Glossary of Terms
THE FOLLOWING IS A GLOSSARY OF TERMS PERTAINING TO INDIAN TEMPLES, ENCOUNTERED IN VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THIS WEBSITE. THIS LIST IS AN EXTENSIVE ONE AND WILL BE UPDATED AND EXPANDED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AARU PADAI VEEDU
The six permanent abodes of Lord Muruga before He vanquished Surapadman as the generalissimo of the divine forces
ABHAYAM
Refuge
ABISHEKAM
A holy ritual ablution given to the Deity with oil, milk, scented powder, honey, rose water, ghee, sugar-cane juice etc.
ADI SESHA
Divine serpent said to have one thousand heads and represented as forming the couch of Lord Vishnu.
AGAMAS
Traditional principles governing worship, construction, festivals in temples.The word Agama means tradition
AIAVATHAM
The legendary white elephant of Indra, the King of the Devas
ALWARS
Vaishnavite saints whose hymns in praise of Vishnu constitute the tamil canon - considered to be on par with the Vedas.
AMIRTHAM (AMRIT)
Nectar of immortality
AMMAN, AMBAL
Goddess
APPAR
Tirunavukkarasar, one of the foremost of the 63 Saivite Nayanmar saints; associated closely with Tiruvatikai, Paatirippuliyur, Tiruvaiyaru and Tiruppugalur
ARATTU
A kind of holy bath given to the festival images of the deities, when they are immersed in water on the final day of the annual festival in Kerala and in Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu
ARCHAKAR
Priest
ARCHANA
Devotional worship offered to the deity by the priest with flowers or saffron
ARTHA MANDAPAM
An intermediary space between the Sanctum Sanctorum and the exterior of the temple
ARTHAJAMAM
The last of the daily poojas performed at night
ASHRAM
A hermitage or abode of ascetics
ASHTOTHRAM
A form of Archana worship usually offered to the deity with a recital of 108 names of a deity
ASTHANA MANDAPAM
Assembly Hall
ASURA
Demon
AVATARAM, AVTAR
An Incarnation of God
BALI PEETHAM
Altar or the sacrificial stone
BHAJANAI, BHAJAN
Group singing of divine songs
BHAKTHA, BHAKTH
Devotee (The word Bhakti means devotion)
BHATTACHARIAR
A Brahmin priest belonging to the Vaishnavite sect who offers poojas in a Vishnu temple
CHAKRAM
Discus of Lord Vishnu
CHAPPARAM
Chariot
DAKSHINAYANAM
The sun's progress south of Equator(July-December)
DARSHAN, DARISANAM
Sight of God or of holy men
DASAVATHARAM
The ten incarnations of Vishnu to punish the wicked
DEEPA ARADHANAI
A ceremonial waving of lamps - Illuminating the image of a deity with camphor or with a deepam (oil, clarified
butter lamps)
DEVASTHANAM
A body administering the affairs of the temple
DEVASWOM
The Keralite name for temples
DWAJASTHAMBAM
The flag-mast, usually a pillar fixed outside the main shrine in line with the Sanctum Sanctorum
DWAPARA YUGAM
The third among the four Yugas or aeons of time, the current aeon being Kaliyugam
DWARA PALAKAS
Figures of guards of the deities found on either side of the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum
GADHA
Club
GARBAGRIHAM
The interior of Sanctum Sanctorum
GARUDA
A mythological bird, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu
GOPURAM
Temple Tower crowning entrances; the foremost of these towes crowning the main entrance is the Raja Gopuram.
GURU
Preceptor, Teacher
GURUKKAL
A priest belonging to the Saivite sect who offers pooja in aSiva temple; a gurukkal is also known by the name Sivachariar.
HOMAM
Sacrificial ritual conducted with an altar of fire, as a part of daily worship, festivals and special occasions.
HUNDI
A sealed receptacle with a slit at the top in which devotees make offerings to a temple
JEER
A spiritual head of Vaishnavites
KAILASAM
Said to be the foremost abode of Shiva; refers to Mount Kailash in the Himalayas.
