Archives Glossary of special terms

tadi

part of the capital of a pillar (cf. stambham); Saucer-shaped capital member above the kalasa and below the kumbha (tadi, Tamil: தாடி).

tala

the storeys (cf. bhumi) of the vimana or gopura; a unit of measurement for images (Tāla, Hindi: ताल, Tamil: தாலா); In Indian iconometry, the Tāla system of measurement is used for sculpture or casting icons in metal. The face, from… Continue Reading →

tali

shrine

tandavakaranas

dance poses

tanka

Taṇka is a chisel used by the stone-masons of India.

taranga

Wave; wavy roll-ornament of the corbel resembling the ‘reed’ moulding or ‘reeding’ of European classical architecture.

taranga-potika

Corbel-bracket with roll- or taranga-moulding.

tarjani

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.

tarpana

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.

tatanka-chakra

circular ear-ornament

Telugu

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.

ter

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.

terivai

Tamil classification of women: a woman twenty-five to thirty years of age

Tevaram

first seven volumes of the Shaivite canon of devotional poetry, the Tirumurai, consisting of the hymns of Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar

thali

a marriage token worn at the throat (cf. tiru)

tilaka

a circular mark on the forehead; sectarian mark worn on forehand by Hindus to denote religious allegiance; believed to have talismanic properties

tirtha

holy place of pilgrimage, associated with rivers and bathing places because water is believed to wash away sins

tiru

a marriage token worn at the throat (cf. thali)

tiru-idaik-kattu

ardha-mandapa or vestibule (cf. ardha-mandapa)

tiru-nadai-maligai

covered mandapa round the sanctum

tiruch-churru-maligai

peristyle: enclosure-wall with a mandapa

Tirukkailaya-nana-ula

procession of the Lord of Kailasa

Tirumurai

name of the Shaiva sacred canon that includes the Tevaram, and has an additional five books that concludes with the Periya Puranam

tiruvachi

an arch with tongues of flame attached to it (cf. prabhavali)

tomara

Tomara (तोमर) an iron club.

torana

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 →

trasaranu

unit of measurement

tribhanga

Tribhaṅga (त्रिभङ्ग), 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

tridandi

Tridaṇḍī (त्रिदण्डी) a triple shaft.

trikuta

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.

trikutachala-torana-stambha

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.

triratna

Triratna (त्रिरत्न); The Three Jewels symbolising the Buddhist Trinity of the Buddha, Dharma (Law), and the Sangha (the community of Buddhists monks and nuns).

trisula

Triśūla (त्रिशूल) a trident (cf. sula); The trisula represents either the triple function of God – Creation, Protection and Destruction or the three attributes or gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Trident, the favourite weapon of Śiva. ‘Tri’ means three… Continue Reading →

trisulam

Triśūla (त्रिशूल) a trident, spear or pointed weapon (cf. sulam); The trisula represents either the triple function of God – Creation, Protection and Destruction or the three attributes or gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Trident, the favourite weapon of… Continue Reading →

tritala

Tritāla (त्रिताल), Measurement of images by three tālas

triveli

the three folds on the abdomen of a woman considered a mark of loveliness and grace

tudi-mani

a streamer or loop shown at right angles on the shoulder (see also skandamala); mani-tudi one of small beads

tun

The pillar is formed of three cubical parts called saduram and of two prismatic parts with facets called pattai (tun, Tamil: தூண்).

© 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.