drabsha

File:Darfash - Mandaean cross.svg

The drabsha{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}}Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. ({{langx|myz|ࡃࡓࡀࡁࡔࡀ|translit=drabša}}; Modern Mandaic: drafšā{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}) or darfash ({{langx|fa|درفش}}) is the symbol of the Mandaean faith. It is typically translated as 'banner'.{{cite journal |last=Van Rompay |first=Sandi |date=2010 |title=The Symbolism of the Drabša in the Mandaean Illustrated Manuscripts: The Drabša of Radiance |url=http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/secure/POJ/downloadpdf.php?ticket_id=600bb86360db7 |journal=ARAM Periodical |volume=22 |pages=263–310 |doi=10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131041}}

Etymology

The Mandaic term drabša is derived from the Middle Persian word drafš, which means 'banner or standard; a flash of light; sunrise'. In Mandaic, drabša can also mean 'a ray or beam of light'.{{cite book | last=Drower | first=E. S. | author-link=E. S. Drower | title=The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis | publisher=Wipf and Stock | publication-place=Eugene, Oregon | date=2020 | isbn=978-1-5326-9763-0 | oclc=1149751154 | language=en}}

An uncommon variant spelling is drapša, which may have been the original spelling.{{cite book |last=Segelberg |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Segelberg |date=1958 |title=Maṣbuta: Studies in the Ritual of Mandaean Baptism |location=Uppsala |publisher=Almqvist and Wiksell}}

Description and symbolism

The drabša is a banner in the shape of a cross made of two branches of olive wood fastened together and half covered with a piece of white cloth traditionally made of pure silk, and seven branches of myrtle. The drabša white silk banner is not identified with the Christian cross. Instead, the four arms of the drabsha symbolize the four corners of the universe, while the pure silk cloth represents the Light of God (Hayyi Rabbi).{{Cite web |last=Mite|first=Valentinas|date=14 July 2004|website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|access-date=4 November 2021| url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1053864.html |title = Iraq: Old Sabaean-Mandean Community is Proud of Its Ancient Faith}} The seven branches of myrtle represent the seven days of creation.{{cite web|author=Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - USEK|date=27 November 2017|title=Open discussion with the Sabaeans Mandaeans|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdQq4GkT5Ao|website=YouTube|access-date=9 November 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Sly|first=Liz|title='This is one of the world's oldest religions, and it is going to die.'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-11-16-0811160073-story.html|access-date=9 November 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|date=16 November 2008|language=en-US}} The drabsha is viewed as a symbol of light and the light of the sun, moon and stars is envisaged to shine from it. It may be of pre-Christian origin and used originally to hang a prayer shawl during immersion in the river (masbuta).{{cite web|author=Mandaean Awareness and Guidance Board|date=28 May 2014|title=Mandaean Beliefs & Mandaean Practices|url=http://www.mandaeanunion.com/culture/item/1249-mandaean-beliefs|website=Mandaean Associations Union|access-date=10 November 2021}}

In Mandaean manuscripts

Mandaean manuscripts often contain descriptions and illustrations of named drabšia. The most common names for drabšia are Shishlameil, Shishlam, and Bihram. The following drabšia names are mentioned in various Mandaean manuscripts:{{cite book |last=van Rompaey |first=Sandra |title=Mandaean Symbolic Art |publisher=Brepols |publication-place=Turnhout |date=2024 |isbn=978-2-503-59365-4 |url=https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503593654-1}}

Scroll of the Rivers (DC 7): Šišlamʿil, Bihram, Nahriel
Diwan Abatur (DC 8): Nbaṭ, Šamišiel
Zihrun Raza Kasia (DC 27): Šišlamʿil, Bihram
Scroll of Exalted Kingship (DC 34): Šišlamʿil
Baptism of Hibil Ziwa (DC 35): Bihram, Šišlam, Mašriel
Alma Rišaia Zuṭa (DC 48): Azahʿil, Azazʿil, Kliliaiil, Nhurʿil, Nurʿil, Ramʿil, Šišlamʿil
Secrets of the Ancestors (MS Asiat. Misc. C. 13): Barmʿil (twice), Bihram, Bihdad, Manharʿil (four times), Nurʿil, Rʿil, Sahqʿil, Šišlam, Šišlamʿil (twice)

=Qulasta=

In E. S. Drower's version of the Qulasta, prayers 330–347 (corresponding to Part 4 of Mark Lidzbarski's Oxford Collection) are dedicated to the drabša. In many of these prayers, which mention the unfurling of drabshas, individual drabshas have given names.{{Cite book|title=The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans|last=Drower|first=E. S.|publisher=E. J. Brill|year=1959|location=Leiden}}

