Mandaeism Mandaeism (Mandaic language, Classical Mandaic: ),https://qadaha.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/nhura-dictionary-mandaic-english-mandaic.pdf sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnosticism, Gnostic, Monotheism, ...

, a shkinta () or shkina (''škina'') is a celestial dwelling inhabited by

uthra An uthra or ʿutra (, Neo-Mandaic ''oṯrɔ'', traditionally transliterated ''eutra''; plural: ʿuthrē, traditionally transliterated ''eutria'') is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath transl ...

s in 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 ...

that is analogous to the

shekhinah Shekhinah () is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the presence of God in a place. This concept is found in Judaism from Talmudic literature. The word "Shekhinah" is found in the Bible onl ...

Jewish mysticism Academic study of Jewish mysticism, especially since Gershom Scholem's ''Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism'' (1941), draws distinctions between different forms of mysticism which were practiced in different eras of Jewish history. Of these, Kabbal ...

. In Tibil (the physical earth), it refers to a reed or mud hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent

s on earth. Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).

Ceremonial usage

During the priest initiation ceremony, the shkinta is constructed to the north of the

andiruna An andiruna () is a temporary reed (plant), reed hut used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies.Ethel Stefana Drower, Drower, E. S. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint). Etymology The term ''andiruna'' ...

. It symbolizes the

and it covered by a white cloth roof. In contrast, the

has a blue cloth roof to symbolize the color of Ruha. Together, the two adjacent huts symbolize complementary masculine and feminine elements.

Symbolism

The ''škinta'' (

cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...

with the Hebrew word ''

''; from the

Semitic root The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or " radicals" (hence the term consonantal root). Such abstract consonantal roots are used in the formation of actual words by adding the vowel ...

''š-k-n'', associated with dwellings) symbolizes the "male" side, and is associated with the

, priests, the right side, gold, and the taga (crown). In contrast, the

symbolizes the "female" side, and is associated with the earth ( Tibil), laypeople, the left side, silver, and the klila (myrtle wreath). Similarly, in a traditional Persian house, the women's quarters are known as ''andirūn''.

In artwork

In 2018, Mandaean-Australian priest and artist Yuhana Nashmi created ''Sh-ken-ta'', an exhibition of a shkinta, as a site-specific installation at the

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC), commonly referred to as Casula Powerhouse, is a multi-disciplinary arts centre in Casula, New South Wales, Casula, a south-western outer suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Before being renovated a ...

Gallery

Reed houses, Iraq marshes 1978 - panoramio.jpg, A reed house in the marshes of

Basra Province Basra Governorate ( ), also called Basra Province, is a governorate in southern Iraq in the region of Arabian Peninsula, bordering Kuwait to the south and Iran to the east. The capital is the city of Basra, located in the Basrah district. Other ...

, southern Iraq in 1978. The shkinta is based on such reed structures. Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 020.jpg, Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at

Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi (officially registered as Mandi Genzvra Dakhil) is a Mandaean temple ( mandi) in downtown Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. It is named after Rishama Dakhil Aidan, who was the head priest of the Mandaean community i ...

Liverpool, New South Wales Liverpool is a suburb of South Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, south-west of the Sydney CBD. It is the administrative seat of the City of Liverpool and is in the Cumberland Plain. History Indigenous Before Bri ...

, Australia Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 021.jpg, Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at

, Australia Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi 022.jpg, Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at

, Australia Wallacia Shkinta 005.jpg, Shkinta located adjacent to

Wallacia Mandi Wallacia Mandi (also known as Mandi Wallacia or Mendi Wallacia; ) is a Mandaean temple ( mandi) under construction in Wallacia, New South Wales, Australia. The mandi is located on the west bank of the Nepean River. It is the only mandi in Aust ...

Wallacia, New South Wales Wallacia is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Formerly a rural village it is west of the Sydney GPO (General Post Office), in the local government areas of the City of Penrith, City of Liverpool and Wollondilly S ...

, Australia Yahya Yuhana Mandi shkinta top view.jpg, Shkinta located inside

Yahya Yuhana Mandi Yahya Yuhana Mandi (officially registered as Mandi Yehya Youhanna) is a Mandaean temple ( mandi) in Prestons, New South Wales, Australia. It is named after John the Baptist, who is known as ''Yahya Yuhana'' in Mandaic. Unlike Ganzibra Dakhil ...

in Prestons, New South Wales, Australia

References

External links