The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2044 page)

 
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Sadducees
.

Jewish sect of the second
Temple
period. The Sadducees were made up of the more affluent members of the population. As Temple
priests
, they dominated Temple worship and formed a large proportion of
Sanhedrin
members. The name Sadducee is perhaps derived from King
Solomon's
high
priest
Zadok
. They stood in opposition to the
Pharisees
in that they rejected the
oral law
and only accepted the supreme authority of the written
Torah
. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the Sadducees ceased to exist.

 
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(Skt.). In a general sense the practitioner of a spiritual path (
s
dhana
), though the term has a more precise technical meaning in the
gamas
and
Tantras
as one who has undergone a certain kind of initiation (
d
k
a
) and who follows a certain path. The s
dhaka's practice comprises
mantra
repetition (
japa
),
visualization
(
dhy
na
) of his chosen deity (
i
adevat
), and observance of certain daily rites. After repeated practice he becomes one with his
mantra
and deity, and so gains power.