Šišlamiel (various prayers)
Šašlamiel (prayer 347)
Manhariel (prayer 334)
Pirun (prayer 333) (also the name of a gufna)
Zihrun (prayers 332, 340, 341, 374)

==Drabsha prayer==

During Parwanaya, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUaUc9rewfI buta drabša] (Qulasta prayers CP 337–339 = Oxford Collection 4.8–11) is recited by Mandaean laypeople, who repeat the prayer after a priest as they put klilas onto the drabsha. Below is a transliteration of the prayer based on Lidzbarski (1920), which was originally transcribed using the Hebrew alphabet.Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin. The English translation below is partially based on Gelbert & Lofts (2025) and has been revised.{{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 prayer describes the drabsha as a ray of light (since in Mandaic, drabša can also mean 'ray of light') originating from the World of Light. It is passed to Hibil Ziwa and then to Adam Kasia, and finally to the chosen Nasoraeans. The drabsha, now manifested as a physical banner, is set up so that the water of the yardna and the radiance (ziwa) of the banner, representing light, can come together.

class="wikitable" \|+
scope="col" style="width: 50%;" \| Mandaic transliteration ! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" \| English translation
{{poem quote\|{{transliteration\|myz\|italic=no\| b-šuma ḏ-hiia rbia dna dna :ziuak malka ḏ-ˁutria u-ata ˁl ˁutria u-ˁl škinata :dna ˁutria u-škinata ḏ-hiziuia l-ziuak :kulhun birkta b-dilak barkia birkta barkia b-dilak :u-miaqrilak ˁutria aminṭul ḏ-anat mn ˁdẖ ḏ-malka huit malka birkak b-birkta rabtia :u-l-dilia hibil ziua ˁhablia ˁhablia l-dilia hibil ziua :l-manhirinun l-almia u-l-malkia :u-l-iardnia u-l-škinata kulhun mn riš b-riš hibil birkak b-birkta rabtia :u-l-adam kasia iahbak adam birkak b-birkta rabtia :u-l-bhiria zidqa iahbak iahbak l-bhiria zidqa :l-manhirinun u-l-mitaqninun l-dmauatun mn riš b-riš bhiria zidqa qam{{efn\|After qam ('to stand') is pronounced, there is a brief pause in the prayer as a circle of worshippers, originally in squatting positions circled around the base of the drabsha, stand up to place the klilas that they were holding on the top of the drabsha.}} ˁl l-igraihun :u-b-iaminun l-igṭuk u-l-iardna ḏ-mia hiia asgun :u-tirṣuk l-midna ziuak ˁl iardna mia u-ziuak b-hdadia mitkarkia{{efn\|Root: KRKL 'to encompass, bind' (Drower & Macuch 1963, A Mandaic dictionary)}} mia u-ziuak mitkarkia b-hdadia :u-ˁl šilmai u-nidbai mitauzipia{{efn\|Root: YZP 'to borrow, lend, be added' (Drower & Macuch 1963, A Mandaic dictionary)}} halin hinun bhiria zidqa ḏ-ˁl iardna masgin :b-ziuak dilak minihria anat naṭrinun u-qaiminun :u-asiq maṣbutaihun l-riš u-hiia zakin }} }} \|{{poemquote\| In the name of Hayyi Rabbi. It has shone forth! It has shone forth! :Your radiance, king of uthras. It came upon the uthras and shkintas. :It shone forth upon the uthras and shkintas, when they beheld your radiance. :All of them spoke a blessing upon you. The uthras spoke a blessing upon you, :and honored you because you have emerged through the hand of a king. The king has blessed you with a great blessing, :and he gave it to me, Hibil Ziwa. He gave it to me, Hibil Ziwa, :in order to give light to the worlds, to the kings, :to the yardnas, and to the shkintas, and all for ever and ever. Hibil blessed you with a great blessing :and gave you to Adam Kasia. Adam blessed you with a great blessing :and gave you to the Chosen Righteous. He gave you to the Chosen Righteous :in order to enlighten and brighten their counterparts for ever and ever. The Chosen Righteous stood on their feet :and took you with their right hands. And they went to the Yardna of Living Water :and set you up so that your radiance might shine forth upon the yardna. Water and your radiance bind one another. Water and your radiance bind one another, :and they added themselves to Shilmai and Nidbai. These, the Chosen Righteous who go to the yardna, :they enlighten through your radiance. Guard them and strengthen them :and make their maṣbuta successful. And Life is victorious. }}

class="wikitable"

