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)

dana: (Sanskrit) "Generosity, giving; a gift." See: yamaniyama.

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

Destroyer: Term for God Siva in His aspect of Rudra. See: Nataraja.

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

bodily humor: Commonly, the fluids of the body, an English equivalent of the ayurvedic term dosha, which names three fundamental interbalancing principles or constituents of the human constitution. See: ayurveda, dosha.

(See also: Bodily humor , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

apad dharma: "Emergency conduct."

This dharma embodies the principle that the only rigid rule is wisdom, and thus exceptional situations may require deviating from normal rules of conduct, with the condition that such exceptions are to be made only for the sake of others, not for personal advantage. These are notable exceptions, made in cases of extreme distress or calamity.

(See also: Apad dharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

birthstar: See: nakshatra.

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

A part of the varna dharma of each person is sadharana dharma- the principles of good conduct applicable to all people regardless of age, gender or class.

sadharana dharma: "Duties applicable to all." Listed in the Manu Shastras as:

• dhairya (steadfastness),
• kshama (forgiveness),
• dama (selfrestraint),
• chauryabhava (nonstealing),
• shaucha (cleanliness),
• indriyanigraha (sense control),
• dhi (high-mindedness), vidya (learning),
• satya (veracity),
• akrodha (absence of anger).

Another term for such virtues is samanya dharma: "general duty," under which scriptures offer similar lists of ethical guidelines. These are echoed and expanded in the yamas and niyamas, "restraints and observances."

See: yama-niyama.

(See also: Sadharana dharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

deceit (deception): The act of representing as true what is known to be false. A dishonest action.

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

Baudhayana Dharma Shastra: (Sanskrit) A book of laws associated with the Krishna Yajur Veda and governing studentship, marriage, household rituals, civil law, etc. It is followed by brahmins of Southwest India. See: Dharma Shastra, Kalpa Vedanga.

(See also: Baudhayana Dharma Shastra , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

conversion to Hinduism: Entering Hinduism has traditionally required little more than accepting and living the beliefs and codes of Hindus. This remains the basic factor of adoption, although there are, and always have been, formal ceremonies recognizing an individual's entrance into the religion, particularly the namakarana, or naming rite.

The most obvious sign of true sincerity of adoption or conversion is the total abandoning of the former name and the choosing of the Hindu name, usually the name of a God or Goddess, and then making it legal on one's passport, identity card, social security card and driver's license. This name is used at all times, under all circumstances, particularly with family and friends. This is severance. This is adoption. This is embracing Hinduism. This is conversion. This is true sincerity and considered by born members as the most honorable and trusted testimony of those who choose to join the global congregation of the world's oldest religion.

Many temples in India and other countries will ask to see the passport or other appropriate identification before admitting devotees of non-Indian origin for more than casual worship. It requires nothing more than one's own commitment to the process. Belief is the keynote of religious conviction, and the beliefs vary greatly among the different religions of the world. What we believe forms our attitudes, shapes our lives and molds our destiny. To choose one's beliefs is to choose one's religion. Those who find themselves at home with the beliefs of Hinduism are, on a simple level, Hindu. Formally entering a new religion, however, is a serious commitment. Particularly for those with prior religious ties it is sometimes painful and always challenging.

The acceptance of outsiders into the Hindu fold has occurred for thousands of years. As Swami Vivekananda once said, "Born aliens have been converted in the past by crowds, and the process is still going on." Dr. S. Radhakrishnan confirms the swami's views in a brief passage from his well known book The Hindu View of Life: "In a sense, Hinduism may be regarded as the first example in the world of a missionary religion. Only its missionary spirit is different from that associated with the proselytizing creeds. It did not regard it as its mission to convert humanity to any one opinion.

For what counts is conduct and not belief. Worshipers of different Gods and followers of different rites were taken into the Hindu fold. The ancient practice of vratyastoma, described fully in the Tandya Brahmana, shows that not only individuals but whole tribes were absorbed into Hinduism. Many modern sects accept outsiders. Dvala's Smriti lays down rules for the simple purification of people forcibly converted to other faiths, or of womenfolk defiled and confined for years, and even of people who, for worldly advantage, embrace other faiths (p. 28-29)."

See: Hindu, Hinduism.

(See also: Conversion to Hinduism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhuloka: n (Sanskrit) "Earth world." The physical plane. See: loka.

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

deha: (Sanskrit) "Body." From the verb dih, "to plaster, mold; anoint, fashion."

A term used in the Upanishads, yoga texts, Saiva Agamas, Tirumantiram and elsewhere to name the three bodies of the soul: gross or physical (sthula), astral or subtle (sukshma) and causal (karana). A synonym for sharira.

See: sharira.

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

Bijjala: (Sanskrit) A king in Karnataka associated with the life of Basavanna.

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

Bhojadeva Paramara: nu (Sanskrit) ite king, poet, artist and theologian of Gujarat (1018-1060). Author of Tattvaprakasha. Renowned for establishing a systematic, monistic Saiva Siddhanta, and creating India's then largest artificial lake, 250 miles in length, called Bhojpur. See: Tatparyadipika.

(See also: Bhojadeva Paramara , 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)

backbiting: Speaking maliciously or slanderously about a person who is absent.

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

commitment: Dedication or engagement to a long-term course of action.

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

betrothal: Mutual pledge to marry; engagement. In Sanskrit, vagdana or nishchitartha. See: samskaras of adulthood.

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

consciousness: Chitta or chaitanya.

1)    A synonym for mind-stuff, chitta; or

2)    the condition or power of perception, awareness, apprehension.

There are myriad gradations of consciousness, from the simple sentience of inanimate matter to the consciousness of basic life forms, to the higher consciousness of human embodiment, to omniscient states of superconsciousness, leading to immersion in the One universal consciousness, Parashakti. Chaitanya and chitta can name both individual consciousness and universal consciousness.

Modifiers indicate the level of awareness, e.g.,

-       vyashti chaitanya, "individual consciousness;"

-       buddhi chitta, "intellectual consciousness;"

-       Sivachaitanya, "God consciousness."

Five classical "states" of awareness are discussed in scripture:

1)    wakefulness (jagrat),

2)    "dream" (svapna) or astral consciousness,

3)    "deep sleep" (sushupti) or subsuperconsciousness,

4)    the superconscious state beyond (turiya "fourth") and

5)    the utterly transcendent state called turiyatita ("beyond the fourth").

See: awareness, chitta, chaitanya, mind (all entries).

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

balipitha: (Sanskrit) "Offering place." An inverted lotusshaped stone atop a pedestal situated near the temple flagpole, dhvajastambha. Here devotees are to leave all negative thoughts as they enter the temple.

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

benediction: A blessing, especially a spoken one. See: blessing.

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

brahmacharini: (Sanskrit) Feminine counterpart of brahmachari. See: nunk.

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