DEVA-YONI `Of divine birth.’ A general name for the inferior gods, the Adityas, Vasus, Viswadevas, and others.

DEVI `The goddess,’ or Maha-devi, `the great goddess,’ wife of the god Siva, and daughter of Himavat, i.e., the Himalaya mountains. She is mentioned in the Maha-bharata under a variety of names, and with several of her peculiar characteristics, but she owes her great distinction to the Puranas and later works. As the Sakti or female energy of Siva she has two characters, one mild, the other fierce; and it is under the latter that she is especially worshipped. 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 Bhavani. In her terrible form she is Durga, `the inaccessible;’ Kali and Syama, `the black;’ Chandi and Chandika, `the fierce;’ and Bhairavi, `the terrible.’ It is in this character that bloody sacrifices are offered to her, that the barbarities of the Durga-puja and Charak-puja 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 Kali or Kalika, `the black,’ “she is represented with a black skin, a hideous and terrible countenance, dripping with blood, encircled with snakes, hung round with skulls and human heads, and in all respects resembling a fury rather than a goddess.” As Vindhya-vasini, `the dweller in the Vindhyas,’ she is worshipped at a place of that same where the Vindhyas approach the Ganges, near Mirzapur, and it is said that there the blood before her image is never allowed to get dry. As Maha-maya she is the great illusion.

        The Chandi-mahatmya, which celebrates the victories of loving names:-

1. Durga, when 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-dhatri. `Fosterer of the world,’ when she again defeated the Asura army. 6. Kali. `The black.’ She killed Rakta-vija. 7. Mukta-kesi. `With dishevelled hair.’ Again defeats the Asuras. 8. Tara. `Star.’ She killed Sumbha. 9. Chhinna-mastaka. `Decapitated,’ the headless form in which she killed Nisumbha. 10. 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, Isani, Iswari, Kalanjari, Kapalini, Kausiki, Kirati, Maheswari, Mrida, Mridani, Rudrani, Sarvani, Siva, Tryambaki. 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;’ Vijaya, `victorious;’ Riddhi, `the rich;’ Sati, `virtuous;’ Dakshina, `right-handed;’ Pinga, `tawny, dark;’ Karburi, `spotted;’ Bhramari, `the bee;’ Kotari, `the naked;’ Karna-moti, `pearl-eared;’ Padma-lanchhana, `distinguished by a lotus;’ Sarva-mangala, `always auspicious;’ Sakam-bhari, `nourisher of herbs;’ Siva-duti, `Siva’s messenger;’ Sinha-rathi, `riding on a lion.’ As addicted to austerities she is Aparna and Katyayani. As Bhuta-nayaki she is chief or leader of the goblins, and as Gana-nayaki, the leader of the Ganas. She is Kamakshi, `wanton-eyed;’ and Kamakhya, `called by the name of Kama, desire.’ Other names, most of them applicable to her terrible forms, are Bhadrakali, Bhima-devi, Chamunda, Maha-kali, Mahamari, Mahasuri, Matangi, Rajasi, `the fierce;’ and Rakta-danti, `red or bloody toothed.’

DEVI BHAGAVATA PURANA A Saiva Purana, which is by some placed among the eighteen Puranas instead of the Sri Bhagavata, which is devoted to Vishnu. This is devoted to the worship of the Saktis.

DEVI MAHATMYA `The greatness of Devi.’ 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 Markandeya Purana, and is also called Chandipatha.

DHANA-DA `Giver of wealth.’ Kuvera, the god of riches.

DHANAN-JAYA `Conqueror of riches.’ A title of Arjuna and of several others.

DHANANJAYA VIJAYA `Victories of Dhananjaya (Arjuna). A drama in one act on the exploits of Arjuna when in the service of the Raja Virata.

DHANA-PATI `Lord of wealth.’ Kuvera.

DHANESWARA `Lord of wealth.’ I.e., Kuvera.

DHANUR-VEDA The science of archery, the military art.

DHANWANTARI 1. Name of a Vedic deity to whom offerings at twilight were made in the north-east quarter. 2. The 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 Dirgha-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-pani, `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 Palakapya. 3. A celebrated physician, who was one of “the nine gems” of the court of Vikrama. See Nava-ratna.

DHARANI The earth. The wife of Parasu-rama.

DHARMA, DHARMA-RAJA `Justice.’ A name of Yama, the judge of the dead.

DHARMA An ancient sage, sometimes classed among the Prajapatis. 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 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 Yudhishthira.

DHARMARANYA A sacred grove. 1. A forest in Madhyadesa into which Dharma retired. 2. A city mentioned in the Ramayana as founded by Amurta-rajas, son of Kusa.

DHARMA-RAJA 1. Yama, king of the dead. 2. A title of Yudhi-shthira, who was mythically a son of Yama.

DHARMA-SASTRA A law-book of code of laws. This term includes the whole body of Hindu law, but it is more especially applicable to the laws of Manu, Yajnawalkya, and other inspired sages who first recorded the Smriti or “recollections” of what they had received from a divine source. These works are generally in three parts: - (1.) Achara, rules of conduct and practice; (2.) Vyavahara, judicature; (3.) Prayaschitta, penance.

