Rasta (Mandaeism)
Mandaean ceremonial garment
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ToursExplore Lably’s 3D toursA 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 prayer 76: "the Perfecter of Souls ... will come out toward you and clothe your soul in a garment of radiance") – 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."
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Related clothing
The rasta for Mandaean laypeople consists of the following seven pieces of clothing. It is usually made of cotton or sometimes muslin.
- ksuia or sadra (ࡎࡀࡃࡓࡀ) – long-sleeved tunic 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, the rugza can be used to veil the lower face to form a pandama. It is made from a cloth that is 10 cm × 3 m long, and can be cut lengthwise as needed.
- naṣifa (ࡍࡀࡑࡉࡐࡀ) – stole or 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 × 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 Qulasta are also recited when putting on the burzinqa and pandama.
The šiala is a burzinqa that is draped over women's heads.