Kushta

In Mandaeism, kushta or kušṭa (Classical Mandaic: ࡊࡅࡔࡈࡀ, lit. 'truth') can have several meanings. Its original literal meaning is "truth" in the Mandaic language, and is thus typically used to refer to the Mandaean religious concept of truth. The same word is also used to refer to a sacred handclasp that is used during Mandaean rituals such as masbuta, masiqta, and priestly initiation ceremonies.[1][2]

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In the World of Light

Mandaeans believe that in the World of Light, the Mšunia Kušṭa, or the world of ideal counterparts, exists, where everything has a corresponding spiritual pair (dmuta).[1] Alternatively, kušṭa can be used as a synonym for Hayyi Rabbi, or God in Mandaeism.[1]

In the 69th chapter of the Mandaean Book of John, Manda d-Hayyi addresses Etinṣib Ziwa (Splendid Transplant), son of Yushamin, as "Truth, beloved by all excellencies."[3] E. S. Drower interprets a reference in the Haran Gawaita to being looked upon by and rising with Transplant upon death as a reference to Ṣauriel, the Angel of Death.[4] Book 1, chapter 1 of the Left Ginza likewise observes that Ṣauriel is called "Death" in this world, but "Truth" (Kushta) by those who know about him.[5]

Carl H. Kraeling interprets the concept of Kushta as having developed from an entity in the pleroma representing truth as the directive force of Hayyi's actions, alongside Manda d-Hayyi as his hypostatic reason.[6]

In rituals

The kušṭa handclasp is exchanged dozens of times between the novice and initiator during priest initiation ceremonies. It is also exchanged during rituals that need to be performed by priests, such as masbuta and masiqta rituals.[1]

See also

References
  1. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford at the Clarendon Press.
  3. Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2019). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation (PDF). Open Access Version. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
  4. Drower, Ethel Stefana (1953). The Haran Gawaita and The Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa: The Mandaic text reproduced together with translation, notes and commentary. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. Page 7, footnote 8.
  5. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (1982). "A Rehabilitation of Spirit Ruha in Mandaean Religion". History of Religions. 22 (1): 60–84. doi:10.1086/462910. JSTOR 1062203. S2CID 162087047.
  6. Kraeling, C. H. (1933). "The Mandaic God Ptahil". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 53 (2): 152–165. doi:10.2307/593099. JSTOR 593099.
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