Manda (Mandaeism)

{{Short description|Concept of knowledge or gnosis in Mandaeism}}

In Mandaeism, manda ({{langx|myz|ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ}}) is the concept of gnosis or spiritual knowledge.{{cite thesis|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1444088/|last=Aldihisi|first=Sabah|year=2008|title=The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba|type=PhD|publisher=University College London}} Mandaeans stress salvation of the soul through secret knowledge (gnosis) of its divine origin.{{cite book | last = Drower | first = Ethel Stephana | author-link = E. S. Drower | date = 1960 | title = The secret Adam, a study of Nasoraean gnosis | location = London UK | publisher = Clarendon Press | page = xvi | no-pp = true | url = http://holybooks.lichtenbergpress.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Secret-Adam-A-Study-of-Nasoraen-Gnosis.pdf | access-date = 19 February 2014 | archive-date = 6 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140306132110/http://holybooks.lichtenbergpress.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Secret-Adam-A-Study-of-Nasoraen-Gnosis.pdf | url-status = dead }} Mandaeism "provides knowledge of whence we have come and whither we are going."Deutsch, Nathaniel. (2003) Mandaean Literature. In The Gnostic Bible (pp. 527–561). New Seeds Books{{rp|531}}

Etymology

On the basis of cognates in other Aramaic dialects, Semiticists such as Mark Lidzbarski and Rudolf Macúch have translated the term manda as "knowledge" (cf. {{langx|arc|מַנְדַּע}} mandaʻ in Dan. 2:21, 4:31, 33, 5:12; cf. {{langx|he|מַדַּע}} maddaʻ, with characteristic assimilation of /n/ to the following consonant, medial -nd-, hence becoming -dd-Angel Sáenz-Badillos, A History of the Hebrew Language. Cambridge University Press, 1993 ({{ISBN|978-0521556347}}), p. 36 et passim. (See also Biblical Hebrew phonology#Classification: "Hebrew also shares with the Canaanite languages ... assimilation of non-final /n/ to the following consonant.")). In his 1965 Mandaic handbook, Macúch suggests that due to the special religious use of the word, -n- was added in order to make it unique from other words with the same root.{{cite book|last=Macúch|first=Rudolf|title=Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic|location=Berlin|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|date=1965}}

Derived terms

Mandaeism ('having knowledge') comes from the Mandaic word manda, meaning "knowledge".{{Cite book|chapter-url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=chWcZcYcyeQC}}|title=Iconography of Religions: An Introduction|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=Albert C.|date=1977|publisher=Chris Robertson|isbn=9780800604882|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|author-link=Kurt Rudolph|chapter=Mandaeism|volume=21|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/iconographyofrel0000moor}}{{rp|15}} Mandaean priests formally refer to themselves as Naṣuraia (Nasoraeans), meaning guardians or possessors of secret rites and knowledge.{{cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/mandaeans-2-religion |title=MANDAEANS ii. THE MANDAEAN RELIGION |access-date=3 January 2022|website=Encyclopaedia Iranica|date=7 April 2008}}{{cite book|last=Drower|first=Ethel Stefana|title=The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa|publisher=Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana|year=1953}}

Mandaia ({{langx|myz|ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡀ|lit=Gnostic, Knower, Enlightened One}}; plural: Mandaiia ({{langx|myz|ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ}}) is a Mandaic term that refers to a Mandaean layperson, as opposed to a Naṣuraia (Mandaean priest).{{cite book|last=Nasoraia|first=Brikha H.S.|author-link=Brikha Nasoraia|title=The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought|publisher=Sterling|publication-place=New Delhi|year=2021|isbn=978-81-950824-1-4|oclc=1272858968}}{{rp|116}}

The beth manda (beit manda, bit manda, {{lang|myz|ࡁࡉࡕ ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀ}}, 'house of knowledge'), also called a mandi, is a Mandaean building that serves as a community center and place of worship.

The name of the uthra Manda d-Hayyi literally means the manda (gnosis) of Hayyi Rabbi ("The Life"). Manda d-Hayyi is considered a very important uthra to know since he revealed himself to John the Baptist and took his soul to the World of Light.{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |editor-last1=Lofts |editor-first1=Mark J. |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}

References

Category:Mandaean philosophical concepts

Category:Mandaic words and phrases