Themasiqta (Classical Mandaic:ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ,lit. 'ascent'[1]) is a mass or ritual practiced in theMandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (nišimta) towards theWorld of Light inMandaean cosmology.[2] They are typically performed as funerary rites for Mandaeans who have just died. Although usually translated as "death mass", a few types ofmasiqta are also performed for living people, such as when priests are ordained.[3] Masiqtas are also used to consecrate houses of worship (bit manda).[4]
The complex ritual involves guiding the soul through themaṭarta, or toll houses located between the Earth (Tibil) and theWorld of Light, which are guarded by variousuthras and demons.[3]
A successful masiqta merges the incarnatesoul (ࡍࡉࡔࡉࡌࡕࡀnišimta; roughly equivalent to thepsyche or "ego" inGreek philosophy) andspirit (ࡓࡅࡄࡀruha; roughly equivalent to thepneuma or "breath" in Greek philosophy) from the Earth (Tibil) into a new merged entity in the World of Light called theʿuṣṭuna. Theʿuṣṭuna can then reunite with its heavenly, non-incarnate counterpart (or spiritual image), thedmuta, in theWorld of Light, where it will reside in the world of ideal counterparts (Mšunia Kušṭa).[3]
There are several different types of masiqtas depending on the cause or timing of the death.Adam andShitil (Seth) both have masiqtas named after them.[3]
Themasiqta of Shitil (described inThe Thousand and Twelve Questions[5]) is performed for certain unclean deaths, such as:[3]
Themasiqta of Adam is performed for people who have died on one of thembaṭṭal days, such as onDehwa Rabba (New Year's Day).[2] The masiqta of Adam and the masiqta of Shitil are both performed together for people dying in one place but are being buried in another.
TheṬabahata Masiqta, or the "masiqta of the Parents", is held only once a year during theParwanayaintercalary festival. Priests recite dozens of prayers, prepare 72faṭiras (small, round, saltless, half-baked biscuits for ritual use) symbolizing ancestors, and also sacrifice a white dove, calledBa, which symbolizes the spirit. TheŠarḥ ḏ-Ṭabahata ("The Scroll of Ṭabahata," or "TheScroll of the Ancestors") describes aspects of this masiqta. According toThe Thousand and Twelve Questions, this masiqta cannot be held at any other time other than during the Parwanaya.[3] It is celebrated in the names of a man and a woman, and is linked with the celebration ofDukrana lhdaia rba zadiqa.[2]
Other masiqtas are listed below.[2]
E. S. Drower (1937) also mentions the following types of masiqtas.[6]: 210
There are also other masiqtas for bridegrooms who have died during wedding ceremonies, and for moving the remains of a dead person.
Ritual objects used in masiqtas includeteriani (plates made from mud and reed).[9]
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