A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

tri-mürti 188
tri-mürti
(‘three forms’)
The designation either of the triad of
Brahmä (creator), Vi•æu (sustainer) and
Ÿiva (destroyer), or of the three aspects
of either Vi•æu, Ÿiva or Devï, each exercising
these three functions.
A replica of the famous Tri-mürti in the
caves of Ganapuri (Elephants) near
Mumbai (Bombay).
tripunõøa
A mark on the forehead consisting of
three parallel lines, made with ashes
from cowdung, which Ÿaivites have to
apply before worship. Without wearing
this sign all prayers would be fruitless.
(See also ŸAIVISM.)
Tri-purä
A name of the Goddess (DEVÏ). A
famous tantric text is called
Tripurärahasya.
Tri-pura
(‘triple city’)
An aerial tri-tiered phenomenon, which
was destroyed by Ÿiva. The story
according to the Ÿiva Puräæas, is that
three ASURAS (demons), desirous of
immortality, asked MAYA, the divine
artificer, to construct three aerial
fortresses – one each of gold, silver and
iron – of immense dimensions, and
wonderfully equipped with all conceivable
amenities. They terrorized the population
of the earth from their triple
city, and so humans and devas (gods)
asked Brahmä for help. Brahmä told
them that only Sthänu (an aspect of
Ÿiva) could pierce all three cities with
one shaft. Ÿiva accordingly had an
armoured car made, with the help of all
the gods, and shot a fiery arrow into
Tripura, destroying it.
Triÿaöku (‘three arrows’)
A mythical king of the solar dynasty, he
was first called Satyavrata but later
called Triÿaöku because he had ruined
his reputation through the three
‘arrows’ of adultery, cow killing and
beef eating. He tried to persuade his
family priest, VAŸIÆfiHA, to perform a
SACRIFICE through which he would be
able bodily to ascend to heaven. Triÿaöku
was condemned by Vaÿi•flha to
become a caæõäla (OUTCASTE), but
VIŸVAMITRA, who had been helped by
Triÿaöku in times of famine, performed
the ritual. Rejected by INDRA at the
entrance to heaven, Triÿaöku remained
suspended from the vault of heaven,
head downwards, and can be seen as a
star. Triÿaöku is often referred to in
India as an example for a task only half
accomplished.
tri-sthalï
(‘three places’)
The most sacred places of PILGRIMAGE
for Hindus: Väräæasï, Gayä and
Präyäga. There is a famous work by
Naräyaæabhaflfla, Tristhalïsetu (‘Bridge
of Three Places’), which describes them
in detail.
tri-varga (1) (‘three states’)
The three aims of life: ARTHA (1)
(wealth), KÄMA and DHARMA (law).