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

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

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

b-šuma ḏ-hiia rbia

dna dna

:ziuak malka ḏ-ˁutria

u-ata ˁl ˁutria u-ˁl škinata

:dna ˁutria u-škinata

ḏ-hiziuia l-ziuak

:kulhun birkta b-dilak barkia

birkta barkia b-dilak

:u-miaqrilak ˁutria aminṭul ḏ-anat

mn ˁdẖ ḏ-malka huit

malka birkak b-birkta rabtia

:u-l-dilia hibil ziua ˁhablia

ˁhablia l-dilia hibil ziua

:l-manhirinun

l-almia u-l-malkia

:u-l-iardnia u-l-škinata kulhun

mn riš b-riš

hibil birkak b-birkta rabtia

:u-l-adam kasia iahbak

adam birkak b-birkta rabtia

:u-l-bhiria zidqa iahbak

iahbak l-bhiria zidqa

:l-manhirinun u-l-mitaqninun l-dmauatun

mn riš b-riš

bhiria zidqa qam{{efn|After qam ('to stand') is pronounced, there is a brief pause in the prayer as a circle of worshippers, originally in squatting positions circled around the base of the drabsha, stand up to place the klilas that they were holding on the top of the drabsha.}} ˁl l-igraihun

:u-b-iaminun l-igṭuk

u-l-iardna ḏ-mia hiia asgun

:u-tirṣuk l-midna ziuak ˁl iardna

mia u-ziuak b-hdadia mitkarkia{{efn|Root: KRKL 'to encompass, bind' (Drower & Macuch 1963, A Mandaic dictionary)}}

mia u-ziuak mitkarkia b-hdadia

:u-ˁl šilmai u-nidbai mitauzipia{{efn|Root: YZP 'to borrow, lend, be added' (Drower & Macuch 1963, A Mandaic dictionary)}}

halin hinun bhiria zidqa ḏ-ˁl iardna masgin

:b-ziuak dilak minihria anat

naṭrinun u-qaiminun

:u-asiq maṣbutaihun l-riš

u-hiia zakin

}}

|{{poemquote|

In the name of Hayyi Rabbi.

It has shone forth! It has shone forth!

:Your radiance, king of uthras.

It came upon the uthras and shkintas.

:It shone forth upon the uthras and shkintas,

when they beheld your radiance.

:All of them spoke a blessing upon you.

The uthras spoke a blessing upon you,

:and honored you because you have emerged

through the hand of a king.

The king has blessed you with a great blessing,

:and he gave it to me, Hibil Ziwa.

He gave it to me, Hibil Ziwa,

:in order to give light

to the worlds, to the kings,

:to the yardnas, and to the shkintas, and all

for ever and ever.

Hibil blessed you with a great blessing

:and gave you to Adam Kasia.

Adam blessed you with a great blessing

:and gave you to the Chosen Righteous.

He gave you to the Chosen Righteous

:in order to enlighten and brighten their counterparts

for ever and ever.

The Chosen Righteous stood on their feet

:and took you with their right hands.

And they went to the Yardna of Living Water

:and set you up so that your radiance might shine forth upon the yardna.

Water and your radiance bind one another.

Water and your radiance bind one another,

:and they added themselves to Shilmai and Nidbai.

These, the Chosen Righteous who go to the yardna,

:they enlighten through your radiance.

Guard them and strengthen them

:and make their maṣbuta successful.

And Life is victorious.

}}

Gallery

File:درابشا.jpg|Artistic rendition of the Mandaean drabsha

File:Yahya Yuhana Mandi drabsha 2024 002.jpg|Drabsha planted into the floor at Yahya Yuhana Mandi in Sydney, Australia

File:Yahya Yuhana Mandi drabsha 2024 001.jpg|Tarmida Sahi Bashikh preparing the drabsha at Yahya Yuhana Mandi in Sydney, Australia

File:Tarmida Sahi Bashikh drabsha.jpg|Tarmida Sahi Bashikh standing next to a drabsha, at Yahya Yuhana Mandi during Parwanaya 2025

File:Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 04.jpg|An actual drabsha (left) next to a symbolic drabsha (center) at Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia

File:Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 028.jpg|Front side of a drabsha at Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia

File:Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 026.jpg|Back side of a drabsha at Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, Sydney, Australia

File:Mandaeans celebrating the Creation Day (Brunaya), Maysan, Iraq - Mar 17, 2019 09.jpg|A drabsha (center) carried during a Parwanaya festival held in Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq in March 2019

File:Mandaeans celebrating the Creation Day (Brunaya), Maysan, Iraq - Mar 17, 2019 13.jpg|A drabsha being carried to the Tigris River

File:Mandaeans 03.jpg|Example of a drabsha (right), with a priest reciting from a prayerbook during a masbuta ritual by the Karun River in Ahvaz, Iran (center)

File:Mandaeans 02.jpg|Example of a drabsha (right), with a tarmida priest reciting from a prayerbook during a masbuta ritual by the Karun River in Ahvaz, Iran (center)

File:درفش مندائي darfash mandaean.jpg|A drabsha (darfash) golden necklace