Asut Malkia

Contents

The Asut Malkia[1] (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡎࡅࡕ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡉࡀ, lit. 'Salutation of Kings',[2] Modern Mandaic pronunciation: [aˈsut ˈmelki]) or Asuta ḏ-Malkia (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡊࡉࡀ[3]) 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.[4]

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).[5]

Etymology

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

Similarly, Mandaeans typically greet other individual Mandaeans with the phrase:

Multiple people are greeted using the plural form:

Prayer

The formula asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun (Classical Mandaic: ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡆࡀࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡍࡉࡄࡅࡉࡋࡊࡅࡍ, lit. 'health and victory are yours', Modern Mandaic pronunciation: [aˈsutau zaˈkuta nɪhˈwilχon]) 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"; Modern Mandaic pronunciation: [ˈmelka]).

Drower (1937)

Drower's (1937) version lists the following uthras, etc.[4]

  1. Treasure of the Great First Sublime Life (ginza d-hiia rbia qadmaiia yaqira)
  2. Lord of Lofty Greatness (mara d-rabuta ʿilaita)
  3. Yushamin the Pure, son of Niṣabtun
  4. Manda d-Hiia, son of Niṣabtun
  5. Hibil Ziwa
  6. Anush Uthra
  7. Shishlam Rabba
  8. ʿS'haq, the first great Radiancy (ʿS'haq Ziwa rba qadmaiia)
  9. Sam Ziwa, the Pure, eldest, first, beloved (Sam Ziwa dakia bukra habiba rba qadmaiia)
  10. Hibil and Shitil and Anush
  11. Adatan and Yadatan
  12. Shilmai and Nidbai, guardian ʿutri of the flowing water (ʿutria naṭria d-yardna; i.e., the guardian uthras of the yardna of Piriawis)
  13. 24 ʿutri, sons of the light
  14. 4 beings, sons of perfection
  15. Anṣab and consort (lit. cloud) of Anṣab
  16. Sar and Sarwan
  17. Zhir and Zihrun, and Bhir and Bhrun [sic] (or Bihrun), and Tar and Tarwan
  18. ʿUrfiʿil and Marfiʿil and Yawar Tugmur
  19. Shingilan ʿUtra
  20. Bar-Bag ʿUtra
  21. Shingilan ʿUtra
  22. Simat Hiia
  23. ʿIzlat the Great
  24. Sharat Niṭufta
  25. Kanat Niṭufta
  26. Bihrat Anana
  27. Abatur Rama
  28. ʿUṣṭuna Rabba
  29. Abatur Muzania
  30. Bar-Zahrʿil (i.e., Ptahil)
  31. Yahya Yuhana (i.e., John the Baptist)
  32. Adam, First Man (Adam gabra qadmaiia)
  33. Shitil, son of Adam
  34. malki (kings) and ʿutri and indwellers, and flowing waters and outgushings and all the dwellings of the World of Light

The final part is translated in Drower (1937: 45)[6] as:

Mandaic transliterationEnglish translation
asuta u-zakuta nihuilkun ia malkia ʿutria u-maškinia u-iardinia u-rhaṭia u-škinata ḏ-alma ḏ-nhura kulaihunHealth and victory (purity) are yours, O melkas and ʿuthras and dwellers, and flowing waters and streams 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.[7]

Drower (1959)

Drower's (1959) version, which differs from the version in Drower (1937), lists the following uthras, etc.[5]

  1. great Gate of the precious House of Mercies
  2. honoured First Parents
  3. Treasure of the great First honoured Life
  4. Mara d-Rabutha ʿlaita
  5. Yušamin the Pure, son of Niṣibtun
  6. Manda d-Hiia, son of Niṣibtun
  7. Hibil Ziwa
  8. Anuš ʿuthra
  9. Šišlam Rba
  10. ʿS'haq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia
  11. Sam Ziwa, pure, eldest, beloved, great, first Radiance
  12. Hibil, Šitil, and Anuš
  13. Adatan and Yadatan
  14. Šilmay and Nidvay, two guardian ʿuthras of the jordan
  15. 24 ʿuthras, sons of light
  16. 4 beings, sons of Salutation
  17. Nṣab and Anan Nṣab
  18. Sar and Sarwan
  19. Zhir and Zahrun and Bhir and Bihrun
  20. Tar and Tarwan
  21. Yufin-Yufafin
  22. Habšaba (Sunday) and Kana d-Zidqa
  23. Barbag ʿuthra
  24. Šingilan ʿuthra
  25. Simat Hiia
  26. Great ʿZlat
  27. Šarat Niṭufta
  28. Kanat Niṭufta
  29. Bihrat Anana
  30. Abathur Rama
  31. ʿUṣṭuna Rba
  32. Abathur Muzania
  33. Pthahil, son of Zahriel
  34. Yahia Yuhana
  35. Adam, the first man
  36. Šitil, son of Adam the first man
  37. kings and ʿuthras
  38. indwellings and jordans
  39. 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),[8] as edited by Matthew Morgenstern and Ohad Abudraham in the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon.[9] 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.

