A tarmida initiate in the andirunaThe young man in the middle, who is undergoing the tarmida initiation ceremony, is reading the Sidra ḏ-Nišmata, the first section of the Qulasta, as he sits in front of the andiruna.
During the tarmida initiation ceremony, the initiating priest (rba) and the novice stay in the andiruna hut for one entire week without sleeping. The priest and the novice emerge from the hut after the 7 days are completed, and the hut is taken down. Afterwards, the novice undergoes 60 days of seclusion at home.[6]
Symbolism
During the priest initiation ceremony, another reed hut, the škinta, 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.[6]
The andiruna symbolizes the "female" side, and is associated with the earth (Tibil), laypeople, the left side, silver, and the klila (myrtle wreath).[6] Similarly, in a traditional Persian house, the women's quarters are known as andirūn.[2]
The škinta (cognate with the Hebrew word shekhinah; from the Semitic rootš-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).[6]
^ abcdBuckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-515385-5. OCLC65198443.
