Shkinta (original) (raw)

In Mandaeism, a shkinta (Classical Mandaic: ࡔࡊࡉࡍࡕࡀ, romanized: škinta, lit. 'shekinah') or shkina (škina) is a celestial dwelling inhabited by uthras in the World of Light that is analogous to the shekhinah in Jewish mysticism. In Tibil (the physical earth), it refers to a reed hut that is used during Mandaean priest initiation ceremonies, since Mandaean priests represent uthras on earth.