Yardna

Rivers in Mandaeism

For the Israeli moshav, see Yardena.

The Jordan River Mandaean masbuta in the Karun River, Ahvaz, Iran Part of a series on

Mandaeism

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Rituals

* Masbuta
* Masiqta
* Tamasha
* Rishama
* Kushta
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Ritual food and drink

* Mambuha
* Halalta
* Hamra
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* Zidqa brikha
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Practices

* Belief in Oneness of God
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Objects and symbols

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Cosmology

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* Nsab
* Nbat
* Gubran
* Shihlun
* Urfeil
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Festivals

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Places

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* Sidra d-Nishmata
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Religion portal

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In Mandaeism, a yardna (Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡍࡀ, romanized: iardna, lit. 'Jordan') or yardena ([jardəna]; Arabic: یردنا) is a body of flowing fresh water (or in Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ, romanized: mia hiia, lit. 'living water'; pronounced meyya heyyi) that is suitable for ritual use as baptismal water.[1] The masbuta and other Mandaean rituals such as the tamasha can only be performed in a yardna. Stagnant fresh water, brackish water, and seawater are not considered to be yardnas.[2]

Unlike in Islam, Christianity, or Yazidism, no earthly geographic location is exclusively considered to be sacrosanct in Mandaeism. This is because Mandaeism does not have shrines, holy sites, or pilgrimage sites tied to specific geographical locations, since any river with flowing water can be used for religious rituals.[3]

## Examples of yardnas

[edit]

Although etymologically related to the Canaanite word yarden (Hebrew: ירדן), or the Jordan River, a yardna in Mandaeism can refer to any flowing river.[4] Traditionally, these were typically the Euphrates (Mandaic: Praš), Tigris (Mandaic: Diglat), and Karun (Mandaic: ʿUlat)[5] rivers. The Euphrates is called Praš Ziwa (ࡐࡓࡀࡔ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ; pronounced Fraš Ziwa) in the Ginza Rabba.[6] In Mandaean scriptures, the Euphrates is considered to be the earthly manifestation of the heavenly yardna or flowing river (similar to the Yazidi concept of Lalish being the earthly manifestation of its heavenly counterpart).[7]

In Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Lake Quinsigamond (the source of the Quinsigamond River) is used as a yardna for baptism.[8] In San Antonio and Austin, Texas, the Guadalupe River is the main yardna used.[9]

In Australia, the Nepean River (utilized by Wallacia Mandi) and the Georges River are the yardnas that are most commonly used by Mandaeans.[10] In Sweden, particularly during the winter, indoor pools with flowing water are used as ritual yardnas in mandis.[11]

## Heavenly counterpart

[edit]

Piriawis, a river in the World of Light, is the heavenly counterpart of all yardnas on earth, which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of Piriawis.[6][4]

## Sacramental water

[edit]

There are two types of sacramental water used for Mandaean rituals, namely mambuha ("drinking water") and halalta ("rinsing water"). Both are drawn directly from a yardna.[4]

## Uthras

[edit]

Mandaean texts mention various uthras watching over yardnas.

Book 14 of the Right Ginza mentions Adathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "first yardna" (yardna qadmayya).[6]

Shilmai and Nidbai are the two guardian uthras (celestial beings) watching over Piriawis, the heavenly yardna in the World of Light.[6]

## See also

[edit]

* Qasr al-Yahud
* Al-Maghtas
* Holy water
* Living Water
* Sacred waters
* Water of Life (Christianity)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Gnostic Bible (2003) (p. 810). New Seeds Books
2. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2005). The Mandaeans and the Jews. Edensor Park, NSW: Living Water Books. ISBN 0-9580346-2-1. OCLC 68208613.
3. ^ McGrath, James F. (2024-06-11). Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist. Chicago: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8028-8400-8.
4. ^ a b c Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
5. ^ Nasoraia, Brikha (2022). The Mandaean Rivers Scroll (Diwan Nahrawatha): an analysis. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-367-33544-1. OCLC 1295213206.
6. ^ a b c d Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
7. ^ Nasoraia, Brikha H.S. (2021). The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought. New Delhi: Sterling. ISBN 978-81-950824-1-4. OCLC 1272858968.
8. ^ "Worcester branch of Mandaean faith works to plant roots". 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
9. ^ Busch, Matthew; Ross, Robyn (18 February 2020). "Against The Current". Texas Observer. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
10. ^ Smith, David Maurice (2015-07-30). "An Ancient Baptism in Sydney". Roads & Kingdoms. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
11. ^ Sedrati, Anass (2018). "Mandaeism - A religion between Sweden and the Middle East". Stockholm: KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

