| Right Ginza | |
| Religion: | Mandaeism |
| Language: | Mandaic language |
The Right Ginza (myz|ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡉࡀࡌࡉࡍࡀ|translit=Ginza Yamina[1] or myz|ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡉࡀࡌࡉࡍ|translit=Ginza Yamin[2]) is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza.[3]
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007), are provided below.[4] Translated excerpts are from Gelbert (2011), which is mostly based on Lidzbarski (1925),[5] while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021[6]).
Opening lines of each chapter are provided below, since Mandaeans often refer to Mandaic prayers by their opening lines.
Book 1 contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism.
The book begins with the opening line (also in Chapter 2 of Book 1):
Praised be Thou, my Lord, with a pure heart,
thou Lord of all worlds .
Gelbert (2011) mentions two versions of the book, namely the Gabriel Version (of Petermann) and the Ptahil Version.
Book 2 also contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism. It has a total of four sections, since it also contains three small appended pieces.[7] These books summarize many of the basic teachings of Mandaeism. Buckley (2010) considers Book 1 and 2 to be different versions of the same book.
When I, the envoy of the Life .
I call you, my plants whom I have planted, and chosen ones whom I have chosen .
Book 3, The Book of the Living First Teachings (sidra ḏ-šuta haita qadmaita[2]) or alternatively Mystery and the First Book of the Living First Speech that Was When There Were No Precedents, is the longest book in the Ginza. It is a reconstructed poem also dealing with creation themes but concentrating more on the origin of evil. Aldihisi (2008) gives an English translation and detailed commentary for Book 3. The full Mandaic title of Book 3 is Raza u-sidra qadmaia ḏ-šuta haita qadmaita ḏ-huat mn laqadmaia ("The Mystery and the First Book of the First Living Doctrine from the Aforetime" (or "the Very Beginning")).[8] 2,700 lines in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening lines:
When the fruit (was still) in the fruit,
and when the aether (was still) in the aether,
and when the great Mana of magnificence was existing,
from Whom mighty great Manas emerged,
whose radiance is numerous and whose light is great .
Book 4 is a small text connected to the story of Hibil's descent into the World of Darkness. Before descending into the underworld, Hibil, along with Shitil and Anush, are baptized by Manda ḏ-Hayyi and Mara ḏ-Rabuta ("The Lord of Greatness"). Some parts of the book are derived from Qulasta prayers 82 and 180–188 (Drower's CP numbering[9]). Titled The Mystery and the Book and the Commentary of the First Doctrine (raza u-sidra u-aprašata ḏ-šuta qadmaita) in Gelbert (2011). 31 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Book 5 contains 5 separate prose texts. The first one, which is also the largest, deals with a journey to the Underworld. The Al-Saadi translation treats this as three separate books, leading in book numbering in the Al-Saadi edition diverging from the other editions (Lidzbarski and Gelbert) from this point onward.[10] The 5 sections are:
The opening lines of the first four chapters in Book 5 are:
Chapter 1:
For the Life kept the word of Manda ḏ-Hiia hidden,
when he revealed a revelation before the Mana and His Likeness and before the Life,
that an evil spirit had appeared from Siniawis, the lower earth of the darkness .
Chapter 2:
The radiance and the Light of the Life have risen,
and Manda ḏ-Hiia has revealed himself .
Chapter 3:
My measure in the world was filled,
and my sum (of years) in the ages is spent .
I went out of the world of darkness,
and the mixing-bowl of death .
Chapter 4:
These are the words of Yuhana the Baptizer,
as he took up the river of living waters,
and baptized with the living baptism,
and mentioned the name of the Life .
Manda ḏ-Hiia went to Yuhana the Baptizer and spoke to him :
"Arise Yuhana, baptize me with thy baptism,
which thou used to baptize with,
and pronounce over me that name that thou used to pronounce ."
Book 6 (8 in the Al-Saadi edition), The Book of Dinanukt (sidra ḏ-dinanukt [''dananukt'']) is about Dinanukt, who is half-man and half-book, and his journey to the World of Light. 48 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening lines:
Between waters and waters I sit .
I am Dananukt,
the scribe and wise (one),
the book-in-ink of the gods,
the mighty, vainglorious (and) haughty (one),
who has no lord-of-the-house in his house .
