Zidqa brikha

In Mandaeism, the zidqa brikha (or zidqa brika; , ) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "Zidqa Brika and the Mandæan Problem. In Proceedings of the International Colloquium on Gnosticism. Ed. Geo Widengren and David Hellholm. Stockholm. Zidqa means oblation and can also mean alms, while brikha means blessed.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press. Unlike the lofani, which is a minor ritual meal that does not require the presence of a priest, the zidqa brikha needs to be prepared by a priest.

The zidqa brikha is offered and eaten at the end of tarmida (junior priest) initiation ceremonies, after the novice's 60-day seclusion period. It is also offered at weddings and during the Parwanaya festival. During Parwanaya, the zidqa brikha is performed privately by priests around midnight, rather than in front of a large congregation of laypeople.

The ahaba ḏ-mania or hava ḏ-mania (presentation of garments) is a form of zidqa brika for those who have not died wearing the ritual garment, or for the ritually impure. It is performed on a proxy during the Parwanaya.

It is distinct from the lofani and dukrana, which are two other types of ritual meal offered for the dead.

Prayers In E. S. Drower's version of the Qulasta, prayers 348–374 are for the zidqa brikha. Prayers 375–381 are blessings recited after the zidqa brikha.

Parallels in other religions E. S. Drower draws comparisons between the Afringan ceremony in Zoroastrianism and the zidqa brikha ceremony in Mandaeism.

Zidqa brikha

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