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

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

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-chaturasra

square

samabhanga

a posture in which the figure is shown without flexions of the body (see also abhanga, tribhanga)

samalankara

fully ornamented

samapada

straight pose with feet together

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

samyuta

double hand in dance gesticulation

samyuta-hasta

double hand in dance gesticulation

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

conch

sankha-nidhi

dwarf attendant of Kubera holding a conch in his hand

sapta sthala

seven holy places

saptatala

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

saundarya-lahari

waves of beauty

sayana

reclining attitude

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