And there is no one older in the building of his upper palace and in his lower houses .
Book 7 (9 in the Al-Saadi edition) consists of John the Baptist's words. The chapter is a compilation of proverbs and maxims. 113 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening lines:
This is the wisdom and the teachings
which Yahya, son of Zakria, explained, revealed, and told to the true and faithful Naṣoraeans .
He said :
"If thou hast the strength for it, be a chosen righteous (one),
who is proven in all his works (= rites),
like a king, carrying the crown upon his head .
Book 8 (10 in the Al-Saadi edition) deals briefly with creation and evil, and contains Manda ḏ-Hayyi's warnings against Ruha. 15 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Book 9 has 2 parts. Part 1 deals with other religions and the nature of the Godhead; a smaller part 2 deals with the Holy Unique One.
Book 10 (12 in the Al-Saadi edition), The Mystery and the Book of the Radiance that Shines Forth from the Pihta (raza u-sidra ḏ-ziua ḏ-iaqid b-gu pihta[6]), deals with the sacrament of the bread (pihta) and also continues the creation story. Within the same book, Hibil and Adakas are mentioned in two different versions of the soul's descent into the physical body of Adam. 66 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening line:
That first Mana came into being therein,
was created therein and dwelt therein .
Book 11 (13 in the Al-Saadi edition), The Mystery and the Book of the Great Anush (Enosh) (raza u-sidra ḏ-anuš rba), deals with battles between the forces in the World of Light and World of Darkness led by Ruha. Since the text is difficult to interpret, Lidzbarski had originally hesitated to translate it. 145 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening lines:
A son of the realm of Light am I ;
I am a son of the eternal abode, which is all uthras,
a son of the city that is all good things .
Book 12 (14 in the Al-Saadi edition), in seven parts, mixes poetry and prose and provides a basic introduction to Mandaean beliefs. Chapters 2–5 are acrostic hymns, with each stanza ordered according to a letter of the Mandaic alphabet.
Come in goodness, kušṭa,
light which goest to the house of thy friends .
Dazzling is the dwelling in which the gentle ones live,
and my heart has been chosen among the elect ones .
The pearl came,
which gave light to the dark hearts .
Naked did the first deceased
depart from the world .
I summon you, I teach you and I speak to you, you true and faithful men,
you beholders and discerners :
separate yourselves from the worlds of deficiency,
which are full of confusion and error .
This is the explanation and the revelation which was revealed to the distinguished men,
who have sundered themselves from the Tibil and from the works of the deluders .
Book 13 (15 in the Al-Saadi edition), The Prayer of the Tarmidia to the Pious, comprises a short interim conclusion to what seems to be the original version of the Ginza. 38 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening line:
We priests bear this testimony over the Mandaean people
and over the Mandaean women and over their sons.
Book 14 (16 in the Al-Saadi edition), The Book of the Great Nbaṭ, a prose text containing a creation myth, deals with material from Book 3 such as the various emanations. 65 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
The book begins with the opening lines:
This is the mystery and the Book of the Great Nbaṭ,
who came up from below and shone forth,
and blossomed and became great .
Uthras sprang up before him .
Book 15 (17 in the Al-Saadi edition) is a collection of poems. Numbering differs between editions since Lidbarski's text includes 20 poems, Gelbert's includes 21 (with Gelbert's 15.18-21 corresponding to Lidzbarski's 15.17-20) and Al-Saadi's translation covers only nine.
Since Mandaean priestly commentary texts often refer to hymns and prayers by their opening lines, the opening lines of each of the 21 poems (since the Gelbert Ginza has 21, rather than 20 poems) in Book 15 are provided below. The English translations below are from Gelbert (2011), while the Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021[6]).
Book 16 contains 10 or 11 mostly shorter poems, depending on the manuscript version, of which Al-Saadi's translation covers four. Many are comparatively simple and straightforward.
The opening lines of each of the 11 poems in Book 16 are provided below. The English translations below are from Gelbert (2011), while the Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021[6]).
Book 17 contains 2 poems. The Al-Saadi translation does not cover this book.
Yonder, yonder I am standing here .
