- Source: Left Ginza
The Left Ginza (Classical Mandaic: ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡎࡌࡀࡋࡀ, romanized: Ginza Smala) is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Right Ginza.
As of 2024, a critical edition that includes an annotated translation of the Left Ginza is being prepared by Bogdan Burtea and Christoph Markschies.
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007), are provided below. Translated excerpts are from Gelbert (2011), which is mostly based on Lidzbarski (1925), while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021).
Opening lines of each chapter are provided below, since Mandaeans often refer to Mandaic prayers by their opening lines.
Book 1
Book 1 is a four-part prose text on the salvation process, beginning with the ascension to heaven of Seth, in advance of his father Adam (compare Sethian Gnosticism).
Chapter 1.1 is about Adam and his three sons. One of Adam's sons, Sheetil (Seth), volunteers to die before his father. 49 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011). The chapter begins with the opening lines:
Who are the mountains that do not shake (man hinun ṭuria ḏ-lanaidia),
and the heavens of waters that do not change (u-mrumia mia ḏ-la-ništanun)?
Chapter 1.2 continues the story of Adam after his soul is cast into a material body. 80 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011). 80 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Chapter 1.3 is about Hawa (Eve) mourning the death of her husband and her encounters with the uthras. It also describes the death of Hawa. 58 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Chapter 1.4 is a detailed description of the masiqta and the maṭarta (stations) that lie between Earth and the World of Light. 43 paragraphs in Gelbert (2011).
Book 2
Book 2, poetic, comprises 28 hymns.
All of the hymns in Book 2 of the Left Ginza, in which the mana laments that it has been cast into the physical world, begin with the following refrain:
I am a mana of the Great Life (mana ana ḏ-hiia rbia)
I am a mana of the Mighty Life (mana ana ḏ-hiia rurbia)
I am a mana of the Great Life (mana ana ḏ-hiia rbia)
Since Mandaean priestly commentary texts often refer to hymns and prayers by their opening lines, the opening lines of each of the 28 hymns in the book are provided below. The English translations below are from Gelbert (2011), while the Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021). Many of the opening lines are repeated but with the individual words ordered differently; in such cases, both versions are provided and are separated by semicolons.
Who has let me dwell in the Tibil? / b-gu tibil man ašrian; man ašrian b-gu tibil
Who has thrown me into the (place) of secrets and winks? / br azia u-rimzia manu rman; man rman br azia u-rimzia
Who has thrown me into the misery of the worlds? / man rman bqiras almia; bqiras alma man rman
Who took me out of my treasure-house? / mn bit ginzai man apqan; man apqan mn bit ginzai
A son of great radiance, a son of the lustrous glory / br ziua napša, u-br ʿqara taqna
I am confirmed through the goodness of my Father / ḏ-mqaiimna b-ṭabuta ḏ-ab; b-ṭabuta ḏ-ab mqaiimna
Who threw me into the misfortune of the angels? / b-kariuta ḏ-mlakia manu rman; manu rman b-kariuta ḏ-mlaka
I went away in order to come into the world. / ḏ-asgit l-mitia b-alma; asgit b-alma l-mitia
Why did my appearance change? / alma šnat dmutai
From Thee, my Father, I am learning / minak ab mitaprašna
Who has let me dwell in the bodily vestment? / balbuš pagria man ašrun
They went and brought me into the Tibil. / asgun l-tibil atiun; asgun atiun l-tibil
Who brought me here? / man l-haka atian; man atian l-haka
Into this world they sent him / l-hazin alma šadruia
Arise, go the house of the Seven! / qum l-bit šuba azil
In the reliable treasure he sits / b-ginza taqna iatib
There is no treachery or cunning in him / l-itbil aqara u-nikia/nikla
Who brought me out of the house of the Life? / mn bit hiia man atian; man atian mn bit hiia
There is (something) in me from the treasure of the Life. / mn ginzaihun ḏ-hiia ʿka ʿlai
I lived among the hidden fosterers. / binia munqia kasiia huit; huit binia munqia kasiia
When did they take me into captivity / ʿmat b-šibia šibiun
I was in the hidden treasure-house / bit ginza kasia ʿhuit; ʿhuit bit ginza kasia
Who has planted me, sent me away / minṣab man naṣban
They brought me out of the house of the Great (Life) / atiun mn bit rbia; I have come in order to raise the stem on high / ʿtit misaq šurbta; ʿtit šurbta misaq
Who brought me away from my place? / mn duktai man atian; man atian mn duktai
Here I stayed with the generations. / ḏ-haka b-gu daria huit; haka huit b-gu daria
Who brought me away from my place? / mn atrai man atian; man atian mn atrai
Who brought me away from my place? / mn duktai man atian; man atian mn duktai
Book 3
Book 3, poetic, comprises 62 hymns, several of which are identical to or based on prayers in the Qulasta. Poems in Book 3 poetically describe the masiqta (ascension) of the soul to World of Light. They typically describe the soul (nišimta) being taken out of the ʿuṣṭuna, or "bodily trunk," and being guided by uthras through the matartas and past Ruha and the Seven Planets, as well as being taken up by the right hand into the World of Light and clothed in radiant garments of light.
