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In Mandaeism, a shkinta ( Classical Mandaic: ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, romanized: škinta, lit. ' shekinah') or shkina (škina) is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the physical earth), it refers to a reed hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent uthras on earth. [1]
Ceremonial usage
During the priest initiation ceremony, the shkinta is constructed to the north of the andiruna. It symbolizes the World of Light and it covered by a white cloth roof. In contrast, the andiruna has a blue cloth roof to symbolize the color of Ruha. Together, the two adjacent huts symbolize complementary masculine and feminine elements. [2]
Symbolism
The škinta ( cognate with the Hebrew word shekhinah; from the Semitic root š-k-n, associated with dwellings) symbolizes the "male" side, and is associated with the World of Light, priests, the right side, gold, and the taga (crown). [2]
In contrast, the andiruna symbolizes the "female" side, and is associated with the earth ( Tibil), laypeople, the left side, silver, and the klila (myrtle wreath). [2] Similarly, in a traditional Persian house, the women's quarters are known as andirūn. [1]
In artwork
In 2018, Mandaean-Australian priest and artist Yuhana Nashmi created Sh-ken-ta, an exhibition of a shkinta, as a site-specific installation at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. [3] [4]
Gallery
-
A reed house in the marshes of Basra Province, southern Iraq in 1978. The shkinta is based on such reed structures. -
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia -
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia -
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
See also
- Andiruna
- Shekhinah
- Sweat lodge in Native American spiritual ceremonies
- Tarmida
- Anana (Mandaeism)
References
- ^ a b Drower, E. S. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).
- ^ a b c Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ "Sh-ken-ta". Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. 2003-01-01. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ "Sh-ken-ta Workshop with Yuhana Nashmi". Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. 2003-01-01. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
External links
- The Worlds of Mandaean Priests (University of Exeter)
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| Part of a series on |
| Mandaeism |
|---|
|
|
| Religion portal |
In Mandaeism, a shkinta ( Classical Mandaic: ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, romanized: škinta, lit. ' shekinah') or shkina (škina) is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the physical earth), it refers to a reed hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent uthras on earth. [1]
Ceremonial usage
During the priest initiation ceremony, the shkinta is constructed to the north of the andiruna. It symbolizes the World of Light and it covered by a white cloth roof. In contrast, the andiruna has a blue cloth roof to symbolize the color of Ruha. Together, the two adjacent huts symbolize complementary masculine and feminine elements. [2]
Symbolism
The škinta ( cognate with the Hebrew word shekhinah; from the Semitic root š-k-n, associated with dwellings) symbolizes the "male" side, and is associated with the World of Light, priests, the right side, gold, and the taga (crown). [2]
In contrast, the andiruna symbolizes the "female" side, and is associated with the earth ( Tibil), laypeople, the left side, silver, and the klila (myrtle wreath). [2] Similarly, in a traditional Persian house, the women's quarters are known as andirūn. [1]
In artwork
In 2018, Mandaean-Australian priest and artist Yuhana Nashmi created Sh-ken-ta, an exhibition of a shkinta, as a site-specific installation at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. [3] [4]
Gallery
-
A reed house in the marshes of Basra Province, southern Iraq in 1978. The shkinta is based on such reed structures.
-
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
-
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
-
Miniature model of a shkinta displayed at the Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
See also
- Andiruna
- Shekhinah
- Sweat lodge in Native American spiritual ceremonies
- Tarmida
- Anana (Mandaeism)
References
- ^ a b Drower, E. S. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Leiden: Brill (1962 reprint).
- ^ a b c Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ "Sh-ken-ta". Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. 2003-01-01. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ "Sh-ken-ta Workshop with Yuhana Nashmi". Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. 2003-01-01. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
External links
- The Worlds of Mandaean Priests (University of Exeter)
| People | | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical identities | |||||||||||||||
| Priesthood | |||||||||||||||
| Literature |
| ||||||||||||||
| Cosmology |
| ||||||||||||||
| Important figures | |||||||||||||||
| Legendary figures | |||||||||||||||
| Concepts |
| ||||||||||||||
| Objects and symbols | |||||||||||||||
| Ritual food and drink |
| ||||||||||||||
| Clothing | |||||||||||||||
| Rituals and practices | |||||||||||||||
| Buildings and structures | |||||||||||||||
| Calendar |
| ||||||||||||||
| Language | |||||||||||||||
| Other topics | |||||||||||||||