Appendix 3 - Glossary of the Technical terms of Iconography

APPENDIX III Glossary of the Technical terms of Iconography in Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana and their connotations 1. Adhisthana - 2. Aghora 3. Aksamala 4. Alpagrha Basement One of the forms of Siva. A garland including 108 beads. Literally small chamber, the sanctum sanctorum of the smaller type. 5. Angula Digit (a unit in iconometry) One Angula is approximately the width of the thumb, 5% of an inch. 6. Ankurarpana Sowing of seeds of selected grains beneath the Pitha of the Linga. 7. Ansa 8. Aracanabimba Part. The miniature form of the principal icon generally made by metal. Arcanabimba is used during festival occasions outside the sanctum sanctorum. 9. Ardhanarisvara 10. Astasra One of the forms of Siva. An octagonal shape, having eight edges.

11. Asvattha 12. Avyakta The holy fig tree (Ficus religiosa) The unmanifested. A synonym of Prakrti or primodial substance. Ritual. 13. Acara 14. Acarya 15. Agama 16. Asana 17. Ayamam 18. Bali 19. Balagrha 20. Bhasma The preceptor, qualified to perform Puja on behalf of others, or a spiritual teacher. A class of literature pertaining to Tantra. Sitting posture, which also means Pitha. The length. An offering or propitiatory oblation with materials like food and grains to divinities and spirits. The miniature form of the sanctum sanctorum which is taken out during festivals. Ashes specially made for the purification of the idol. 21. Bhanda Body. 218

219 22. Bhutabali The rite of purification of the gross elements in connection with the Puja (feeding the subdeities of a temple). 23. Bija Seed from which other things emanate. 24. Bilva 25. Bindu 26. Caru 27. Catuksira 28. Caturasra The wood-apple tree (Aegele marmelos) Point, 'point-source' of the causal order. An oblation made of boiled rice etc. presented to the gods. The extract got from the barks of the four kinds of trees Atti, Itti, Arayal and Peral (Nalpamara). A tetragonal shape, having four edges. Curd. 29. Dadhi 30. Damaru 31. Darbha A small percussion instrument carried by Siva. A kind of grass which is used in almost all the rituals (Demosta Chybipamata). Gift. 32. Dana 33. Devadaru A divine tree

34. Diksa Initiation as an essential condition of Tantric Sadhana. 35. Dvara 36. Gandhanulepana 37. Garbha 38. Garbhagrha Door of the sanctum sanctorum. Smearing the idol with sandal paste. Womb or foundation. The inner chamber of the sanctum sanctorum. 39. Gavya 40. Hasta Belonging to the cow. (Pancagavya a unique liquid formed by mixing urine, dung, milk, curd and ghee of a cow in a specific ratio). Measure of length, Hasta = cubit 2 Padas - 41. Isadhikam 42. Jagati 43. Jnanamudra 44. Karana 24 Angulas. The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. A kind of Linga where the Brahma, Visnu and Rudra portions are in a ratio of 4:4:5 respectively. A part in the pedestal of the Linga which comes just above the Paduka. Symbol of knowledge. Cause of anything. 220

45. Khadira Acacia-catechu. 46. Kolu This is a word in Malayalam used to denote a long scale for measuring. The word means stick. 47. Kumbha A water pot used for Kalasa rites. 48. Kumuda 49. Kusa 50. Laksanoddhara 51. Madhuka 52. Mahesvara 53. Manirekha 54. Mandala 55. Mantra Torus, an important moulding of the Adhisthana. A types of grass used in rituals. A complex ritual process which brings out the characteristic signs of a Linga. A species of tree Longifolia (Madhuca Indica) The great Lord Siva. A jewel line seen in the Sivalinga. 'Domain' used to refer to a variety of diagrams. Incantation. 56. Manikya One of the jewels in Navaratna. 57. Mana Measure. 58. Mauktika Pearl. 221

59. Mudra Hand gestures related to the Tantric worship. 60. Mulabimba The chief deity of a temple and is permanently installed in the central shrine. 61. Napumsakasila The neutral granite. 62. Niskala Idols without parts. 63. Niskramana The process of bringing out the 64. Nyagrodha 65. Pancabrahma 66. Parinaham - 67. Paduka 68. Parsvarekha 69. Pippala 70. Pitha Arcanabimba and the Balagrha in the processions during festive occasions. Fig tree (Ficus benghalensis). Five faces of Siva, Isana, Tatpurusa, Aghora, Vama and Sadyojata. Circumference. The lowest part of the pedestal of a Linga. Side lines on either side of the Manirekha in the Sivalinga. A sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) The pedestal of idol also known as Pindika. 222

71. Pranala 72. Sakala - 73. Sakti 74. Sarja 75. Samamsam 76. Sarvasamam 77. Snapana 78. Sruk 79. Tala 80. Udumbara Also called Nala or the water channel so as to allow a free flow of water or the other liquid offerings to the Linga, generally found attached to the side of the Pitha on the northern part of the Linga. Idol with parts differentiated. - The unavoidable part of Siva. Vateria indica. A type of Linga in which these portions are in equal measures and this length is equal to the circumference of the Linga. A type of Linga in which the three portions are equal in length. The holy bathing of the deity. A sort of large wooden ladle used for pouring filtered or melted ghee on the sacrificial fire. It is generally made of Palasa or Khadira wood. It is also known as Juhu. An iconometric measure (12 Angulas) ficus glonerata. 223

81. Vastubali Puja conducted in the premises of the building or temple for the blessing of Brahma and Vastupurusa. 82. Viskambham The diameter of a circle. 83. Vrddhyuttara 84. Yajamana 85. Yava A type of Linga where the proportion of three portions, Brahma, Visnu and Siva is found as 4:5:6 respectively. One who conducts the functions. He obeys every order of the chief priest. A small grain (Hordeum vulgare) used as a measurement also of its size. ***** 224