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In Mandaeism, a ʿniana (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡀ; plural form: ʿniania ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡉࡀ) prayer is recited during rituals such as the masiqta and priest initiation ceremonies.[1] There is a total of 26 ʿniana prayers. They form part of the Qolasta.[2]
ʿNiana literally means "response,"[3] since the prayers may have originally been recited in a call and response manner.
Jacques de Morgan's manuscript collection included a ʿniania manuscript dating back to 1833.[3]
The prayers have been translated into English by E. S. Drower (1959).[2] They have also been translated into German by Mark Lidzbarski (1920).[4]
The ʿniana prayers are numbered from 78–103 in both Drower's and Lidzbarski's versions of the Qolasta.
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Masbuta prayers: |
Masiqta prayers:
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Communion prayer: |
Concluding prayer:
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There are also two niana poems in Book 15 of the Right Ginza, which are chapters 15 and 16 of Book 15. These two poems contain the refrain "when the chosen/proven pure one went away" (kḏ azil bhira dakia ࡗ ࡀࡆࡉࡋ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡀ ࡃࡀࡊࡉࡀ).[5] This refrain is also found in prayers 205 and 233–256 of the Qolasta.[2]
