The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2617 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
9.23Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
Varu
a
.
Early Hindu god, prominent in the Vedic period. Possibly connected with
v
(‘veil’), he was associated with the all-covering sky, but in the
Vedas
his activities resemble those of
Indra
and
Agni
. He was connected with oceans and rivers, though in later mythology Indra has taken precedence over him, and he has been reduced to the god of death.
V
san
s
(Skt., ‘underlying desire’).
1
In Hinduism, the underlying desires, memories, ambitions, etc., which form character, and which can surface at any moment. They are thus close to (sometimes synonymous with)
sa
sk
ras(z)
.
2
In Buddhism, they contribute to the storehouse consciousness,
laya-vijñ
na
.

Other books

Fast Life by Cassandra Carter
Los almendros en flor by Chris Stewart
Circus of Blood by James R. Tuck
The Oligarchs by David Hoffman
The Conqueror by Louis Shalako
Scarlett and the Feds by Baker, S.L.
Straits of Power by Joe Buff
The Goats by Brock Cole