Margna Explained
| Margna |
| Type: | staff |
| Material: | wood (typically olive) |
| Location: | southern Iraq and southwestern Iran |
The margna (ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡍࡀ) is a ritual olive wooden staff carried by Mandaean priests. A Mandaean priest always carries his margna during baptismal (masbuta) rituals.[1]
According to the Right Ginza, the margna (staff) of Living Water (Mia Hayya) is one of the weapons of Manda d-Hayyi.[2]
Etymology
The Mandaic word margna is of Iranian origin.[3]
In the Qulasta
During priestly rituals, a klila (myrtle wreath) is placed on the margna.[1] 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.[4] The prayer describes the margna as being covered in radiance (ziwa) and light (nhura).[1]
See also
Notes and References
- Book: Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen. The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. Oxford University Press. New York. 2002. 0-19-515385-5. 65198443.
- The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba. Aldihisi. Sabah. 2008. PhD. University College London.
- Book: Segelberg, Eric . Eric Segelberg . 1958 . Maṣbuta: Studies in the Ritual of Mandaean Baptism . Uppsala . Almqvist and Wiksell.
- Book: Drower, E. S.. The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. E. J. Brill. 1959. Leiden.
