ASUTA
The Journal for the Study and Research into the
Mandaean Culture, Religion, and Language.
Volume 4 Special Issue Online edition
The Pre-Christian Nasoraeans
The Mandaeans
RESEARCH DONE BY AJAE COPYRIGHT 2000
The Nasurai of the Mandaeans
The Mandaean texts show three uses for the term Nasuraiia (Nasoraeans). One is to describe a person highly educated in the Mandaean theology. John the Baptist was described as such:
“According to the Mandaean teaching he was a Nasurai: that is adept in the faith, skilled in the white magic of the priests, and concerned with the healing of men’s bodies as well as their souls.” (7)
The term is also used to describe the doctrine of the Mandaeans:
“ our weapon is Nasoreism (Nasaruta) the true words which have come to you from the Place of Light. " (8)
"And (when) he was seven years old, Anus'-'Uthra came and wrote for him the A, Ba, Ga, Da . ... and, until he was twenty-two years old, he taught him about all nasirutha” (9)
And finally the most important usage, for this paper, as one of the early self-designations of the Mandaeans.
“... and Haran Gawaita receiveth him and that city in which there were Nasoraeans,” (10)
“…mountain to the city of the Nasoraeans is a distance of six thousand parasangs; it is called the enclave ('hdara') of Hibil-Ziwa... “ (11)
“…Then they raised an idle cry against the tribes of Anus'-'Uthra, the Head of the Age, and shed their blood so that not a man of the disciples and Nasoraeans were left... “ (12)
In the Haran Gawaita, the termed used is Nasoraeans with the term Mandaeans used only once:
"Throughout the manuscript the word ‘Nasoraeans’ is used, not ‘Sabiya’ (Sabians) and ‘Mandaeans’ are mentioned once.” (13)
Since the Haran Gawaita is the only real historical text that the Mandaeans have, the use of the word Nasuraiia is very important. The Mandaic word nasurai is derived from the Mandaic root NTR that means:
"To watch over, guard, preserve, take care of, keep back, retain” (14)
The Nasoraeans in Mandaean religion denotes the keepers of the sacred knowledge, even at the expense of the laymen:
“Nasoraeans of the Mandaean type ‘keep and observe’ ritual laws with zealous fidelity and ‘keep back’- even from their own laity- mysteries considered deep and easily misunderstood by the uninitiated.”(15)
The name Nasoraeans is supported not only by the Mandaean literature but also by outside work such as the Kaftir Inscription and the work of Mani, both of which were located in the Mesopotamian area.
Outline
Introduction
The Nasurai of the Mandaeans
Kaftir Inscription
Mani
Nasoraeans
Sabians- Elchasaites
Naassenes
Conclusion
References
