The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2355 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
6.45Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
). This highest entity, Parabrahman, is personal, described as both ‘perfect’ (
pur
a
) and ‘the best of beings’ (
puru
ottama
) and having qualities such as knowledge (

na
) and activity (
kriy
).
dra
.
Fourth social, or occupational, division (
varna
) in Hinduism. The origin of the word is uncertain. From
g Veda
10. 90. 12, where the hierarchy is
r
janya
(rulers),
br
hma
as
,
vai
yas
, and
dras, it is assumed that they were already menials, though at least included in the Vedic community, even if, as not being ‘twice-born’, not wholly integrated. Their emergence in creation from under the feet of Puru
a summarizes their position in society.

Other books

Supernatural: One Year Gone by Dessertine, Rebecca
Paradise Lost (Modern Library Classics) by Milton, John, William Kerrigan, John Rumrich, Stephen M. Fallon
Fractured by Amanda Meadows
Love and History by Cheryl Dragon
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Black Lies by Alessandra Torre