A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

189 twice-born
tri-varga (2)
Three conditions: loss, stability and
increase.
tri-varga (3)
The three qualities of nature: sattva,
rajas, tamas.
tri-varga (4)
The three higher VARŒAS: Brähmaæas,
K•atriyas and Vaiÿyas.
Tri-vikrama
A name of VIÆŒU, referring to the three
strides he took at BALI’s sacrifice.
truth
The Sanskrit word satya means both
truth and reality; it is the central notion
of Hindu ethics and philosophy/theology.
Truthfulness is the highest and most
inclusive virtue; the search for reality –
satyasya satya, ‘the reality of the real,
the truth of truth’ – is the ultimate aim
of VEDÄNTA. The ‘golden age’ of
humankind was called satyayuga, the
age of truth when people were honest
and did not need any laws. In Hindu
philosophy much effort was spent on
definining criteria for truth (PRAMÄŒAS).
SAMNYÄSA is meant to be an uncompromising
search for truth/reality not hindered
by the necessities of conventions
and the burden of everyday occupations.
Mahatma GANDHI prided himself in
reversing the adage ‘God is Truth’ into
‘Truth is God’ and he called his political
method satyägraha, ‘truth- grasping’. His
autobiography bears the title My
Experiments with Truth. The Indian
government adopted the Upani•adic formula
satyam eva jayate (Truth will be
victorious) as the crest on its official seal.
Tukäräm(a) (1608–49)
Mahratta poet-saint. Born into a ŸÜDRA
family in Dehu, near Pune, he grew up
in a family that worshipped VIfiHOBA
(Vi•æu). Neglecting his family business,
he spent his days composing abhaögs
(songs) in the temple. His life is surrounded
by many miraculous events.
He is one of the most popular of all
poet-saints, and his memory is kept
alive by the Värkarïs, a group of devotees
of Viflhoba at Dehu, who meet
every fortnight to spend hours singing
Tukäräm’s abhaögs.
tulasï
The sacred basil, a shrub identified with
the presence of Vi•æu, kept by each
pious VAIÆŒAVA household in a pot,
worshipped and used in rituals. Beads
made from its wood (tulsïmälä) are
worn by many Vai•æavas around the
arm and neck, and also carried along to
count JAPA of the holy names.
Tul(a)sïdäs(a) (1511–1637)
(‘servant of the tulasï’)
Celebrated author of the Rämcaritmanas,
a Hindï (Avadhï) recreation of
the Rämäyaæa, which has become the
most popular religious book of North
India, and of many hymns and poems
celebrating the greatness of Räma.
turïya (‘the fourth [state]’)
A designation of the highest stage of
CONSCIOUSNESS, when subject–object
duality disappears.
Tvastø
In the Øgveda he is the ideal artist and
artisan, manufacturer of many wonderful
contraptions, nourisher of all beings.
His son Viÿvarüpa, three-headed and
six-eyed, became an enemy of Indra and
was killed by him. In the Puräæas Tvastø
is identified with VIŸVAKARMA (2), the
architect of the gods.
twice-born
See DVIJÄTI.