Category Architectural elements

All architectural elements of the temples

kadalika-karana

Successive inward offsetting or corbelling-in of the roofing slabs or brick courses over walls to reduce the space to be roofed over an ultimate small opening on top that can be covered by a slab overlapping like a banana bunch.

Kadamba-Chalukya

Variant primarily of the rekha-Nagara-style prasada, or temple, in which the superstructural tiers comprise kapata (cornice) and kantha (neck) and are capped by a circular griva or gala (neck), and an amalasara, often without the sukanasika.

kal

the wall (cf. bhitti); part of the pilaster stambham is sometimes square in section, and at other times octagonal (kal, Tamil: கால்)

kalasa

(also kalasam or kalasha, Tamil: கலசம்) pot-shaped component of the capital of a pillar (cf. lasuna); wide-mouthed vase; lowermost member of the pillar capital, so-called after its shape. Also the vase-shaped finial over the amalaka of northern temples.

kalasam

(also kalasa or kalasha, Tamil: கலசம்) pot-shaped component of the capital of a pillar (cf. lasuna); wide-mouthed vase; lowermost member of the pillar capital, so-called after its shape. Also the vase-shaped finial over the amalaka of northern temples.

kalyana-mandapa

Mandapa or hall in which the ceremonial wedding of god and goddess in the form of utsava-murti’s or processional bronze icon is celebrated annually in South Indian temples. (kalyana-mandapa, Tamil: கலியாணமண்டபம்)

kambam

Pillar (cf. stambha or stambham)

kampu

a basement-moulding

kanakasabha

golden dance hall (of Natesa at Chidambaram)

kandam

a basement-moulding, (kandam, Tamil: காந்தம்)

kantha

neck

kantham

(also kan dam; Tamil: க்ண்டம்) Tenon of a bulbous capital; Notice: not to be confused with kandam.

kapata

cornice

kapota

Pigeon; overhanging cornice, usually flexed, projecting beyond the principal beam to throw off water from the terrace beyond the beam and joist-end or recesses of the adhishthana like kumudam and padma. (cf. kapotam, Tamil: கபோதம்)

kapotam

(also kabodam, Tamil: கபோதம்) originally a term applied to the kudu (cf. kudu), but later equated with the cornice by some writers (cf. kapota)

karna-kuta

(also karnakudu, Tamil: கர்ணகூடு) Miniatur sama-chaturasra (square) shrine at the corner of each storey of the vimana over the prastara, with a single stupi. It is rarely vritta (circular) or ashtasra (octagonal) on plan.

karna-sala

Miniature ayatasra (oblong) shrine with barrel-vault roof placed at the corner of each tala of a structure, usual in gopura’s.

karnakudu

(also karna-kuta, Tamil: கர்ணகூடு) Miniatur sama-chaturasra (square) shrine at the corner of each storey of the vimana over the prastara, with a single stupi. It is rarely vritta (circular) or ashtasra (octagonal) on plan.

kattu

prismatic section of a pillar; Intervening octagonal or polygonal portion between the bottom ans top squares of a pillar.

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