria,
forgiveness of sins be there for them; Hawa daughter of Daia, forgiveness of
sins be there for her; Anhar- Kumraita daughter of Simat, forgiveness of sins
be there for her; Yahia-Ramuia son of Ramuia, forgiveness of sins be there for
him; Sam-Bihram son of Mudalal, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Adam son
of Bihram (Bihrat?)-Dihgan, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Adam-Br-hiia
son of Simat, forgiveness of sins of there for him; Brik-Yawar son of Buran,
forgiveness of sins be there for him; Bihram Bisth'aq son of Hawa, forgiveness
of sins be there for him; S'abur son of Dukt, forgiveness of sins be there for
him; Mha- tam and S'itil, sons of Haiuna, forgiveness of sins be there for them;
Anus' son of Mihria-Zad, forgiveness of sins be there for him; S'aiar- Ziwa and
S'abur son (sons?) of Kaizar'il, forgiveness of sins be there for him (them?);
Bhira son of Kujasta, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Zakia son of Hawa,
forgiveness of sins be there for him; Ardaban-Malka-Baktiar son of Simat,
forgiveness of sins be there for him.
And all souls
of our good fathers, forgiveness of sins be there for them. And for this my
soul, mine, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus', who have prayed this prayer and these
devotions, forgiveness of sins be there for me. The soul of my teacher, Bihram,
son of Mudalal, forgiveness of sins be there for him. The souls of the
ethnarchs: Adam-Bul-Faraz son of Hawa- Mamania, forgiveness of sins be there
for him; Anus' Mu'ailia son of Hawa-Zadia, forgiveness of sins be there for
him; Yahia-Adam, son of Zadia-Anus' , Hawa ( ?), forgiveness of sins be there
for him (their?); Bihdad son of S'adia, forgiveness of sins be there for him;
Bainia son of Haiuna, forgiveness of sins be there for him; Haiuna daughter of
Tihwia, forgiveness of sins be there for her; Ramuia son of 'Qaimat,
forgiveness of sins be there for him; S'ganda son of Yasman, forgiveness of
sins be there for him, Zazai-d-Gawazta son of Hawa, forgiveness of sins be
there for him. The people, (consisting of all Nasoraeans, priests and laymen
(mandaiia), and ganzibria and ganzaiia (headpriests and treas- urers ?), from
the age of Adam the First Man down to the end of the world (and generations);
all who went down to the jordan and were immersed and received the Pure Sign,
who did not betray their Sign, nor renounced (were converted from) their
Baptism, forgiveness of sins be there for them. For them and their spouses and
their offspring, their priests, and for those who supplied this bread and
ritual food (t'abuta), and for you, my fathers, my teachers and instructors
when ye upheld me from the Left to the Right, Forgiveness be there for you. And
ye shall say "Life abideth in Its Dwelling " And Life be praised: Life
is victorious over all works.
Chapter 171
Hymns of
Praise
In the Name of
the Life!
Praised be the
First Great Radiance and praised the Great First Light! Praised be the
Wellspring and the great first Palm-Tree Praised be the mystic Tan(n)a which
dwelleth in the great mystic First Wellspring. Praised be the great S'is'lam
who sitteth on the bank of the Wellspring and Palm-tree; praised is the great
'zlat Praised is the great Yawar who was formed from the loins of Radiance:
praised is Simat-Hiia (Treasure-of-Life), Mother of all kings, because from
them (both) all worlds proceeded - for she was appointed as the result of
secret mysteries.
Praised is
that first great Jordan : praised are those three hundred and sixty jordans
which proceeded from that first great Jordan. Praised is that great mystic
first S'kinta and praised are the three hundred and sixty S'kintas which
proceeded from that first great mystic S'kinta.
