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A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature - John Dowson, 1820 - Complete Book

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Her father, iSukra, cnrsed Yayati with the infirmity of old age, but afterwards offered to transfer it to any one of Yavati's sons who would submit to receive it. Yadu, the eldest, and progenitor of the Yadavas, refused, and so did all the other sons, with the exception of Sarmish/ha's youngest son, Puru. Those who refused were cursed by their father, that their posterity should never possess dominion; but Puru, who bore his father's curse for a thousand years, succeeded his father as monarch, and was the ancestor of the Pa7it^?avas and Kauravas. DEYA-YONI. ' Of divine birth.' A general name for the inferior gods, the Adityas, Yasus, Yiswadevas, and others. DEYI. 'The goddess,' or Maha-devi, 'the great goddess,' wife of the god /Siva, and daughter of Himavat, i.e., the Hima- laya mountains. She is mentioned in the Maha-bharata under a variety of names, and with several of her peculiar cliaracter- istics, but she owes her great distinction to the Pura??as and later works. As the /S'akti or female energy of /Siva she has two characters, one mild, the other fierce ; and it is under the latter that she is especially w^orshii^ped. She has a great variety of names, referable to her various forms, attributes, and actions, but these names are not always used accurately and distinctively. In her milder form she is Uma, 'light,' and a type of beauty ; Gauri, ' the yellow or brilliant ; ' Parvati, ' the mountaineer ; ' and Haimavati, from her parentage ; Jagan-mata, * the mother of the world ; ' and Bhavanl. In her terrible form she is Durgii, ' the inaccessible ; ' Kali and /S'yama, ' the black ; ' C\\^ndl and Chaw- Jika, 'the fierce;' and Bhairavi, 'the terrible.' It is in this character that bloody sacrifices are offered to her, that the bar- barities of the Durga-puja and Charak-piija are perpetrated in her honour, and that the indecent orgies of the Tantrikas are held to propitiate her favours and celebrate her powers. She has ten arms, and in most of her hands there are weapons. As Durga she is a beautiful yellow woman, riding on a tiger in a fierce and menacing attitude. As Krdi or Kalikii, ' the black,' " she is represented with a black skin, a hideous and terrible countenance, drij^ping with blood, encircled with snakes, hung round with skulls and human heads, and in all respects resem- DEVI. 87 "bling a fury rather than a goddess." As Vindhya-vasini, 'the dweller in the Yindliyas,' she is worshipped at a place of that name where the Yindhyas approach the Ganges, near Mirzapur, and it is said that there the blood before her image is never allowed to get dry. As ]\Iaha-maya she is the great illusion. The ChaTi^i-mahatmya, which celebrates the victories of this goddess over the Asuras, speaks of her under the fol- lowing names : — i. Durga, wdien she received the messengers of the Asuras. 2. Dasa-bhuja. 'Ten-armed,' when she destroyed part of their army. 3. Sinha-vahini. ' Riding on a lion,' when she fought with the Asura general Rakta-vija. 4. Mahisha-mardini. 'Destroyer of Mahisha,' an Asura in the form of a buffalo. 5. Jagad-dhat/Y. ' Fosterer of the world,' when she again defeated the Asura army. 6. Kali. 'The black.' She killed Rakta-vija. 7. Mukta-ke6i. 'With dis- hevelled hair.' Again defeats the Asuras. 8. Tilra. 'Star.' She killed vS'umbha. 9. Chhinna-mastaka. 'Decapitated,' the headless form in which she killed' Nisumbha. i o. Jagad- gauri. ' World's fair one,' as lauded by the gods for her triumphs. The names which Devi obtains from her husband are : — Babhravi (Babhru), Bhagavati, Is-anT, Iswari, Kalanjari, Kapalini, Kausiki, KiratT, Maheswari, Mric^a, M^^VZani, Rud- ra/ii, /Sarvam, /S'lva, TryambakL From her origin she is called Adri-ja and Giri-ja, ' mountain-born ; ' Ku-ja, ' earth-born ; ' Daksha-ja, ' sprung from Daksha.' She is Kanya, ' the virgin ; ' Kanya-kumari, ' the youthful virgin ; ' and Ambika, ' the mother ; ' Avara, ' the youngest ; ' Ananta and Nitya, ' the ever- lasting ; ' Arya, ' the revered ; ' Yijaya, ' victorious ; ' i^iddhi, ' the rich ; ' Sati, ' virtuous ; ' Dakshi?ia, ' right-handed ; ' Pinga, ' taw^ny, dark ; ' Karburi, ' spotted ; ' Bhramarl, ' the