Mandaeans performing rishama at theKarun River inAhvaz, IranInstructions in Arabic on how to perform rishama (photograph taken atYahya Yuhana Mandi in Sydney, Australia). Summary:
1. Wash the hands 2. Wash the face 3 times 3. Wash the forehead 3 times 4. Wash the ears 3 times 5. Wash the nose 6. Wash the seat 7. Wash the mouth 3 times 8. Wash the knees 3 times 9. Wash the legs 3 times 10. Throw water on the head with the fingers of both hands 11. Dip right and then left foot in waterRishama performed during the 1930s in southern Iraq
InMandaeism,rishama (rišama) (Classical Mandaic:ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡌࡀ,romanized: rišama) is a dailyablution ritual. Unlike themasbuta, it does not require the assistance of a priest.[1]Rishama (signing) is performed before prayers and involves washing the face and limbs while reciting specific prayers such as therushma. It is performed daily, before sunrise, with hair covered and after evacuation of bowels, or before religious ceremonies.[2][3]: 16
Tamasha (ṭamaša) is another type of ablution performed by Mandaeans in which the entire body is fully immersed three times in water.[1]
Although the term for the Mandaean daily minor ablution is also spelled the same in writtenClassical Mandaic (rišama), the word for 'minor ablution' is pronounced inModern Mandaic asrešāmā, while 'head priest' is pronouncedrišammā.[3]: 219
Rishama ritual steps or procedures may vary according to the location or priest's instructions. Below is a list of rishama procedures by Shadan Choheili of theGanzibra Dakhil Mandi inLiverpool, New South Wales, Australia.[4]
John D. Turner and other scholars have noted that inSethianism, rituals reminiscent of Mandaean ablutions (i.e., the rishama and tamasha) are mentioned inNag Hammadi texts such as theTrimorphic Protennoia, since they involve triple immersion in water, signing, and other similar features.[5]
^Smith, Andrew Phillip (2016).John the Baptist and the last Gnostics: the secret history of the Mandaeans. London: Watkins.ISBN978-1-78028-913-7.OCLC956946835.