Yawar-Ziwa,
the vigilant 'uthra, divulged, revealed and said, "Upon every Nasoraean
man who standeth at his devotions and prayeth this prayer and offereth up this
(prayer of) dedication the glory of the Life will come and will rest on him,
and he shall have strength and increase like Anus'-'Uthra. Upon any Mandaean
man who standeth at his devotions and prayeth this prayer and raiseth this
dedicatory prayer the attention of the Life will descend, will rest on him and
he will have strength and greatness like a priest. And he shall say "Thou art
established First Life" and dedicate (his crown) sixty-one times and make
(this) petition : (and say) Ye are blessed, praised and magnified, revered and
established with high honour which is great and boundless, O Life, and my Lord
Manda-d-Hiia and the great First Liie, the Second Life and the Third Life;
Yufin and Yufafin; Sam-Mana Smira; and the Vine which is all Life and the great
Tree which is all healings. (O) Compassionate One, Forgiving One, Clement One,
Pitiful One, Deliverer and Saviour, O Looser of the bound, loosen him (me) from
and forgive his (my) sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and blunders, mine,
Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus', who have prayed this prayer and
"devotions". Be there forgiveness of sins for me! O Sunday, the
lauded, pure guardian of Light, (0) Ayar-Nhura, pure saviour who art all piety,
who art invisible and unbounded! be my answerer and answer me : be my supporter
and support me, be my Raiser-up and raise my soul, mine, Adam-Zihrun son of
Mahnus' who have prayed this prayer and "devotions". Be there
forgiveness of sins for me!
O Hablaba
(Sunday) ! deliver me from hell-beasts and from purgatory-demons and from
water-penalties , and from pots that seethe, from fire and ice, from the snare
of the planets, from the plots of the planets, from the slaying of the planets
and from the seven hell-beasts , the chief Levier of dues and the children of
darkness. Great Bihram! baptise me in thy sublime jordan and deliver me in
purity to the Place of Light. Stretch forth thy right hand of holy truth to
clasp that of this my individual soul, mine, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus', who
have prayed this prayer and (offered up) these devotions. Be there forgiving of
sins for me. O Abathur-Rama, 0 Abathur-Muzania! Weigh me in thy balance, build
me into thy building and count me in thy reckoning! Mahziel, Great First Word,
which assured me sight in mine eyes, pour wisdom into my heart! Open the eyes
of my understanding! Haias'um, healer; Kus'ta, and Yusmir healer of the mana
and its counterpart, heal me (preserve me) from pains, from blemishes from
hateful curses, from a sickly body and from an oozing body. 0 Yawar-Rba,
Yur-Rba , Treasurer, king of worlds of light, free me, rid me of my sin, my
trespasses, my follies, my stumblings and my mistakes, mine, Adam Zihrun son of
Mahnus' who have prayed this prayer and devotions. Be there forgiveness of sins
for me, and for my father and mother, and nor my teacher , for my wife and
children, for my priests and for all souls who stood for the Name of Life and
were firm in the sign of Manda-d-Hiia with a sincere and believing heart. Yea,
Life, verily Life , Life will be with the victorious. They (Life) will not
condemn those who love Their name: they will be joined in holy union. Life for
those who know, Life for those who believe, Life for beings who instruct us .
Life is established in its dwellings: Life is victorious over all works.
Chapter 172
Now (we
beseech Thee), Life, (bestow) Thy pity, Thy clemency, Thine attention, Thy
compassion, Thine, Great First Life! Show pity, be clement, be attentive to and
show compassion on this, my soul, mine, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus' who have
prayed this prayer and (these) devotions. May there be forgiveness of sins for
me. (Three times) . For me and for my father and my mother, for my teacher and
for my wife and my offspring, and for my priest and for whomsoever hath offered
this bread and ritual foods. And for you, my fathers, my teachers, and my
instructors and those who taught me the faith when ye supported me from the
Left to the Right, may there be forgiving of sins for you. And ye shall say
"Life is established in its dwellings". And Life is victorious over all
works.
