73

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

THE CANONICAL PRAYERBOOK
OF THE MANDAEANS

THE LETTER
('ngirta)

Prayer 73

73

In the name of the Life!

A sealed letter which leaveth the world --
A letter written in good-faith (Kušta )
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life) --
Righteous men wrote it, believing men tied it on,
And suspended it about the soul's neck
And despatched it to the Gate of Life.

The soul, in her wisdom,
Pressed her nail on the letter,
Her nail she pressed on the letter;
She imbued it with her mystic radiance,
Wrapped it and veiled it in her light.

How came it that Daium saw
That the soul bore a letter?

How was it that Daium saw it
As her seven sons gathered about her
And said "Who hath written the letter
Whose secret no man knoweth?

Who wrote the letter that is sealed in
By these protective strands?"

The letter is written in good faith,
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life).

Righteous (men) wrote it, believing men tied it on
And hung it about the neck of the soul
And despatched it to the Gate of Life.

The soul flieth and goeth until she hath reached
The watch-house of the Seven.
The Chief-of-Dues, when he saw her,
(And) the Governor, when they saw her,
Murmur discontent and say
"Who hath written the letter
Whose secret no man knoweth?

Who wrote letter that is sealed
By these protective marks?"

"The letter is written in good faith
And sealed with the seal of the Mighty (Life).
Righteous (men) wrote it;
Believing men tied it up
And hung it about the neck of the soul
And despatched it to the Gate of Life".

The soul flieth and travelleth on
Until she reacheth spirits of Purgatory.

The spirits of Purgatory abased their heads
And the soul passed the purgatory-spirits by.

The soul flieth and goeth
Until she came to the waters of death.
As she reached the waters of death
There came forth towards her
A great Beam of radiance (and) of life, (who)
Grasped her by the palm of her right hand
And brought her over the waters of death.

The soul flieth and goeth
Until she reacheth the House of Life.

When she reached the House of Life
She uttered a cry to the House of Life,
And when He heard her call, the Life
Sent a messenger towards her,
(Who) grasped her by the palm of her hand,
Conducted her, (came) to support her
In the likeness of the Life to the place.

Of radiance, light and beams of effulgence;
To unite her to (the company of) 'uthras
And to set her up amongst beams of light.
Upon her head they placed a wreath of ether
And took her out of the world in splendour.

Life supported life: Life found Its own:
It hath found Its own, and my soul hath found

That for which she hoped.

And Life is victorious.

[Up to here recite over the flask of oil as it is put into clay up to the mouth of the bottle. And the clay must be pure and from the jordan.]