 A Mandaean novice or šualia ࡔࡅࡀࡋࡉࡀ holding a margna in Baghdad, Iraq in 2008 | |
| Type | staff |
|---|---|
| Material | wood (typically olive) |
| Place of origin | southern Iraq and southwestern Iran |
The margna (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡍࡀ) is a ritual olive wooden staff carried by Mandaean priests. A Mandaean priest always carries his margna during baptismal (masbuta) rituals.
According to the Right Ginza, the margna (staff) of Living Water (Mia Hayya) is one of the weapons of Manda d-Hayyi.
Etymology
The Mandaic word margna is of Iranian origin.
In the Qulasta
During priestly rituals, a klila (myrtle wreath) is placed on the margna. In the Qulasta, Prayer 79 is a prayer for the klila placed on the margna.
Prayer 14 in the Qulasta is dedicated to the margna. The prayer describes the margna as being covered in radiance (ziwa) and light (nhura).
See also
- Mandaean priest § Clothing
- Aaron's rod
- Staff of Moses
- Staff of office
- Sceptre
- Was-sceptre
- Caduceus
- Rod of Asclepius
References
- ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people (PDF). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- Segelberg, Eric (1958). Maṣbuta: Studies in the Ritual of Mandaean Baptism. Uppsala: Almqvist and Wiksell.
- ^ Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
