Manda (Mandaeism)

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. mandaʻ in Dan. 2:21, 4:31, 33, 5:12; cf. maddaʻ, with characteristic assimilation of /n/ to the following consonant, medial -nd-, hence becoming -dd-). 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.

Derived terms

Mandaeism ('having knowledge') comes from the Mandaic word manda, meaning "knowledge". Mandaean priests formally refer to themselves as Naṣuraia (Nasoraeans), meaning guardians or possessors of secret rites and knowledge.

Mandaia (; plural: Mandaiia ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ) is a Mandaic term that refers to a Mandaean layperson, as opposed to a Naṣuraia (Mandaean priest).

The beth manda (), 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 one of the important uthras in Mandaeism, since he revealed himself to John the Baptist and took his soul to the World of Light.

References

References

1. Aldihisi, Sabah. (2008). "The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba". University College London.
2. Drower, Ethel Stephana. (1960). "The secret Adam, a study of Nasoraean gnosis". Clarendon Press.
3. Deutsch, Nathaniel. (2003) Mandaean Literature. In ''The Gnostic Bible'' (pp. 527–561). New Seeds Books
4. 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.")
5. Macúch, Rudolf. (1965). "Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic". Walter de Gruyter.
6. Rudolph, Kurt. (1977). "Iconography of Religions: An Introduction". Chris Robertson.
7. Rudolph, Kurt. (7 April 2008). "MANDAEANS ii. THE MANDAEAN RELIGION".
8. Drower, Ethel Stefana. (1953). "The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa". Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
9. Nasoraia, Brikha H.S.. (2021). "The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought". Sterling.
10. (2011). "Ginza Rba". Living Water Books.