The masiqta hymns in Book 3, many of which have close parallels in the Qulasta and Manichaean Psalms of Thomas (e.g., hymns 2-5, 7, 10, 15, 19-20, 22, 27, 41, and 43), are among the oldest Mandaic texts.: 197 Van Bladel (2017) suggests that these hymns may have a common Elchasaite source.
Since Mandaean priestly commentary texts often refer to hymns and prayers by their the opening lines, the opening lines of each of the 62 hymns in the book are provided below. The English translations below are from Gelbert (2011), while the Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert (2011, 2021).
After the firmament was spread out (abatar ḏ-ʿtingid rqiha)
Provided and provisioned I am (zidana u-mzaudana) (see Qulasta prayer 96 and Psalms of Thomas 13, 18)
Hail to thee, hail to thee, soul (ṭubak ṭubak nišma) (see Qulasta prayer 94)
Go in peace, chosen one, pure one (ʿzil b-šlam bhira dakia) (see Qulasta prayer 92)
Repose and peace will prevail (niaha u-šalma nihuia) (see Qulasta prayer 69)
Repose and peace prevail (niaha u-šalma nihuia)
On the day on which the soul goes out (iuma ḏ-napiq nišma), on the day on which the perfect one ascends on high (iuma ḏ-saliq tušlima) (see Qulasta prayer 98)
On the day on which the soul goes forth (iuma ḏ-napiq nišma), on the day on which the perfect one ascends on high (iuma ḏ-saliq tušlima)
Between the concealment and the radiance (binia kasia l-ziua), and between the revelation and the hidden place (u-binia galalta l-atar)
Among the chosen ones I am the head of the well-versed (riš sabria ana ḏ-bhiria rišaihun ana ḏ-mhamnia) (see Qulasta prayer 93)
Let the Great (Life) be mentioned in goodness (dkiria b-ṭabu rbia), let the Mighty (Life) be mentioned in goodness (dkiria b-ṭabu rurbia)
How greatly I rejoice (mihdia kma hadina)
Faith in the Good came to me (sibra l-ṭab atalia), they say: "thou shalt go forth" (ḏ-amria mipaq napqit).
When the darkness was thinking, Adam departed his body (kḏ ʿthašab hšuka, kḏ adam mn pagrḥ npaq)
My measure has come to an end and I am heading out (kilai šlim u-napiqna), the spirit speaks to the soul (timar ruha l-nišimta) (see Psalms of Thomas 2)
The soul in the fruit of the Life (nišimta b-pira ḏ-hiia)
The voice of the soul of the Life I hear (qal nišimta ḏ-hiia šamal)
Although a child, my lifespan ended (ianuq šilman kilai)
I am standing upon my high place (ʿl ramat qaiiamna), and my eyes look upon the earthly world (u-ainai l-tibil) (see Psalms of Thomas 18)
Between the concealment and the radiance (binia kisia l-ziua), between the light and the uthras (u-binia nhura l-ʿutria) (see Qulasta prayer 68)
The soul is going out (mipaq npiq nišma); her measure is full, and her time has come (kilḥ šlim, u-zibnḥ mṭa).
I am redeemed, my measure is full (ʿtparaq slim kʿlai) (see Psalms of Thomas 13)
A voice called out from the heights (qala qra mn rmuma)
I passed by the gate of the prisoners (ʿl bab ʿsiria hilpit)
I have a soul in the Tibil (nišma ʿtlia b-tibil); she is dying and sleeping in the world; she is dying and sleeping in the world (mkalal u-šakib b-alma; mkalal b-alma u-šakib)
Whose soul is this (hazin nišma ḏ-manu), who is edified and cultivated (ḏ-hazin bnina u-mbanana)?
It is a sealed letter (ʿngirta mhatamta) which goes out of the world (ḏ-napqa minḥ mn alma) (see Qulasta prayer 73)
I am going out from my body (mn pagrai napiqna)
I was saved, my measure was full (ʿtparqit šilman kʿlai)
At the garden gate I passed by (ʿl baba ginta hilpit), I heard the voice of the gardener (qala ḏ-br ginaiia šimit).
At the door of the house of detention (ʿl baba ḏ-bit raina), the radiance of Sunday (habšaba) passed by (ziua ḏ-habšaba hlip).
When will my measure be full (lʿmat nišlam kʿlai)
What do the good ones look like (l-mahu damin ṭabia), when they go out of their body (kḏ napqia mn pagraihun)?