The Being of Life came,
and erected for us the lamp of the Life .
Book 18 contains a chronology of the world plus an apocalypse. It gives a duration of 480,000 years to the world. Abraham, Noah, and Jesus are mentioned in the book. It also contains lists of Pishdadian, Kayanian, Parthian, and Sasanian kings and mentions the Arab conquest of Persia.[14] (The Al-Saadi edition includes only the deluge account, which it numbers 19.) 123 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Also known as the Book of Kings, it has been translated at least seven times. The Book of Kings was translated into a modern European language when Schulim Ochser published a German translation in 1906.[15] A critical edition was published by Häberl (2022).[16]
Book 18 is attributed to the Mandaean scribe Yahya Sam bar Sarwan. The book can be thematically divided into four parts:[16]
The list of Iranian kings given in the Book of Kings is as follows. Note that since Mandaic spellings can vary by manuscript, the transcriptions used below are often reconstructions by Häberl (2022).[16]
| King | Mandaic spelling | Years of reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qimarudan Gaimuraṭ | 900 | < Avestan gaiia marətan 'mortal life' | ||
| Zamdšiṭa br Ṭahmuraṭ | 600 | |||
| Zihnag | 750 | |||
| (no king) | 100 | |||
| Asdahāg Bēwarāsp | br Aspag | 300 | slayed by Bahrān | |
| Paridon Thebiān | Paridun Tibian | 560 | ||
| Pād-Sām Narimān | Pa(t)šm Nariman | 500 | 'the binder of Karkum'; variously identified as Garshasp, Sām, and Nariman | |
| Parsāyā of Turak | Parsaia ḏ-Ṭuraq | 60 | ||
| Qaiqubas/Qaiqabas/Kaiqubad < Qaiqabad | 503 | |||
| Khaykhasraw, son of Siyāwarshan | Kaikasrau br Seiauišan | 60 | ||
| Ugab, son of Burzen | Egab | 300 | ||
| 365 | ||||
| Goshtāsp, son of Lohrāsp | Gušṭasp | 14 | ||
| Ardshir, son of Espendyār | Ardšir br Aspindiar | 112 | ||
| Khumāy Scheherazade (King Semiramis) | Kumai Ṭašhurizdan (Šamidai) | 80 | ||
| 470 | ||||
| Jamshid (Solomon), son of David | Dašmšir | 900 | 1,000 years total: 900 on earth, 100 in heaven | |
| (Alak)sandar Ruhmaia | 14 | |||
| Ashak, son of Ashkān | 465 | |||
| Ardaban | 14 |
Afterwards, the Persian Sasanian kings are listed:
| King | Mandaic spelling | Father of king | Years of reign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardshir Pābogān | Pabugan | 14 | ||
| Šabur | Ardshir I | 62 | ||
| Hurmig < Hurmiṣ | Shābur I | 50 | ||
| Bahran | Shābur I | 12 | ||
| Iazdigir | 12 | |||
| Šabur | Yazdiger I | 20 | ||
| Piruz | 40 | |||
| Bihdad | 3 | |||
| Qabad | Piroz I | 41 | ||
| Kasrau | Kawād I | 48 | ||
| Hurmig < Hurmiṣ | Khasraw I | 12 | ||
| Kasrau | Hormezd IV | 38 | ||
| Sheryu (Kawād II) | Širiu |
There are 7 colophons in the Ginza Rabba, including 6 in the Right Ginza. There are colophons after books 13 (for books 1–13), 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, suggesting that these had all originally been separate books before they were compiled into a single codex.[17] Some colophons are also followed by tarik (postscripts).[7]
See also: Qulasta. A few marriage hymns (hadaiata) in Drower's 1959 Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans (CP)[9] correspond to some hymns in Book 12 of the Right Ginza (GR 12):[2]
See also: 613 commandments. Book 1 (GR 1) and Book 2, Part 1 (GR 2.1) of the Right Ginza each list several dozen commandments for Mandaeans to follow. Most commandments in GR 2.1 correspond with the commandments listed in GR 1, often with only minor wording differences. GR 1 has more commandments than GR 2.1. There are also some parallels with passages in the Mandaean Book of John.
