Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,135
Date uploaded in London – 27 August 2026
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Tevaram (tevaaram)
Book of Tamil poems on Lord Siva. Three great saints Tiru Gnana Sambandar, Tiru Navukkarasar (Appar) and Sundarar composed these poems. Senior most of the three, Appar, was a contemporary of great king Mahendra Pallava (600 CE) and Sambandar (640 CE). There are about 9000 poems grouped in seven books.
Tevaram means garland of divine songs or poems.
- Thiru gnana Sambandar: A child prodigy whose lively verses make up the first three volumes.
- Appar (Tirunavukkarasar): Known for deeply emotional and humble hymns that form volumes four, five, and six.
- Sundarar (Sundaramoorthy Nayanar): Composed the seventh volume, expressing a personal, close bond with Shiva.
- Paadal Petra Sthalams: The Tevaram praises 275 specific Shiva temples (mostly in Tamil Nadu, plus two in Sri Lanka), which are sacred pilgrimage sites known as Paadal Petra Sthalams prefixed with Tiru, equivalent to Sri or Holy.
- Musical Tradition: The poems are set to ancient Tamil musical modes called Pann, which correspond closely to Carnatic ragas. They are still chanted daily as a living tradition in many South Indian Shiva temples.
Like Vedic pundits learn Vedas from their teachers, Othuvars learn the poems from their seniors. They sing them in the temples every day. Tamil kings provided them grants.
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Thayumanavar (thaayumaanavar)
Thayumanavar was a distinguished Tamil poet-saint who lived in the first half of the eighteenth century, from 1705 to 1744 CE. His devotional poetry was frequently cited by Sri Ramana Maharishi. Thayumanavar was brought up in the Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu in the coastal town of Vedaranyam. His father, Kediliappa, came from an agricultural background but progressed from being a farmer to being the administrator of the local Vedapureeswarar Temple. He carried out this responsibility so well, he was subsequently offered the job of palace manager and royal advisor by Vijayaranga Chokkalinga Naicker, the reigning Prince of Tiruchirapalli. When Thayumanavar was born, his father named him after Thayumaneswarar, the presiding deity in the temple of Siragiri, which is nowadays known as the Tiruchirapalli Fort Temple.
Thayumanavar received a good education at court in which he ended up acquiring an outstanding knowledge of both Sanskrit and Tamil language and literature. He lost his father when he was still in his teens, and he was considered qualified to take over his job. Later he showed more interest in spiritualism than worldly affairs.
Thayumanavar articulated the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. he wrote several tamil hymns of which 1454 are available. Thayumanavar’s key teaching is to discipline the mind, control desires and meditate peacefully. He went on to say that “it is easy to control an elephant, catch hold of the tiger’s tail, grab the snake and dance, dictate the angels, transmigrate into another body, walk on water or sit on the sea; but it is more difficult to control the mind and remain quiet”. He met Mouna Guru Desigar, the head of a Saiva mutt in Tiruchi. Thayumanavar got married and became a father. His son was Kanagasabhapathy. When he lost his wife he became a wandering saint. Finally he went to Ramanathapuram and attained Samadhi in 1744. He is known for his unceasing emphasis on the unity of all paths to God and of all religions, and, in particular, on the unity of the Shaiva Siddhanta and Vedanta.
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Thillai (Chidambaram)
Most sacred Shrine for Tamil Saivites; for them temple means Chidambaram like Sri Rangam for Tamil Vasihavites. Thillai Nataraja temple has been in worship for at least 2000 years. Since Lord Siva as Nataraja (King of Dance) is the patron saint of dancers, they always pay tributes to him in dancing events. Choza and Pallava kings put golden roof for the temple. The unique feature of the temple is that it is maintained by Thillai 3000 Priests (Brahmins) unlike other temples. Thillai Vazh Anthaanar: Also known as the Dikshitars, this is an exclusive community of Vedic priests who serve as the hereditary trustees and archakas (priests) of the Nataraja temple.
Chidambara Rahasyam: The temple houses a famous mystical secret representing the formless, invisible aspect of Shiva as pure space or emptiness behind a draped curtain. Thillai Kali Temple: Located on the outskirts of Chidambaram, this historic temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The town is 229 kilometres, south of Chennai and can be reached within five hours.
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Tilakam/ tilak
Tilak is a sacred mark or symbol applied to the forehead or other parts of the body in Hindu tradition. Though both men and wear Tilaka it is a must for married women. They have to wear it throughout their lives, i.e. as long as their husbands live . But people living in western countries don’t follow it strictly fearing racial discrimination.
- Sacred Mark: Derived from Sanskrit, a tilaka is a paste made of sandalwood, ash, vermillion, clay, or turmeric.
- Energy Center: It is placed on the Ajna chakra (the third-eye point between the eyebrows) to help calm the different types of Tilak are used by different Hindu sects.
Even ancient statues of Budddha show it prominently.
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Tilak B G
Bala Gangadhara Tilak was a freedom fighter and a great scholar. He kindled nationalist spirit in Maharashtra through Ganesh Chaturthy/Jayanti. Now it is the national festival of Maharashtrians. He is known for his research in the Rig Veda. He dated it around 4000 BCE through astronomical calculations. A strange coincidence was that German Sanskrit scholar Herman Jacobi also arrived at the same date both of them did the research independently.
