Rishama (ablution) explained

In Mandaeism, rishama (rišama) is a daily ablution ritual. Unlike the masbuta, it does not require the assistance of a priest.^[1] Rishama (signing) is performed before prayers and involves washing the face and limbs while reciting specific prayers such as the rushma. It is performed daily, before sunrise, with hair covered and after evacuation of bowels, or before religious ceremonies.^{[2] [3]}

Tamasha (ṭamaša) is another type of ablution performed by Mandaeans in which the entire body is fully immersed three times in water.^[1]

Although the term for the Mandaean daily minor ablution is also spelled the same in written Classical Mandaic (rišama), the word for 'minor ablution' is pronounced in Modern Mandaic as rešāmā, while 'head priest' is pronounced rišammā.^[4]

Procedures

Rishama ritual steps or procedures may vary according to the location or priest's instructions. Below is a list of rishama procedures by Shadan Choheili of the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.^[5]

1. Squat or kneel in front of the yardna.
2. Purify (tamasha) hands in water.
3. Purify face three times.
4. Dip right hand in the water and draw a line ("rišam") 3 times from right to left across the forehead.
5. Dip index fingers in water and point to ears three times.
6. Take water using the right-hand palm and inhale the water's scent three times.
7. Slightly dip the left hand in the water and splash the water using the right hand towards the left hand.
8. Using the right-hand palm, fill and wash the mouth, and spit towards the left three times.
9. Dip fingers in water and point towards the knees three times.
10. Dip your fingers in water and point towards your feet three times.
11. Dip your fingers in water, recite a prayer, and use your fingers to dip, then splash water forward three times.
12. Stand up and dip toes in the water (right foot first, then left foot afterwards).

Specific Mandaic prayers are said during each step of the rishama.

Parallels

The ablution is comparable to wudu in Islam.

John D. Turner and other scholars have noted that in Sethianism, rituals reminiscent of Mandaean ablutions (i.e., the rishama and tamasha) are mentioned in Nag Hammadi texts such as the Trimorphic Protennoia, since they involve triple immersion in water, signing, and other similar features.^[6]

See also

• Rushma
• Ablution in Christianity
• Ritual washing in Judaism
• Wudu in Islam

External links

• The Worlds of Mandaean Priests (University of Exeter)
  • Rishama (Ablution)
  • Sydney 2014 Masbuta 01: Rishama (Ablution)
• Brakha and Rishama instructional video
• Afternoon brakha and ablution in Amarah, Iraq

Notes and References

1. Book: Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen. The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. Oxford University Press. New York. 2002. 0-19-515385-5. 65198443.
2. Web site: Mandaean Awareness and Guidance Board. 28 May 2014. Mandaean Beliefs & Mandaean Practices. Mandaean Associations Union. 26 November 2021.
3. Book: Häberl, Charles . The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire . Liverpool . Liverpool University Press . 2022 . 10.3828/9781800856271 . 2024-04-20 . 978-1-80085-627-1.
4. Book: Häberl, Charles . The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire . Liverpool . Liverpool University Press . 2022 . 10.3828/9781800856271 . 2024-04-20 . 978-1-80085-627-1.
5. Choheili, Shadan. Rishama and Barakha Rituals. Liverpool, NSW: Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi.
6. Book: Smith, Andrew Phillip. John the Baptist and the last Gnostics: the secret history of the Mandaeans. Watkins. London. 2016. 978-1-78028-913-7. 956946835.