Asut Malkia

The Asut Malkia^[1] ("Salutation of Kings"^[2]) or Asiet Malkia is one of the most commonly recited prayers in Mandaeism. In the prayer, the reciter wishes health and victory (asuta u-zakuta ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡆࡀࡊࡅࡕࡀ) upon dozens of heavenly and ancestral figures. According to E. S. Drower, it is recited daily by priests and also before all baptisms (masbuta), ritual meals (lofani), and various rites.^[3]

The Asut Malkia is numbered as Prayer 105 in E. S. Drower's version of the Qulasta, which was based on manuscript 53 of the Drower Collection (abbreviated DC 53).^[4]

Etymology

Asut or asuta can be literally translated as 'healing', while malkia means 'kings' (singular form: malka).^[1]

Similarly, Mandaeans typically greet each other with the phrase:^[1]

Asuta nihwilkun (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡍࡉࡄࡅࡉࡋࡊࡅࡍ, lit. 'Healing be upon you (pl.)')

The response would typically be:^[1]

Asawata ḏ-Hiia nihwilak (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡎࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡍࡉࡄࡅࡉࡋࡀࡊ, lit. 'All healings of the Living One(s) be upon you (sg.)')

Prayer

The formula asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun (ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡆࡀࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡍࡉࡄࡅࡉࡋࡊࡅࡍ "health and victory are yours") is recited dozens of times in the prayer before the names of each uthra or set of uthras, Hayyi Rabbi, some of the prophets, and the reciter himself, almost all of whom are addressed as malka (ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡀ "king").

Drower (1937)

Drower's (1937) version lists the following uthras, etc.^[3]

Treasure of the Great First Sublime Life (ginza d-hiia rbia qadmaiia yaqira)
Lord of Lofty Greatness (Mara d-rabuta ʿilaita)
Yushamin the Pure, son of Niṣabtun
Manda d-Hiia, son of Niṣabtun
Hibil Ziwa
Anush Uthra
Shishlam Rabba
ʿS'haq, the first great Radiancy (ʿS'haq Ziwa Rba qadmaiia)
Sam Ziwa, the Pure, eldest, first, beloved (Sam Ziwa dakia bukra habiba rba qadmaiia)
Hibil and Shitil and Anush
Adatan and Yadatan
Shilmai and Nidbai, guardian ʿutri of the flowing water (ʿuthria naṭria d-yardna; i.e., the guardian uthras of the yardna of Piriawis)
24 ʿutri, sons of the light
4 beings, sons of perfection
Anṣab and consort (lit. cloud) of Anṣab
Sar and Sarwan
Zhir and Zihrun, and Bhir and Bhrun [sic] (or Bihrun), and Tar and Tarwan
ʿUrfiʿil and Marfiʿil and Yawar Tugmur
Shingilan ʿUtra
Bar-Bag ʿUtra
Shingilan ʿUtra
Simat Hiia
ʿIzlat the Great
Sharat Niṭufta
Kanat Niṭufta
Bihrat Anana
Abatur Rama
ʿUṣṭuna Rabba
Abatur Muzania
Bar-Zahrʿil (i.e., Ptahil)
Yahya Yuhana (i.e., John the Baptist)
Adam, First Man (Adam gabra qadmaiia)
Shitil, son of Adam
malki (kings) and ʿutri and indwellers, and flowing waters and outgushings and all the dwellings of the World of Light

The word niṭufta (spelled niṭupta) originally means 'drop' and has sometimes also been translated as 'cloud'. It is also often used as an appellation to refer to the consorts of uthras.^[5]

Drower (1959)

Drower's (1959) version, which differs from the version in Drower (1937), lists the following uthras, etc.^[4]

great Gate of the precious House of Mercies
honoured First Parents
Treasure of the great First honoured Life
Mara d-Rabutha ʿlaita
Yušamin the Pure, son of Niṣibtun
Manda d-Hiia, son of Niṣibtun
Hibil Ziwa
Anuš ʿuthra
Šišlam Rba
ʿS'haq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia
Sam Ziwa, pure, eldest, beloved, great, first Radiance
Hibil, Šitil, and Anuš
Adatan and Yadatan
Šilmay and Nidvay, two guardian ʿuthras of the jordan
24 ʿuthras, sons of light
4 beings, sons of Salutation
Nṣab and Anan Nṣab
Sar and Sarwan
Zhir and Zahrun and Bhir and Bihrun
Tar and Tarwan
Yufin-Yufafin
Habšaba (Sunday) and Kana d-Zidqa
Barbag ʿuthra
Šingilan ʿuthra
Simat Hiia
Great ʿZlat
Šarat Niṭufta
Kanat Niṭufta
Bihrat Anana
Abathur Rama
ʿUṣṭuna Rba
Abathur Muzania
Pthahil, son of Zahriel
Yahia Yuhana
Adam, the first man
Šitil, son of Adam the first man
kings and ʿuthras
indwellings and jordans
running streams and škintas of the world(s) of light

