talcum powder. This is still done today,
particularly by ascetics who usually use
the ash from a dhuni or smoldering
ascetic fire, which is believed to give the
ash a sacred quality; in modern times
vibhuti has become available in stores
that sell religious supplies.
Vichitravirya
In Hindu mythology, the son of
Satyavati and king Shantanu. Vichi-
travirya dies after his marriage to
Ambikaand Ambalika, but before he
has fathered any children. In her desper-
ation to perpetuate King Shantanu’s lin-
eage, Satyavati calls on her eldest son,
Vyasa, to sleep with the two wives. From
this union Vyasa sires Pandu and
Dhrtarashtra, whose descendants form
the major warring factions in the
Mahabharata, the later of the two great
Sanskritepics.
Vicious Circle
In Indian logic, one of the fallaciesto be
avoided in constructing an argument. A
vicious circle occurs when a series of
things stand in a cause-and-effect rela-
tionship to one another, with any one of
them standing as both cause and effect.
For example, when “a” causes “b,” and
“b” causes “c,” (somewhere down the
line) “x” causes “a.” This is seen as an
extended case of self-residence—saying
that “a” is both cause and effect—and is
equally objectionable.
Vidhi
Philosophical concept that is found in
the Mahabharataand Ramayana, the
two great Sanskritepics. As portrayed
there, vidhi is an impersonal force con-
trolling and constraining both the gods
and human beings; this notion corre-
sponds best to the idea of fate.
Vidura
In Hindu mythology, the son of the sage
Vyasaand the serving maid of Queen
Ambika. Ambika and her sister
Ambalika are the wives of King
Vichitravirya, who has died without
heirs. In a desperate attempt to save
the lineage, Vichitravirya’s mother,
Satyavati, summons her son, Vyasa, to
sleep with his brother’s two wives.
Ambika and Ambalika both sponta-
neously recoil from Vyasa, and each of
their sons is born with a defect:
Ambalika turns pale, causing her son
Panduto be born with an unnaturally
pale complexion; Ambika covers her
eyes,causing her son Dhrtarashtrato be
born blind. Ambika is so repulsed by
Vyasa’s appearance that when she is told
to sleep with him again, she sends her
serving maid instead. In contrast to the
two sisters, Ambika’s maid gives herself
willingly to Vyasa, and as a reward deliv-
ers a handsome son named Vidura.
According to one legend, Vidura is a
partial avatarof Dharma, the god who
is righteousness personified. Vidura
always shows his righteousness in his
dealings with the Pandavas and the
Kauravas, the epic’s two warring fac-
tions. As the Kauravas become more and
more wicked, this inclines him more
toward the Pandavas, for whom he
serves as a trusted and faithful adviser. It
is Vidura who realizes the danger in the
House of Lac—a house built entirely of
highly flammable materials—and
makes arrangements for the Pandavas
to escape from it. During the Maha-
bharatawar, he remains neutral, but
after the war is over he again serves as
an adviser to King Yudhishthira, the
eldest of the Pandavas, and to
Yudhishthira’s brothers.Vidyadhara
(“wisdom-bearer”) Class of semidivine
beings. The Vidyadharas are generally
believed to live in the Himalayas
and are thus often associated with
the god Shiva, whose home is also said
to be there. Vidyadharas are generally
benevolent toward human beings and
are often (as their name suggests)
associated with bringing wisdom to
those they favor.Vidyadhara