Daily prayer in Mandaeism, called brakha in Mandaic (cognate with Hebrew berakhah and Arabic barakah) or occasionally birukta (birukhta), consists of set prayers that are recited three times per day. Mandaeans stand facing north while reciting daily prayers. Unlike in Islam and Eastern Christianity, prostration is not practiced.
Mandaean priests recite rahma prayersLidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin. three times every day, while laypeople also recite the Rushuma (signing prayer) and Asut Malkia ("Healing of Kings") daily. When priests lead laypeople during prayers, laypeople repeat each word or phrase of a prayer after the priest, similar to certain parts of Roman Catholic masses.
In Mandaic, the generic term for an individual prayer is buta (plural form: bawata ).
Prayer times The three prayer times in Mandaeism are:Choheili, Shadan. Rishama and Barakha Rituals. Liverpool, NSW: Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi.
dawn (sunrise) (corresponding to the Fajr prayer in Islam and Shacharit in Judaism; mentioned in Book 8 of the Right Ginza as rahmia ḏ-miṣṭipra = ) noontime (the "seventh hour") (corresponding to the Zuhr prayer in Islam and Mincha in Judaism; mentioned in Book 8 of the Right Ginza as rahmia ḏ-šuba šaiia = ) evening (sunset) (corresponding to the Maghrib prayer in Islam and Maariv in Judaism; mentioned in Book 8 of the Right Ginza as rahmia ḏ-l-paina = )
Traditionally, the prayers are performed while wearing the rasta (robe), burzinqa (turban), and himiana (belt).
Opening rahma prayer Before each of the daily prayers, the following opening rahma (daily devotional prayer; recorded multiple times as prayers 108 (morning prayer), 109 (noontime prayer), and 112 (evening prayer) in E. S. Drower's 1959 Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans) is recited.
+ Mandaic transliteration(Lidzbarski 1920Lidzbarski, Mark. 1920. Mandäische Liturgien. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist. Klasse, NF 17.1. Berlin.) English translation(Gelbert & Lofts 2025)
See also Barakah Berakhah Beracah Qulasta List of Qulasta prayers Salah Jewish prayer Bshuma
References
External links Brakha and Rishama instructional video Afternoon brakha and ablution in Amarah, Iraq Morning brakha Afternoon brakha Evening brakha Baii Rahmi (The Great Prayer)