Notes on section numbering:
The summaries are based on the English translation in Gelbert (2011).[2]
| GR 1 | GR 2.1 | Others | Summary of commandment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | 25 | Pray 3 times during the day and 2 times at night. | ||
| 90 | 26 | Marry and establish a family. | ||
| 91 | 27 | Wash with water and purify yourself before approaching your wives. | ||
| 92 | 28 | GR 2.4.2 | Do not fornicate, steal, or kill human beings. | |
| 93 | 29 | Do not lie or love material possessions (gold and silver). | ||
| 94 | 30 | MJ 47.11 | Do not worship Satan, idols, or images. | |
| 95 | 31 | MJ 47.5 | Do not practice the witchcraft of Satan or bear false witness. | |
| 96 | 32 | MJ 47.7 | Do not let the strong or evil take advantage of the weak or diligent. | |
| 97 | 34 | Honor your father, mother, and elder brothers. | ||
| 35 | MJ 47.9 | Do not worship Satan, be a spy (give winks), listen to evil things, or be envious. | ||
| 98 | 36 | Do not become envious of anything that does not belong to you. | ||
| 99 | 37 | Remain firm in your faith even during times of misfortune. | ||
| 100 | 38 | Do not befriend idolaters. | ||
| 101 | 42, 43 | Free prisoners and redeem their souls through words of truth (kushta) and faith. | ||
| 102 | 33 | Give alms (zidqa) to the poor and be a guide to the blind. | ||
| 40 | Those who give alms and then deny alms afterwards will be punished. | |||
| 103 | 41 | Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and give clothes to the naked. | ||
| 104 | Seek instruction and proclaim the words of Hayyi. | |||
| 105 | Do not be seduced by the evil ones. | |||
| 106 | 44 | Martyrs (those who submit their bodies to murder) are pure. | ||
| 107 | 73 | Spiritual fasting Fast the Great Fast (ṣuma rba), which is not eating or drinking of this world. | ||
| 74 | Fasting with head in faith | |||
| 108 | 75 | Fasting with eyes by not seeing and doing with evil intent | ||
| 109 | 77 | Fasting with ears from eavesdropping and evil talk | ||
| 110 | 76 | Fasting with mouths from lying | ||
| 111 | 78 | Fasting with hearts from evil thoughts | ||
| 112 | 80 | Fasting with hands from murder and theft | ||
| 113 | 79 | Fasting with body from married women | ||
| 114 | 82 | Fasting with knees from not kneeling before idols | ||
| 115 | Fasting with feet by not pursuing anything that does not belong to you | |||
| 116 | 84 | Fast the Great Fast for your entire life. | ||
| 81 | Do not practice black magic with your hands. | |||
| 83 | Put your trust in the Lord, in correct wisdom, Kushta, faith, and the Lord's commandments. | |||
| 117 | 39 | Childhood sins will be forgiven upon genuine repentance if the sins will not be committed anymore. | ||
| 118 | 45 | Do not murder for the sake of gold, silver, and possessions. | ||
| 119 | 86 | Do not put your trust in kings, rulers, rebellious men, militaries, weapons, wars, troops, prisoners, gold, or silver. | ||
| 120 | 46 | Always mention and praise the name of the High King of Light during your daily activities. | ||
| 121 | 47 | Participate in the masbuta, bless and eat the pihta, and praise and drink the mambuha. | ||
| 122 | Receive the rushuma (signing). | |||
| 123 | 56 | Do not eat animal blood, animals that have already died beforehand and were not slaughtered, pregnant or birthing animals, animals breathing their last, or animals attacked by other animals. Animals must be ritually slaughtered with a knife, and the meat must be properly washed and cooked. | ||
| 124 | Do not eat or drink from the "house of twelve gates" (i.e., pagans). | |||
| 125 | Do not take a wife from the "house of twelve gates" (i.e., pagan wife). | |||
| 126 | Love and support one another. | |||
| 127 | Those who carry out the commandments will be blessed in the realm of Light. | |||
| 128 | 98 | Those who do not carry out the commandments will sink down into the darkness. | ||
| 129 | Blessed are the believers, and woe to those who do not listen. | |||
| 130 | Stay away from the rebels of the world. | |||
