Sanskrit Words beginning with D

Glossary of Hindu Terms with Meanings

Dalit:

person outside the class system of Hinduism who was formerly termed as Untouchable

Darsanas:

writings of the six philosophical schools of Hindu religious thought

Darshan:

literally 'view' or 'sight of' referring to audience with a deity

Dashas:

planetary time periods

Deva:

male deity; literally 'shining one'

Devi:

female deity

Dharana:

yogic concentration or attention

Dharma:

what is right for the self - moral piety, religion, honor, the clan, karma  or work, society and the universe

Dharma Sastras:

Law Books forming part of the scriptures of Hinduism

Dhatus:

bodily tissues in Ayurvedic medicine

Dhyana:

meditation

Diwali or Divali:

Hindu festival of lights

Doshas:

biological humors of Ayurvedic medicine

Durga:

the Goddess as the destroyer of demons, one of the energy forms of Siva

Dussehra:

Hindu festival that celebrates the defeat of the demon King Ravan at the hands of Lord Ram (found in the epic 'Ramayana'). It is also the worship of goddess Durga.

Dvandva:

dualities; pairs of opposites

Dvija:

twice-born, referring to the Brahmins, (formerly even the Ksatriyas and Vaisyas), who undergo initiation into the Hindu religion at a sacred-thread ceremony

Back to Glossary Index: Alphabetic List of Terms