  1. Great Gate of the House of Honored Mercies (Baba Rba ḏ-Bit Rahmia Yaqira)
  2. honored first ancestors (Abahatan Qadmaiia Yaqiria)
  3. Treasure (Ginza) of Hayyi Rabbi, the Honored First One (Qadmaiia Yaqira)
  4. Malka Exalted Lord of Greatness (Mara ḏ-Rabuta ˁlaita)
  5. Malka Pure Yušamin, son of Niṣibtun (Yušamin Dakia bar Niṣibtun)
  6. Malka Manda ḏ-Hiia, son of Niṣibtun
  7. Malka Hibil Ziwa
  8. Malka Anuš Uthra
  9. Malka Šišlam Rba
  10. Malka Shaq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Shaq")
  11. Malka Sam Ziwa, pure, eldest, beloved, great, first (Dakia Bukra Habiba Rba Qadmaia)
  12. Hibil and Šitil and Anuš
  13. Adatan and Yadatan
  14. Šilmai and Nidbai, guardian uthras of the Yardna
  15. 24 uthras, sons of light (srin u-arba ˁutria bnia nhura)
  16. 4 beings, sons of peace/greeting (arba gubria bnia šlama)
  17. Nṣab and Anan Nṣab
  18. Sar and Sarwan
  19. Zhir and Zihrun; Bhir and Bihrun; Tar and Tarwan
  20. Arfeil and Marfeil
  21. Yufin and Yufafin
  22. Sunday and alms (Habšaba and Kana ḏ-Zidqa)
  23. Bihrun and Kanpeil
  24. Malka Steadfast Drabshas (drabšia taqna)
  25. Malka Šihlbun Uthra
  26. Malka Barbag Uthra
  27. Malka Šingalan Uthra
  28. Malka Righteous Great Unique One (Lihdaia Rba Zadiqa)
  29. Malka ˁtinṣib Ziwa
  30. Malka Adakas Mana ("Secret Adam, the Mana")
  31. Malka Adakas Malala ("Secret Adam, the Word")
  32. Malka Pure Ether (Ayar Dakia)
  33. Malka Abundant Ether (Ayar Sagia)
  34. Malka Mahzian the Word (Mahzian Malala)
  35. Malka Yawar Kbar
  36. Malka Yawar Rba
  37. Malka Yukabar Rba
  38. Malka Yukašar Kana
  39. Malka Nbaṭ Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Nbaṭ")
  40. Malka Sam Mana Smira
  41. Malka Great Father of Glory (Aba Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
  42. Malka Great Countenance of Glory (Parṣupa Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
  43. Malka Adam Shaq Ziwa
  44. Malka Bihram Rba
  45. Malka Yuzaṭaq Manda ḏ-Hiia
  46. Malka Yawar Ganzeil Uthra
  47. Malka Zihrun Raza Kasia
  48. Malka Samandareil Uthra
  49. Malka Ṣanaṣeil Uthra
  50. Malka Taureil Uthra
  51. Malka Gubran Uthra
  52. Simat Hiia
  53. ˁzlat Rabtia
  54. Šarat Niṭufta
  55. Kanat Niṭufta
  56. Bihrat Anana
  57. Pure Pearl (Marganita Dakita)
  58. Malka Abatur Rama
  59. Malka ˁṣṭuna Rba ("Great Body")
  60. Malka Abatur Muzania
  61. Malka Ptahil, son of Zahreil
  62. Malka Yahya Yuhana
  63. Malka Adam the First Man (Adam Gabra Qadmaia)
  64. Malka Šitil, son of Adam the First Man
  65. 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 'healing and victory' is repeated 66 times.[9]

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

Salem Choheili (2026)

Salem Choheili (c. 2026) recites a version that is most similar to Al-Mubaraki's (2010) version, although there some differences in the order and inclusion of uthra names, as well as a few Mandaic spelling differences. Choheili's version includes Hilbun Uthra, an uthra who is not included in any of the other versions given above.[3]

