A GLOSSARY OF TERMS PERTAINING TO INDIAN TEMPLES

 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.