The pandama () is a mouth-
veil
A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the human head, head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has be ...
worn by
Mandaean priest
A Mandaean priest or ''Tarmida'' () refers to an ordained religious leader in Mandaeism.
Overview
All priests must undergo lengthy ordination ceremonies, beginning with tarmida initiation. Mandaean religious leaders and copyists of religious text ...
s while performing
baptismal
Baptism (from ) is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by aspersion, sprinkling or affusion, pouring water on the head, or by immersion baptism, immersing in water eit ...
ceremonial rituals. It is the loose end of the
burzinqa
The burzinqa () is a turban worn by Mandaean men during baptismal ceremonial rituals. It forms the upper end of a lengthy piece of cotton cloth. For priests who are performing rituals, the loose lower end, called the ''rugza'' (), can be used as ...
(turban) and is wrapped around the mouth and lower face.
The pandama also protects the face from water during masbuta rituals.
The pandama is worn only by officiating priests, not by Mandaean laymen.
In the ''Qulasta''
Several prayers in the ''
Qulasta
The Qulasta, also spelled Qolastā in older sources (; ), is a compilation of Mandaean prayers. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection".
The prayerbook is a collection of Mandaic prayers regarding baptisms ('' maṣbuta'') and other sa ...
'' are recited when putting on and loosening the pandama, including prayers
7 and
55.
Symbolism
According to Shahram Ebadfardzadeh, an Iranian-American ''yalufa'' (learned Mandaean layperson) in
San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, Texas, United States, "when the priest officiates, he is an
angel
An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
, and his lower face must not be seen, but covered up."
See also
*
*
Litham
Litham (, sometimes pronounced lifam) is a mouth-veil which the Tuareg and other West and North African nomads, particularly men, have traditionally used to cover the lower part of their face.
Role and significance
The litham has served as pr ...
, a similar veil covering the lower face worn by Tuareg men
*
Alasho
Alasho is an indigenous Hausa long turban, worn across the head and neck. It is near identical in length, colour and dimensions to that of the Tuareg
The Tuareg people (; also spelled Twareg or Touareg; endonym, depending on variety: ''Imuha ...
, a similar turban veil worn by Hausa men
References
Veils
Religious headgear
Shawls and wraps
Scarves
Mandaean clothing
Mandaic words and phrases
{{Mandaeism-stub