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).
Padmapīṭha (पद्मपीठ), Lotus pedestal or a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus (also padmapitham).
Padmapīṭham (पद्मपीठम), Lotus pedestal or a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus (also padmapitha).
Padmāsana (पद्मासन) is the 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 and is generally used for worship (also… Continue Reading →
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.
Pañcatāla (पञ्चताल), 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.
Paramāṇu (Sanskrit: द्रोणी, Hindi: परमाणु), smallest unit of measurement; 8 Paramāṇu = 1 Rathadhuli The table shows the different units of measurement in relation to each other: 8 Paramāṇu = 1 Rathadhūli, 8 Rathadhūli = 1 Vālāgra, 8 Valagra =… Continue Reading →
the Absolute
Paraśu (Sanskrit: परशु) battle-axe; It made up of a strong blade of steel fitted to a wooden handle. The blade is curved and may have a hole at one end to fit onto the wooden handle. In later forms the… Continue Reading →
Parigha (परिघ) refers to an ‘iron club’ (used in battle); a kind of club.
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
Paryaṅka (पर्यङ्क) sitting cross-legged (cf. padmasana and paryankasana)
legs bound in a strap for so they stay easily kept in a yogic meditation pose (cf. yoga-patta)
Paryaṅkāsana (पर्यङ्कासन), seated pose with legs locked over seat (cf. paryanka)
Pāśa (पाश) refers to ‘noose’ or ‘rope weapon’ and represents one of the several ‘attributes’ (āyudha) or ‘accessories’ of a deity. It is a loop of rope used to bind the opponent’s hands and legs. In sculptural representations, two or… Continue Reading →
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
The Buddhist monks carry a pātra (पात्र) or bowl which is used for begging alms. The Indian tradition has it that when the Buddha completed four weeks of Buddha-hood, Tapussa and Bhallika, two merchants of Ukkula in Orissa, were warned… Continue Reading →
Patrakuṇḍala (पत्रकुण्डल) is an ear-ornament in the form of a leaf-scroll inserted in the ear lobe
leaf strip decoration of coiffure
leaf decoration on crown
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
Paṭṭikā (पट्टिका), a string course, refers to a type of moulding commonly used in the construction of an adhishthana or upapita; a layer of the pedestal. Projected top slab of the platform or adhishthana in line with the vertical norm… Continue Reading →
Paṭṭiśa (पट्टिश) a long steel rod with a very sharp point at one end; spear with a sharp edge; one of the weapons of Śiva.
Paurūṣeya (पौरूषेय) refers to ‘disciplines whose knowledge is contingent on the individual‘; It is one of the two types of Shastra. This literature is also described as Smṛiti literature (cf. apauruseya). The paurūṣeya disciplines are: Purāṇa, including Itihāsa (record of… Continue Reading →
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
Prājāpatya (प्राजापत्य), cubit of 25 fingers; unit of measurement; 1 Prājāpatya = 25 Angula’s
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)
Pralambapāda or Pralambapadasana is the European position; Sitting on a seat with both legs pendant in the Western manner.
Pralambapādasana or Pralambapada is the European position; Sitting on a seat with both legs pendant in the Western manner.
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
Pratyālīḍha (प्रत्यालीढ), warrior’s pose, the opposite of the alidha posture; Right leg bent at the knee and the left leg stretched behind and kept straight at an angle.
necklace of mixed gems
discus in action
Pretāsana (प्रेतासन), a seat or pedestal on which the whole body lies relaxed and motionless, certainly appearing as if dead.
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
decoration of coiffure
The pustaka (पुस्तक) is a book of palm-leaves cut long and narrow or a manuscript which looks like one. In Buddhist tradition, it represents the Prajñāpāramitā scripture of Transcendental Wisdom. This book is supposed to have been given by the… Continue Reading →
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