The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2327 page)

(Skt.). In Hinduism, a supplementary funeral rite involving daily offering of water and occasional offerings of food (
pi
a
) to the three immediately preceding generations of paternal and maternal ancestors.
The
r
ddha rite is a source of merit for those who perform it with faith (
raddh
).

 
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(Skt.). ‘Faith’, personified as a goddess in Hinduism. She kindles in worshippers the faith to approach
Agni
(and other gods) without which offerings are in vain.
In Buddhism (P
li,
saddh
),
raddh
is devoted commitment to the
Buddha
and his
dharma
: it underlies as a prerequisite the first two stages of the Eightfold Path (
a
angika-m
rga
). In Mah
y
na, it is a fundamental trust, especially in the help of
bodhisattvas
. From its devotion to Amit
bha (
Amida
),
Pure Land
is sometimes known as ‘The Way of Faith’.