Triphala
Another name for the Urdhvapundra,
the characteristic forehead mark of
renunciant ascetics who are devotees
(bhakta) of the god Vishnu. Although
there is considerable variation, the basic
form is three vertical lines, in contrast to
the three horizontal lines worn by
Shaiviteascetics. See Urdhvapundra.
Tripundra
Sectarian mark of three horizontal lines,
most commonly applied to the forehead
but which can also be applied to the
back, heart, shoulders, arms, and legs.
The tripundra marks the person wearing
it as a devotee (bhakta) of the god Shiva,
and although this mark is most com-
monly worn by renunciant ascetics,
householders also wear it. According to
one interpretation, the three lines repre-
sent the three prongs of Shiva’s trident;
according to another, they symbolize
Shiva’s third eye. The three lines are
drawn by dipping the first three fingers of
the right hand into a sacred ash known as
vibhuti (“power”) and then drawing
them across the forehead. In earlier times
vibhuti was made from wood ash that
had been sifted through cloth until it was
as fine as talcum powder. This is still done
today, primarily by ascetics who usually
use the ash from a dhuni, or smoldering
ascetic fire, which has sacred character-
istics; vibhuti can also be bought in stores
selling religious supplies.
Tripura
(“three cities”) In Hindu mythology, the
triple city built by the three sons of the
demon Taraka: Kamalaksha, Tarakaksha,
and Vidyunmali. Shiva eventually
destroyed the demons’ three cities, and
as a result one of Shiva’s epithets is
Tripurari, the “Enemy of the Three City.”
Tripurari
Epithet of Shivaas the enemy (ari) of the
Triple City (Tripura). According to the
mythic charter, three demons are
dismayed by their continuing defeats at
the hands of the gods, and they begin to
perform harsh asceticism(tapas) to find
the means to counter this. The god
Brahmafinally comes to them, willing
to reward them with boons. However,
when the demons learn that absolute
invulnerability is impossible, they lay
down the condition that each of them
should build a city that can move over
the earth, which will come together only
once in a long time, and that these cities
can be destroyed only by a single arrow
that pierces through them all at the
same time.
This boon renders the demons prac-
tically invulnerable, and they proceed to
build three magnificent cities—one of
iron, one of silver, and one of gold. They
grow rich and prosperous, but over time
they are corrupted by power and began
to oppress the earth. Finally the gods
petition Brahma for help, and Brahma
informs them that the only one with the
strength to fulfill this condition is the
god Shiva. The gods build him a bow
and arrow, and when the conjunction of
the three cities takes place, Shiva sends aTripurariAn ascetic wearing tripundra markings,
three horizontal lines that indicate he
is a devotee of the god Shiva.