Buddha with Tilak on his forehead
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Tilottama
A beautiful Apsaras, divine damsel, created by Brahma through synthesis of best elements available in the three worlds. She was sent down to earth in order to cause mutual destruction of the rakshasa brothers s
Sunda and Upa sunda. She made her seductive appearance in front of the two brothers when they were intoxicated and in their fight for her possession, they killed each other. Narada tod this episode to Yuthisthira.
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Trasadasyu
A king whom rishi Agastya, accompanied by king Shrutarva and Bragnashwa, went to ask for wealth in order to please his wife Lopamudra. Trasadasyu expressed his inability to provide any wealth but agreed to accompany the visitors to demon Ilvala who was wealthy.
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Trijata
Trijata is a compassionate demoness (rakshasi) in the Ramayana who protects and comforts Sita while she is held captive in Sri Lanka by Ravana. Unlike the other demonic guards who threaten and torment Sita, Trijata shows her deep kindness, empathy, and respect. Trijata dreams of Ravana’s total destruction, Lanka burning in red flames, and Lord Rama’s ultimate victory. She uses this vision to stop the other demonesses from harassing Sita and to give Sita hope. Lineage: She is often described as the daughter of Vibhishana, Ravana’s righteous brother who aids Rama Following Rama’s victory, both Rama and Sita shower Trijata with rich rewards and praise for her loyalty and care.
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Tri loka
Tri-loka literally means “three worlds” in Sanskrit and refers to the threefold division of the universe in Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Triloka (त्रिलोक).—The Sanskrit term tri-loka is often found in Vedic scriptures. Tri-loka means three worlds. The universe is divided into three worlds, or realms of consciousness: bhūr, bhuvaḥ and svaḥ (the gross region, the subtle region and the celestial region).
Triloka (त्रिलोक).—The conception of the triloka—earth, mid-space and heaven, or nether-world, earth and heaven—has been depicted in the figure of Viṣṇu Trivikrama.
Narada, Deva Rishi, is often called Tri Loka Sanchari, meaning that he is an Inter Galactic Traveller and travels faster than light.
Bhurloka: The Earth or the human realm. Bhuvarloka / Svarga: The atmosphere or celestial heaven of the gods. Naraka / Patala: The netherworld or underworld.
Consciousness: These worlds also represent physical, subtle, and celestial planes of existence.
Brahmins use these lokas along with four more lokas in their thrice a day Sandhyavandana.
The Seven Higher Lokas
- Bhurloka: The physical earth and the realm of human action and karma.
- Bhuvarloka: The atmospheric intermediate region between earth and the sun, home to semi-divine beings.
- Svarloka (Svargaloka): The celestial heaven ruled by Indra and inhabited by the devas.
- Maharloka: The abode of great enlightened sages and rishis.
- Janaloka: The realm where the pure-minded spiritual sons of Brahma reside.
- Tapoloka: The sphere of intense penance and ascetics.
- Satyaloka (Brahmaloka): The highest realm of ultimate truth and the residence of Lord Brahma
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Tri sankhu
A prince of olden times who was expelled by his father from the kingdom of Ayodhya. He then became a disciple of sage/king vishwamitra with whose blessings he regained the throne. At the end of his life he wanted to ascend to heaven/ swarga with his human body. First he approached Vasishta to perform an appropriate yagna. When he said that he could not do it he insisted that he must do it. At once Vasishta’s son cursed him to become a low caste chandala. In this form he went to Vishwamitra and he did the yagna as requested by him. When he went up to swarga he was denied entry and pushed back to earth. When he sought Vishwamitra’s help again he arrested his fall and caused him to remind suspended in mid-air. This episode was related to Pandavas to illustrate the rishi’s powers.
Trisankhu is in the form of stars in the southern heaven which the westerners named the Southern Cross. This constellation is in the flags of five countries: Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.
In Sangam Tamil literature a Chera king helped a poet and his wife to ascend to heaven through Yagna. It is in Sangam book Pathitruppaththu.
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Trita
Trita – a great rishi/seer of ancient times who was well verse in the Vedas and Vedic fire sacrifices. Trita means Mr Three. He had two brothers Ekata and Dwita. They mean Mr One and Mr Two. They were also learned and accompanied Trita to various yagnas /fire sacrifices and collected a lot of cattle between them. Once while out in a forest, both Ekata and Dwita planned to take all the cattle for themselves and abandon Trita. They were then attacked by a wolf and all of them ran in different directions. Trita hid himself in a deep well and shouted for help. Ekata and Dwita did not go for his rescue, though they heard his cries.
Trita being unable to get out of the well by himself, decided to perform a yagna to please the gods; by sheer mental force he imagined all the essential articles for the yagna and conducted it. Gods were very pleased and got him out of the well. Trita then cursed his two wicked brothers to be turned into two wolves. The well where Trita performed mental yagna became a holy spot. During Mahabharata war, Krishna’s brother Balarama remained neutral and went on a pilgrimage. When he visited this holy well, the history of the well was recalled. It is in the ninth parva of Mahabharata.
This story can be compared with great Tamil Saivite saint Poosalaar Nayanar who built a temple mentally and invited god Siva for the consecration. A Choza king fixed the same date for his real Siva temple. When God went to the imaginary mental temple of Poosalar Nayanar, the king came to know about the great Nayanar. There are many stories in Hindu scriptures to show the power of mind.
To be continued…………………
Tags -Trita, Poosalar, Trisanku, Southern Star, Tevaram, Thayumanavar, 104HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL 104; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-104
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Tamil and Vedas 