Page 124 - SBV (English)

498 Glossary

Dharma—(1) religious laws described in çästra; (2) ordained duties as described
in çästra for specific roles within varëäçrama society, e.g., sannyäsa-
dharma, stré-dharma (women’s duties); (3) every living being’s eternal,
constitutional occupation of service to the Supreme Lord. See also Dharma-
artha-käma-mokña.
Dharma-artha-käma-mokña—(conventional usage) mundane piety, economic
development, sense enjoyment, and liberation, the four aspects of sub-
transcendental Vedic religious endeavor.
Dharmaçälä—charitable lodge for pilgrims.
Dhärmika—adjectival form of (the word) dharma.
Dékñä—initiation. In the Gauòéya Maöha, dékñä refers to what in ISKCON is
known as “second” or brähmaëa initiation.
Dékñä-guru—initiating spiritual master.
Dékñita—(1) a person who has received dékñä; (2) the state of having received
dékñä.
Disappearance—tirobhäva (q.v.).
District—administrative subunits established by the British in the provinces
of India. Most were named after the headquarters of jurisdiction (for
instance, the headquarters of Jessore District was the town of Jessore).
Duùkha—unhappiness, misery, suffering, pain.
Durgä—Lord Çiva’s consort, the goddess personifying and overseeing the
material energy, who is worshiped by materialists for material boons. See
also Mäyä.

Dust—Gauòéyas highly regard particles of earth taken from holy places or
the lotus feet of elevated devotees. Placing such dust on one’s head and/
or tongue demonstrates submission and humility and is recommended
in scripture (e.g., SB 5.12.12 and Cc 3.16.60) as important for spiritual
progress.
Dväpara-yuga—the third in the universal cycle of four ages, characterized by
a further one-fourth decrease in dhärmika principles from the preceding
age, Tretä-yuga (q.v.).
Ekadaëòa—the symbolic staff composed of one (eka) bamboo rod (daëòa)
carried by sannyasis of the Mädhva and Çaìkara schools.
Ekadaëòé—“one with an ekadaëòa”; a sannyasi of the Mädhva or Çaìkara
sampradäya.

Ekädaça-bhäva—the eleven characteristics of a devotee in the perfectional stage