Archives Glossary of special terms

kachcha

Cloth folded to form a pleat

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.

kadraveya

a kind of snake; name of certain naga’s (serpent-demons)

kal

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

kalañju

A measure of weight used in weighing precious things like pearl, coral, perfumes, etc., also unit of bullion weight of gold; ancient weight measure.

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)

Kanappan

Shaivite poet-saint who was a hunter

kanchuk

‘shirt-wearer’, a chamberlain in the royal harem

kandam

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

kankana

wristlet (cf. valaya)

kantha

neck

kantham

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

kanthi

a stiff necklace

kanyadana

Sacred ceremony of giving away the bride in marriage

kapala

Literally human skull – used as begging bowl; skull-cap

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)

karai

a stiff necklace of large round gold beads strung on metal rather than thread

Karaikkal Ammaiyar

sixth-century female devotee of Shiva, included in canon of poet-saints; famed for renouncing bodily beauty to serve Shiva better

karanas

dance pose; classified and codified dance movements

karanda

basket-like

karanda-makuta

a conical crown of hairstyle in tiers bulgingin horizontal sections – the whole resembling a basket in shape; the tiers are called karandas (cf. karanda)

kari-hasta

hand held straight like a stick (see also danda-hasta and gaja-hasta)

karmara

metalworker

Karna

major character in the Mahabharata epic

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.

karna-veshtana

ear-ornament

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.

kartari

a holding gesture; In this hand-pose the hand is kept level with the shoulder. The thumb and the ring finger form a ring and the index and middle fingers are kept straight up to look like the horn of a… Continue Reading →

kartari-hasta

In this hand-pose the hand is kept level with the shoulder. The thumb and the ring finger form a ring and the index and middle fingers are kept straight up to look like the horn of a deer, in which… Continue Reading →

kartari-mudra

the gesture of kartari; In this hand-pose the hand is kept level with the shoulder. The thumb and the ring finger form a ring and the index and middle fingers are kept straight up to look like the horn of… Continue Reading →

kartari-mukha

fingers of the hand held like a pair of scissors to hold an object; In this hand-pose the hand is kept level with the shoulder. The thumb and the ring finger form a ring and the index and middle fingers… Continue Reading →

kasa

a flower

Kasyapa

Vedic sage

kataka

a pose of holding between the closed fingers; In this hand-pose, the tips of the fingers are loosely joined to the thumb to form a ring. This is done with a view to inserting a fresh flower in the hand… Continue Reading →

kataka-hasta

the pose of hand in kataka; In this hand-pose, the tips of the fingers are loosely joined to the thumb to form a ring. This is done with a view to inserting a fresh flower in the hand of the… Continue Reading →

kataka-mukha

hand in an attitude of holding a lily; In this hand-pose, the tips of the fingers are loosely joined to the thumb to form a ring. This is done with a view to inserting a fresh flower in the hand… Continue Reading →

kati-hasta

This is the pose of ease. The arm hangs loose and the hand is placed on the waist. Also called Katyavalambita.

kati-sutra

waist-band

kattu

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

katyavalambita

pose in which the hand is held straight below the hip; This is the pose of ease. The arm hangs loose and the hand is placed on the waist. Also called Kati-hasta.

kavacha

metal covering

kayotsarga

Kayotsarga means to give up one’s physical comfort and body movements, thus staying steady, either in a standing or other posture, and concentrating upon the true nature of the soul.

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