Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

sequence can no longer sustain even a

k•aæa. In dharmameghasamädhï the

YOGI reaches a zero-time experience

before merging his consciousness in the

timeless KAIVALYA.

tïrtha (‘ford’)

A place of PILGRIMAGE. There are thou-

sands of places of pilgrimage in India,

visited every year by millions of people.

Each tïrtha offers something special, be

it a particular blessing, the favour of a

deity or a natural peculiarity. Usually

pilgrims arriving at a tïrtha are being

taken care of by local paæõas (guides)

who for a fee show the pilgrims around

and tell them what ceremonies to per-

form.

Tirukkural (first century CE?)

Ancient collection of aphorisms, in

Tamil, often called the ‘Tamil Bible’

because of its popularity and wisdom.

Tirumal

Tamil name for VIÆŒU.

Tirumular

The legendary author of the 3,000 verse

Tirumaæõira, an importance source for

Ÿaiva Siddhänta. According to the

Periya Puräæahe was born in Kailäsa,

entered the body of a dead cowherd,

and spent 3,000 years composing the

Tirumaæõira, one verse per year. The

Tirumaæõira, one of the earliest works

of Tamil Ÿaivism, is believed to have

been written in the seventh or eighth

century CE.

Tirupati (‘Holy Lord’)

Arguably the most popular and richest

Hindu temple, in Andhra Pradesh,

sacred to Veökafla, assumed to be

HARI–HARA, i.e. a combination of Vi•æu

and Ÿiva. While it functioned as a Ÿaiva

shrine for several centuries, RÄMÄNUJA

declared the image to be Vi•æu and

introduced a mode of worship follow-

ing the example of ŸRÏRA¢GAM. One

peculiar custom at Tirupati is the offer-

ing of one’s hair. Veökafla also has the

reputation of fulfilling all the desires of

his devotees, who deliver large dona-

tions of money and valuables into a

huge hundi (chest). The temple complex

is under the administration of the

Tamilnäõü Devasthänam Board and its

enormous income is used, among other

things, to support the Veökafleÿvar

University and a temple museum.

Tiru-väcakam (‘sacred utterances’)

The title of a celebrated collection of

hymns in honour of Ÿiva, by

MÄŒIKKAVÄCAKAR, one of the 63

Näyaæmärs.

tithi (‘day’)

The thirtieth part of a lunar month, the

basic unit of the Hindu calendar,

according to which sacred days and fes-

tivals are calculated. (See also TIME,

DIVISIONS OF.)

Tolkappiam (second century CE)

An ancient Tamil grammar, considered

the oldest Tamil text.

tradition

See SMØTI.

transmigration

See REBIRTH.

trees

Trees are considered models of generos-

ity and patience. Some trees are sacred

to specific deities: the TULASÏis sacred to

Vai•æavas, the bilva to Ÿaivites. Major

trees in or near a village often become

objects of worship, or shrines are built

beneath them. There is also a ceremony

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