Mandaeism

Mandaeism is a Gnostic, ethnoreligious tradition that originated in the Mesopotamian region in late antiquity. It is practiced by a community primarily in southern Iraq and Khuzestan in Iran, with diaspora populations in Europe, North America, and Australia. Distinct from Islam, Judaism, and mainstream Christianity, Mandaeism preserves its own scriptures, rituals, and priesthood.

The religion centers on a single, transcendent God known as Hayyi Rabbi, the Great Life, and a cosmos divided between the World of Light and the World of Darkness. Salvation is achieved through gnosis and ritual purification, especially immersion in living water. John the Baptist (Yohanan) is honored as the chief prophet, while Jesus is not regarded as divine.

Mandaean scriptures are written in the Mandaic language. The core texts include the Ginza Rabba, a two-part compendium of myth and theology, and the Qolasta, a collection of liturgical prayers. These works articulate the cosmogony, the rites, and the path of the soul after death.

Ritual life centers on the masbuta, the baptism performed by qualified priests to purify the soul and enable ascent to the World of Light. The Mandaean priesthood comprises ranks such as tarmida (priest) and ganzbra (grand priest). Practices emphasize ritual purity, baptism, and communal worship.

Historically concentrated in Iraq and Iran, Mandaeans have faced persecution and flight, especially in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, leading to international diaspora communities. They maintain a distinct language, endogamous practices, and continuity of sacred tradition through ritual centers and literacy in Mandaic.