| 词条 | Tulabhara |
| 释义 |
Tulabhara, also known as Tula-purusha (IAST: Tulāpuruṣa) or Tula-dana, is an ancient Hindu practice in which a person is weighed against a commodity (such as gold, grain, fruits or other objects), and the equivalent weight of that commodity is offered as donation. The Tulabhara ceremony is observed in several parts of India. HistoryThe Atharvaveda-parishishta, composed in the 1st millennium BCE, describes tula-purusha, besides other sacrifices such as the hiranya-garbha (the donation of a golden vessel) and go-sahasra (the donation of a thousand cows).{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=146}} A section of the later text Matsya Purana mentions the tula-purusha ceremony as the first and the best among the sixteen great donations (maha-danas).{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=145}} According to scholar R. C. Hazara, this particular section was composed during 550-650 CE.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=146}} The Linga Purana also mentions the sixteen great donations; according to R. C. Hazara, the relevant portion of the text was composed during c. 600-1000 CE, most probably after 800 CE. These donations are also described in the later digests devoted to the topic of charity (dāna), such as Ballala's Dana-sagara, and the Danakhanda section of Hemadri's Chaturvarga-chintamani (13th century).{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=146}} DescriptionThe Matsya Purana provides several requirements for a tula-purusha ceremony, including directions for constructing the mandapa (pavillion) required for the ceremony. It states that the weighing scale (tula) should have two posts and a crossbeam, made from the same wood, and should be ornamented with gold.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=146}} The text further states that the ceremony should be officiated by eight priests (rtvij), two for each of the four Vedas. A man knolwedgable about the Vedanta, the Puranas, and the Shastras, should be appointed as the preceptor (guru). Four homas should be offered to the deities, accompanied by the recital of Vedic hymns.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=146}} After the homa ceremony, the guru should invoke the Lokapalas (deities associated with directions) with flowers, incense, and recital of mantras. Next, the brahmanas should bathe the donor, and have him wear a white garment. The donor should wear garlands made of white flowers, and circumambulate the weighing scale with flowers in his folded hands.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=147}} Finally, the text states, the donor should step into one of the pans of the weighing scale, and the brahmanas should place pure gold pieces of equal weight in the other pan. After invoking the Goddess Earth, the donor should give half the gold to the guru, and the rest to the brahmanas. The donor may also grant villages to the priests. The donor should "honour the brahmanas, other respectable people, and the poor and the helpless with gifts".{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=147}} The Linga Purana gives a similar description, and adds that the gold pieces should be dedicated to the god Shiva.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=147}} PerformancesSeveral legendary performances of Tulabhara are mentioned in the ancient Indian texts. For example, in the Mahabharata, King Shibi, a descendant of King Bharata of the Lunar dynasty, was tested by Lord Dharmaraja and Agni. They approached Shibi in the forms of an eagle and a dove. The dove sought Shibi's protection from the eagle, who asked Shibi to give his flesh measure for measure in exchange for the dove's life. Shibi, ready to offer anything to save the dove, began slice off bits of himself. Even after much cutting, the balance scales did not move, and when at last when Shibi himself stood on the scale of the balance, the Gods appeared to him and blessed him.[1] Several inscriptions of India also mention the historical performances of the tula-purusha.{{sfn|Annette Schmiedchen|2006|p=147}} Tulabhara mandapas are two small four pillared found in temples like Sri Varadharajaswami temple, Kanchi where Vijayanagar king Achyutaraya performed Muladhara in 1532.[2] Sivayoganathaswamin temple at Tiruvisalur is the place where Chola king Rajaraja I performed his Tulabhara. It is stated in the Tamil work Koyilolugu that Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I constructed several tulapurusha mandapas in Srirangam temple and performed tulabhara there.[3] The Islamic Mughal rulers also appear to have borrowed the tula-dana practice from the Hindu rulers. According to emperor Akbar's courtier Abu'l-Fazl, Akbar was weighed against gold and other valuable items twice every year. English visitors such as Thomas Coryat and Thomas Roe mention that the custom was followed by his son Jahangir as well. Jahangir's successor Aurangzeb discontinued the practice for himself, but his sons were apparently weighed against objects to be donated, upon recovery from illness. This is suggested by the writings of the European travelers Niccolao Manucci, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, and François Bernier.[4] In 2015, the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickramasinghe participated in a tulabharam ceremony at the Guruvayur Temple, and offered 77 kg of sandalwood worth approximately {{INR}} 850,000 to the temple.[5] References1. ^{{Cite book|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 2:|last=Book 2: The Book of Assembly;|first=Book 3: The Book of the Forest|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2014|isbn=|location=London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfhJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA470|pages=470}} 2. ^{{Cite book|title=Sri Varadarajaswami Temple|last=A Study of Its History, Art and Architecture|first=Kanchi|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=2003|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=50}} 3. ^{{Cite book|title=South Indian Shrines|last=Illustrated|first=|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1982|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=19}} 4. ^{{cite book |editor1=S. M. Edwardes |editor2=H. L. O. Garrett |title=Mughal Rule in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4aqU9Zu7mFoC&pg=PA220 |year=1995 |orig-year=1930 |publisher=Atlantic |isbn=978-81-7156-551-1 |pages=220–221}} 5. ^{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/lankan-pm-ranil-wickramasinghe-offers-worship-at-guruvayur-temple/articleshow/46968692.cms|title=Lankan PM Ranil Wickramasinghe offers worship at Guruvayur temple|last=|first=|date=|website=The Economic Times|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}} Bibliography{{ref begin}}
3 : Rituals in Hindu worship|Donation|Human weight |
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