The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2659 page)

 
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see
DE SALES
.

 
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(Heb.,
bikkur holim
). A major commandment in Judaism. The way in which this should be done is carefully described, including the wise advice never to sit on the bed. From this general requirement (at least as old as Ecclesiasticus 7. 35) it passed into the fundamental teaching associated with Jesus in the parable of the separation between the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25).

 
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Vi
u
.

The ‘pervader’, or perhaps, the ‘one taking different forms’, a Hindu god of little importance in the
Vedas
, but subsequently a major deity, and a member of the Hindu ‘trinity’ (
trim
rti
). He is the preserver of the universe and embodiment of goodness and mercy. For
Vai
avites
, he is the supreme deity,
vara
, from whom all created things emanate. As
vara, he becomes incarnate (
avat
ra
) at moments of great crisis (for list, see
AVAT
RA
).
vara is the material cause of the universe, omnipresent to it, and sustaining it in life. Through his presence, he is the refuge of all who need his help.
vara exists in five forms,
para
,
vy
ha