Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

called ‘marriage of the trees’, when two

close-standing trees are united in a ritu-

al not unlike that of vivaha(MARRIAGE).

Tretä Yuga

The second of the four world ages. (See

also TIME, DIVISIONS OF.)

trident (triÿula)

Ÿiva’s weapon. It is also carried by

Ÿaivite NÄGAS(3) both as a symbol and

a weapon.

triguæa (‘[possessing] three qualities’)

The designation of matter (prakøti) as

composed of sattva (light), rajas (excite-

ment) and tamas (darkness), affecting

all material entities. (See alsoGUŒA.)

Trilocana (‘three-eyed’)

A designation of Ÿiva, who has a third

eye in the middle of his forehead that is

very destructive. He burned KÄMAto

death with a glance from it.

triloka (‘three worlds’)

Variously understood as either compris-

ing netherworlds (näraka), earth

(bhümi) and heaven (svarga), or earth

(bhurloka), sky (bhuvarloka) and plan-

ets (svarloka). The great gods are often

called ‘rulers of the three worlds’.

tri-märga (‘three ways’)

The triad of karmamärga (path of

action), bhaktimärga (path of devotion)

and jñänamärga (path of knowledge).

187 tri-märga

The wedding of trees.

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