Durga: (Sanskrit) "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach."

A form of Shakti worshiped in Her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Destroyer of demons, She is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.

See: Shakti, Shaktism.

(See also: Durga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Durvasas: (Sanskrit) A great sage (date unknown) who, according to Kashmir Saivism, was commissioned by Lord Siva to revive the knowledge of the Saiva Agamas, whereupon he created three "mind-born" sons- Tryambaka to disseminate advaita, Srinatha to teach monistic theism, and Amardaka to postulate dualism.

(See also: Durvasas, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Deism: A doctrine which believes in the existence of God based on purely rational grounds; a particular faith prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries adhered to by several founding fathers of the United States, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. It holds that God created the world and its natural laws but is not involved in its functioning.

(See also: Deism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murti installed in a temple or to the MahŒdeva the murti represents. See: murti, puja.

(See also: Deity, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

delineate: To mark or trace out the boundaries of a thing, concept, etc.

(See also: Delineate, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

delude: To fool as by false promises or improper concepts or thinking.

(See also: Delude, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

delusion: Moha. False belief, misconception.

(See also: Delusion, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

denial: Saying "no." Opposing or not believing in the existence of something.

(See also: Denial, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

denomination: A name for a class of things, especially for various religious groupings, sects and subsects. See: parampara, sampradaya.

(See also: Denomination, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

denote: To indicate, signify or refer to.

(See also: Denote, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

deplore: To be regretful or sorry about; to lament, disapprove.

(See also: Deplore, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

deportment: The manner of bearing or conducting oneself; behavior.

(See also: Deportment, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

dichotomy: A division into two parts, usually sharply distinguished or contradictory. See: paradox.

(See also: Dichotomy, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

differentiation: State or condition of making or perceiving a difference.

(See also: Differentiation, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

diksha: (Sanskrit) "Initiation."

Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought.

Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata, "descent of grace," which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force. Central Saivite dikshas include samaya, vishesha, nirvana and abhisheka.

See: grace, shaktipata, sound.

(See also: Diksha, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

deeksha: (Sanskrit) "Initiation."

Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought.

Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata (shaktipat), "descent of grace," which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force. Central Saivite dikshas include samaya, vishesha, nirvana and abhisheka.

See: grace, shaktipata, shakipat, sound.

(See also: Deeksha, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dipavali: (Sanskrit) "Row of Lights."

A very popular home and community festival during which Hindus of all denominations light oil or electric lights and set off fireworks in a joyful celebration of the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. It is a Hindu solidarity day and is considered the greatest national festival of India. In several countries, including Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, it is an inter-religious event and a national holiday. It occurs in October- November.

(See also: Dipavali, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

dipolar: Relating to two poles instead of only one.

A philosophy is said to be dipolar when it embraces both of two contradictory (or apparently contradictory) propositions, concepts, tendencies, etc.

For example, panentheism is dipolar in that it accepts the truth of God's being (and being in) the world, and also the truth that He transcends the world. Instead of saying "it is either this or that," a dipolar position says "it is both this and that."

See: dvaita-advaita.

(See also: Dipolar, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

discordant: Not in accord. Disagreeing; clashing; out of harmony.

(See also: Discordant, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

discrimination: Viveka.

Act or ability to distinguish or perceive differences. In spirituality, the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, real and apparent, eternal and transient, as in the Upanishadic maxim, Neti, neti, "It is not this, it is not that."

See: conscience.

(See also: Discrimination, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

disheveled: Untidy hair, clothing or general appearance. Rumpled.

(See also: Disheveled, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dakshinamurti: (Sanskrit) "South-facing form." Lord Siva depicted sitting under a banyan tree, silently teaching four rishis at His feet.

(See also: Dakshinamurti, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)