Al-Mubaraki (2010)

Below is a list of names and entities mentioned in the Asut Malkia, from Majid Fandi Al-Mubaraki's Qulasta (volume 2),^[6] as edited by Matthew Morgenstern and Ohad Abudraham in the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon.^[7] Some names are addressed with the title Malka ("King"), while others are not. It is longer than Drower's version and is currently the most commonly used version recited by contemporary Mandaeans.

Great Gate of the House of Honored Mercies (Baba Rba ḏ-Bit Rahmia Yaqira)
honored first ancestors (Abahatan Qadmaiia Yaqiria)
Treasure (Ginza) of Hayyi Rabbi, the Honored First One (Qadmaiia Yaqira)
Malka Exalted Lord of Greatness (Mara ḏ-Rabuta ˁlaita)
Malka Pure Yušamin, son of Niṣibtun (Yušamin Dakia bar Niṣibtun)
Malka Manda ḏ-Hiia, son of Niṣibtun
Malka Hibil Ziwa
Malka Anuš Uthra
Malka Šišlam Rba
Malka Shaq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Shaq")
Malka Sam Ziwa, pure, eldest, beloved, great, first (Dakia Bukra Habiba Rba Qadmaia)
Hibil and Šitil and Anuš
Adatan and Yadatan
Šilmai and Nidbai, guardian uthras of the Yardna
24 uthras, sons of light (srin u-arba ˁutria bnia nhura)
4 beings, sons of peace/greeting (arba gubria bnia šlama)
Nṣab and Anan Nṣab
Sar and Sarwan
Zhir and Zihrun; Bhir and Bihrun; Tar and Tarwan
Arpeil and Marpeil
Yupin and Yupapin
Sunday and alms (Habšaba and Kana ḏ-Zidqa)
Bihrun and Kanpeil
Malka Steadfast Drabshas (drabšia taqna)
Malka Šihlbun Uthra
Malka Barbag Uthra
Malka Šingalan Uthra
Malka Righteous Great Unique One (Lihdaia Rba Zadiqa)
Malka ˁtinṣib Ziwa
Malka Adakas Mana ("Secret Adam, the Mana")
Malka Adakas Malala ("Secret Adam, the Word")
Malka Pure Ether (Ayar Dakia)
Malka Abundant Ether (Ayar Sagia)
Malka Mahzian the Word (Mahzian Malala)
Malka Yawar Kbar
Malka Yawar Rba
Malka Yukabar Rba
Malka Yukašar Kana
Malka Nbaṭ Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Nbaṭ")
Malka Sam Mana Smira
Malka Great Father of Glory (Aba Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
Malka Great Countenance of Glory (Parṣupa Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
Malka Adam Shaq Ziwa
Malka Bihram Rba
Malka Yuzaṭaq Manda ḏ-Hiia
Malka Yawar Ganzeil Uthra
Malka Zihrun Raza Kasia
Malka Samandareil Uthra
Malka Ṣanaṣeil Uthra
Malka Taureil Uthra
Malka Gubran Uthra
Simat Hiia
ˁzlat Rabtia
Šarat Niṭupta
Kanat Niṭupta
Bihrat Anana
Pure Pearl (Marganita Dakita)
Malka Abatur Rama
Malka ˁṣṭuna Rba ("Great Body")
Malka Abatur Muzania
Malka Ptahil, son of Zahreil
Malka Yahya Yuhana
Malka Adam the First Man (Adam Gabra Qadmaia)
Malka Šitil, son of Adam the First Man
Malka kings and uthras; mašknas and yardnas; running streams (rhaṭia) and škintas of the World(s) of Light

