Niana

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For the Filipino dancer and social media personality, see Niana Guerrero.

In Mandaeism, a ʿniana (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡀ; plural form: ʿniania ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡉࡀ) prayer is recited during rituals such as the masiqta and priest initiation ceremonies.[1] There is a total of 26 ʿniana prayers. They form part of the Qolasta.[2]

## Etymology[edit]

ʿNiana literally means "response,"[3] since the prayers may have originally been recited in a call and response manner.

## Manuscripts and translations[edit]

Jacques de Morgan's manuscript collection included a ʿniania manuscript dating back to 1833.[3]

The prayers have been translated into English by E. S. Drower (1959).[2] They have also been translated into German by Mark Lidzbarski (1920).[4]

## List of niana prayers[edit]

The ʿniana prayers are numbered from 78–103 in both Drower's and Lidzbarski's versions of the Qolasta.

* Prayer 78
* Prayer 79: prayer for the klila for the staff (margna)
* Prayer 80
* Prayer 81
* Prayer 82: mambuha prayer

Masbuta prayers:

* Prayer 83
* Prayer 84
* Prayer 85
* Prayer 86
* Prayer 87
* Prayer 88
* Prayer 89
* Prayer 90

Masiqta prayers:

* Prayer 91
* Prayer 92
* Prayer 93
* Prayer 94
* Prayer 95
* Prayer 96
* Prayer 97
* Prayer 98
* Prayer 99
* Prayer 100
* Prayer 101

|

Communion prayer:

* Prayer 102

Concluding prayer:

* Prayer 103

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There are also two niana poems in Book 15 of the Right Ginza, which are chapters 15 and 16 of Book 15. These two poems contain the refrain "when the chosen/proven pure one went away" (kḏ azil bhira dakia ࡗ ࡀࡆࡉࡋ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡀ ࡃࡀࡊࡉࡀ).[5] This refrain is also found in prayers 205 and 233–256 of the Qolasta.[2]

## See also[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Qolasta

* Qolasta
* Call and response

## References[edit]

1. ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
2. ^ a b c Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
3. ^ a b Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2010). The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history. Piscataway, N.J: Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-621-9.
4. ^ Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.
5. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.

## External links[edit]

* ʿNiani prayers (Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
* ʿNiani prayers (Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
* Diwan ʿNiani d-Masbuta (Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
* Diwan ʿNiani d-Masbuta (Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)

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Priesthood|

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* Rishama
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* (Shganda)

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Individuals|

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| Qolasta|

* Niana
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Ritual texts|

* The Wedding of the Great Shishlam
* Scroll of the Parwanaya
* Scroll of the Great Baptism
* Scroll of the Ancestors
* Zihrun Raza Kasia

Esoteric texts|

* The Thousand and Twelve Questions
* Scroll of Exalted Kingship
* The Coronation of the Great Shishlam
* Alma Rišaia Rba
* Alma Rišaia Zuṭa
* The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa
* Scroll of Abatur
* Dmut Kušṭa
* Secrets of the Ancestors
* Scroll of the Rivers
* Book of the Zodiac

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* Haran Gawaita

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* Incantation bowls
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Cosmology|

* Tibil
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| World of Light|

* Hayyi Rabbi
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| Uthras|

* Yushamin
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* Nbat
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* Yurba
* Yukabar
* Yukashar
* Yawar Ziwa
* Simat Hayyi
* Saureil
* (Ziwa)

|

Intermediary realms|

* Matarta
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* Shatrin

World of Darkness|

* Sea of Suf
* Siniawis

| Demons|

* Ruha
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* Gaf
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* Hag and Mag
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Concepts|

* Kushta (truth)
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* Adam Pagria (bodily Adam)

Objects and symbols|

* Drabsha (banner)
* Misha (oil)
* Riha (incense)
* Skandola (talisman seal)

Ritual food and drink|

| Drinks|

* Mambuha
* Halalta
* Hamra

|

Foods|

* Pihta
* Fatira
* Sa

Meals|

* Dukrana
* Lofani
* Zidqa brika

Clothing|

* Rasta (robe)
* Burzinqa (turban)
* Margna (staff)
* Pandama (mouth-veil)
* Klila (wreath)
* Taga (crown)

Rituals and practices|

* Masbuta (baptism)
* Tamasha (immersive ablution)
* Rishama (washing ablution)
* Masiqta (death mass)
* Qabin (wedding)
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