The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (223 page)

(Skt.).
1
The state in Hinduism of detachment from all possessions and desires, one of the five virtues required on the first step of
R
ja-
Yoga, according to
Patañjali's
account. The others are
satya
(truthfulness),
ahi
s
(non-injury of others),
asteya
(not stealing), and
brahmacarya
(continent and holy life). They constitute the Mah
vrata, the Great Vow which remains in force for all the other steps.
2
Jain vow of detachment: see
FIVE GREAT VOWS
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Apartheid
(policy of separate development)
:

see
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Skt., ‘epilepsy’). The demonic dwarf who in Hindu mythology personifies ignorance and forgetfulness.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Skt.). The four lower modes of rebirth possible for humans. They are animals,
narakas
(beings in torment),
pretas
(hungry ghosts), and
asuras
(roughly, demons, but only in the sense that they are complementary to
devas
, and may thus be reckoned as among the good, or higher, modes of existence,
gati
).

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search