Guest guest Posted September 26, 2002 Report Share Posted September 26, 2002 Abodes of GaneshaAbodes of ShaktiAbodes of ShivaAbodes of Skanda Abodes of SuryaAbodes of VishnuTemplenet ArchivesTemplenet EncyclopediaArchitecture Travel and Tourism Festivals and Fairs Beliefs and LegendsGlossary of Terms About Templenet The Ultimate Source of Information on Indian Temples Temples of TamilnaduTemples of KeralaTemples of KarnatakaTemples of AndhraPradesh Temples of OrissaTemples of Madhya Pradesh Temples of MaharashtraTemples of Western India Temples of the Himalayas Temples of the Gangetic Plains Temples of North Eastern India Temples of Bengal Feedback & Information:webmaster (AT) templenet (DOT) com ©1996-2002K. Kannikeswaran All Rights Reserved No part of this website may be reproduced or used in any form without permission..TemplenetwhereTradition Meets Technology 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. A-J K-P R-Z Term Explanation 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 [indian Temple Architecture][Travel and Tourism] [Festivals and Fairs][Legends] [Glossary of Terms]The Templenet Homepage http://www.templenet.com/glossary.htmlDo you ? New DSL Internet Access from SBC &; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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