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
(Baptism Liturgy)
(“When a Jordan of Living Water was Bestowed”)
In the name of the Life!
When a Jordan of living water (Water of Life) was bestowed on Sam-Smir, the great Radiance of Life, nine hundred and ninety-two thousand myriad 'uthras, sons of light, opened their mouths, praising Manda-d-Hiia. "Praised be Manda-d-Hiia; praised be Yawar-Ziwa; praised be Bihram and Ram; praised be Tarwan-Nhura; praised be Nbat the first great Radiance; praised be Nsab and Anan-Nsab; praised be Sar and Sarwan; praised be that great and mighty Mana; praised be that great Presence of Glory; praised be that whole abode of those at rest; praised be all the ways and paths of the Almighty (Life); praised be all the mighty celestial worlds of Light; praised be all those occult dwellings (shkinata); praised be that Voice, Strength, Word and Command which come from the House of Abathur; praised be Abathur-Rama; praised be the myriad 'uthras who stand in the presence of Abathur; praised be Shilmai and Nidbai the guardian 'uthras of the jordan; praised be our father. Hibil, Shitil and Anush the head of the whole race.
Turn back, thrust back from me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush and from these souls who have descended to the jordan and been baptised, terror, fright, fear of devils and demons, shedim, demon visitants, ghosts, amulet-spirits, liliths, gods, angels, demons of high places and shrines and idol-spirits: (all those) that the seven planets and the lords of the House loose against souls in this world.
Manda-d-Hiia! Lift up thine eyes, (behold) thy devotees, thine offspring and thy priest! Behold us who stand in this place which is all evil things! At the great Door which is all principalities do we stand, amongst the wicked, and dwell amongst sinners. Deliver us from this world which is all sinners and from the sorceries of the children of Adam and Eve. Forgive us that which we have done, and that which we do forgive us. Forgive us, Looser of sins, (our) trespasses, our follies, our stumblings and our mistakes. If thou dost not loose us from our sins, trespasses, follies, stumblings, and mistakes, no man is clean in thy sight Manda-d-Hiia!
Accept, (O) Life, Thy prayer from the Occult and assure (to us) bliss in Thy light in the name of Sharhabiel the great First Radiance. May the words of Sharhabiel the Great First Radiance, be established for all who love his name of Truth. And for me, Adam-Yuhana son of Mahnush may darkness be overcome and light set on high.
And Life be praised.
