Dakhil Aidan

Rishama Dakhil Aidan
دخيل عيدان
Title	Rishama
Personal
Born	(1881-04-14)April 14, 1881 Amarah,Iraq
Died	June 24, 1964(1964-06-24)(aged 83) Dora, Baghdad,Iraq
Religion	Mandaeism
Citizenship	Iraqi
Other names	Mhatam Zihrun bar Adam
Occupation	Patriarch of theMandaeans

A portrait of Dakhil Aidan displayed at theGanzibra Dakhil MandiinLiverpool, New South Wales,Australia

Sheikh(Rabbi)GanzibraDakhil Aidan(also spelledDakheel EdanorDakhil Idan,Arabic:دخيل عيدان;Mandaean baptismal name:Mhatam Zihrun bar Adam;Classical Mandaic:ࡌࡄࡀࡕࡀࡌ ࡆࡉࡄࡓࡅࡍ ࡓࡁ ࡀࡃࡀࡌ;born April 14, 1881, died June 24, 1964) was the Iraqi patriarch and international head of theMandaean religionfrom 1917, until his death in 1964.Themandi(beth manda) inLiverpool, Sydney,Australia is named in his honor (Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi).

Biography

Dakhil Aidan was born on April 14, 1881, in the city ofAmarahinMaysan Governorate,southernIraq.He belonged to the Manduia lineage, a long line of Mandaean religious leaders.He was a fluent speaker of the Arabic andMandaiclanguages. His father, Sheikh Aidan (also known as Adam, son of Mhatam Yuhana), died inNasiriyahwhen he was 12 years old. In 1904, he became atarmida(junior priest) inNasiriyahat the age of 23. In 1917, he was appointed asGanzibra(head-priest) of the Mandaean community. Dakhil Aidan also became a member of theNasiriyahmunicipal council in 1920.Hismalwasha(Mandaean baptismal name) was Mhatam Zihrun, son of Adam (Mhatam Zihrun bar Adam).

Dakhil Aidan was also a copyist. In 1898 and also in 1935, he copied theGinza Rabba.The 1898 Ginza is currently used by the Mandaean community in Australia, while the 1935 Ginza was given toLamea Abbas Amarain San Diego, United States.

Ganzibra Dakhil Aidan died on June 24, 1964, at his home in theAl-Dorasuburb ofBaghdad.

Family

Dakhil Aidan's sister's daughter was the poetLamea Abbas Amara,who lived much of her life inSan Diego,United States. When he was near his death in June 1964, he bequeathed some of his manuscripts to Lamea Abbas Amara.

His father was Sheikh Aidan (baptismal name:Adam bar Mhatam Yuhana),Classical Mandaic:ࡀࡃࡀࡌ ࡁࡓ ࡌࡄࡀࡕࡀࡌ ࡉࡅࡄࡀࡍࡀ), known for copying the Ginza Rabba in 1886.His paternal grandfather was Mhatam Yuhana (also known as Sheikh Damouk).

See also

• Sattar Jabbar Hilo,the current Mandaean patriarch
• Jabbar Choheili,a former Mandaean patriarch of Ahvaz, Iran
• Yahya Bihram,a 19th-century Mandaean priest (from Iraq)
• Lamia Abbas Amara,niece