ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hinduism's Online Lexicon - A-z Dictionary D Dakshinamurti: (Sanskrit) "South-facing form." Lord Siva depicted sitting under a banyan tree, silently teaching four rishis at His feet. dampati: (Sanskrit) "House lord(s)." A term for husband and wife as the dual masters and sovereign guides of the Hindu home (dama). See: grihastha dharma. dana: (Sanskrit) "Generosity, giving; a gift." See: yama-niyama. dance: See: tandava, Nataraja.

danda : (Sanskrit) "Staff of support." The staff carried by a sadhu or sannyasin, representing the tapas which he has taken as his only support, and the vivifying of sushumna and consequent Realization he seeks. Danda also connotes "penalty or sanction." See: sadhu, sannyasin. darshana: (Sanskrit) "Vision, sight." Seeing the Divine.

Beholding, with inner or outer vision, a temple image, Deity, holy person or place, with the desire to inwardly contact and receive the grace and blessings of the venerated being or beings. Even beholding a photograph in the proper spirit is a form of darshana.

Not only does the devotee seek to see the Divine, but to be seen as well, to stand humbly in the awakened gaze of the holy one, even if for an instant, such as in a crowded temple when thousands of worshipers file quickly past the enshrined Lord. Gods and gurus are thus said to "give" darshana, and devotees "take" darshana, with the eyes being the mystic locus through which energy is exchanged.

This direct and personal two-sided apprehension is a central and highly sought-after experience of Hindu faith. Also: "point of view," doctrine or philosophy. See: shad darshana, sound. Darwin's theory: Theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) stating that plant and animal species develop or evolve from earlier forms due to hereditary transmission of variations that enhance the organism's adaptability and chances of survival. See: evolution of the soul, nonhuman birth.

dashama bhaga vrata: (Sanskrit) "One-tenth-part vow." A promise that tithers make before God, Gods and their family or peers to tithe regularly each month--for a specified time, or for life, as they wish. See: dashamamsha. dashamamsha: (Sanskrit) "One-tenth sharing." The traditional Hindu practice of tithing, giving one-tenth of one's income to a religious institution. It was formerly widespread in India. In ancient times the term makimai was used in Tamil Nadu.

See: dashama bhaga vrata, purushartha.