Glossary - The Gaurishankar Tample of Chamba Town
3D Model:
© Max Frühwirt – 3D Model and digital glossary of the Gaurishankar Temple of Chamba Town, Chamba, India, 2024
Plan:
© Gerald Kozicz – Elevation and glossary of the Gaurishankar Temple of Chamba Town, Chamba, India, 2024
Terminology list:
Āmalaka:
Āmalaka is the round, ribbed element on top of the temple. Its name and form are derived from the „myrobolan fruit“.
Antarāla:
Antarāla refers to the porch or vestibule of a temple.
Ardhapadma:
Ardhapadma means half-lotus. Thus, its shape is half-circular. This motif commonly appears as a member of the ornamental programme of corner pilasters or on columns of aediculae.
Bhādra Niche:
The bhādra niche is the central proliferation from the basic cube of a temple that enshrines the cella (garbhagṛha).
Garbhagṛha:
The garbhagṛha is the innermost sanctum, the cella where the main idol is placed.
Gavākṣa:
Gavākṣa means cow-eye and is also known as dormer window. It is the major motif on a śukanasa.
Jaṅgha:
Jaṅghā is the portion of the outer wall between the vedībandha and the cornice where the niches are located.
Kalaśa:
Kalasa is one of the many terms for pot. It is usually used to describe the pot on top of a temple or on top of a śukanāsa. In the case of a Śivaite temple, it holds a trident (triśula) in position.
Kaṇṭha:
Kaṇṭha means shoulder and refers to horizontal recesses between mouldings. The most important occurance of the kaṇṭha element is the recess between cornice and śikhara. It defines the border between mandovara and the curvilinear tower.
Kapilī:
The kapilī are the two lateral walls that flank a porch (antarāla).
Kapotālī:
The kāpotalī is usually described as a cyma-eave or cornice. It is a moulding that recalls a half-bell and was applied at the lower parts of the facade and as a cornice element. It is also the major geometric form applied for the design of the horizontal layering of the śikhara tower.
Karṇa:
Karṇa defines the corner element of the mandovara, ie. the corner of the the basic square of the ground plan which enshrines the cella. It is marked by a corner pilaster. It finds its continuation along the śikhara tower.
Karnāmalaka:
Karnāmalakas are notched, ribbed stone discs – round in early temple architecture but rectangularized on later monuments – placed along the corners of śikhara towers.
Kumbha:
Kumbha means pot and defines one of the mouldings among the horizontal layers of the pedestal or vedībandha of a temple.
Lalāṭabimba:
Lalāṭabimba refers to the central field of the first (lowest) lintel of the door frame. It shows an image or deity that reflects the nature of the deity to which the sanctum is dedicated.
Lantern Ceiling:
Ceilings of larger and medium size temples are usually of the lantern type composed ofsquare fields that rotate and diminish towards the top. Above a porch (antarāla), the first rotated square can also be transformed into a logenze. A lotus flower is usually depicted in the center.
Makara:
The makara is a composite figure, a mythical creature displaying elephant and crocodile elements.
Navagrahas:
The navagrahas are the nine planets. They are a standard feature of the visual and iconographic programme of portal architecture. They are depicted on lintels of the door frames of the majority of the larger temples where they are shown inside miniature aediculae.
Pīṭha:
Pīṭha is the pedestal of a temple.
Pūrṇagaṭha (also Pūrṇakalaśa):
Pūrṇagatha means vase of plenty. It is a major component in the design of columns and pilasters where it can be found at the base and at the upper end of the shaft.
Ratna:
Ratna means jewel or diamond and is defined by its lozenge shape. It usually contains floral elements and recalls a lotus flower squeezed into a geometric frame. It can be found in up-right position inside the aediculae along the śukanāsa and – especially in later temples – as the most frequently applied ornament along the facades.
River Goddesses:
The goddesses Gaṅgā and Yamunā, personifications of the two major streams of Northern India, are usually depicted at the bottom of the jambs on both sides of the door to the sanctum. They are commonly accompanied by two male protectors (of the purified space / dvārapaālas).
Śukhanāsa:
The śukanāsa is the frontispiece, the frontal part of a portal above the entrance or porch.
Trimukha:
Trimukha means three faces. It refers to the three heads of Siva which are depicted inside the circular central fields of the gavākṣa motif on a śukanāsa. It is likewise depicted inside in the respective positions of the aediclae along the facade.
Vedībandha:
Vedībhandha means band around the altar (vedī) and refers to the area above the pedestal and the niches, i.e. the area marked by horizontal layers of different mouldings.