        The inspired lawgivers are spoken of as being eighteen in number, but the names of forty-two old authorities are mentioned. 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 partially, or in an abridged form:- (1.) Atri; (2.) Vishnu; (3.) Harita; (4.) Usanas; (5.) Angiras; (6.) Yama; (7.) Apastamba; (8.) Samvarta; (9.) Karyayana; (10.) Brihaspati; (11.) Parasara; (12.) Vyasa; (13,14.) Sankha and Likhita; (16.) Gotama; (17.) Satatapa; (18.) Vasishtha. But there are others who are more frequently cited than many of these, as Narada, Bhrigu, Marichi, Kasyapa, Viswamitra, and Baudhayana. Other names that are met with are Pulastya, Gargya, Paithinasi, Sumantu, Lokakshi, Kuthumi, and Dhaumya. The writings of some of these lawgivers have appeared in different forms, and are referred to with the descriptive epithets of Vridha, `old;’ Brihat, `great;’ and Laghu, `light or small.’

        A general collection of the Smritis or Dharma-sastras has been printed in Calcutta under the title of Dharma-sastra-sangraha, by Jivananda.

DHARMA-SAVARNI The eleventh Manu. See Manu.

DHARMA-SUTRAS The Samayacharika Sutras are so called because they had among them maxims of a legal nature.

DHARMA-VYADHA `The pious huntsman.’ The man is represented in the Maha-bharata as living by selling the flesh of boars and buffaloes, and yet as being learned in the Vedas and in all the knowledge of a Brahman. This is accounted for by his having been a Brahman in a former birth, and cursed to this vile occupation for having wounded a Brahman when hunting.

DHATRI `Maker, creator.’ In the later hymns of the Rig-veda, Dhatri is a deity of no very defined powers and functions, but he is described as operating in the production of life and the preservation of health. He promotes generation, brings about matrimony, presides over domestic life, cures diseases, heals broken bones, & c. He is said to “have formed the sun, moon, sky, earth, air, and heaven as before.” He appears also as one of the Adityas, and this character he still retains. In the later mythology he is identified with Prajapati or Brahma the creator; and in this sense of “maker” the term is used as an epithet of Vishnu and Krishna. Sometimes he is a son of Brahma.

DHAUMYA 1. The younger brother of Devala and family priest of the Pandavas. There are several others of the same name. 2. Author of a work on law.

DHENUKA A demon killed by Bala-rama. Krishna and Bala-rama, as boys, picked some fruit in a grove belonging to Dhenuka, when he took the form of an ass, and running to the spot began to kick Bala-rama. The young hero seized him by the heels, whirled him round till he was dad, and cast his carcase on to the top of a palm-tree. Several of his companions who ran to his assistance were treated in the same way, so that “the trees were laden with dead asses.”

DHRISHTA-DYUMNA Brother of Draupadi, and commander-in-chief of the Pandava armies. He killed, somewhat unfairly in combat, Drona, who had beheaded his father, and he in his turn was killed by Drona’s son, Aswatthaman, who stamped him to death with his feet, as he lay asleep.

DHRISHTA-KETU 1. A son of Dhrishta-dyumna. 2. A son of Sidu-pala, king of Chedi, and an ally of the Pandavas. 3. A king of the Kekayas, also an ally of the Pandavas. 4. Son of Satyadhriti. 5. Son of Nriga.

DHRITA-RASHTRA 1. The eldest son of Vichitra-virya or Vyasa, and brother of Pandu. His mother was Ambika. He married Gandhari, and by her had a hundred sons, the eldest of whom was Dur-yodhana. Dhrista-rashtra was blind, and Pandu was affected with a disease supposed, from his name, “the pale,” to be a leprous affection. The two brothers in turn renounced the throne, and the Great War recorded in the Maha-bharata was fought between their sons, one party being called Kauravas, from an ancestor, Kuru, and the other Pandavas, from their father Pandu. Dhrita-rashtra and his wife were burned in a forest fire. (See Maha-bharata.) 2. An enormous serpent of many heads and immense strength.

DHRUVA The polar star. According to the Vishnu Purana, the sons of Manu Swayam-bhuva were Priya-vrata and Uttanapada. The latter had two wives; the favourite, Suruchi, was proud and haughty; the second, Suniti or Sunrita, was humble and gentle. Suruchi had a son named Uttama, and Suniti gave birth to Dhruva. While quite a child Dhruva was contemptuously treated by Suruchi, and she told him that her own son Uttama would alone succeed to the throne. Dhruva and his mother submitted, and he declared that he wished for no other honours than such as his own actions should acquire. He was a Kshatriya, but he joined a society of Rishis, and becoming a Rishi himself, he went through a rigid course of austerities, notwithstanding the efforts of Indra to distract him. At the end he obtained the favour of Vishnu, who raised him to the skies as the pole star. He has the patronymic Auttanapadi, and he is called Grahadhara, `the stay or pivot of the planets.’

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