In Mandaeism, a shganda (šganda; ࡔࡂࡀࡍࡃࡀ), shkanda (Arabic: شكندا|translit=škandā), or ashganda (ašganda)[1] is a ritual assistant who helps priests with ritual duties.[2]
In the Mandaean diaspora, shgandas, or alternatively learned laymen called yalufa, often perform minor priestly roles due to shortages of tarmida and ganzibra priests abroad.[3]
Tarmida initiates or novices (šualia) have often been trained as shgandas when they were children. Initiates may or may not be married, although typically they are not yet married.[2]
During tarmida initiation ceremonies, shgandas, who represent emissaries from the World of Light, also help perform the rituals, many of which are held in a specially constructed priest initiation hut (škinta) and also a nearby temporary reed hut (andiruna).[2]