| 131 | Do not be arrogant when wrong, and do not be foolish about gold and silver. | |||
| 132 | 48 | Do not weep over the dead. | ||
| 133 | For as long as you live in this world, your sins will continue to multiply. | |||
| 134 | 49 | Do not mourn with sadness, but instead recite prayers and perform the masiqta for them. | ||
| 135 | Teach people words and praise from the realm of Light. | |||
| 136 | Give food to the poor and persecuted. | |||
| 137 | 50 | Pay workers' wages on time. | ||
| 138 | 51 | Do not rob and betray friends. | ||
| 139 | 52 | Keep promises (oaths). | ||
| 140 | 53 | Be humble and love each other. | ||
| 141 | 54 | Do not consult fortunetellers. | ||
| 142 | 55 | Do not make false promises (oaths) or break them. | ||
| 143 | 57 | MJ 47.10 | Do not take interest or compound interest. | |
| 144 | 58 | Do not lust, fornicate, sing, or dance. | ||
| 145 | 59 | MJ 50.16 | Support each other during times of persection. | |
| 146 | 60 | If angry, calm down and turn to the Lord. | ||
| 61 | Be grateful to those who are good to you. | |||
| 147 | 62 | Befriend wise people and stay away from evil people. | ||
| 63 | Be moderate in your actions except for prayer, praise, worship, paying wages, alms, goodness, and love. | |||
| 148 | 64 | MJ 47.13 | Golden Rule Do not to your neighbors what you would not have done to you. | |
| 149 | 85 | Perform good deeds and give yourself provisions for your (spiritual) journey. | ||
| 150 | 65 | Follow the will of the Lord, not of Satan, with your eyes, mouth, ears, heart, and hands (with zidqa). | ||
| 151 | 66 | Do not be concerned with temporary bodily beauty, but instead worship the Lord. | ||
| 152 | 67 | Do not worship Satan and the deceitful images of the world. | ||
| 153 | Do not put your trust the world, but rather put your trust in good deeds. | |||
| 154 | 87 | Do not despise the commandments. Show justice, peace, humility, forgiveness, compassion, conciliation, mercy, and love. | ||
| 88 | Do not withhold something from a friend in need who asks for it, when you are able to do so. | |||
| 89 | Offer housing, food, and water for travelers. | |||
| 155 | MJ 47.4 | Have children and do not commit adultery. | ||
| 156 | 92, 93 | MJ 47.8 | Do not marry slave girls who are not yet free. Set her free first and then marry her. Do not put your children into another master's house. | |
| 157 | 94 | Couples should be loyal to each other and not deceive each other. | ||
| 158 | 95 | Teach children well. | ||
| 159 | 96 | Support people who go astray (from the commandments or religion), even for the second and third times. | ||
| 160 | 97 | Do not despise physically disabled people. | ||
| 161 | Do not worship the Seven (Planets) and Twelve (Zodiac). | |||
| 100 | Do not worship the angels, since their radiance was given to them (by the Lord). | |||
| 162 | Do not worship the sun and moon. | |||
| 163, 164 | 101 | Do not worship Shamish (the sun) or Adunai. | ||
| 165 | Do not become one of those who fornicate. | |||
| 172 | 110 | GR 2.4.3 | Do not pay attention to the words of the false prophets. | |
| 173 | 111 | Dress in white clothing, including the turban (burzinqa), girdle (himiana), and staff (margna). | ||
| 174 | 112 | Do not say what you do not know and what is not revealed to you. | ||
| 175 | 113 | Pacifism Do not arm yourself with any physical metal weapon. Your only weapon should be Nașoraeism and the true faith/words of the realm of Light. | ||
| 176 | Give wise advice to each other and perform good deeds. | |||
| 68 | Act according to the will of the Lord. | |||
| 69 | Do not oppress the disadvantaged. | |||
| 70 | MJ 47.6 | Do not change boundary lines and stones. | ||
| 71 | Give honest criticism to friends and be a true friend. Flatterers will be punished. | |||
| 72 | Receive the great seal (hatma rba) and keep it on your body for your entire life. | |||
| 90 | Teach those are not yet wise. | |||
| 91 | Men and women should marry good people only. | |||
| 114 | Act according to the commandments with your eyes, mouth, and ears. |