KALASANTHI
The morning pooja or worship service
KALI YUGA
The last of the four yugas or aeons of time before Pralaya or Deluge
KALYANA MANDAPAM
A special mandapam dedicated for the ritual celebration of the marriage of the Lord with Goddess
KAMADHENU
The holy cow with a human face which is believed to fulfil the desires of devotees
KATTALAI
A type of endowment of the devotees for doing periodical poojas or offerings
KAVACHAM
A metalic cover resembling armour
KAVADI
A decorated wooden pole with an arch over it carried on shoulders by devotees with offerings such as flowers,
milk, rose-water etc., mostly for Lord Muruga with some parade
KIREETAM
Hear-wear or Crown
KODI KAMBAM (DWAJASTAMBHAM IN SANSKRIT)
The flag-mast, usually a pillar fixed outside the main shrine in line with the Sanctum Sanctorum
KOIL OR KOVIL
Temple
KRITHA YUGA
The first of the Chathur or four yugas or aeons of time before Pralaya or the great deluge; the four yugas are Krithayugam, Treta Yugam, Dwapara Yugam and Kaliyugam.
KSHETHRA
Sacred place
KUMBHABISHEKAM
Purification rites carried out after every renovation or construction in a temple
LAKSHARCHANAS
Worship with the recital of a lakh of divine names of a deity (see archana, ashtothra)
MAANGALYAM
A sacred ornament which is worn by married women as an insignia
MAANYAM
Landed endowments to the temple servants for their services
MAAVILAKKU
A form of offering to the deity in wich a wick is burnt in an offering of flour paste
MADAPALLI
Temple-kitchen where the food for daily worship services is prepared
MAHA MANDAPAM
A big hall in temples for holding religious discourses
MAHABHARATHA
The Great Hindu epic describing the famous battle of Kurukshethra between the Pandavas and Kauravas
MAKUTAM
The crown
MANDAPAM
A big terraced hall
MANGALA SASANAM
Poems composed by Alwars in parise of Vishnu - constituting the Naalayira Divya Prabandam. (See Alwars)
MANIKKAVACAKAR
One of the foremost Saivite Saints who is credited with volumes of poetry, the foremost of which is Tiruvacakam; Tiruvadavoor and Uttirakosamangai in the Pandya Kingdom are 2 of the temples associated with him.
MANTRAS
The sacred hymns in sanskrit recited during worship services
MOOLA VIGRAHAM
The presiding deity
MOOLASTHANAM
Sanctum Sanctorum
MUNIVAR
Saint
MUTT
A religious institution
NAGAM
Serpent
NAMAM
The Vaishnavite mark of three vertical stripes on the forehead
NAMBUDIRIS
A class of Brahmins belonging to the Kerala State
NANDI
Nandi, the Bull is the ceremonial mount of Shiva; an image of Nandi usually faces Shiva's sanctum . Shiva temples are also adorned with images of Nandi on the temple walls.
NAVA THIRUPATHIS
The nine sacred Vaishnavite shrines
NAYANMARS
The sixty three Saivite Saints, whose history is narrated in "Periyapuranam" who lived between the 5th and the 9th centuries, travelling around, visiting various temples , singing hymns of praise. Several miracles are associated with their visits.
NEIVEDHIYAM
Offerings to the deity,
ODUVARS
Torchbearers of the great tradition of Tevaram singing in Siva Temples; hymns that were composed by the Saints Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar in the 7th-9th centuries; now sung in Saivite temples in keeping with ancient tradition.
OM'
The sacred syllable representing the universal vibratory sound
PAASURAM
Sacred song in praise of God (generally refer to the works of the Vaishnavite Alwars)
PADAI
Army
PADAKKAM
A locket or pendant
PALLIYARAI
A bed chamber where the festival deities are kept after the daily poojas
PANCHA-MURTHYS
The five deities,namely,Vinayakar, Murugar, Shiva, Parvati and Chandikeswarar
PANCHAKSHARAM
A sacred word signifying the five syllables of Namasivaya - signifiying surrender to Shiva
PANCHALOGAM
An alloy of five metals
PANCHARATRA
A Vaishnava Agama
PATIKAM
Sacred song in praise of God (generally refer to the works of the Saivite Nayanmars)
PAYASAM
Sweet Pudding
POOJA
A form of ceremonial worship offered to the deity
POOSARI
A priest who does pooja at village temples
PRABANDHAM
The celebrated Vaishnavite poetic compilation of the works of the Alwars
PRADHOSHAM
Evening of the 13th phase of the moon, 90 minutes before and after Sun set. It is considered auspicious for worshipping Shiva in all Saivite temples - when thousands congregate for worship.