Whose soul is this (hazin nišma ḏ-manu), who is edified and cultivated (ḏ-haizin bnina u-mbanna)?
She (the soul) spoke: They arranged me in (the order) of the Life (malil b-hiia sidrun).
My measure is full and I am heading out (kilai šlim u-napiqna).
As a child my lifespan ended (ianuq kilai šlim)
The sound, the sound of a sound (qala qal qala)
Good is the Truth for the good one (miṭab kušṭa l-ṭaba)
I hear the voice of the soul (qal nišimta šamana)
[I am] a mana from the house of the Great (Life) ([ana] mana ḏ-mn bit rbia) (see Psalms of Thomas 13)
The soul, the soul of the Life speaks (nišma, nišimta ḏ-hiia amar), Who held me down in the earthly world (b-tibil man sakakan)?
I came to my end and am sleeping (mkalalna u-šakibna) (see Qulasta prayer 66 and Psalms of Thomas 6)
My measure has come to an end and I am heading out (kilai šlim u-napiqna)
As a child, my lifespan ended (ianuq šilman kʿlai)
The mana weeps through the generations (mana b-daria bakia)
The mana speaks to the generations (mana b-daria amar), I am a circlet of beryl (klila ḏ-balura ana)
I am a good one, a son of the Great (Life) I am (ṭaba ana br rbia)
A great radiance am I (ziua ana rba)
Out of a righteous place (mn atar zadiq)
My soul longed for the Life (nišmat šiltan hiia)
How long hast thou been standing here (ʿdilma hazin qaimit)?
I passed by the door of the prisoners (l-bab ʿsiria hilpit)
O ye birds of the carob trees (ia ṣipria hurbia) (see also Tree of Jiva and Atman in Hinduism)
At the construction (ʿlḥ ḏ-biniana), at the beginning of the whole construction (l-riša ḏ-kulḥ qumta)
My measure has come to an end and I am heading out (kilai šlim u-napiqna), an expert (sabra) who has learnt from the watchful ones (sabra ḏ-mn ḏ-ʿria)
I hear the voice of a soul (qala ḏ-hda nišimta), who is tearing herself away from the dwelling of the evil ones (gabra ḏ-ʿtpaqad ʿlai)
I hear the voice of a soul (qala ḏ-hda nišimta šamana), who is going out from the body of grossness (ḏ-mn pagra ḏ-lupatḥ napqa)
One of children of kušṭa (had mn bnia kušṭa)
A being of radiance, I am a son of a being of radiance (ziua ana br ziuia), I am a being of radiance, a son of the Mighty (Life) (ziua ana br rurbia)
Whom and whom, soul didst thou (l-man u-l-man šamišt)
At the door of the house of the Abaddons (ʿl baba ḏ-bit ʿbdunia), a throne for the spirit is set up (kursia ʿl ʿluana rmia)
Hymns 17 and 58 contain the following refrain:
Naked they brought me into the world (arṭil l-alma atalḥ),
and naked they take me out of it (u-riqan minḥ apqun).
Naked they take me out of it (riqan apqun minḥ),
like a bird that is unaccompanied by anything (kḏ ṣipra ḏ-minḥ lalua).
Hymns 18, 37, and 45 all contain variations of the opening line, "As a child, my lifespan ended" (ianuq šilman kʿlai).
Hymn 62 contains the refrain, "Come, fall into the vessel (mana)" (atun l-mana pil; atun pil l-mana).
Colophon
Book 3 of the Left Ginza is followed by a colophon. There is only one colophon in the Left Ginza, whereas the Right Ginza has six colophons.
Shlama beth Qidra is the earliest Mandaean scribe named in the Left Ginza's colophon. Zazai of Gawazta (fl. 270 AD) is not mentioned in the Left Ginza's colophon, although he is an important figure mentioned in the Right Ginza's colophons.: 4
External parallels
= Qulasta
=Several of the prayers in Drower's 1959 Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans (CP), mostly ʿniania ("responses") and masiqta prayers, correspond to hymns in Book 3 of the Left Ginza (GL 3):
= Psalms of Thomas
=Several of the Left Ginza hymns correspond to some of the Psalms of Thomas.
Below is a comparison of Psalm of Thomas 6 and Left Ginza 3.43 (= Qulasta prayer 66).
= Theodore bar Konai
=Theodore bar Konai, c. 792 in the Book of the Scholion (Syriac: Kṯāḇā d-ʾeskoliyon), quotes the following passage as part of the teachings of the Kentaeans. The passage has close parallels with much of Left Ginza 3.11.: 125
See also
Ginza Rabba
Right Ginza
Book of Genesis
Psalms
Bardo Thodol in Tibetan Buddhism
Book of the Dead in Ancient Egyptian religion
Funerary text
Near-death experience, descriptions of which often resemble the contents of the Left Ginza
