The drabsha (; Modern Mandaic: drafà ¡ÃÂ) or darfash () is the symbol of the Mandaean faith. It is typically translated as 'banner'.
The Mandaic term drabà ¡a is derived from the Middle Persian word drafà ¡, which means 'banner or standard; a flash of light; sunrise'. In Mandaic, drabà ¡a can also mean 'a ray or beam of light'.
An uncommon variant spelling is drapà ¡a, which may have been the original spelling.
The drabà ¡a is a banner in the shape of a cross made of two branches of olive wood fastened together and half covered with a piece of white cloth traditionally made of pure silk, and seven branches of myrtle. The drabà ¡a white silk banner is not identified with the Christian cross. Instead, the four arms of the drabsha symbolize the four corners of the universe, while the pure silk cloth represents the Light of God (Hayyi Rabbi). The seven branches of myrtle represent the seven days of creation. The drabsha is viewed as a symbol of light and the light of the sun, moon and stars is envisaged to shine from it. It may be of pre-Christian origin and used originally to hang a prayer shawl during immersion in the river (masbuta).
Mandaean manuscripts often contain descriptions and illustrations of named drabà ¡ia. The most common names for drabà ¡ia are Shishlameil, Shishlam, and Bihram. The following drabà ¡ia names are mentioned in various Mandaean manuscripts:
In E. S. Drower's version of the Qulasta, prayers 330âÂÂ347 (corresponding to Part 4 of Mark Lidzbarski's Oxford Collection) are dedicated to the drabà ¡a. In many of these prayers, which mention the unfurling of drabshas, individual drabshas have given names.
During Parwanaya, the buta drabà ¡a (Qulasta prayers CP 337âÂÂ339 = Oxford Collection 4.âÂÂ) is recited by Mandaean laypeople, who repeat the prayer after a priest as they put klilas onto the drabsha. Below is a transliteration of the prayer based on Lidzbarski (1920), which was originally transcribed using the Hebrew alphabet. The English translation below is partially based on Gelbert & Lofts (2025) and has been revised.
The prayer describes the drabsha as a ray of light (since in Mandaic, drabà ¡a can also mean 'ray of light') originating from the World of Light. It is passed to Hibil Ziwa and then to Adam Kasia, and finally to the chosen Nasoraeans. The drabsha, now manifested as a physical banner, is set up so that the water of the yardna and the radiance (ziwa) of the banner, representing light, can come together.