part of the capital of a pillar (cf. stambham); Saucer-shaped capital member above the kalasa and below the kumbha (tadi, Tamil: தாடி).
the storeys (cf. bhumi) of the vimana or gopura; a unit of measurement for images (tala, Tamil: தாலா)
shrine
dance poses
Wave; wavy roll-ornament of the corbel resembling the ‘reed’ moulding or ‘reeding’ of European classical architecture.
Corbel-bracket with roll- or taranga-moulding.
hand in attitude of threatening; In this hand-pose, the projected forefinger points to an object above. It is also used for warning or scolding someone.
The hand-pose of homage. The arm is kept level with the shoulder. The palm is turned in, and the fingers slightly bent and point towards the shoulders. This is the mudra of Namasangīti.
circular ear-ornament
Dravidian language spoken in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring regions. It is spoken by 81 million people in southern India. This makes Telugu the largest Dravidian language and the fourth most spoken language in India after Hindi, Bengali and Marathi.
One or more chariots (Tamil: தேர்) that stand at the entrance of the temple to transport the gods to the church services on festival days.
Tamil classification of women: a woman twenty-five to thirty years of age
first seven volumes of the Shaivite canon of devotional poetry, the Tirumurai, consisting of the hymns of Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar
a marriage token worn at the throat (cf. tiru)
a circular mark on the forehead; sectarian mark worn on forehand by Hindus to denote religious allegiance; believed to have talismanic properties
holy place of pilgrimage, associated with rivers and bathing places because water is believed to wash away sins
a marriage token worn at the throat (cf. thali)
ardha-mandapa or vestibule (cf. ardha-mandapa)
covered mandapa round the sanctum
peristyle: enclosure-wall with a mandapa
procession of the Lord of Kailasa
name of the Shaiva sacred canon that includes the Tevaram, and has an additional five books that concludes with the Periya Puranam
an arch with tongues of flame attached to it (cf. prabhavali)
a mostly freestanding gate; (plural: toranas) Free-standing ornamental foliar and floral festoon forming entrance supported by two upright columns and often interlaced vertically; (jala-torana): copies in wood and stone with greater elaboration and carving, or taking the form of makara-torana,… Continue Reading →
unit of measurement
literally ‘triple-bent’; triflex (in the standing pose of a figure); consisting of three bows (neck, hips and knees) existing posture of a figure in the form of an ‘S’, she is considered graceful and sensual; exaggerated contrapposto
Pillar or pilaster supporting torana; three vimana’s connected by a common adhishthana in a line or placed round a common mandapa, as in Chalukyan types.
Pillar or pilaster supporting torana; three vimana’s connected by a common adhishthana in a line or placed round a common mandapa, as in Chalukyan types.
trident
a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. sulam)
Measurement of images by three tālas
the three folds on the abdomen of a woman considered a mark of loveliness and grace
a streamer or loop shown at right angles on the shoulder (see also skandamala); mani-tudi one of small beads
The pillar is formed of three cubical parts called saduram and of two prismatic parts with facets called pattai (tun, Tamil: தூண்).
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