A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

Daÿa-padärtha Ÿästra 56
Pärvata, Sägara, Tïrtha, Äÿrama,
Bhärati, Pürï, Sarasvatï.
Daÿa-padärtha Ÿästra
(‘science of ten word meanings’)
Title of a sixth-century text explaining
the tenets of VAIŸEÆIKA, one of the six
orthodox systems of Hindu philosophy.
Daÿa-ratha (‘ten chariots’)
A prince of the solar dynasty, king of
AYODHYÄ, father of RÄMA, a major figure
in VÄLMÏKI’S RÄMÄYAŒA.
daÿävatäras
See AVATÄRA.
daÿa vidyäs (‘ten wisdoms’)
Ten forms of the Goddess worshipped
by Tantrikas: Kälï, Tärä, Æoõaÿï,
Bhuvaneÿvarï, Bhairavï, Chinnama•flä,
Dhümävatï, Bagalä, Maflaögï,
Kämalätmikä. (See also TANTRA.)
Dasgupta, Surendranath
(1885–1952)
One of the foremost modern scholars of
Hinduism, author of the authoritative
five-volume A History of Indian
Philosophy (1921–55), the unsurpassed
standard work of its kind. He had a distinguished
career as an academic
teacher in Chittagong College, Calcutta
Presidency College, Government
Sanskrit College, and the University of
Calcutta, and was the recipient of many
honours and awards.
dasyus
Described in the Vedas as the enemies of
the ÄRYANS, dark-skinned and evil.
Their identity is disputed.
Dattätreya (1)
A deity, one of the forms of Vi•æu, partaking
of the nature of Brahmä, Vi•æu
and Ÿiva. Represented as a wandering
mendicant followed by four dogs (the
four VEDAS). His places of worship are
called Datta-maæõiras. Popular in
Mahärä•flra as ‘Dattobä’. The Dattätreya
SAßPRADÄYA is quite strong in
Mahärä•flra; it is engaged on behalf of
peace and mutual tolerance.
Dattätreya (2)
A brahmin saint, son of ATRI and
ANASÜYÄ, considered an incarnation of
Vi•æu and Ÿiva.
Dattätreya (3)
A philosopher, the sixth AVATÄRA of
Vi•æu. According to the Bhägavata
Puräæa he achieved liberation by following
the advice of twenty-four GURUS
in the form of forces of nature.
Däyänanda Sarasvatï
(1824–83)
Influential Hindu reformer, founder of
ÄRYA SAMÄJ. Born Müla Ÿaökara in
Morvi, Gujarat, into a pious Ÿaivite
family, Däyänanda rejected IMAGE worship
and went in search of a GURU. After
fifteen years of wandering through
India, moving from teacher to teacher,
he finally settled down in Mathurä with
Viräjänanda Sarasvatï, a blind and temperamental
ultra-orthodox Vedic
teacher. After three years of humiliations
and grammar study Viräjänanda
dismissed his student with instructions,
to teach the true ŸÄSTRAS in India again
and to dispel the darkness that the
wrong faith had engendered.
His teachings, contained in Satyärtha
Prakäÿa (‘Light of Truth’), rely on the
infallibility of the Veda: all accretions to
Hinduism of later times (epics, Puräæas,
Ägamas) were rejected as corruptions.
Däyänanda believed he had a mission to
lead India back to its original,
pure Vedic religion. He reintroduced
Vedic HOMA (see GHÏ). Socially he was