Background information
from Drower
Various sections
of the Canonical Prayerbook
Copyists
BOOK OF SOULS Prayers 1-31
MASIQTA Prayers 32-72
The Letter ('ngirta) Prayer 73
COLOPHON #74
HYMNS OF PRAISE Prayers 75-77
The Responses ('niania) Prayers 78-103
The Rusma (Daily Ablution Prayers)--Prayer 104
ASIET MALKIA Prayer 105
Rahmia (Daily Devotional Prayers)--Prayers 106-168
Colophon 169
Tab Taba Ltabia (the full Commemoration prayer forthe dead and living--Prayer 170
Hymns of Praise--Prayers 171-172
Sumhata (The Names)--Prayers 173-176
Little New Year's Feast Prayer--Prayer 177
Prayers for honoring the crown--Prayer 178
Hymns of marriage and a new priest (including the series Kt Azil Bhira Dakia-- Prayer 179-198
Colophon 199
Prayers 200-283
Colophon 284
Prayers 285-304
Coronation Prayers and hymns (including two for myrtle)-- Prayers 305-328
Colophon 329
BANNER HYMNS Prayers 330- 347
Blessed Oblation Prayers and Hymns--Prayers 348- 374
Blessings on the chief celebrant after Blessed Oblation-- Prayers 375-381
Myrtle prayers and hymns--Prayers 382-385
Various prayers 386-409
Prayer of Yahia--Prayer 410
Odd hymns--411- 412
OF THE MANDAEANS
411 412 413 414
Our forefathers, there shall be forgiving of sins for them. Yushamin son of Dmuth-Hiia, there will be forgiving of sins for him.
.... (the prayer continues from this part as in Prayer 170, inserting the name of the copyist, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush, and his relatives, and teacher wherever such insertions are customary. The insertions are called zharia, "injunctions", "rubrics")
[This is the chant of "Our forefathers".]
412
In the name of the Great Life.
Then, when she (the soul) reacheth the seven mysteries,
Servants of the Seven go out towards her
And come and surround her and question her.
And they said to her:
"O soul, whence comest thou?
And whither goest thou?"
She said to them:
"I come from the Body the name of which is Earth.
And I go toward the good Kimsa".
They say to her:
"Servant of whom, art thou?
Messenger of whom art thou called?"
She said to them:
"I am the servant of the beloved Kimsa
And the envoy of the vast Ether".
Then they bless her and commend her and say to her:
"All who know this (pass-) word shall rise
Towards the good Kimsa".
For they seek to grasp the mystery of the Body
And (so) question her.
And thereupon she ascendeth
Towards the Good Kimsa.
[This is a prayer about the questioning of the soul.]
413
[See prayer 177]
414
My Lord be praised!
In the name of the Great Life!
On the day when the radiance within Radiance
Broke through and emerged,
A counterpart of the Jordanwas formed in mirrors;
In mirrors a counterpart of the Jordanwas formed.
And water was produced in the Ether.
The Jordan emerged in its glory
And the water was intermingled with the Ether,
Intermingled was Water with Ether.
And the strength of Light increased greatly,
Was increased and established.
A wreath they twisted into crowns
(Of) myrtle leaves.
And trees bore their burden (fruit)
Nasirutha spoke therein to kings (priests)
And their purities were intertwined.
(The bridegroom shall recite this prayer when entering his house before he "taketh Kušta with his wife". Then he shall "honour" his crown. Beware of performing a marriage (entering into) a partnership when the moon is in Cancer, Capricornus, Sagittarius or Scorpio: they are evil days for a wedding.)
