A rasta () is a white ceremonial garment that

Mandaeans Mandaeans (Mandaic language, Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ) ( ), also known as Mandaean Sabians ( ) or simply as Sabians ( ), are an ethnoreligious group who are followers of Mandaeism. They believe that John the Baptist was the final and ...

wear during most baptismal rites, religious ceremonies, and during periods of uncleanliness. It signifies the purity of the

World of Light In Mandaeism, the World of Light or Lightworld () is the primeval, transcendental world from which Tibil and the World of Darkness emerged. Description *The Great Life ('' Hayyi Rabbi'' or Supreme God/ Monad) is the ruler of the World of Ligh ...

. The rasta is worn equally by the laypersons and the priests. If a Mandaean dies in clothes other than a rasta, it is believed that they will not reenter the World of Light, unless the rite "Ahaba ḏ-Mania" ('Giving of Garments') can be performed "for those who have died not wearing the ritual garment." A rasta also has a stitched-on pocket called the ''daša''. Women also wear a robe (''ʿabā'') over the ''rasta'' during masbuta. Traditionally, a new rasta is worn for Dehwa Daimana (''Dihba ḏ-Iamana'' ࡃࡉࡄࡁࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡌࡀࡍࡀ).

Symbolism

The rasta is expected to be transmuted after death into a "garment of glory" for the soul (

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 ...

prayer 76: "the Perfecter of Souls ... will come out toward you and clothe your soul in a garment of radiance"The Gnostic Society Library, Mandaean Scriptures and Fragments: Ginza Rba, The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans
/ref>) – this is equivalent to the perispirit. A Mandaic hymn, '' Left Ginza'' 3.11, states:

"He created me and clothed me with radiance, like that which the chosen men put on. That which the chosen men put on, the true and faithful people. I put my head therein, I was filled like the world. I opened my eyes in it, my eyes became filled with light."

Related clothing

The rasta for Mandaean laypeople consists of the following seven pieces of clothing. It is usually made of cotton or sometimes

muslin Muslin () is a cotton fabric of plain weave. It is made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting. It is commonly believed that it gets its name from the city of Mosul, Iraq. Muslin was produced in different regions o ...

. *''ksuia'' or ''sadra'' (ࡎࡀࡃࡓࡀ) – long-sleeved

tunic A tunic is a garment for the torso, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the ankles. It might have arm-sleeves, either short or full-length. Most forms have no fastenings. The name deri ...

with V-neck opening, may extend to the knees *''daša'' (ࡃࡀࡔࡀ) – two cloth pieces that are stitched on the upper right side of the sadra to make a pocket *''šarwala'' (ࡔࡀࡓࡅࡀࡋࡀ) – loose trousers, consists of four pieces *''tikta'' (ࡕࡉࡊࡕࡀ) – drawstring *'' burzinqa'' – turban that is wrapped three times around the head. The loose end is called the ''rugza'' (ࡓࡅࡂࡆࡀ). For priests, . It is made from a cloth that is 10 cm x 3 m long, and can be cut lengthwise as needed. *''naṣifa'' (ࡍࡀࡑࡉࡐࡀ) – stole ir narrow strip of cloth worn across the neck that is sewn (doubled over) from three sides; one of the long sides is unsewn. It is made from a cloth that is 8 cm x 1.95 m long. *'' himiana'' – belt made of wool that has a sewn and unsewn end. The sewn end, in the form of a loop, is called the ''arwa'' (ࡀࡓࡅࡀ). The unsewn end, resembling a tassel, is called the ''karkuša'' (ࡊࡀࡓࡊࡅࡔࡀ). In addition, priests also wear: *'' taga'' – silk crown *''šum Yawar Ziwa'' (ࡎࡅࡌ ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) – sacred gold ring *'' margna'' – staff made from an olive branch Special prayers in the ''

'' are also recited when putting on the '' burzinqa'' and '' pandama''. The ''šiala'' is a burzinqa that is draped over women's heads.

Notes

{{Mandaeism footer Mandaean clothing Mandaic words and phrases

Symbolism

Related clothing

See also

Notes