sikhara
(also sikaram, Tamil: சிகரம்) top-covering of the vimana, above the griva; the crown; of various shapes such as square, bulbous, octagonal and wagon-roof;
Roof of the vimana over the griva, domical or four-sided with a single finial, vaulted with many finials on the ridge or apsidal with many finials over the horizontal part. The entire superstructure (anda) is of northern prasada’s.
Bulbous Sikhara on the Durga shrine (Brihadesvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram)
Square Sikhara on the Ganesh temple (Brihadesvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram)
Octagonal Sikhara on the Tenkailasa shrine (Brihadesvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram)
Wagon-roof Sikhara on the three-tiered Gopura Sri Rajarajan Tiruvayil (Brihadesvara Temple in Thanjavur)