The S' umhita
Chapter 173
The name of
the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia be pronounced upon thee! The name of the
great mystic Wellspring is pronounced upon thee. The name of the great mystic
First Palmtree is pronounced upon thee. The naive of the great S'is'lam is
pronounced upon thee. The name of the great 'zlat is pronounced upon thee. The
name of the great Yawar is pronounced upun thee. The name of Simat-Hiia is
pronounced upon thee. The name of the great Yukabar is pronounced upon thee.
The name of the Mana and his counterpart is pronounced upon thee. The name of
the great Mystery, the mystic Word, is pronounced upon thee. The name of
Shaq-Ziwa the great, the first, is pronounced upon thee. The name of Sam, the pure,
first-produced, beloved and first radiance, is pronounced upon thee. The name
of the Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia is pronounced upon thee, Adam-Zihrun
son of Mahnus'. May illness, malady, accidents, curses, vows and forfeitures ,
pains, infirmities, violent fevers, the evil eye and the dimmed eye be loosed
and removed from thee. They shall depart (rise) to the mountains and heights
from thy body, spirit and soul, thy trunk and thy, stature and (from) thine
entire frame, thine, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus', through the strength of my
Father, their Father, Manda-d-Hiia, through the strength of the treasure of the
First Life and through the strength of Yawar-Zi,va and Simat- Hiia. And the
name of Life and the name of Manda-d-Hiia be pronounced upon thee.
Chapter 174
I beseech the
Life and my Lord Manda-d-Hiia and the 'uthras and kings of the worlds of the
light for a sponsor for this high mystery (ginza) so that no lacking or
deficiency may appear therein. Should there be anything missing or deficient,
do thou, O Hibil- Ziwa, (thou) great Fulfiller, supplement it from thy treasure
which is not deficient and from thy plenty, which lacketh in nothing. Rid it
and loose it from its sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings and mistakes, (and)
mine, Adam-Zihrun son of Mahnus' who have prayed this prayer and (these)
devotions. May there be forgiving of sins for me.
O Sunday,
receive it, save it, establish it and raise it up to perfection!
Chapter 175
In the name of
the Great Life. Then, when she reacheth the Seven Mysteries, servitors of the
Seven go forth towards her. They come and surround her and question her and say
to her, "O soul, whence comest thou and whither goest thou ?'' I say to
them, "I come from the Body, the name of which is the Earth and I am going
towards the Good Consumination ". They say to me, "Whose servant art
thou and whose envoy art thou called ?'' I say to them, "I am the servitor
of the Beloved Consummation, and the envoy of the vast Ether".
Then they bless her (me); and praise her and
guard her and say to her, "Everyone who knoweth this saying will rise
towards the Good Goal " because they seek to grasp the mysteries of the
Body . And they question her and then she riseth towards the Good Goal.
Chapter 176
O King of all
kings, O Father of all 'uthras; O Adatan and Yadatan; O S'ilmay and Nedvay, ye
guardian 'uthras of the jordan; O Hibil-Ziwa, great Fulfiller who deliverest us
from evil plots and deliverest us from all that is evil and ugly, O high King
of Light, thou wilt give me comeliness of body, compassion of heart, fullness
of hand and integrity of eye. O Life, and my Lord Manda-d-Hiia Thou deliverest
me savest me and guardest me. O high King of Light!
Little New
Year`s Feast Prayer
Chapter 177
In the Name of
the Great Life.
Vines shone in
the water
And in the
jordan mighty they grew.
Ye are
flourishing offshoots.
Messengers
hither I bring you,
I give you great 'uthras.
I have twined
for you and bring you Garlands of myrtle and marjoram For (lit. "in")
the doors of the houses.
I will rear up
for you babes And bring them to you. We bless you unto the world`s end : The
full river (yardna) hath blessed you And the baptism which is unfailing from
beginning to end.
