InMandaeism, thepihta (Classical Mandaic:ࡐࡉࡄࡕࡀ,lit. 'opened; something broken apart or into pieces'[1]: 3 ) is a type ofsacramental bread used with rituals performed byMandaean priests. It is a small, round, biscuit-sizedflatbread that can either be salted or saltless, depending on whether the ritual use of the pihta is for living or dead people.[2]
The pihta is not to be confused with thefaṭira, a small, round, saltless, half-baked biscuit also used in Mandaean rituals.[2]
The pihta, as used in rituals for living people such as themasbuta, is a small, round, salted, biscuit-sizedflatbread made by mixing flour and salt with water, followed by baking. It can only be made by Mandaean priests, and the flour is also ground by priests.[3] Unlike thefaṭira, which is saltless sacramental bread used for themasiqta, the pihta (as used in masbuta rituals) is salted (with salt mixed into the dough before baking), since salt (mihla) represents symbolizes the soul according to theAlma Rišaia Rba. However, pihta is also used duringmasiqta rituals. In this case, the pihta is not salted, since the lack of salt symbolizes the departure of the soul from the body.[2] (See also:blessed salt)
Every Sunday, Mandaeans participate in a baptismal mass (maṣbuta) involving immersion in flowing water (yardna) by ordained priests. The baptized then consume pieces of salted pihta blessed by a priest in order to restore their connections (laufa) with theWorld of Light (seeMandaean cosmology).[2]
Saltless pihta is also used inmasiqta rituals.[4]
Thebrihi is a ritual clay fire saucer. Its narrow end faces north. Thebrihi is used for the pihta andriha.[5]
Thegišar is a stone flour mill that can only be used by priests for grinding sacramental flour.[5]
Various prayers in theQulasta, including prayers36–45 and59, are recited during the sacrament of the pihta.[6]
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