Category Architectural elements

All architectural elements of the temples

pada

Pillar (cf. stambha or stambham)

padma

Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padmam, Tamil: பத்மம்).

padma-bandha

(also padma-bandham, Tamil: பத்மபந்தம்) Broad fillet, ringing the top of the shaft of a pillar, marked by decorative bands between rows of lotus petals, separating the shaft from the capital; lotus-frieze

padma-bandham

(also padma-bandha, Tamil: பத்மபந்தம்) Broad fillet, ringing the top of the shaft of a pillar, marked by decorative bands between rows of lotus petals, separating the shaft from the capital; lotus-frieze

padmam

Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padma, Tamil: பத்மம்).

palagai

abacus or tailloir; (palagai, Tamil: பலகை) part of the capital of a pillar (cf. stambham)

pali

Capital member, same as padma, but without scalloped petals.

panchara

(also panjara or panjaram, Tamil: பஞ்சரம்) ‘Nest’, a cage-like decorative motif for a niche or base, attique: a small pavilion (cf. panjara); Miniature apsidal shrine; same as nida.

panjara

(also panjaram, Tamil: பஞ்சரம்) ‘Nest’, a cage-like decorative motif for a niche or base, attique: a small pavilion (cf. panchara); Miniature apsidal shrine; same as nida.

parivara

subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.

parivara-devatas

Also called avarana-devatas, or subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.

parivaradevatagriham

on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaradevatagriham)

parivaralaya

(also parivara) on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaralaya)

parsva-devata

sculpture of a deity placed in a niche on the outer wall of the garbhagriha or on the upper tala of the vimana

patta

Plain or decorated bands occupying the median face of the corbel, as if binding the rolls of taranga mouldings of the corbel.

pattai

The two prismatic parts of the pillar with facets (pattai, Tamil: பட்டை).

pattigai

a basement-moulding

pattika

Projected top slab of the platform or adhishthana in line with the vertical norm or manasutra – a major moulding of considerable thickness.

pavilion

Pavilion with ornaments, pillars and kudu

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