A rasta (
Classical Mandaic: ࡓࡀࡎࡕࡀ) is a white ceremonial garment that
Mandaeans wear during most
baptismal rites,[1] religious ceremonies, and during periods of uncleanliness. It signifies the purity of the
World of Light. The rasta is worn equally by the laypersons and the priests.[2] If a Mandaean dies in clothes other than a rasta, it is believed that they will not reenter the World of Light,[3] unless the rite "Ahaba ḏ-Mania" ('Giving of Garments') can be performed "for those who have died not wearing the ritual garment."[4]
A rasta also has a stitched-on pocket called the daša.[5]
Women also wear a robe (ʿabā) over the rasta during masbuta.[6]: 16
Symbolism
The rasta is expected to be transmuted after death into a "garment of glory" for the soul (
Qolasta prayer
76: "the Perfecter of Souls ... will come out toward you and clothe your soul in a garment of radiance"[7][8]) – this is equivalent to the
perispirit.[citation needed]
"He created me and clothed me with radiance, like that which the chosen men put on.
That which the chosen men put on, the true and faithful people.
I put my head therein,
I was filled like the world.
I opened my eyes in it, my eyes became filled with light."[9]
Related clothing
Other ritual clothing pieces that typically go along with the rasta when worn by men, especially
priests, are:[5]
^[2] "Glossary", in E. S. Drouwer, The Mandaeans of Iran and Iraq: Their Cults, Customs, Magic Legends, and Folklore, Gorgias Press (2002)
ISBN1-931956-49-9
^
abBuckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press.
ISBN0-19-515385-5.
OCLC65198443.