Honouring of
the Crown
Chapter 178
Kus'ta
strengthen thee , my crown, Kus'ta strengthen thee, my teacher, Kus'ta
strengthen thee, my turban, Kus'ta strengthen thee, guardian of my turban,
Kulja strengthen thee, Great First Radiance, Kus'ta strengthen thee, Great
First Light, Kus'ta strengthen you, my brother-priests, Kus'ta strengthen You,
Life, my Parents , Kus'ta strengthen thee, my treasure, Kus'ta strengthen thee,
Guardian of my treasure! We kiss thee with a pure mouth. (Sixty-one times) In
an inner vessel they concealed thee . The Wellspring of living waters hath
blessed thee, And the Nas'irutha which emanated therefrom Will be thine assuagement,
it will be thy portion. And treasure will arise to its owner. And Thou, Life,
wilt be victorious for ever and ever! And Life is victorious .
(...)
The Letter
Chapter 382
In the Name of
the Great Life!
Vines shone in
the waters:
Mighty ones
were confirmed
For
perfecting, for clearing the waters,
Establishing
Your likeness and giving us light
Let your
radiance shine upon us, great 'uthras!
Shine, shine
forth, come in mystic transfiguration,
Let your
radiance shine forth and the radiance of the king.
Let your
fragrance come and overpower (us with its sweetness)
[This hymn the
ganzibra shall pronounce over the wine-bowl, giving it to the baruka (blesser)
and to the two witnesses.]
Chapter 383
In the name of
the Great Life!
On the day
that Hibil-Ziwa
Walked with
Yawar,
Myrtle with
them was plentiful,
Plentiful was
the myrtle,
And to Yawar
he gave it,
Into his right
hand.
And he said to
him,
"Take
from me fresh myrtle
And pronounce
blessing in the shkinata
Its blessing
pronounce in the shkinata.
Then Yawar
opened his mouth,
Blessing
Hibil-Ziwa, blessing Hibil-Ziwa
And said to
him, "Blessed art thou,
Our father,
Hibil-Ziwa!
Like the
myrtle that is in thy right hand
Thy Root shall
flourish
Like the root
of fresh myrtle:
And thou shalt
have strength and increase
Like the
living waters".
[The
"blessers" recite this hymn and give myrtle to the ganzibra.]
Chapter 384
Myrtle,
myrtle! The king took it;
The king was
surrounded by the perfume of myrtle,
The king was
surrounded by myrtle-perfume,
And blessing
Hibil-Ziwa,
He said,
blessing Hibil-Ziwa,
"Blessed
art thou, our father Hibil-Ziwa,
Who hast
brought this plant of fresh myrtle
And hast set it up in the dwellings of
'uthras.
The dwellings
shine in its brightness
And delight in
its fragrance for ever.
[The ganzibra
recites this hymn and taketh the myrtle from the "blessers".]
Chapter 385
In the name of the Great Life!
All who inhale
thy perfume and are crowned by thee
Sixty heinous
sins will fall away from him.
And all pure
spouses will be made perfect,
Delivered from
evil actions.
(Those) who
twine the wreaths and set them on our heads
Will arise
without spot and behold the Place of Light.
(The ganzibra
reciteth this prayer over the myrtle, inhaleth its fragrance and giveth it to
the shganda (acolyte) to smell, and to the "blessers" and all persons
present; then he throweth the myrtle into the jordan and (folds and) putteth
away the banner. And (then) they "honour their crowns.")
[Note. -- Here
D. C. 3 p. 328 has a colophon which begins: --]
These are the prayers for the pihtania
(breads) and all the blessings of the Blessed Oblation which I copied for my
brothers and parents so that there may be support and a guardian for us on
earth and forgiving of sins before the Life, my Parents, in the worlds of
light, so that they may be instructed therein. I am poor, lowly... etc.
[Note. --
Before No. 386D.C. 3 inserts:
Chapter 386
See Prayer No.
329.
