Tantra (2)
A form of Hinduism in which ÿakti, the
energy of Ÿiva, is worshipped. ‘Right-
hand’ Tantra (daksinäcära) is a form of
Goddess worship similar to that of
Vi•æu. ‘Left-hand’ Tantra (vämäcära)
involves the worshippers in secret ritu-
als that are characterized as pañca-
makäras(the ‘5 ms’), namely madya
(intoxicating drinks), mäƒsa (meat),
matsya (fish), mudrä (parched grain and
gestures), and maithuna (extramarital
sexual intercourse).Tantra-värttika
A subcommentary by KUMÄRILA
BHAfifiAon part of the Ÿäbarabhä•ya.tapas (‘heat’)
Self-mortification. This is an important
notion in Hinduism from the earliest
times to the present. According to wide-
spread belief, self-mortification leads to
an accumulation of power which can be
used to summon the gods to be of ser-
vice. Many stories in the epics and
Puräæas tell of attempts by Indra and
other gods to prevent ascetics from accu-
mulating too much power through tapas,
by either having them seduced or pro-
voked to anger, through which all power
was annihilated. Hindu scriptures enu-
merate a great variety of forms of tapas:
besides fasting or not lying down to
sleep, they recommend standing in water
up to the neck, holding one arm up high,
looking into the sun etc. One of the most
celebrated forms is the ‘five-fire’ tapas:
an ascetic is to build four blazing cow-
dung fires, in each direction of the com-
pass. With the midday sun overhead (as
a fifth fire) he is to spend some time
exposed to the heat of all these fires.Tapo-loka
The second-highest of the worlds in the
Hindu universe, below Satyaloka (see
BRAHMÄ-LOKA).Tärä (‘star’)
The wife of BØHASPATI. She was abduct-
ed by Soma, the moon, and recovered
by Brahmä. She was delivered of a child,
fathered by Soma, whom she called
Budha (Mercury).tarka-ÿästra
(‘the science of reasoning’)
Formal logic, part of NYÄYA.Tarka-bhä•a
See KEŸAVAMIŸRA.tarpaæa
Libation, the sprinkling of water as part
of certain rituals, especially connected
with the commemoration of ancestors.tat tvam asi (‘that you are’)
One of the MAHÄVÄKYAS (from the
Chäæõogya Upani•ad) teaching the
unity of self (tvam) and absolute (tat).tattva
(‘principle’, ‘element’, ‘that-ness’)
True or essential nature.Tattva-cintä-maæi
A celebrated work by GA¢GEŸA, consid-
ered the basic text of Navya NYÄYA,
dealing with the PRAMÄŒAS.tattva-jñäna (‘knowledge of
principles, or of truth’)
Metaphysics.Telang, Käÿïnäth Trimbak
(1850–93)
Professor of law at Bombay University
and notable Sanskrit scholar, as well as
social reformer, editor of Bhartøhari’s
Nïti-ÿätaka and Vairägya-ÿätaka and
Viÿakhadatta’s Mudrä-räk•asa. He
wrote important essays on theTantra 182Encyclo - Letter T 10/2/03 10:00 am Page 182