Tilottama (Sanskrit: तिलोत्तमा) is an Apsara. "Tila" is the Sanskrit word for sesame seed and "uttama" means better or higher. Tilottama therefore means the being whose smallest particle is the finest or one who is composed of the finest and highest qualities. She is reputed to have been created by Vishwakarma, at Brahma's request, by taking the best quality of everything as the ingredients. She was responsible for bringing about the mutual destruction of the Asuras, Sunda and Upasunda. She was cursed to be born as a Daitya princess by Durvasa muni. She was born as Usa, the daughter of Banasura.
Tilottama is now also used as a female name, which is abbreviated as "Tilo".
References
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