[The rubric
differs slightly, so I give it:]
[This is a hymn
for consecration of crowns on the Sunday when the ganzibra wishes to consecrate
the cotton crowns for the priests. Wearing his vestments, with the (novice's)
vestments and the crowns in his right hand and his staff in his left, he goes
to the bank of the jordan, grasping the crowns which he wishes to consecrate
together with his own in his right hand. Then, after performing ritual ablution
in the jordan, he approaches the cult-hut and examines each (item) of the
vestments, and recites the 'Salutation' at the Door of Mercies (i.e. facing
North), to (as many) kings as he is able. After that he shall recite this hymn
once over each crown. And Life is victorious!]
Chapter 387
See Prayer No.
305.
Chapter 388
See Prayer No.
306.
Chapter 389
See Prayer No.
307.
Chapter 390
See Prayer No.
308.
Chapter 391
See Prayer No.
309.
Chapter 392
See Prayer No.
310.
Chapter 393
See Prayer No.
311.
[The ganzibra
shall recite these seven hymns of the Great Shishlam when he placeth the crown
on the postulant. And the priests shall recite these seven other hymns, and
give their reponses.]
Chapter 394
See Prayer No.
312.
Chapter 395
See Prayer No.
313.
Chapter 396
See Prayer No.
314.
Chapter 397
See Prayer No.
315.
Chapter 398
See Prayer No.
316 and 317.
Chapter 399
See Prayer No.
318 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 400
See Prayer No.
319 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 401
See Prayer No.
320 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 402
See Prayer No.
321 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 403
See Prayer No.
322 and compare Prayer 386.
Chapter 404
See Prayer No.
323 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 405
See Prayer No.
324 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 406
See Prayer No.
325 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 407
See Prayer No.
326 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 408
See Prayer No.
327 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 409
See Prayer No.
328 and the rubric which follows it.
Chapter 410
Prayer of
Yahia
In the Name of
the Great Life!
Health,
victory and forgiving of sins be there for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, who
have prayed this prayer and (these) Devotions. Forgiving of sins be there for a
man whose eyes wait upon his Father and whose thought is directed to the Life
and whose mind doth not stray from Knowledge-of-Life.
Poor am I who
make this petition: a lowly man who hath kept aloof from the Seven. And I say
"O Lord of the lofty firmament, (O) Being who accepteth request, receive
my prayer and my praise here; guide it with Thy directing (power), grant me a
place in Thy Place, give me a dwelling in Thy world. Do not question me about
my sins and the burden which hath weighed down my soul in this world. Behold
me, who have sought purification before Thee! Look on me, who have borne
persecution for Thy name! End for me acts of violence, for I am Thy servant and
Thy child. Now I humble myself and my children to Thy name, for I have been
true to thy name, and speak (it) in my heart and talk (of it) in my mind. And I
subdue my form and my loins, (O) Shihrialia shilia, superior to all glories,
before the pure Light which is above all lights.
And I say,
"O Lord of gleaming banners, Lord of mystic books, Lord of
"Letters-of-Truth". Lord of prayer and praise, He who uplifteth the
prayer of 'uthras and sponsors the praisegiving of kings, Support of prayerful
thoughts! Let there be strength and constancy for all lovers of Thy name! Look
upon me with Your eyes and pity me in Your heart! Support me with Your
strength, clothe me with Your glory, cover me with Your light. Cut me not off
from Yourself! And put far from me fear, dread and terror of the seven stars
and the twelve constellations: deliver me from the hands of the wicked, and
loosen my feet from the bonds of death. Cut me not off from Your presence. Arm
me against all that is evil: be for me a bulwark against rebels and a Hand of
Truth against the destructive powers of this world. Turn away, repulse from me
insecurity (?), poverty, ill-luck, lack of sleep and hours of agitation, an
evil day and blows (onslaughts) which occur all the time. Be to me Life in
life; give me to drink of freshly-flowing Water of Life. Set up for me a kana
d-zidqa, a Table and good fortune so that they are fully supplied by Nasirutha.
And my brethren will be with me and will provide (me with) a peaceful
transplanting: my wife, my plants (children), and my priests shall accomplish
it.
