This article contains a list of Mandaean texts (Mandaean religious texts written in Classical Mandaic). Well-known texts include the Ginza Rabba (also known as the Sidra Rabbā) and the Qolastā. Texts for Mandaean priests include The 1012 Questions, among others. Some, like the Ginza Rabba, are codices (bound books), while others, such as the various diwan (illustrated scrolls) are scrolls.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Institutional libraries and private collections contain various Mandaean religious texts that are little known or even unknown to the international scholarly community.
Background
Mandaean copyists may transcribe texts as a meritorious deed for one's own forgiveness of sins, or they may be hired to copy a text for another person. Mandaean sacred scriptures, such as the Ginza Rabba are traditionally kept in wooden chests wrapped in layers of white cotton and silk cloth. These protected manuscripts are generally not touched by ordinary laypeople, although learned laymen (yalufa) who demonstrate proper knowledge and respect for the manuscripts are usually granted access by priests, similar to the level of respect given to the Guru Granth Sahib in Sikhism.
Types
Mandaean religious texts can be written in book or codex form ( or ) or as scrolls ( , , or ) that are often illustrated. The illustrations, usually labeled with lengthy written explanations, typically contain abstract geometric drawings of uthras that are reminiscent of cubism or prehistoric rock art.
Some scrolls are talismans ( ), amulets ( ), or exorcisms ( or ), all subtypes of phylacteries. Others consist of prayers such as ('devotions'), ('responses'), and ('"signing" prayers'). Many scrolls contain symbolic descriptions of rituals, such as various types of and rituals. Mandaean texts typically have colophons giving detailed information about the scribes who had transcribed them, as well as dates, lineages, and other historical information.
Drower (1953) recognizes six main groups of Mandaean literature. esoteric texts, exclusively for priests ritual texts, exclusively for priests hymns, psalms, and prayers hortatory and general texts astrological texts magical writings
History
Little is known about the redactors or authors of the texts. The contents date to both pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. The oldest Mandaean magical text is dated to the 4th and 5th centuries CE.
During the past few decades, Majid Fandi al-Mubaraki, a Mandaean living in Australia, has digitized many Mandaean texts using typesetted Mandaic script.
Main scriptures
The primary three scriptures containing the most important narratives, liturgies, and doctrines of Mandaeism are the Ginza Rabba, Mandaean Book of John, and Qolasta. The Haran Gawaita is a history text, while the others are priestly esoteric texts.
Ginza Rabba (The Great Treasure, also known as The Book of Adam) (DC 22) Qolastā (Canonical Prayerbook) (DC 53) Sidra ḏ-Nišmata (Book of Souls) (first part of the Qolastā) Niana (The Responses) (part of the Qolastā) Drašâ ḏ-Jōhânā (Mandaean Book of John, also known as The Book of Kings) Harran Gawaitha (Scroll of Great Revelation) (DC 9, 36) Diwan Abathur (Scroll of Abatur) (DC 8) Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa (The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa) (DC 35) Alf trisar šuialia (The 1012 Questions) (DC 36 [complete, with all 7 books], DC 6 [incomplete]) Šarh ḏ-qabin ḏ-Šišlam Rabbā (The Wedding of the Great Šišlam) (DC 38) Šarh ḏ-traṣa ḏ-taga ḏ-Šišlam Rabbā (The Coronation of the Great Šišlam – describes a ritual for the ordination of the Mandaean clergy) Asfar Malwāšē (The Book of the Zodiac) (DC 31) Diwan Malkuta ʿLaita (Scroll of Exalted Kingship) (DC 34)
Various manuscripts
Various Mandaean manuscripts are listed below. Many of them form parts of the Qolasta, while others are magical texts such as zrazta, qmaha, pašar, and the like. The majority of known Mandaean texts are currently held at libraries in Oxford, London, and Paris.