The Journal for the Study and Research into the
Mandaean Culture, Religion, and Language
The ksuia or sadra is a tunic. The ksuia should measure 6 dhras for a living person. (A dhra is the length of the forearm from elbow to fingertip.) For a dying person, 7 or 8 are required. The shirt, usually of a white cotton cloth material, is made or bought in the required length. (29)
In the name of the Great Life!

On the day that they invested
Manda d-Hiia with the tunic.

His radiance shone forth over
the ‘uthras and dwellings .

The ‘uthras and dwellings
that beheld the radiance of Manda d-Hiia

All gathered toward him, all flocked towards him
Laying their pure right hands upon him

Blessed Manda d-Hiia and saying to him:

And blessed is he who hath
transferred to thee these vestments.

For all the worlds to behold thee
Are awestruck by thy radiance.(28)
"And when you say ‘The Tunic’, that skinta in which you are sitting shines and is resplendent for the tunic covers all the mysteries." (27)
Ksuia
The ksuia of a female layman ready to be baptised
The ksuia of a priest
    ready to baptise.
The symbolic meaning of the ksuia is to represent the škinta. (30) The word ksuia means "to cover".
Figure 3
Introduction

The Various Parts

Ksuia
Daša
Šarwala
Takka
Burzinqa
Nasifa
Himiana
Taga
Shum
References
Figures
        Volume 3                                          Special Issue                                           Online edition
A---covering, robe (ritual) tunic
B---a thing hidden covered
From the root KSA
       to cover, hide, keep secret, protect, to put on, clothe, dress (31)
        Researched by AJAE                                                                                          Copyright 2001
Various Spelling: Ksuya
A priest in his tunic.
The ksuia is worn differently by the priest in comparison to the laymen. 

Before the priest enters the water he gathers up the ksuia.

First he takes the left side of the hem and tucks that into the himiana.
Figure 4
Then he takes the right side and tucks that in. closed.

The material is gathered in front and tucked in.

Last he gathers the material in the back and tucks that in.
This is done before the nasifa is placed on the head or the pandama is sealed.
The layman enters the water with the ksuia hanging free.  (32)
Figure 5
This shows the looping of the ksuia
Figure 6