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 Book of Souls
(Baptism Liturgy)
Prayer 23
("Precious oil art thou")
In the name of the Great Life!

Precious oil art thou, son of white sesame, son of the Euphrates bank, son of the river -pleasaunce, son of water-pools, son of treasures of light. Upon thee, Oil, Life laid His hand and sent thee to this world which is all birth, to heal, uplift, raise up and ameliorate all pains, diseases, complaints, tumours (and) the seven mysteries that inhabit the body. I praise thee, Oil, and adjure thee, Oil, by the Life, by Manda-d-Hiia and by the 'uthras, sons of salvation (and) by this strange being, who is honoured, wondrous and perfect, who summoned chosen elect beings, sons of light, and said to them: "Give me precious oil, son of white sesame, son of the Euphrates-bank, son of the river-meadow, son of water-pools, son of treasures of light.

Anoint, and I will bring you oil: anoint with radiance, fight and glory, the Oil wherewith I anointed and (which) I bestowed, not in the name of a god, not in the name of spirit, not in the name of a messiah nor in the name of a temple-Ishtar. Nay, the oil with which I anointed, (the oil) which I bestowed is at my name, my Sign and (given) as the name and sign of a living, glorious, flourishing and steadfast race. Any man anointed by this oil will live, be whole and be strengthened: his mouth will assume the nature of Anush, within him he will take on the nature of Anush.

From him the seven dolours of death and the eight afflictions of darkness shall violently depart and be expelled. Demons, devils, shedim, demon visitants, amulet-spirits and liliths will be removed and driven out of him in the presence of that which increased the strength, radiance and light of Knowledge of Life".

And Life be praised!