Yardna

{{Short description|Rivers in Mandaeism}} {{For|the Israeli moshav|Yardena}} [[File:Jordan River (5418351509).jpg|thumb|The Jordan River]] [[File:Mandaean baptism ritual in the Karun River (2).jpg|thumb|Mandaean masbuta in the Karun River, Ahvaz, Iran]] {{Mandaeism}} In Mandaeism, a '''yardna''' ({{langx|myz|ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡍࡀ|translit=iardna|lit=Jordan}}) or '''yardena''' ([{{IPA|jardəna}}]; {{langx|ar|یردنا}}) is a body of flowing fresh water (or in {{langx|myz|ࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ|translit=mia hiia|lit=living water}}; pronounced ''meyya heyyi'') that is suitable for ritual use as baptismal water.<ref>''The Gnostic Bible'' (2003) (p. 810). New Seeds Books</ref> The masbuta and other Mandaean rituals such as the tamasha can only be performed in a yardna. Stagnant fresh water, brackish water, and seawater are not considered to be yardnas.<ref name="Gelbert 2005">{{cite book|last=Gelbert|first=Carlos|title=The Mandaeans and the Jews|publisher=Living Water Books|publication-place=Edensor Park, NSW|year=2005|isbn=0-9580346-2-1|oclc=68208613}}</ref>

Unlike in Islam, Christianity, or Yazidism, no earthly geographic location is exclusively considered to be sacrosanct in Mandaeism. This is because Mandaeism does not have shrines, holy sites, or pilgrimage sites tied to specific geographical locations, since ''any'' river with flowing water can be used for religious rituals.<ref>{{cite book|last=McGrath|first=James F.|author-link=James F. McGrath|title=Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist|publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company|publication-place=Chicago|date=2024-06-11|isbn=978-0-8028-8400-8|url=https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884008/christmaker/}}</ref>

==Examples of yardnas== Although etymologically related to the Canaanite word ''yarden'' (Hebrew: {{lang|he|ירדן}}), or the Jordan River, a yardna in Mandaeism can refer to any flowing river.<ref name="Buckley 2002"/> Traditionally, these were typically the Euphrates (Mandaic: ''Praš''), Tigris (Mandaic: ''Diglat''), and Karun (Mandaic: ''ʿUlat'')<ref>{{cite book | last=Nasoraia | first=Brikha | title=The Mandaean Rivers Scroll (Diwan Nahrawatha): an analysis | publisher=Routledge | publication-place=London | year=2022 | isbn=978-0-367-33544-1 | oclc=1295213206 | url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Mandaean-Rivers-Scroll-Diwan-Nahrawatha-An-Analysis/Nasoraia/p/book/9780367335441}}</ref> rivers. The Euphrates is called {{Transliteration|myz|Praš Ziwa}} ({{lang|myz|ࡐࡓࡀࡔ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ}}; pronounced {{Transliteration|myz|Fraš Ziwa}}) in the ''Ginza Rabba''.<ref name="GR Gelbert"/> In Mandaean scriptures, the Euphrates is considered to be the earthly manifestation of the heavenly yardna or flowing river (similar to the Yazidi concept of Lalish being the earthly manifestation of its heavenly counterpart).<ref name="Nasoraia 2021">{{cite book|last=Nasoraia|first=Brikha H.S.|author-link=Brikha Nasoraia|title=The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought|publisher=Sterling|publication-place=New Delhi|year=2021|isbn=978-81-950824-1-4|oclc=1272858968}}</ref>

In Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, Lake Quinsigamond (the source of the Quinsigamond River) is used as a yardna for baptism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Worcester branch of Mandaean faith works to plant roots|date=2014-12-12|url=https://mandaeansocietyma.org/worcester-branch-of-mandaean-faith-works-to-plant-roots/|access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref> In San Antonio and Austin, Texas, the Guadalupe River is the main yardna used.<ref name=mansa>{{cite web|last1=Busch|first1=Matthew|last2=Ross|first2=Robyn|date=18 February 2020|title=Against The Current|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/mandaeans-san-antonio-trump/|website=Texas Observer|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref>

In Australia, the Nepean River (utilized by Wallacia Mandi) and the Georges River are the yardnas that are most commonly used by Mandaeans.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=David Maurice | title=An Ancient Baptism in Sydney | website=Roads & Kingdoms | date=2015-07-30 | url=https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2015/ancient-baptism-sydney/ | access-date=2021-10-30}}</ref> In Sweden, particularly during the winter, indoor pools with flowing water are used as ritual yardnas in mandis.<ref name="Sedrati 2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338502405|title=Mandaeism - A religion between Sweden and the Middle East|first=Anass|last=Sedrati|date=2018|location=Stockholm|publisher=KTH Royal Institute of Technology}}</ref>

==Heavenly counterpart== Piriawis, a river in the World of Light, is the heavenly counterpart of all ''yardnas'' on earth, which are considered by Mandaeans to be manifestations of Piriawis.<ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref><ref name="Buckley 2002">{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}}</ref>

==Sacramental water== There are two types of sacramental water used for Mandaean rituals, namely mambuha ("drinking water") and halalta ("rinsing water"). Both are drawn directly from a yardna.<ref name="Buckley 2002"/>

==Uthras== Mandaean texts mention various uthras watching over yardnas.

Book 14 of the ''Right Ginza'' mentions Adathan and Yadathan as the guardians of the "first ''yardna''" ({{Transliteration|myz|yardna qadmayya}}).<ref name="GR Gelbert"/>

Shilmai and Nidbai are the two guardian uthras (celestial beings) watching over Piriawis, the heavenly yardna in the World of Light.<ref name="GR Gelbert"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Baptism Category:Jordan River Category:Mandaic words and phrases Category:Rivers in Mandaeism