Category Architectural elements

All architectural elements of the temples

sabha-mandapa

Mandapa with shrine of Nataraja in the southern temples, generally facing south.

sadharana-mandapa

hell resting on between 28 and 100 pillars

saduram

Square basal, intermediate or terminal section of a pillar separated by octagonal, polygonal or circular intermediary parts (saduram, Tamil: சதுரம்).

sala

(also salai), rectangular ornamental panjara (panchara) with wagon-roof, on the storeys of the vimana; a hut-shaped, barrel-roofed pavilion (cf. kuta and nasi)

sala-dvara

main temple-gateway/gopuram with 2 to 4 storeys

sala-shrine

Vimana of ayatasra type (oblong on plan) with barrel-vault roof and a series of stupi on its ridge.

sala-sikhara

Sikhara peculiar to sala-shrine, barrel-vault, wagon-top or inverted, keel-shaped.

salai

(Old Tamil: சாலை, Modern Tamil: சாலை, also sala), rectangular ornamental panjara (panchara) with wagon-roof, on the storeys of the vimana; a hut-shaped, barrel-roofed pavilion (cf. kuta and nasi)

sama-chaturasra

square

sandhara

Structure with a closed or covered circuit passage or ambulatory round the cella or the sanctum as in a double-walled structure (opposit of nirandhara).

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