The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2585 page)

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Authors: John Bowker

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A priestly device for telling oracles in the ancient Israelite religion. The
high priest
wore the Urim and Thummim on his breastplate. It was used for questioning God on behalf of the ruler (Numbers 27. 21) and it seems to have given a ‘yes-or-no’ answer (1 Samuel 23. 10–12). The underlying meaning of the two words is not known.
r
(Skt., ‘wool’). A circle of hair between the eyebrows. In both Hindu and Jain understanding, this is, or conceals, the jewel or ornament of the ‘third eye’, which is derived from
iva's
production of his third, burning, eye: see
TRILOCANA
.
‘Urs
(Arab.). Bride and bridegroom, hence marriage. From this, it is also the collective name for ceremonies observed at the anniversary of the death of a
S
f
saint or
murshid
. The death of a saint is regarded as a time of reunion with his Lord and therefore considered a happy occasion. Each S
f
order celebrates its particular annual ‘urs programme.

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