bee ; ' Ko/ari, ' the naked ; ' Kar?za-moti, ' pearl-eared ; ' Padma-lanch- hana, ' distinguished by a lotus ; ' Sarva - mangala, ' always auspicious ; ' iS'akam - bhari, ' nourisher of herbs ; ' iSiva - diiti, 'xS'iva's messenger;' Sinha-rathi, 'riding on a lion.' As addicted to austerities she is Apar?ia and Katyayani. As Bhuta-nayaki she is chief or leader of the goblins, and as Gawa-nayaki, the leader of the GaTzas. She is Kamaksln, 'wanton-eyed;' and Kamakhya, 'called by the name of Kama, desire.' Other names, most of them applicable to her terrible forms, are Bhadra- kali, Bhima-devI, Chamu?2tZa, Maha-kall, jMahamari, Mahasuri, 83 DEVI BHAGAVATA PURA.XA—DHARMA. Matangi, Rajasi, 'the fierce;' and Rakta-danti, 'red or bloody toothed.' DEYI BHAGAVATA PURA.VA. A ^aiva PurSria, which is by some placed among the eighteen PuraTzas instead of the aSti Bhagavata, which is devoted to YisliTiu. This is devoted to the worship of the /S'aktis. DEYl MAHATMYA. 'The greatness of De^^.' A poem of 700 verses, which celebrates the triumphs of Devi over various Asuras. It is the text-book of the worshippers of Devi, and is read daily in her temples. It is an episode of the j\Iarkawf/eya Pura/ia, and is also called Cha?i(Zipa/ha. DHiVNA-DA. ' Giver of wealth.' Kuvera, the god of riches. DHAXAX-JAYA. 'Conqueror of riches.' A title of Arjuna and of several others. DHAXAXJAYA YIJAYA. 'Victories of Dhananjaya' (Arjuna). A drama in one act on the exploits of Arjuna when in the service of the Raja Yira/a. DHAXA-PATI. ' Lord of wealth.' Kuvera. DHAXEaS'WARA. ' Lord of wealth,' i.e., Kuvera. DHANUR-YEDA. The science of archery, the military art. DHANWANTARL i. Xame of a Yedic deity to whom offer- ings at twilight were made in the north-east quarter. 2. Tlie physician of the gods, who was produced at the churning of the ocean. He was a teacher of medical science, and the Ayur-veda is attributed to him. In another birth he was son of Dlrgha- tamas, and his " nature was exempt from human infirmities, and in every existence he had been master of universal knowledge." He is called also Sudha-pawi, ' carrying nectar in his hands,' and Amrita, 'the immortal.' Other physicians seem to have had the name applied to them, as Bhela, Divo-dasa, and Pulakapya. 3. A celebrated physician, who was one of " the nine gems " of the court of Yikrama. See Xava-ratna. DIIARAA^I. The eartli. The wife of Parasu-riima. DHARMA, DHARMA-RAJA. 'Justice.' A name of Yama, the judge of the dead. DHARjMA. An ancient sage, sometimes classed among the Prajiipatis. He married thirteen (or ten) of the daughters of Daksha, and had a numerous progeny ; but all his children " are manifestly allegorical, being personifications of intelligences and virtues and religious rites, and being therefore appropriately DHA RMA -P UTRA —DHA RMA -SASTRA . 89 wedded to the probable authors of the Hindu code of religion and morals, or the equally allegorical representation of that code, Dharma, moral and religious duty." — Wilson, DHARMA-PUTRA. ' Son of Dharma.' A name of Yudhi- sh/hira. DHARMARAiV^YA. A sacred grove, i. A forest in Mad- hyadesa into which Dharma retired. 2. A city mentioned in the Ramaya?2a as founded by Amiirta-rajas, son of Kusa. DHARMA-RAJA. i. Yama, king of the dead. 2. A title of Yudlii-shfhira, who was mythically a son of Yama. DHARMA-.S'ASTRA. A law-book or code of laws. This term includes the whole body of Hindu law, but it is more especially applicable to the laws of IManu, Yajnawalkya, and other inspired sages who first recorded the Sm?7'ti or "recollections" of what they had received from a divine source. These works are generally in three parts : — (i.) Achara, rules of conduct and practice; (2.) Yyavahara, judicature; (3.) Prayaschitta, penance. The inspired lawgivers are spoken of as being eighteen in number, but the names of forty-two old authorities are men- tioned. Manu and Yajnawalkya stand apart by themselves at the head of these writers. After them the eighteen other inspired sages are recognised as the great authorities on law, and the works ascribed to them are still extant, either wholly or par- tially, or in an abridged form: — (i.) Atri ; (2.) Yishwu; (3.) Harita; (4.)U5anas; (5.) Angiras; (6.) Yama; (7.) Apastamba; (8. ) Samvarta ; (9. ) Katyay ana ; (10.) BHhaspati ; (11.) Parasara ; (12.) Yyasa; (13, 14.