The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2583 page)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(5th cent. BCE)
. One of the best-known (with
Khem
) women
arhats
who attained enlightenment through the teaching of the Buddha. She was named by the Buddha, with Khem
, as the ideal model of bhikkhun
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Ur
.

Ancient city of the Middle East. The city of Ur is referred to in the Hebrew scriptures as the place of origin of the
patriarchs
(Genesis 11. 28, 31), although originally it was not realized that Ur was a place. Since the letters form the Hebrew word for ‘fire’, it was believed that Abram/
Abraham
came from the fire of the Chaldaeans. This was taken to be the fire of persecution, hence the elaboration of many stories concerning Abram's refusal of idolatry. Although resting on a mistake, these stories persist into Islam.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search