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InMandaeism, ayardna (Classical Mandaic:ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡍࡀ,romanized: iardna,lit. 'Jordan') oryardena ([jardəna];Arabic:یردنا) is a body of flowingfresh water (or inClassical Mandaic:ࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ,romanized: mia hiia,lit. 'living water'; pronouncedmia h(a)yya) that is suitable for ritual use as baptismal water.[1] Themasbuta and other Mandaean rituals such as thetamasha can only be performed in a yardna.Stagnant fresh water,brackish water, andseawater are not considered to be yardnas.[2]
Although etymologically related to theCanaanite wordyarden (Hebrew:ירדן), or theJordan River, a yardna in Mandaeism can refer to any flowing river.[3] Traditionally, these were typically theEuphrates (Mandaic:Praš),Tigris (Mandaic:Diglat), andKarun (Mandaic:ʿUlat)[4] rivers. TheEuphrates is calledPrašZiwa (ࡐࡓࡀࡔ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ; pronouncedFraš Ziwa) in theGinza Rabba.[5] InMandaean scriptures, the Euphrates is considered to be the earthly manifestation of the heavenly yardna or flowing river (similar to theYazidi concept ofLalish being the earthly manifestation of its heavenly counterpart).[6]
InWorcester, Massachusetts, United States,Lake Quinsigamond (the source of theQuinsigamond River) is used as a yardna for baptism.[7] InSan Antonio andAustin, Texas, theGuadalupe River is the main yardna used.[8]
InAustralia, theNepean River (utilized byWallacia Mandi) and theGeorges River are the yardnas that are most commonly used by Mandaeans.[9] InSweden, particularly during the winter, indoor pools with flowing water are used as ritual yardnas inmandis.[10]
Piriawis, a river in theWorld of Light, is theheavenly counterpart of allyardnas on earth, which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of Piriawis.[5][3]
There are two types of sacramental water used for Mandaean rituals, namelymambuha ("drinking water") andhalalta ("rinsing water"). Both are drawn directly from a yardna.[3]
Mandaean texts mention various uthras watching over yardnas.
Book 14 of theRight Ginza mentionsAdathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "firstyardna" (yardna qadmayya).[5]
Shilmai andNidbai are the two guardianuthras (celestial beings) watching overPiriawis, the heavenly yardna in theWorld of Light.[5]
