Tirthika, aka: Tīrthika; 5 Definition(s)

Introduction

Tirthika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Tīrthika (तीर्थिक).—Another group of Siddhas that existed during the 10th and 11th centuries was known as Tīrthika Siddhas. They became celebrated for their extraordinary knowledge; fond of debates and display of their knowledge among the public or in the royal courts.

The tīrthikas were distinguished by certain symbols like umbrellas. It is said that once a tīrthika-paṇḍita from the South India was honoured with five umbrellas for challenging Dipaṅkara (C.E. 982-1054), who was celebrated for his scholarship not only among the contemporary Buddhists and others.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Tīrthika (तीर्थिक).—The Sanskrit word tīrthika is often translated as ‘heretic’, but tīrthika in fact refers to someone who is on a path other than the Buddhist one.

According to Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations on text section 163: “The Buddha has surpassed all the paths of the tīrthikas. Even when the tīrthikas reach the peak of worldly existence, they can never go beyond the confines of worldly existence [srid pa]. The great masters of the tīrthika systems can reach saṃsāra’s peak but never go beyond that point because they have not realized the wisdom of egolessness. Tīrthika masters can temporarily overcome gross afflictions, but they never attain the wisdom of egolessness. Tīrthika meditation masters at best take rebrith in the subtle spheres of the realms of formlessness [gzugs med khams].”

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geogprahy

Tīrthika.—(EI 9), Buddhist; teacher of a religion other than one's own; a non-Buddhist (especially, Śaiva) teacher. (EI 32), same as Tairthika, ‘a priest’. Note: tīrthika is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Tīrthika (तीर्थिक).—

1) A pilgrim, an ascetic Brāhmaṇa (visiting holy places).

2) An adherent or head of any other than one's own creed; Buddha, Jaina.

Derivable forms: tīrthikaḥ (तीर्थिकः).

Tīrthika (तीर्थिक).—(also para-t°; see prec. and next items; probably Sktized from MIndic (Pali) titthiya, see tīrthya; both are very common in prose as well as verses), (1) heretic; like its relatives, pejoratively used; there is one seeming exception, tīrthikā vā bhavanti bhavasūdanāḥ Mv i.106.8 (verse), where if the text is correct it seems to be said of Bodhisattvas in the 8th bhūmi that they become religious prophets (or the like), destroying (the states of normal) existence. I suspect a corruption, and cannot explain the text as it stands any more than Senart (his doubtful suggestion based on LV Calc. 313.19 falls now with the reading of that text, which in Lefm. 250.1 is replaced by…tīrthyāḥ, heretics, kurvante). However, it is barely possible that this one Mv passage preserves the original neutral meaning, adherent (or founder) of (any) religion. A trace of this may also remain in the not infrequent pre- fixation of anya- to t°, other (than Buddhist) sectarian, LV 268.12; Mv iii.49.12 (anyatīrthikapūrvo, formerly a member of another sect); 412.7; or para-t°, q.v.; compare kutīr- thikā(ḥ) LV 12.10, members of base (heretical) sects. Other- wise, and very often, tīrthika alone means heretic simply: SP 272.10; LV 250.21; 258.1; 260.9; Mv i.45.10; 69.17; ii.135.12; iii.392.7 (śramaṇa-brāhmaṇa-tīrthika-gaṇikā, apparently implying that brahmans were not included among tīrthikas; this cpd. appears in some of the other passages listed); Mvy 3514; Divy 146.19; 152.5; 275.9; Av i.2.6; 16.3 etc., common; Bhad 52; Bbh 173.11 etc.; [Page255-a+ 71] yat kiṃcit tīrthikaliṅgaṃ…LV 409.17; Mv iii.329.11, whatever (external) mark (dress etc.) of heretics (was borne by converts, all magically disappeared and they wore the aspect of Buddhist monks); tīrthikāvakrāntaka, see avakrāntaka; (2) n. of a nāga: Mvy 3320; (3) see s.v. sama-tīrthika.

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