Pillar (cf. stambha or stambham)
crossed legs
foot-first to hair
a pendant inlaid with jewels
literally ‘temple sung of’ (in the saints’ poems); sacred sites of hallowed antiquity
(also padapitha); foot-stool
an ornament worn below the ankle designed to lie loose on the foot; jewel for the feet
Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padmam, Tamil: பத்மம்).
(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
(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
dwarf attendant of Kubera holding a lotus in his hand
Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padma, Tamil: பத்மம்).
(also padmapitha); a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus
Lotus pose: a seated pose of ease with the legs crossed and feet resting on the thighs with the soles turned up; alternativly, the lotus shaped seat or pedestal (also padma-pitham)
wooden sandal
side line
abacus or tailloir; (palagai, Tamil: பலகை) part of the capital of a pillar (cf. stambham)
chieftains and landowners in pre-Chola Tamil Nadu who became Chola feudatories
Capital member, same as padma, but without scalloped petals.
(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.
Measurement of images by five tālas
the ceremony of giving a bride away in marriage
(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.
Chola monarchs alternately took the title Rajakesari (King-lion) or Parakesari (Supreme lion). Also known as Rajakesarivarman or Parakesarivarman.
Chola monarchs alternately took the title Rajakesari (King-lion) or Parakesari (Supreme lion). Also known as Rajakesarivarman or Parakesarivarman.
unit of measurement
the Absolute
an axe
the passing away of the Buddha
subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.
tutelary deity (cf. parivara-devatas)
Also called avarana-devatas, or subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.
on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaradevatagriham)
(also parivara) on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaralaya)
sculpture of a deity placed in a niche on the outer wall of the garbhagriha or on the upper tala of the vimana
legs bound in a strap for so they stay easily kept in a yogic meditation pose (cf. yoga-patta)
seated pose with legs locked over seat
a small noose
Life of Parshvanatha (Sridhara)
flag
‘place sung by the saints’ – temple or holy place celebrated in hymn by poet-saints
close fitting bangles often formed by one or more continuous spiral
ear-ornament in the form of a leaf-scroll inserted in the ear lobe
leaf decoration on crown
leaf strip decoration of coiffure
Plain or decorated bands occupying the median face of the corbel, as if binding the rolls of taranga mouldings of the corbel.
The two prismatic parts of the pillar with facets (pattai, Tamil: பட்டை).
a basement-moulding
Projected top slab of the platform or adhishthana in line with the vertical norm or manasutra – a major moulding of considerable thickness.
Pavilion with ornaments, pillars and kudu
triangular part crowning the front of a building
Tamil classification of women: a woman thirty-two to forty years old
‘Great Sacred Text’ compiled by Sekkilar; the hagiographic account of the lives of the sixty-three nayanmar, or the Shiva poet-saints
Tamil classification of women: a girl of five to seven years old
Tamil classification of women: a young girl eight to eleven years of age
Abacus; wide plank on top of the terminal saduram or moulded capital of pillar supporting the corbel or potika.
literally ‘begging god’ (Shiva); also known as Bhikshatana in Sanskrit
Structure with stepped or tiered superstructure over the sanctum as in Kadamba-Chalukya temples. The term is used in Orissa (Kalinga) architecture for the mandapa in front of the main prasada, called jagmohan, or smaller individual shrines with such superstructure (as… Continue Reading →
bow of Shiva
(also pita, peedam or pitham); a horizontal slab or pedestal over which an image is seated
(also peedam, pita or pitha); a horizontal slab or pedestal over which an image is seated
golden dance hall (of Natesa at Chidambaram)
(also potikai), corbel or bracket surmounting the capital of a pillar
(also potika), corbel or bracket surmounting the capital of a pillar
a circular mark on the forehead
circle of light or a halo; decorative circle or flames framing sculptural image of deity; aureole
an arch with tongues of flame attached to it (cf. tiruvachi)
act of circumambulating a deity or place of reverence
perambulatory passage
on of the circuits round the sanctum; enclosure wall; Generally, there a five prakaras: antara-mandala, antara-hara, madhya-hara, bahya-hara and maryada. (The temple at Srirangam has seven prakaras)
Spout projected like a gargoyle to discharge water.
temple in general; Classifications according to shape: sama-chaturasra, vritta, chaturdirgha, hasti-prishtha, vrittayata, shatkona and ashtasra (respectively, square, circular, rectangular, apsidal, elliptical, hexagonal and octagonal). Northern-style temple, as distinct from the vimana form of the south. Flowers or food offered to… Continue Reading →
main temple-gateway/gopuram with 3 to 5 storeys
dynastic eulogy
(also prastaram, Tamil: பிரஸ்தரம்) the roof cornice; Entablature, consisting of mouldings over walls and pillars, viz the uttira (beam), vajana, valabhi, kapota, alinga and antari (architrave, frieze and cornice).
(also prastara, Tamil: பிரஸ்தரம்) the roof cornice; Entablature, consisting of mouldings over walls and pillars, viz the uttira (beam), vajana, valabhi, kapota, alinga and antari (architrave, frieze and cornice).
the chief gana
cognizances of an image
warrior’s pose, the opposite of alidha
necklace of mixed gems
discus in action
wheel design on buttocks
lit. new mandapa
ritual act to invoke and honour a deity, performed by presiding Brahman priests at temples, by village priests at local shrines, or by householders at household shrines
part of the bodigai or bodhika
religious merit
war genre in Tamil poetics
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