  1. Great Gate of the House of Honored Mercies (Baba Rba ḏ-Bit Rahmia Yaqira)
  2. honored first ancestors (Abahatan Qadmaiia Yaqiria)
  3. Treasure (Ginza) of Hayyi Rabbi, the Honored First One (Qadmaiia Yaqira)
  4. Malka Exalted Lord of Greatness (Mara ḏ-Rabuta ˁlaita)
  5. Malka Pure Yušamin, son of Niṣibtun (Yušamin Dakia bar Niṣibtun)
  6. Malka Manda ḏ-Hiia, son of Niṣibtun
  7. Malka Hibil Ziwa
  8. Malka Anuš Uthra
  9. Malka Šišlam Rba
  10. Malka Shaq Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Shaq")
  11. Malka Sam Ziwa, pure, eldest, beloved, great, first (Dakia Bukra Habiba Rba Qadmaia)
  12. Hibil and Šitil and Anuš
  13. Adatan and Yadatan
  14. Šilmai and Nidbai, guardian uthras of the Yardna
  15. 24 uthras, sons of light (srin u-arba ˁutria bnia nhura)
  16. 4 beings, sons of peace/greeting (arba gubria bnia šlama)
  17. Nṣab and Anan Nṣab
  18. Sar and Sarwan
  19. Zhir and Zihrun; Bhir and Bihrun; Tar and Tarwan
  20. Yufin and Yufafin
  21. Arfeil and Marfeil
  22. Sunday and alms (Habšaba and Kana ḏ-Zidqa)
  23. Malka Šihlbun Uthra
  24. Bihrun and Kanpeil
  25. Malka Steadfast Drabshas (drabšia taqnia)
  26. Malka Hilbun Uthra
  27. Malka Barbag Uthra
  28. Malka Šingalan Uthra
  29. Malka Righteous Great Unique One (Lihdaia Rba Zadiqa)
  30. Malka ˁtinṣib Ziwa
  31. Malka Adakas Mana ("Secret Adam, the Mana")
  32. Malka Pure Ether (Ayar Dakia)
  33. Malka Abundant Ether (Ayar Sagia)
  34. Malka Mahzian the Word (Mahzian Malala)
  35. Malka Yawar Kbar
  36. Malka Yawar Rba
  37. Malka Yukabar Rba
  38. Malka Yukašar Kana
  39. Malka Nbaṭ Ziwa Rba Qadmaia ("First Great Radiant Nbaṭ")
  40. Malka Sam Mana Smira (sam mana u-smira)
  41. Malka Great Father of Glory (Aba Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
  42. Malka Great Countenance of Glory (Parṣupa Rba ḏ-ˁqara)
  43. Malka Adam Shaq Ziwa
  44. Malka Bihram Rba
  45. Malka Yuzaṭaq Manda ḏ-Hiia
  46. Malka Yawar Ganzeil Uthra
  47. Malka Zihrun Raza Kasia
  48. Malka Samandareil Uthra
  49. Malka Ṣanaṣeil Uthra
  50. Malka Taureil Uthra
  51. Malka Gubran Uthra
  52. Simat Hiia
  53. ˁzlat Rabtia
  54. Šarat Niṭufta
  55. Bihrat Anana
  56. Kanat Niṭufta
  57. Pure Pearl (Marganita Dakita)
  58. Malka Abatur Rama
  59. Malka ˁṣṭuna Rba ("Great Body")
  60. Malka Abatur Muzania
  61. Malka Ptahil, son of Zahreil
  62. Malka Yahya Yuhana
  63. Malka Adam the First Man (Adam Gabra Qadmaia)
  64. Malka Šitil, son of Adam the First Man
  65. Malka kings and uthras; mašknas and yardnas; running streams (rhaṭia) and škintas of the World(s) of Light

References

  1. 1.[1.2]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.
  2. 2.Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2010). The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history. Piscataway, N.J: Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-621-9.
  3. 3.[3.2]"ࡀࡎࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡊࡉࡀ/السلام على الملائكة". YouTube. 2026-04-05. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
  4. 4.[4.2]Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
  5. 5.[5.2]Drower, E. S. (1959). The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
  6. 6.Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford at the Clarendon Press. p. 45.
  7. 7.Macúch, Rudolf (1965). Handbook of Classical and Modern Mandaic. Berlin: De Gruyter.
  8. 8.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 978-1-876888-15-2.
  9. 9.[9.2]Morgenstern, Matthew; Abudraham, Ohad (eds.). "Qulasta (2)". The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. Retrieved 2024-08-25.