body immortal. Just as both Hindus and
Buddhists appropriated the idea of yoga
(act of discipline), both traditions
also have alchemical schools. The
Dhatuvada school stressed seeking bod-
ily perfection solely through consuming
drugs and potions, particularly ones
compounded from mercury and
cinnabar. This is theoretically different
from the Buddhist Rasayanaschool,
since the latter is said to use such mate-
rial means only to prolong life until the
body can be transmuted through medi-
tation, ritual, and yoga. The conceptual
foundation for Hindu alchemy is its
analysis of the world as a series of bipo-
lar opposites, and the conviction that
unifying these opposing forces brings
spiritual progress and the end of rein-
carnation (samsara). The governing
metaphor for this combination of oppo-
sites is the union of sunand moon. In
keeping with this bipolar symbolism,
both the sun and the moon are connect-
ed to other opposing principles through
an elaborate series of associations. The
sun is identified with heat, drying
power, fire, the goddess Shakti, and
menstrual blood; the moon with coolness,
healing power, water, the god Shiva,
and semen. In alchemical practice, the
two essential chemical elements are mer-
cury and sulfur—the former identified
with Shiva’s semen, and the latter with
Shakti’s uterine blood. Through properly
mixing and consumingthese elements,
the impure body is purifiedand refined,
eventually rendering it immortal.
Modern descriptions of this practice
invariably warn that it should only be car-
ried out under the direction of one’s guru
(spiritual teacher); otherwise these combi-
nations will be harmful.This warning is
not surprising, since by itself mercury is a
deadly poison. For further information
see Shashibhushan B. Dasgupta,
Obscure Religious Cults, 1962; and David
Gordon White, “Alchemy: Indian
Alchemy,” in Mircea Eliade (ed.),
Encyclopedia of Religion, 1993.Dhenuka
In Hindu mythology, a fierce demon
(supernatural being) who appears in the
form of a cow(dhenu). Dhenuka is only
one of the demons slain by the god
Krishna—this time in concert with his
brother Balarama—during Krishna’s
childhood in the village of Brindavan. In
these episodes, Krishna dispatches the
most ferocious demons as if it were
child’s play, which in one sense it is.
Krishna’s presence in the world, and his
interaction with his devotees (bhakta),
is considered to be a lila(“play”), and
the ease with which he handles these
demons attests to this playful revelation
of his divine nature. For further consid-
eration of this theme, see David R.
Kinsley, The Sword and the Flute, 1975.Dhobi
A washerman, traditionally one who has
cleaned clothes by getting them wet andDhobiDhobis, or washermen, cleaning clothes by beating them on stone slabs.