Centers on the creation of the tarmida, who is a lower ranking (first-level) Mandaean priest. The entire ritual takes 68 days and requires a set clusterings of rituals and ritual segments. The sequence of events is described: preparation; baptism and crowning; marriage and insignia; baptism of the rba (the novice's teacher) and zidqa brikha (blessed oblation); the 60-days’ exclusion; and the masiqta (death mass) for the rba. In addition, two issues are addressed in particular: the relationship between the novice and his teacher, and the emphatic instructions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of certain words or formulas at specific points in the ceremonial.
Keywords: initiation ceremonies, Mandaeans, Mandaeism, masiqta, priests, rba, rituals, tarmida