The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1194 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
3.87Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Jyoti
a
Astronomy in Hinduism, one of the six
Ved
gas
(supplements to the
Vedas
). It is of particular importance in determining the most propitious time and day for sacrifices and for such enterprises as war or marriage.
K

 

K
(Sikh requirement)
:
Ka
(Skt.). Interrogative pronoun, ‘who?’, used as a summary of the inadequacy of language to describe God.
Ka‘ba(h)
(Arab., ‘cube’). The building, deeply revered by Muslims, in the centre of the great
mosque
at
Mecca
, in the eastern corner of which, about 5 feet from the ground, is embedded the
Black Stone
. The Ka‘ba, about 35 feet by 40 feet and 50 feet high, is called ‘the house of
All
h
’, and is the focus of the daily
al
t
(ritual worship) of Muslims throughout the world, (see
QIBLA
;
AL
T
), and of the annual
ajj
(pilgrimage).

Other books

Spirit Dances by C.E. Murphy
Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Janmohamed
Patriot Hearts by Barbara Hambly
Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O'Porter
Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson
Playing With Matches by Suri Rosen
The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury
Poisonous Kiss by Andras Totisz
The Second Son by Bob Leroux