Mandaic text

Below is the full transliterated Mandaic text of the above. The recurring formula asuta u-zakuta is repeated 66 times.^[7]

kušṭa asinkun

bšumaihun ḏ-hiia rbia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
ia baba rba ḏ-bit rahmia iaqira
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
abahatan qadmaiia iaqiria
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
ginza ḏ-hiia rbia qadmaiia iaqira
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka mara ḏ-rabuta ˁlaita
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iušamin dakia br niṣibtun
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka manda ḏ-hiia br niṣibtun
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka hibil ziua
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka anuš ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka šišlam rba
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka shaq ziua rba qadmaia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka sam ziua dakia bukra habiba rba qadmaia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
hibil u-šitil u-anuš
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
adatan u-iadatan
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
šilmai u-nidbai ˁutria naṭria ḏ-iardna
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
srin u-arba ˁutria bnia nhura
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
arba gubria bnia šlama
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
nṣab u-anan nṣab
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
sar u-saruan
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
zhir u-zihrun
bhir u-bihrun
u-tar u-taruan
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
arpˁiil u-marpˁiil
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
iupin u-iupapin
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
habšaba u-kana ḏ-zidqa
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
bihrun u-kanpˁiil
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka drabšia taqna
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka šihlbun ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka barbag ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka šingalan ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka lihdaia rba zadiqa
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka ˁtinṣib ziua
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka adakas mana
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka adakas malala
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka aiar dakia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka aiar sagia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka mahzian malala
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iauar kbar
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iauar rba
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iukabar rba
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iukašar kana
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka nbaṭ ziua rba qadmaia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka sam mana smira
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka aba rba ḏ-ˁqara
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka parṣupa rba ḏ-ˁqara
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka adam shaq ziua
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka bihram rba
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iuzaṭaq manda ḏ-hiia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iauar ganzˁil ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka zihrun raza kasia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka samandarˁil ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka ṣanaṣˁiil ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka taurˁiil ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka gubran ˁutra
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
simat hiia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
ˁzlat rabtia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
šarat niṭupta
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
kanat niṭupta
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
bihrat anana
asuta u-zakuta nihuilik
marganita dakita
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka abatur rama
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka ˁṣṭuna rba
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka abatur muzania
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka ptahil br zahrˁiil
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka iahia iuhana
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka adam gabra qadmaia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilak
malka šitil br adam gabra qadmaia
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun
ia malkia
u-ˁutria
u-mašknia
u-iardnia
u-rhaṭia
u-škinata ḏ-almia ḏ-nhura kulaikun
asuta u-zakuta u-šabiq haṭaiia nihuilia
l-haza nišimtai l-dilia
plan br planita ḏ-haza buta u-rahmia bit šabiq haṭaiia nihuilia

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Nasoraia, Brikha H.S.; Crangle, Edward F. (2010). "The Asuta Wish". ARAM Periodical: 349–390. doi:10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131045. ISSN 1783-1342.
^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2010). The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history. Piscataway, N.J: Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-621-9.
^ ^a ^b Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
^ ^a ^b Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
^ Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.
^ Al-Mubaraki, Majid Fandi; Mubaraki, Brian (2010). Qulasta - 'niania & Qabina / Mandaean Liturgical Prayer Book (Responses & Marriage). Vol. 2. Luddenham, New South Wales: Mandaean Research Centre. ISBN 9781876888152. (1999 edition: ISBN 0-9585704-4-X)
^ ^a ^b Morgenstern, Matthew; Abudraham, Ohad (eds.). "Qulasta (2)". The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. Retrieved 2024-08-25.

External links

Salutation of Kings (Asut malkia) recited by Rbai Rafid al-Sabti in the Netherlands
Salutation of Kings (Asut malkia) recited by Abdullah Khaffagi in Ahvaz in 1960
Asut Malkia recited by Abdullah bar Negm (recorded on 21 November 1977 by Kurt Rudolph)
Salutation of Kings (Asut malkia) recited at a Parwanaya service held at a mandi in Michigan
Asut malkia recited in Stockholm, Sweden (part 1)
Asut malkia recited in Stockholm, Sweden (part 2)
Asut malkia recited in Stockholm, Sweden (part 3)

[Asuta-1] Nasoraia, Brikha H.S.; Crangle, Edward F. (2010). "The Asuta Wish". ARAM Periodical: 349–390. doi:10.2143/ARAM.22.0.2131045. ISSN 1783-1342.

[Buckley2010-2] Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2010). The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history. Piscataway, N.J: Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-621-9.

[Drower_1937-3] Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.

[Drower_1959-4] Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

[5] Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.

[6] Al-Mubaraki, Majid Fandi; Mubaraki, Brian (2010). Qulasta - 'niania & Qabina / Mandaean Liturgical Prayer Book (Responses & Marriage). Vol. 2. Luddenham, New South Wales: Mandaean Research Centre. ISBN 9781876888152. (1999 edition: ISBN 0-9585704-4-X)

[CAL_Qulasta2-7] Morgenstern, Matthew; Abudraham, Ohad (eds.). "Qulasta (2)". The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. Retrieved 2024-08-25.

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