Himiana

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Typegirdle or belt
Materialwool
Place of originsouthern Iraq and southwestern Iran
Himiana
A Mandaean priestly initiate wearing the himiana (bottom)
Typegirdle or belt
Materialwool
Place of originsouthern Iraq and southwestern Iran

The himiana (Classical Mandaic: ࡄࡉࡌࡉࡀࡍࡀ; modern Mandaic pronunciation: hemyanā) is a sacred ritual girdle or belt used by the Mandaeans.[1] Traditionally, it is white, tubular, and made of wool.[2]

Himiana is a Persian loanword, like burzinqa (turban) and margna (staff).[3]

Description

Unlike the Zoroastrian kushti, which is made of 72 threads, the Mandaean himiana is made of 60 woolen threads.[2][3]

The himiana has a sewn end and an 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).[4]

Prayer

According to Drower (1937), the following prayer is recited when a lay Mandaean puts on the himiana.[2]: 31 

Mandaic transliteration English translation

himiana ʿtriṣ
b-trin ṭabia
b-trin gaṭria

I consecrate the girdle
With two virtues
With two knots.

See also

References

External links

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