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).

padmapitha

Padmapīṭha (पद्मपीठ), Lotus pedestal or a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus (also padmapitham).

padmapitham

Padmapīṭham (पद्मपीठम), Lotus pedestal or a pedestal with a motif in the form of an inverted lotus (also padmapitha).

padmasana

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 →

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

Pañcatāla (पञ्चताल), 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

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 →

paramatma

the Absolute

parasu

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

Parigha (परिघ) refers to an ‘iron club’ (used in battle); a kind of club.

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

Paryaṅka (पर्यङ्क) sitting cross-legged (cf. padmasana and paryankasana)

paryanka-bandha

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

paryankasana

Paryaṅkāsana (पर्यङ्कासन), seated pose with legs locked over seat (cf. paryanka)

pasa

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 →

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

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 →

patra-kundala

Patrakuṇḍala (पत्रकुण्डल) is an ear-ornament in the form of a leaf-scroll inserted in the ear lobe

patra-patta

leaf strip decoration of coiffure

patrakuta

leaf decoration on crown

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

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 →

pattisa

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.

pauruseya

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

Pavilion with ornaments, pillars and kudu

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