InMandaeism, ashganda (šganda;Classical Mandaic:ࡔࡂࡀࡍࡃࡀ,Modern Mandaic pronunciation:[əʃˈgænda]),shkanda (Arabic:شكندا,romanized: škandā), orashganda (ʔšganda)[1] is a ritual assistant who helpspriests with ritual duties.[2]
In the Mandaean diaspora, shgandas, or alternatively learned laymen calledyalufa, often perform minor priestly roles due to shortages oftarmida andganzibra priests abroad.[3]: 338
Tarmida initiates ornovices (šualia) have often been trained as shgandas when they were children. Initiates may or may not be married, although typically they are not yet married.[2]
Duringtarmida initiation ceremonies, shgandas, who represent emissaries from theWorld of Light, also help perform the rituals, many of which are held in a specially constructed priest initiation hut (škinta) and also a nearby temporary reed hut (andiruna).[2]
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