Archives Glossary of special terms

pada

Pillar (cf. stambha or stambham)

pada-svastika

crossed legs

padadi-kesha

foot-first to hair

padakkam

a pendant inlaid with jewels

padal petra sthalam

literally ‘temple sung of’ (in the saints’ poems); sacred sites of hallowed antiquity

padapitham

(also padapitha); foot-stool

padasara

an ornament worn below the ankle designed to lie loose on the foot; jewel for the feet

padma

Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padmam, Tamil: பத்மம்).

padma-bandha

(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

padma-bandham

(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

padma-nidhi

dwarf attendant of Kubera holding a lotus in his hand

padmam

Lotus; capital member (doucine) below the phalaka (abacus), shaped like a lotus with petals (also padma, Tamil: பத்மம்).

padmapitham

(also padmapitha); a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus

padmasana

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)

padukai

wooden sandal

paksha-sutra

side line

palagai

abacus or tailloir; (palagai, Tamil: பலகை) part of the capital of a pillar (cf. stambham)

Palavettaraiyar

chieftains and landowners in pre-Chola Tamil Nadu who became Chola feudatories

pali

Capital member, same as padma, but without scalloped petals.

panchara

(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.

panchatala

Measurement of images by five tālas

panigrahana

the ceremony of giving a bride away in marriage

panjara

(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.

Parakesari

Chola monarchs alternately took the title Rajakesari (King-lion) or Parakesari (Supreme lion). Also known as Rajakesarivarman or Parakesarivarman.

Parakesarivarman

Chola monarchs alternately took the title Rajakesari (King-lion) or Parakesari (Supreme lion). Also known as Rajakesarivarman or Parakesarivarman.

paramanu

unit of measurement

paramatma

the Absolute

parasu

an axe

parinirvana

the passing away of the Buddha

parivara

subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.

parivara-deity

tutelary deity (cf. parivara-devatas)

parivara-devatas

Also called avarana-devatas, or subsidiary deities in shrines called parivaralaya’s or parivara.

parivaradevatagriham

on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaradevatagriham)

parivaralaya

(also parivara) on of the sub-shrines round the main shrine, housing subordinate deities (cf. ashta-parivaralaya)

parsva-devata

sculpture of a deity placed in a niche on the outer wall of the garbhagriha or on the upper tala of the vimana

paryanka-bandha

legs bound in a strap for so they stay easily kept in a yogic meditation pose (cf. yoga-patta)

paryankasana

seated pose with legs locked over seat

pasa

a small noose

Pasanahu-cariu

Life of Parshvanatha (Sridhara)

pataka

flag

patal perra talam

‘place sung by the saints’ – temple or holy place celebrated in hymn by poet-saints

patli

close fitting bangles often formed by one or more continuous spiral

patra-kundala

ear-ornament in the form of a leaf-scroll inserted in the ear lobe

patrakuta

leaf decoration on crown

patrapatta

leaf strip decoration of coiffure

patta

Plain or decorated bands occupying the median face of the corbel, as if binding the rolls of taranga mouldings of the corbel.

pattai

The two prismatic parts of the pillar with facets (pattai, Tamil: பட்டை).

pattigai

a basement-moulding

pattika

Projected top slab of the platform or adhishthana in line with the vertical norm or manasutra – a major moulding of considerable thickness.

pavilion

Pavilion with ornaments, pillars and kudu

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