A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

tïrtha 186
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 thousands
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 perform.
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 Puräæa he 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 following
the example of ŸRÏRA¢GAM. One
peculiar custom at Tirupati is the offering
of one’s hair. Veökafla also has the
reputation of fulfilling all the desires of
his devotees, who deliver large donations
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 festivals
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 generosity
and patience. Some trees are sacred
to specific deities: the TULASÏ is 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