Archives Glossary of special terms

bha-mandala

halo (cf. mandala)

bhadra

Central reliefed or projected part from each side of the body of the vimana or prasada as distinct from the corner projection (karna).

bhadra-sala

Oblong, wagon-topped miniature shrine of ayatasra type in the center of each side of the hara over the storeys of the vimana.

bhadrapitham

Square or rectangular supplemental pedestal to which an image and its padmapitham are attached and which they rest

bhadrasana

Square or rectangular supplemental pedestal to which an image and its padmapitham are attached and which they rest

bhakta

devotee; one who practices bhakti or devotion

bhakti

deep, intense, uncompromising devotion to a personal godhead, aspiring to mystical union with the divine (cf. bhakta)

bhava

emotion

bhitti

the wall (cf. kal)

bhitti-torana

Ornamental festoon on the wall, usually a makara-torana supported by two pilasters (cf. torana, makara-torana).

bhittika

one of the five sthānas or positions

bhogiyar

mistress, concubine

bhramaraka

ringlets of hair

Bhringi

ancient sage; devotee of Shiva

bhu

earth; the goddess Earth

bhujanga-trasita

‘scared by snake’, a dance-pose suggesting movement away from a snake out of fear

bhujanga-valaya

ornament on waist in the form of a coiled snake

bhumi

the storeys (cf. tala); Stage in the curvilinear superstructure (sikhara) or anda of a northern-style temple, often marked off at the corners by compressed amalaka’s – the karna-malakas or bhumia-malakas (bhumi, Tamil: பூமி).

bhusparsa

earth-touching attitude as when Buddha called earth as witness

bhuta

goblin

bhuta-gana

dwarfish goblin

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