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Mandaeism

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Priesthood|

| Titles|

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Individuals|

* (List of Mandaean priests)
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Institutions|

* Mandaean Council of Ahvaz
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Literature|

| Main texts|

* Ginza Rabba
* Right Ginza
* Left Ginza
* Mandaean Book of John

|

Prayers|

| Qulasta (list)|

* Sidra d-Nishmata (CP 1–103)
* Rushuma (CP 104)
* Asut Malkia (CP 105)
* Eniana
* Rahma
* Tabahatan (CP 170)
* Shal Shulta (CP 171)
* Shumhata (CP 173)
* King of Kings (CP 176)
* Kušṭa asiak (CP 178)
* Kd azil bhira dakia

|

Priestly texts|

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

Historical texts|

* Haran Gawaita

Apotropaic texts|

* Incantation bowls
* Lead rolls
* Pišra d-Ainia

Cosmology|

* Tibil
* Yardna

| World of Light|

* Hayyi Rabbi
* Shkina
* Piriawis
* Mshunia Kushta
* Tarwan
* Yasana

| Uthras|

* Yushamin
* Abatur
* Ptahil
* Hibil
* Shitil
* Anush
* Sam Ziwa
* Manda d-Hayyi
* Shilmai
* Nidbai
* Adathan and Yadathan
* Yufin-Yufafin
* Urfeil and Marfeil
* Tar and Tarwan
* Bihram
* Zihrun
* Etinsib Ziwa
* Nbat
* Nsab
* Gubran
* Shihlun
* Yura
* Yurba
* Yukabar
* Yukashar
* Yawar Ziwa
* Simat Hayyi
* Saureil

| Concepts|

* Anana
* Gufna
* Ziwa

|

Intermediary realms|

* Matarta
* Hitfun
* Shahrat
* Shatrin

World of Darkness|

* Sea of Suf
* Siniawis
* Mšiha

| Demons|

* Ruha
* Ur
* Krun
* Gaf
* Qin
* Anathan
* Shdum
* Giu
* Hag and Mag
* Zartai-Zartanai
* Zahreil

|

Planets|

* Shamish (Sun)
* Libat (Venus)
* Nbu (Mercury)
* Sin (Moon)
* Kiwan (Saturn)
* Bil (Jupiter)
* Nirig (Mars)

Important figures|

* Adam
* Seth
* Abel
* Enosh
* Noah
* Shem
* Miriai
* Elizabeth
* John the Baptist

Mythical figures|

* Dinanukht
* Shishlam
* Ezlat

Concepts|

* Kushta (truth)
* Manda (gnosis)
* Laufa (communion)
* Dmuta (image)
* Nishimta (soul)
* Ruha (spirit)
* Mana (mind)
* Adam Kasia (hidden Adam)
* Adam Pagria (bodily Adam)

Objects and symbols|

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

Ritual food and drink|

| Drinks|

* Mambuha
* Halalta
* Hamra

|

Foods|

* Pihta
* Fatira
* Sa

Meals|

* Dukrana
* Lofani
* Zidqa brikha

Clothing|

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

Rituals and practices|

* Masbuta (baptism)
* Tamasha (triple ablution)
* Rishama (minor ablution)
* Masiqta (death mass)
* Qabin (wedding)
* Brakha (prayer)
* Sahduta (creed)
* Bshuma (name of God)
* Sauma (fasting)
* Zidqa (almsgiving)
* Naming

Buildings and structures|

* Mandi
* Baghdad Mandi
* Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi
* Yahya Yuhana Mandi
* Wallacia Mandi
* Shkinta
* Andiruna

Calendar|

| Feasts|

* Dehwa Rabba
* Feast of the Great Shishlam
* Dehwa Hanina
* Abu al-Haris
* Parwanaya
* Dehwa Daimana

|

Months|

* Daula
* Nuna
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* Taura
* Ṣilmia
* Sarṭana
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* Šumbulta
* Qaina
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Epochs|

* Adam and Eve
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* Shurbai and Sharhabeil
* Noah and Nuraita

Language|

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Scholarly disciplines|

* Mandaean studies

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