RELIGION TERMS
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daivam (Hinduism)
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Divine will, destiny.
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Darbar Sahib (Sikhism)
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The building constructed at Amritsar into which Guru Arjan placed the Adi Granth. Sikhs give this name to the Golden Temple.
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Dasam Granth (Sikhism)
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A book of the collected writings of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh compiled after his death by Bhai Mani Singh and finished in 1734.
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Daswandh (Sikhism)
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Giving one tenth of one's income to charity.
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Day of Atonement/ Yom Kippur (Judaism)
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The most solemn day in the Jewish year. Jews both fast and assemble in the synagogue to ask for God's forgiveness.
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Deg Teg (Sikhism)
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The dual responsibility of the follower to provide food and protection for the needy and oppressed.
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Denomination (Christianity)
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Name given to the Churches into which Christianity is divided, and usually where a decision is made to join rather than a national identity where one can be effectively born into it.
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Deuteronomy (Judaism)
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The last of the five books of the Torah.
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deva (Hinduism)
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A god. Immortal but like mortals in behaviour.
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devi (Hinduism)
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Goddess that is immortal but like a mortal.
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Devil (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)
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Evil personified and may be called Satan and Satan tempts. Islam includes the stoning of the three pillars with 7 stones each during Hajj as an expression of rejecting temptation.
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Dhadi(Sikhism)
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One who sings the praises of God.
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Dharam Yudh (Sikhism)
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War in the defence of righteousness.
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Dharamsala (Sikhism)
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In the early Sikh period its place of worship though later gurdwara. It can apply to a hostel, inn or charitable religious hospice.
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Dharma (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism)
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The universal law that unifies, duty, that which assists one's progress and well being. It is according to caste in Hindu society. Hinduism has at its centre Sanatana Dharma meaning eternal progress. In Buddhism it (Pali: dhamma) becomes more specifically the path of truth, law or teaching that is Buddhism itself, being the vehicle to Nirvana. The Sikh Dharma is religion, teaching and lifestyle to achieve union with God.
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Dharma-kaya (Buddhism)
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Buddha-Nature or truth body of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.
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Dhikr (Islam)
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The central technique in Sufism to invoke andremember for spiritual realisation. Meaning literally 'to mention'.
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Dhoti (Hinduism)
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One piece of cloth worn by some Indian men. The cloth is wound round the body and then drawn up between the legs.
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Dhritarashtra (Hinduism)
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Being blind since birth Dhritarashtra has never been enthroned as the rightful king of the Kurus, but is the effective ruler. The whole Bhagavad Gita is a narration told by Sanjaya to the blind king, whose sons are the Kauravas.
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Disciple (Christianity, Buddhism)
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Followers such as the twelve specially chosen by Jesus. Literally, 'one who learns'.
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Diwan (Sikhism)
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Sikh act of congregational worship. Literally 'a royal court'.
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Divali or Diwali (Hinduism, Sikhism)
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Held just before the Hindi New Year of Ashwin, being September to October. It is not a Hindu Christmas! It derives from the Ramayana where Rama helped by the monkey god Hanuman defeats the demon king Ravana and so good defeats evil. Light is the symbol of goodness and Divali means a row of lights. Hundreds of arti lamps are lit. Divali cards are sent. Fireworks are set off. Sweets get meade from milk, sugar and coconuts. Rangoli patterns are drawn on the ground to welcome the gods. Stories include Krishna and Ganesha, and southern Indians in business worship Lakshmi. From Guru Amar Das onwards Sikhs gather annually. In 1577 the foundation stone of the Harmandir Sahib was laid in Divali.
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Diwan (Sikhism)
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Congregational worship where Guru Granth Sahib is present.
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Doha (Sikhism)
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Verse form used commonly by Guru Nanak and the syncretistic mystical poet Kabir (1440-1518) consisting of stanzas of two rhyming lines.
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Draupadi (Hinduism)
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The royal princess who married each of the five Pandava brothers.
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Drona (Hinduism)
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A brahmin, then warrior, and later general of the Kaurava army. Teacher of the royal princes. He taught the heroes of the Mahabharata war skills.
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Du'a (Islam)
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Muslim private prayer.
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Duhkha (Pali: dukkha) (Buddhism, Hinduism)
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The first of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism being the 'diseased', suffering, unsatisfactory nature of life. Suffering, pain, sadness.
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