I shall depart
and come towards You after a (ritually) perfect departure (death), with pure
oil, and with the proven Sign; in ripeness of years, without feebleness, in a
blessed old age, in my own home.
Look on the
plants, marvel at the shualania (those entering the priesthood under tuition);
then let there be with You a forgiver of sins for me, Adam-Yuhana son of
Mahnush who have prayed this prayer and these "Devotions".
Forgiveness of sins be there for me, for my father and mother, for my teacher,
for my wife, for my offspring, for my priests and for all souls who arose at
the name of Life and verified the sign of Manda-d-Hiia with pious and believing
heart.
Yea, Life,
verily Life, life with the victorious there shall be for those love Their name!
They will not sever the holy union knit between living ones, with those who
know the Life and believe in the Life, and with those who teach us the faith.
And Life abideth in Its Dwellings and Life is victorious over all works!
And now (I
ask) of Life, Your compassion, Your forgiveness, Your reconciliation and Your
compassion, Yours, Great First Life! Pity, forgive, awake and have compassion
upon this my soul, mine, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush who have prayed this prayer
and these "Devotions". Let there be forgiveness of sins for me!
(thrice); for me and for my father, my mother, my teacher, my wife and my wife
and my plants (children) and my priests who have placed bread and (ritual) food
(here), (and) you, my fathers, my teachers, my instructors and those who taught
me the faith, when ye supported me from the Left to the Right. Forgiveness of
sins be there for you! Life abideth in Its dwellings and Life is victorious
over all works!
[This is a
prayer (called) Yahia's Petition ("John's Prayer"). Pray it in all
your devotions.]
Other Hymns
Chapter 411
[This is the
great Commemorative prayer known as "Our forefathers". It is usually
preceded by the Tab taba ltabia prayer as in prayer 170. It is recited at every
rite for the departed.]
Our
forefathers, there shall be forgiving of sins for them. Yushamin son of
Dmuth-Hiia, there will be forgiving of sins for him.
.... (the
prayer continues from this part as in Prayer 170, inserting the name of the
copyist, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, and his relatives, and teacher wherever
such insertions are customary. The insertions are called zharia,
"injunctions", "rubrics")
[This is the
chant of "Our forefathers".]
Chapter 412
In the name of
the Great Life.
Then, when she
(the soul) reacheth the seven mysteries,
Servants of the Seven go out towards her
And come and
surround her and question her.
And they said
to her "O soul, whence comest thou?
And whither
goest thou?" She said to them,
"I come
from the Body the name of which is Earth.
And I go
toward the good Kimsa".
They say to
her "Servant of whom, art thou?
Messenger of
whom art thou called?"
She said to
them "I am the servant of the beloved Kimsa
And the envoy
of the vast Ether".
Then they bless her and commend her and say
to her,
"All who
know this (pass-) word shall rise
Towards the
good Kimsa".
For they seek
to grasp the mystery of the Body
And (so)
question her.
And thereupon
she ascendeth
Towards the
Good Kimsa.
[This is a
prayer about the questioning of the soul.]
Chapter 413
[See prayer
177.]
Chapter 414
My Lord be
praised!
In the name of
the Great Life!
On the day
when the radiance within Radiance
Broke through
and emerged,
A counterpart
of the jordan was formed in mirrors;
In mirrors a
counterpart of the jordan was formed.
And water was
produced in the Ether.
The jordan emerged in its glory
And the water
was intermingled with the Ether,
Intermingled
was Water with Ether.
And the
strength of Light increased greatly,
Was increased
and established.
A wreath they
twisted into crowns
(Of) myrtle
leaves. And trees bore their burden (fruit)
Nasirutha
spoke therein to kings (priests)
And their
purities were intertwined.
(The
bridegroom shall recite this prayer when entering his house before he "taketh
kushta with his wife". Then he shall "honour" his crown. Beware
of performing a marriage OI (entering into) a partnership when the moon is in
Cancer, Capricornus, Sagittarius or Scorpio: they are evil days for a wedding.)
