Archives Glossary of special terms

sabha-mandapa

Mandapa with shrine of Nataraja in the southern temples, generally facing south.

sachi

one of the five sthānas or positions

sacred thread

cord worn by high-caste Brahmans, the ‘twice-born’

sadara-dhira

attentive, formal

sadharana-mandapa

hell resting on between 28 and 100 pillars

saduram

Square basal, intermediate or terminal section of a pillar separated by octagonal, polygonal or circular intermediary parts (saduram, Tamil: சதுரம்).

sahitya-darpana

mirror on literature/poetry

sahitya-mimamsa

Mirror of knowledge (Indian philosophy/epistemology)

sakha

hero’s male friend

sakhi

heroine’s female friend and confidante

sakti

Śakti (शक्ति) refers to the ‘spear’ or ‘ornamental blade’; a spear-shaped weapon; also synonymous of power and energy; It consist of a rectangular or elliptical and sharp metallic piece attached to a long wooden handle.

saktivel

a spear-shaped weapon; also synonymous of power and energy

sala

(also salai), rectangular ornamental panjara (panchara) with wagon-roof, on the storeys of the vimana; a hut-shaped, barrel-roofed pavilion (cf. kuta and nasi)

sala-dvara

main temple-gateway/gopuram with 2 to 4 storeys

sala-shrine

Vimana of ayatasra type (oblong on plan) with barrel-vault roof and a series of stupi on its ridge.

sala-sikhara

Sikhara peculiar to sala-shrine, barrel-vault, wagon-top or inverted, keel-shaped.

salai

(Old Tamil: சாலை, Modern Tamil: சாலை, also sala), rectangular ornamental panjara (panchara) with wagon-roof, on the storeys of the vimana; a hut-shaped, barrel-roofed pavilion (cf. kuta and nasi)

sama

Sama (सम), a type of reclining posture (Sayana); Lying down with the face upwards and the hands free and turning downwards is called the Sama posture. It is the posture in deep sleep.

sama-chaturasra

square

samabhanga

Samabhaṅga (समभङ्ग) a posture in which the figure is shown without flexions of the body (see also abhanga, tribhanga and atibhanga); The plumb line runs through the navel from the crown of the head to a point midway between the… Continue Reading →

samadhi

The attitude of meditation. In this hand-pose, both hands are placed on the lap, right hand on left, with the fingers fully extended and the palm facing upwards. Also called yoga-mudra or dhyana.

samalankara

fully ornamented

samapada

Samapāda (समपाद) or Samapādasthānaka refers to the ‘erect posture’; In samapada posture, the head and body are held erect with legs and arms close together. There is no flexion in the body. The gaze is direct. Samapada-sthanaka is of two… Continue Reading →

samapada-sthanaka

Samapādasthānaka (समपादस्थानक) or Samapada refers to the ‘erect posture’; In samapada posture, the head and body are held erect with legs and arms close together. There is no flexion in the body. The gaze is direct. Samapāda-sthānaka is of two… Continue Reading →

Sambandar

prominent Shaivite poet-saint, believed to have lived in seventh-century; usually portrayed as a dancing child; one of the muvar (‘Revered Three’)

samhara

destructive

samhara-murti

the form as destroyer

sampada

Sampāda (सम्पाद), straight pose with feet together; standing with the feet together or even

samyukta

Saṃyukta (संयुक्त) or Saṃyuktahasta is the presentation of a double hand in dance gesticulation (cf. asamyukta-hasta and nrtta-hasta).

samyukta-hasta

Saṃyuktahasta (संयुक्तहस्त) or Saṃyukta is the presentation of a double hand in dance gesticulation (cf. asamyukta-hasta and nrtta-hasta).

sandarsana-mudra

hand-pose in the attitude of teaching or exposition; In this hand-pose, the tips of the thumb and the forefinger touch each other to form a circle, while the other fingers are kept open. The palm faces outwards.

sandhara

Structure with a closed or covered circuit passage or ambulatory round the cella or the sanctum as in a double-walled structure (opposit of nirandhara).

sandya

evening

sangam age

The classical age of the Tamil Nadu prior to Christian era.

sankha

Śaṅkha (Sanskrit: शङ्ख) is a conch; refers to a musical instrument; This is a special symbol of Vishṇu. His conch is known as Pañchajanya, being made from the body of the demon Pañchajana. It makes a frightening noise and terrifies… Continue Reading →

sankha-nidhi

dwarf attendant of Kubera holding a conch in his hand

sankha-patra

Śaṅkha-pātra (शङ्खपात्र) a shell cut cross-wise, producing a spiral ring. Used as an ear-ornament.

santi

similar to abhaya

sapta sthala

seven holy places

saptatala

Saptatāla (सप्तताल), Measurement of images by seven tālas

sarapa

head to foot

sarasvati-kanthabharana

adornment of Sarasvati’s neck

sarbamudra

a pose like a hooded serpent

sarini

one of the strings of the vina instrument

sarpa-kundala

serpent-shaped ear-ornament

sasah

a rabbit

saundarya-lahari

waves of beauty

sausthava

The Sauṣṭhava (सौष्ठव) of limbs is to be presented by being still, unbent, at ease, not very upright and not much bent. When the waist and the ears as well as the elbow, the shoulder and the head are in… Continue Reading →

savya-lalita

Savya-lalita or Savya-lalitasana; Sitting on a high platform like a stool, with one leg hanging down and the other bent with the sole of the foot facing upwards resting on the leg (also called Lalita or Sukhasana).

savya-lalitasana

Savya-lalitasana or Savya-lalita; Sitting on a high platform like a stool, with one leg hanging down and the other bent with the sole of the foot facing upwards resting on the leg (also called Lalita or Sukhasana).

sayana

Śayana (शयन), reclining posture; Six types of reclining postures are defined: Akuncita, Sama, Prasarita, Vivartita, Udvahita, Nata.

sayanasana

Śayanāsana (Sanskrit: शयनासन) refers to the posture dependent on the reclining state, and represents one of the five types of asana.

© 2025 The Chola Dynasty — Powered by WordPress

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

The Chola Dynasty
General information

My website uses cookies to give you the best possible experience.

Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to my website.

It helps me to understand which sections of the website are the most interesting and useful to you.