In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 AD

Kumbhapañjara (कुम्भपञ्जर) is a decorative motif carved on the outer wall surface of the temple. It is generally carved in high relief. Mānasāra explains kumbhapañjara as follows: “A Niche in the wall. It consists of a vase, a pilaster and a little pavilion at the top”. Kumbhapañjara is a decorative motif devised by the Tamil architects. It connotes profound symbology and Hindu belief of the origin of the universe.

Kumbhapañjara has been derived to effectively depict the ancient Hindu concept of the pūrṇakalaśa. This motif consists of a big globular pot placed on a pedestal. From the mouth of the pot creeper scrolls emerge and fall out on its sides. This is a concept, which denotes symbolically the universe (brahmāṇḍa). The pot here represents the universe. It is filled with water to denote the statement of Bhāgavata-purāna:—“āpomayam idam jagat”. From the water life emerges in the form of the creepers, which is shown as coming out from the pot.

Kāśyapaśilpa gives the method of carving the kumbhapañjara motif It says a vedi should be carved first and above the vedi sits the kumbha. From the mouth of the kumbha emerge rich foliage (valli) and a pillar (stambha). The stambha should consist of a phalaka and padma (Palagai abacus). If the capital is absent above the pillar, such a motif is called by the name “stambha-kumbhalatha”.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kumbhapañjara (कुम्भपञ्जर).—a niche in the wall.

Derivable forms: kumbhapañjaraḥ (कुम्भपञ्जरः).

Kumbhapañjara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kumbha and pañjara (पञ्जर).

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Kumbha, Panjara.

Full-text: Kumbha, Bhitti.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Kumbhapanjara, Kumbhapañjara, Kumbha-panjara, Kumbha-pañjara; (plurals include: Kumbhapanjaras, Kumbhapañjaras, panjaras, pañjaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)

Temples in Gangaikondasolapuram (Gangaikondacholapuram) < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]

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