Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

Dharmadhatuvagisvara 75Color: green. Attributes: book, blue lotus, imageof Amoghasiddhi, noose and rosary.of short mystical religious text used as a charm.Also dharini.Dhanistha (very rich)Minor goddess of misfortune. Hindu (Puranic).A malevolent NAKSATRA or astral deity; daughterof DAKSA and wife of CANDRA (SOMA). AlsoSRAVISTHA.Dhanvantari (traveling through an arc)Sun god. Hindu (Vedic, Epic and Puranic). In latertradition a minor incarnation or avatara of thegod VIŠNU, also closely associated with medicine.In Vedic mythology Dhanvantari carried theambrosia created from the primeval ocean of milk.He brought medical science to mankind. Only asthe religion evolved did he become identified asan avatara. As KANTATMAN (PRADYUMNA), he isthought to be Kama reincarnated after his death atthe hands of ŠIVA. Various other epithets and existencesare attributed to this deity. Offerings aredue to him at dusk in the northeastern quarter. Heis the guardian deity of hospitals which are usuallyin the vicinity of a sanctuary of Višnu. Attributes:two bowls containing ambrosia. Also Kantatman.Dhara (supporting)Attendant god. Hindu (Puranic). One of a groupof eight VASU deities answering to the god INDRA.Attributes: lotus, plough, rosary and spear.Dharani (earth)1. Goddess. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). Consortof PARASURAMA and an avatara of the goddessLAKSMI.2. Collective name for a group of deities. Buddhist.Twelve personifications of a particular kindDHARMA (justice)ORIGIN Hindu [India].KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa AD 300 untilpresent.SYNONYMS Dharme.CENTER(S) OF CULT none specific.ART REFERENCES stone and metal sculptures.LITERARY SOURCES epic texts includingRamayana and Mahabharata; Puranic texts, butalso see the Rg Veda.The god of law who originates as a creator godand one of the sons of Brahma, but almost certainlyderives from the dharmas or archetypal patternsof society identified in the Rg Veda.According to tradition he is the consort of thirteendaughters of DAKSA and the father of Yudhisthra.Also regarded as a minor avatara ofVIŠNU, appearing as a bull standing for theredemption of souls.In Bengali tradition Dharme (probably of thesame derivation) has been annually engaged in asacred marriage to the earth at the time of yearwhen a tree known as the sal is blossoming. Birdsare sacrificed in a sacred grove after which thetribe repairs to the hut of the village shaman andthe marriage is enacted between the priest and hiswife, followed by a sexual free-for-all.DharmadhatuvagisvaraGod of the law. Buddhist. A variety of MANJUSRIand therefore an emanation of AMITABHA. Color:reddish-white. Attributes: arrow, bell, book,bow, hook, image of Amitabha on crown, staff,sword and water jar. Depicted with four headsand setting the law wheel in motion.