PRADISHTA
Installation
PRAKARAM
The verandah or passage around the Sanctum Sanctorum
PRANAVAM
The sacred syllable "OM"
PRASADAM
Anything given to devotees after being symbolically offered to the deity
PRITHVI
Earth
PUSHKARINI
The sacred temple tank
RAJA GOPURAM
The main temple tower, and usually the loftiest of all towers in a temple, crowning the main entrance to the temple, in the outermost of enclosures
RAKSHASHA
Demon
RATHAM
Chariot
RISHABAM
A bull
RUDRAKSHAMAALAI
A roasary neck ornament made of the berry of a particular sacred tree considered to be special in Shiva
SAAPA-VIMOCHANAM
Deliverance from a curse
SADAGOPAM
A small metal head-cover on which Vishnu's feet are engraved and which is placed over the head of worshippers in Vaishnavite temples
SAHASRANAMA ARCHANA
A form of archarana or worship uaually offered to the deity with a recital of 1008 names (see archana, ashtotram, laksharchanai)
SAMBANDAR
Tirugnanasambandar, one of the foremost, as well as the youngest of the 63 Nayanmars; associated closely with Sirkazhi, Tiruvothur and several other shrines.
SANDANAKAAPPU
Smearing the idol with sandal-wood paste
SARUKKAM
Chapter
SAYANAM
Reclining posture
SAYARATCHAI
Worship service in the evening
SHANKHU
The conch-shell
SIMHA
Lion- a common vahanam or mount used in temples
SIVACHARYAS
The priests in temples belonging to the Saivite sect (see also Gurukkal)
SOMAVARAM
Monday
STHALA PURANAM
The legend regarding the origin of a sacred place
STHALA VRUKSHAM
The sacred tree connected with the legend of the temple
STHALAM
A sacred centre
STHUPI
Pillar
SUNAI
Water-fall
SUNDARAR
Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, one of the foremost of the 63 Saivite Nayanmar saints, associated closely with Tiruvennainallur and several other shrines.
SWAYAMBU
That which comes of its own accord; that which is untouched by a tool; several of the Shiva Lingams adorning the sancta of temples, are believed to be natural mounds, held sacred for centuries.
TAPAS
Penace
TEVARA PATASALA
A school to teach Tevara hymns of the Nayanmar saints
TEVARAM
Collection of the hymns of the foremost of the Saivite Nayanmars, Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar; set to music; these ancient hymns have had a profound influence on the growth of Karnatic Music, and are even now sung in temples as part of worship.
THEERTHAM
Sacred tank of the temple
THEERTHAVARI
A festival during which the deity is immersed in holy water (see Aaraattu)
THEPPA UTSAVAM
Float festival in which festival images of deities are led in procession in a float (Teppam), in the temple tank amidst the chanting of hymns and the playin gof music.
THER
The temple car or chariot
THIRUMANJANAM
Ritual bath for the image of a deity (see abhishekam)
THIRUNAKSHATHRAM
One of the 27 asterisms under which a saint or a great person is born
THIRUPPAVAI
A set of 30 verses in Nalayira Prabandham by Sri Andal in praise of Lord Vishnu. These hymns are held in great
reverence in South India.
THIRUVADI
Sacred feet of the deity
THIRUVAIMOZHI
Devotional verses by Saint Nammalvar
THRISHOOLAM
The sacred trident
TIRUVACAKAM
Poetic work of Manikkavacakar dedicated to Shiva.
TIRUVEMPAAVAI
A composition of 20 hymns by Manikkavacakar - at the grand Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple; sung ceremoniously during the winter month of Markazhi
UCHIKALA POOJA
Mid day worship service
UGRAM
Fierce,powerful, angry
URCHAVAM OR UTSAVAM
Festival
URDHUVA THANDAVAM
The cosmic dance of Lord Siva with one leg lifted in which He defeated Goddess Kali
USHADKALA POOJA
Early morning worship service
UTHARAYANAM
The Sun's progress - North of Equator (January-June)
UTSAVA MURTHY
An idol taken in procession and worshipped on festival days
VADAKALAI
A sect among Vaishnavites
VAHANAM
Divine Mount
VAIKANASA AGAMAM
A Vaishnava Agama
VAMANA
Dwarf, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu
VARAHA
A Boar, the third incarnation of lord vishnu
VARAM
Boon
VEL
A spear or lance of Lord Muruga
VIGRAHAM
Image of a deity
VIMANAM
The towered roof of a Sanctum; there are several types of vimanams such as the gajaprishta, ashtanga and sabha vimanams.
YAGA
A special sacrificial ceremony (see homam)
YAGASALAI
The place in which a sacrificial ceremony is observed
YANTHRA OR PEETAM
The seat on which the deity is placed
YUGAM
An age of the world. There are four Yugasor aeons of time namely Kritha Yuga, Thretha Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga, each of which runs into several lakhs of years.
