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additive cultures

Every culture must find a way to grasp the horns of polar opposites –

male/female, good/bad, sky/earth, birth/death – which epitomize so much of the

human condition. Additive cultures, like Egypt and India, accept these

contradictions as imperfectly perceived parts of a greater unity. Arjuna's

Penance, Elephanta, Gommateshvara, Shiva Ardhanarishvara (Madras)

Agni One of the dikpalas. Agni is the god of fire. He holds an offering spoon

and rides a ram. Additional attributes may include a beard, a staff, water jar,

and prayer beads. Lakshmana T. (Khajuraho), Parshvanatha T. (Khajuraho)

Akbar Mughal emperor, ruled 1556 - 1605.Fatehpur Sikri, Jami Masjid (Fatehpur),

Red Fort (Agra), Akbar's Tomb, Rajput Alliance

amalaka The ribbed disk at the top of a shikhara.Parts of a North Indian Temple

Ambika "Mother," one of the forms of Devi.Ambika Mata T. (Jagat)

Ananta, or Shesha The cosmic serpent on which Vishnu sleeps, sits, or reclines,

as he dreams the universe into existence. Shesha, or "Remainder," personifies

the primordial substance out of which the universe is formed, which "remains"

when the universe ends, and which fuels the start of the next cosmic cycle. He

is also called Ananta, or "Endless," because the primordium is eternal and the

cycle of cosmic birth and death repeats forever. Badami (Cave 3), Keshava T.

(Somnathpur)

Anantashayana Vishnu sleeping on Ananta. Shore Temple (Mamallapuram)

Andhaka Demon slain by Shiva. Born from a drop of Shiva's sweat, Andhaka

conceives an unnatural lust for his mother, Parvati, which accounts for Shiva's

ferocious antagonism. Andhaka is usually shown, either impaled on Shiva's

trident, or in skeletal form as Bhringi after submitting to Shiva, who had

drained his blood during the conflict. Another demon, named Nila, was a friend

of Andhaka. Nila took the form of an elephant and attacked Shiva during the

fight, but was killed by one of Shiva's attendants. Two representations of

Shiva from this battle, often combined, are Shiva Andhakasuravadha (impaling

Andhaka) and Shiva Gajasamharara (dancing on Nila's decapitated head, or

underneath his butchered skin). Shiva fought a different battle with another of

Parvati's sons, Ganesha, who had blocked Shiva's access to Parvati's bedchamber.

Shiva beheaded Ganesha, and subsequently replaced his head with that of an

elephant. Both stories seem to reflect a primal tradition where Shiva competes

with a son or stepson for Parvati's favor. The elephant in these stories may

symbolize the force of unrestrained passion. Ellora (Cave 29), Ravana Phadi T.

(Aihole)

aniconism (noun), aniconic (adjective) The representation of god by a symbol

rather than an image. Indian art overwhelmingly prefers the iconic image, but

some aniconism does occur in folk worship, early Buddhism, Shiva's linga, and

Vishnu's saligrama. Sanchi (1), Sanchi (2), Sanchi (3). See also: footprint.

apsaras (singular; the correct plural is apsarasas.) A celestial dancer. The

apsarasas are wives of the gandharvas. Ambika Mata T. (Jagat)

apse (noun), apsidal (adjective) A "U" shaped chamber. A technical name for this

shape is gajaprstika, which literally means an elephant's backside. Ajanta Cave

19 interior, Ajanta Cave 26 interior, Durga T. (Aihole), Nakula Sahadeva Ratha

(Mamallapuram)

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