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Rasta (Mandaeism)
Mandaean ceremonial garment From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A rasta (Classical Mandaic: ࡓࡀࡎࡕࡀ) is a white ceremonial garment that Mandaeans wear during most baptismal rites,[1] religious ceremonies, and during periods of uncleanliness. It signifies the purity of the World of Light. The rasta is worn equally by the laypersons and the priests.[2] If a Mandaean dies in clothes other than a rasta, it is believed that they will not reenter the World of Light,[3] unless the rite "Ahaba ḏ-Mania" ('Giving of Garments') can be performed "for those who have died not wearing the ritual garment."[4]
A rasta also has a stitched-on pocket called the daša.[5]
Women also wear a robe (ʿabā) over the rasta during masbuta.[6]: 16
Traditionally, a new rasta is worn for Dehwa Daimana (Dihba ḏ-Iamana ࡃࡉࡄࡁࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡌࡀࡍࡀ).[7]
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Symbolism
The rasta is expected to be transmuted after death into a "garment of glory" for the soul (Qulasta prayer 76: "the Perfecter of Souls ... will come out toward you and clothe your soul in a garment of radiance"[8][9]) – this is equivalent to the perispirit.[citation needed]
A Mandaic hymn, Left Ginza 3.11, states:
"He created me and clothed me with radiance, like that which the chosen men put on.
That which the chosen men put on, the true and faithful people.
I put my head therein, I was filled like the world.
I opened my eyes in it, my eyes became filled with light."[10]
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Related clothing
Summarize
Perspective
The rasta for Mandaean laypeople consists of the following seven pieces of clothing. It is usually made of cotton or sometimes muslin.[7][11][12]
- ksuia or sadra (ࡎࡀࡃࡓࡀ) – long-sleeved tunic with V-neck opening, may extend to the knees
- daša (ࡃࡀࡔࡀ) – two cloth pieces that are stitched on the upper right side of the sadra to make a pocket
- šarwala (ࡔࡀࡓࡅࡀࡋࡀ) – loose trousers, consists of four pieces
- tikta (ࡕࡉࡊࡕࡀ) – drawstring
- burzinqa – turban that is wrapped three times around the head. The loose end is called the rugza (ࡓࡅࡂࡆࡀ). For priests, . It is made from a cloth that is 10 cm x 3 m long, and can be cut lengthwise as needed.
- naṣifa (ࡍࡀࡑࡉࡐࡀ) – stole ir narrow strip of cloth worn across the neck that is sewn (doubled over) from three sides; one of the long sides is unsewn. It is made from a cloth that is 8 cm x 1.95 m long.
- himiana – belt made of wool that has a sewn and unsewn end. The sewn end, in the form of a loop, is called the arwa (ࡀࡓࡅࡀ). The unsewn end, resembling a tassel, is called the karkuša (ࡊࡀࡓࡊࡅࡔࡀ).
In addition, priests also wear:[7]
- taga – silk crown
- šum Yawar Ziwa (ࡎࡅࡌ ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) – sacred gold ring
- margna – staff made from an olive branch
Special prayers in the Qulasta are also recited when putting on the burzinqa and pandama.[8]
The šiala is a burzinqa that is draped over women's heads.[11][12]
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See also
Notes
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