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Shumhata

{{Short description|Prayer in Mandaeism}}

{{Mandaeism}}

The Shumhata ({{langx|myz|ࡔࡅࡌࡄࡀࡕࡀ|translit=Šumhata|lit=Names}}) is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism.Choheili, Shadan. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FHb8Qx9U749SYnrsS1y8KgBQQrCn89OBZUC1UwiF0dI/view Rishama and Barakha Rituals]. Liverpool, NSW: Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi.

The Shumhata is numbered as Prayer 173 in E. S. Drower's version of the Qulasta,{{Cite book|title=The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans|last=Drower|first=E. S.|publisher=E. J. Brill|year=1959|location=Leiden}} which was based on manuscript 53 of the Drower Collection (abbreviated DC 53).{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history|publisher=Gorgias Press|publication-place=Piscataway, N.J|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59333-621-9}}

The Shumhata prayer

Like the Asut Malkia, the Shumhata is a litany which lists following the names (in Drower's 1959 version). The Mandaic below in parentheses has been transliterated from Al-Mubaraki (2010).{{cite book |last=Al-Mubaraki |first=Majid Fandi |last2=Mubaraki |first2=Brian |date=2010 |title=Qulasta - 'niania & Qabina / Mandaean Liturgical Prayer Book (Responses & Marriage) (volume 2) |location=Luddenham, New South Wales |publisher=Mandaean Research Centre |isbn=9781876888152}}

  1. Hayyi Rabbi and Manda d-Hayyi ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-hiia u-šuma d̠-manda d̠-hiia madkar ʿlak}})
  2. aina (well-spring) ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-aina rabtia kasita qadmaita madkar ʿlak}})
  3. sindirka (date palm or sandarac{{cite book|first=Carlos|last=Gelbert|date=2023|title=The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba|location=Sydney|publisher=Living Water Books|isbn=9780648795414|pages=577-584}} tree) ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-sindirka rba qadmaia madkar ʿlak}})
  4. Šišlam Rba ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-šišlam rba madkar ʿlak}})
  5. Ezlat Rabtia ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-ʿzlat rabtia madkar ʿlak}})
  6. Yawar Rba ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-iauar rba madkar ʿlak}})
  7. Simat Hiia ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-simat hiia madkar ʿlak}})
  8. Yukabar Rba ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-iukabar rba madkar ʿlak}})
  9. Mana and his counterpart ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-mana u-dmuta madkar ʿlak}})
  10. Great Mystery, the mystic Word ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-raza rba pugdama kasia madkar ʿlak}})
  11. S'haq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-shaq ziua rba qadmaia madkar ʿlak}})
  12. Sam Ziwa ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-sam ziua dakia bukra habiba rba qadmaia madkar ʿlak}})
  13. Hayyi Rabbi and Manda d-Hayyi (second repetition) ({{transliteration|myz|šuma d̠-hiia u-šuma d̠-manda d̠-hiia madkar ʿlak}})

Each of the names is preceded by "[the] name of" ({{langx|myz|ࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡖ|translit=šuma d̠-}}) and followed by the phrase "is pronounced upon thee" ({{langx|myz|ࡌࡀࡃࡊࡀࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡊ|translit=madkar ʿlak}}). This list of names, which is also repeated in the commentary of Prayer 18 of the Qulasta, is followed by a request to be protected from illnesses and misfortunes.{{cite book |last=Gelbert |first=Carlos |last2=Lofts |first2=Mark J. |date=2025 |title=The Qulasta |location=Edensor Park, NSW |publisher=Living Water Books |isbn=978-0-6487954-3-8}}

The King of Kings prayer

A similar litany prayer that comes after the Shumhata is the King of Kings ({{transliteration|myz|malka d̠-kulhun malkia}}) prayer, which is Prayer 176 of the Qulasta. The Mandaic text is from Al-Mubaraki (2010), and the English translation below is partially adapted from Gelbert and Lofts (2025).

class="wikitable"

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scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Mandaic transliteration

! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | English translation

{{poem quote|{{transliteration|myz|italic=no|

ia malka d̠-kulhun malkia

ia aba d̠-kulhun ʿutria

ia adatan u-iadatan

ia šilmai u-nidbai

:ʿutria naṭria d̠-iardna

ia hibil ziua rba malka

:mparqatlan mn kul mhašabata bišata

:u-mparqatlan mn kul d̠-biš u-snia

ia malka rama rba d̠-nhura

:qahbatan šapi[r]ut pagra

:u-trahmut liba

:u-maliut ʿda

:u-tarṣut aina

ia hiia u-marai u-manda d̠-hiia

:mparqatlan u-mšauzbatlan u-mnaṭratlan

ia malka rama rba d̠-nhura

}}

}}

|{{poemquote|

O King of all Kings.

O Father of all Uthras.

O Adathan and Yadathan.

O Shilmai and Nidbai,

:guardian uthras of the yardna.

O Great Hibil Ziwa, the King,

:who protects us from evil machinations,

:and liberates us from all that is evil and hateful.

O Great High King of the Light,

:give me integrity of the body,

:and compassion of the heart,

:and ability of the hand,

:and acuity of the eye.

O Hayyi and my Lord and Manda d-Hayyi,

:free me, save me, and guard me.

O Great High King of the Light.

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

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Category:Mandaic words and phrases

Category:Mandaean prayer

Category:Litanies

Category:Qulasta