A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

59 divine qualities
Päæõu. He too renounced the throne
because of a leprous affliction and this
led to a conflict between their sons, culminating
in the Great War.
Dhruva (‘firm’)
The pole star. A story in the Vi•æu
Puräæa records that as a child Dhruva
was humiliated, became a hermit and
obtained the favour of Vi•æu who raised
him to the sky as pole star for all to see.
dhüma-ketu (‘smoke-bannered’)
An epithet of DEATH (represented as
a god).
dhyäna (‘trance’)
One of the stages of PATAÑJALA YOGA.
dig-gaja, also dik-päla
(‘supporters of the regions’)
Eight elephants who support the points
of the compass: AIRÄVATA, Puæõarïka,
VÄMANA, Kumuda, Anjana, Pu•padanta,
Sarvabhauma, Supratïka.
dig-vijaya
(‘conquest of the regions’)
The practice of major teachers of challenging
exponents of other religions and
schools of thought and claiming victory
over all. Described in works such as the
Ÿaökara Digvijäya by MÄDHAVA (2).
dïk•ä (‘initiation’)
Especially into a monastic order or a
specific SAßPRADÄYA. It is a very important
step for a Hindu and implies a lifelong
commitment to the mode of life of
the community. Usually it consists of a
number of rituals, often the complete
stripping of the candidate and a symbolic
self-cremation, the taking of a new
name and the transmission of a secret
MANTRA (3). The dïk•a guru has to come
from an acknowledged line of teachers
(guru paraƒparä) and remains in touch
with those initiated by him.
dïpa (‘lamp’)
Usually fed with ghï (clarified butter); a
lamp is required in almost all forms of
PÜJÄ.
Dïpävalï, also Divälï
(‘feast of lamps’)
The most popular Hindu celebration,
celebrated in the second half of Aÿvina,
when Hindus put up countless little
lamps on houses and temples and on
rivers, celebrating the homecoming of
Räma and Sïtä to AYODHYÄ after their
exile had ended. People offer jewels and
food to Lak•mï and wear new clothes.
Dipävälï has in today’s India acquired
among Hindus the commercial status of
Christmas in Western countries, with the
exchange of gifts and family celebrations.
Diti
Vedic deity, sometimes regarded as
counterpart, sometimes as complement
of ADITI; frequently referred to in epics
and Puräæas. She is described as daughter
of DAKÆA and wife of KAŸYAPA, the
mother of the DAITYAS and of
HIRA¢YAKAŸIPU.
Divine Life Mission
See ŸIVÄNANDA, SWAMI.
Divine Light Mission
Founded in India in 1960 by Guru
Mahäräj Jï (Gurujï), a youthful hereditary
teacher in the tradition of
Vallabha’s PUÆfiIMÄRGA. It spread rapidly
in the West in the seventies, but faded
after Gurujï had been accused of some
improprieties and returned to India.
divine qualities
According to VAIÆ¢AVAS God is saguæa,
i.e. exhibits six qualities that define his
essence: jñäna (knowledge), bala