Canon Status
Canonical in Mandaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.
Date & Provenance
Some prayers may date to the 3rd century CE or earlier; the present form must post-date the early Muslim conquests.
Language & Manuscripts
The Drower Collection (DC 53, copied in 1802; DC 3, an incomplete codex). Bodleian Library Ms. Syr. F. 2 (R). Various other manuscripts.
Why It Matters for Study
The primary liturgical text of the Mandaeans. Contains 414 prayers (338 excluding duplications) for baptism, the masiqta, and other rituals. Essential for understanding Mandaean worship.
" Blessed and praised be the Life, the Light, and the King of Light." — Qolasta (paraphrase)
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Qolasta — Wikipedia Background and scholarly discussion.
- Mandaean Prayers — Internet Archive Drower's translation and commentary.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Drower, E. S. The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans. Brill, 1959.
Lidzbarski, M. Mandäische Liturgien. Weidmann, 1920.
Euting, J. Qolasta. 1867.