 TarmidaSahi Bashikh wearing a pandama (mouth veil) as he reads Mandaean prayers atYahya Yuhana Mandi duringParwanaya 2025 | |
| Type | mouth-veil |
|---|---|
| Material | cotton cloth |
| Place of origin | southernIraq and southwesternIran |
Thepandama (Classical Mandaic:ࡐࡀࡍࡃࡀࡌࡀ) is a mouth-veil worn byMandaean priests while performingbaptismal ceremonial rituals. It is the loose end of theburzinqa (turban) and is wrapped around the mouth and lower face.[1] The pandama also protects the face from water during masbuta rituals.[2] The pandama is worn only by officiating priests, not by Mandaean laymen.
The wordpandama is of Iranian origin. Macuch (1965) gives the etymologypandama < *paddan <padān.[3]: 45
Several prayers in theQulasta are recited when putting on and loosening the pandama, including prayers7 and55.[4]
According to Shahram Ebadfardzadeh, an Iranian-Americanyalufa (learned Mandaean layperson) inSan Antonio, Texas, United States, "when the priest officiates, he is anangel, and his lower face must not be seen, but covered up."[5]: 29
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