Bshuma

In Mandaeism, the bshuma (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀ, romanized: b-šuma, lit. 'in the name [of]') is a religious formula that is often written at the beginnings of chapters in Mandaean texts and prayers.[1][2] The Islamic equivalent is the basmala.

Text of the bshuma
The bshuma as seen on a pulpit at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
The bshuma written in the Persian alphabet on a Mandaean gravestone in Ahvaz, Iran. On top, the inscription reads بشمیهون اد هیی ربی (b-šumaihun ḏ-hiia rbia).

The second line reads:
لوفا و ارواها اد هیی (laufa u-ruaha ḏ-hiia; "May laufa (communion) and a renewal of Life")
و شاوق هطایی (u-šabiq haṭaiia; "and forgiveness of sins")
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The full form of the bshuma is "In the name of Hayyi Rabbi" (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, romanized: b-šumaihun ḏ-hiia rbia, lit. 'In the name of the Great Life'), (Arabic: باسم الحي العظيم, bism al-Ḥayy al-ʿAẓīm).[3]

A simpler version is ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ (b-šuma ḏ-hiia), which literally translates to "In Life's name."[4]

At the ends of Mandaean prayers and texts, the following formulas are often recited to conclude the prayer or text.[4]

See also

References
  1. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  3. Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
  4. Drower, E. S. (1959). Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
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