Indian Architecture Glossary

This glossary is intended to give an overview of important terms used in Indian architecture . Most of the terms listed here come from Sanskrit , Persian, or Arabic .

If known, the grammatical gender is given after the keyword ( f. Feminine or female gender, m. Masculine or male gender, n. Neuter or neuter gender).

A.

Amalaka m.: disc-shaped, ribbed keystone on the towers of North Indian temples
Anda n.: sanskrit "egg"; hemispherical structure of Buddhist stupas
Antarala n.: In north Indian temples short connection between mandapa and cella ( garbhagriha )
Arthamandapa, Ardha Mandapa n.: small entrance hall of Hindu temples in central India

B.

Bada m.: Ground floor or basement of north Indian temple towers
Bagh: Persian "garden" (see Tschahār Bāgh )
Bangla: Roof shape common in Bengal with convex curved boundary lines (see Bengali roof )
Basti: Jain temple type in South India
Betta: Jain shrine with a monumental figure of a saint in South India
Bhog-Mandir, Bhog Mandir m.: in Hindu temples a hall in which offerings are made
Burj: Arabic "tower": Tower in Islamic or Mughal architecture, often with a magnificent superstructure

C.

Chaitya m.: Stupa inside Buddhist sanctuaries
Chaityagriha m. , Chaitya Hall f.: elongated hall of Buddhist shrines or temples containing a chaitya
Chajja: protruding shade roof
Chandrasala (also kudu ): Horseshoe-shaped window on Buddhist chaitya halls or decorative element on Hindu temples
Char Bagh: Persian "four gardens"; symmetrical gardens divided into four by an axilla
Chattra, Chatra: umbrella-like crowning of a stupa
Chhatri , Chatri, Chattri n.: domed pillar pavilion
Chaumukha: Hindu and Jain Tirthankara statue, the four faces of which look in all four directions
Chaya f.: console-supported eaves board

D.

Dagoba f.: Variant of the Buddhist stupa in Sri Lanka
Dargah: Tomb of a Sufi saint
Darwaza: Persian "gate"; monumental gate construction of Islamic architecture (especially in northwest India, Pakistan)
Deul: Term for temples or temple towers in Orissa and West Bengal
Diwan-i-Am: public audience hall of Islamic palaces
Diwan-i-Khas: private audience hall of Islamic palace complexes
Dravida: south indian temple style

G

Garbhagriha , Garbha Griha n.: Sanskrit "lap house"; Chamber-like, windowless Holy of Holies Hindu Temple
Ghat m.: Bathing stairs, used by Hindus for ritual bathing in a body of water considered sacred
Gopuram , Gopura n.: originally a village or city gate, later a monumental gateway to a south Indian temple complex
Gudhamandapa, Gudha Mandapa n.: Vestibule of Northwest Indian Hindu or Jain Temples

H

Harmika f.: Reliquary shrine, stone fence on Buddhist stupas
Haveli: elaborate home of wealthy merchants in northwest India and Pakistan
Huzrah: Above-ground, usually domed room of Islamic tombs

I.

Imambara: (Urdu); Shiite sacred building to celebrate the Muharram festival.
Ivan m.: 1) hall of a mosque closed on three sides
2) arched niche of Persian architecture; often contains a portal

J

Jagamohan n.: Front or assembly hall of Hindu temples in Orissa
Jagati: Outside platform of a temple or a tomb
Jali: Stone lattice window
Jama Masjid, Jami Masjid: Urdu " Friday Mosque "; great mosque for Friday prayers
Jharokha: balcony-like window bay of the Mughal architecture and the Rajput architecture

K

Kalasha m.: Vase-shaped top of north Indian temple towers, symbol of luck
Kalyanamandapa, Kalyana Mandapa n.: Hall for the mythical wedding of the deities Shiva and Parvati in south Indian Hindu temples
Kudu (also chandrasala ): Horseshoe-shaped sun window on the gable facade of Buddhist Chaitya halls
Kos-Minar n.: Mughal milestone tower

L.

Liwan m.: see Ivan

M.

Madrasa: Arabic "school, training center"; Koran school or Islamic college
Mahal: House, palace
Mahamandapa, Maha Mandapa n.: sanskrit "great hall"; Main hall of north Indian Hindu temples
Mahavihara m.: Buddhist monastery university
Mandapa n.: Hall of Hindu and Jain temples
Mandir: hindu temple
Maqbara: monumental Islamic tomb or mausoleum
Maqsūra , Maqsurah f.: arcade-like wall or facade of Islamic buildings
Masjid: Arabic "mosque"
Medhi f.: Base floor of Buddhist stupas
Meghanadamandapa, Meghanada Mandapa n.: large domed hall of Jain temples
Mihrāb m.: to Mecca facing prayer niche in mosques
Mithuna m.: Lovers; often as a plastic representation on temples
Mukhamandapa, Mukha Mandapa n.: small vestibule or entrance hall of Hindu temples
Mukhashala f.: Assembly room in front of North Indian temples
Mulaprasada: alternative name for the Garbhagriha (see there)
Muqarnas: in Islamic architecture, a network of pointed arch niches at the transition from angular rooms to the round dome; sometimes developed into ornate hanging cones

N

Nagara n.: 1) Sanskrit "city"
2) North Indian temple style
Nat-Mandir n.: Hindu temple dance hall
Navaratna n.: sanskrit "nine precious stones"; Temple with nine (roof) towers, especially in Bengal

P

Paga m.: pilaster-like protrusion on north Indian temple towers
Pancharatna n.: Sanskrit "five precious stones"; five-towered sanctuary, especially in Bengal
Panchayatana n.: Sanskrit "five sanctuaries"; Temple with four secondary temples in the corners of the temple area (see Lakshmana Temple )
Pida m.: Terraced pyramid roof of Hindu temples in Orissa
Pida-Deul: Hindu temple in Orissa covered by a pida
Pishtak , pishtaq m.: Portal construction of Islamic buildings that rises above the roof line
Pradakshinapatha m.: Conversion or processional path of Buddhist and Hindu sanctuaries

Q

Qabr: Burial chamber; underground stone chamber of Islamic mausoleums in which the body of the deceased is buried
Qila: fortress

R.

Rangamandapa, Ranga Mandapa n.: Jain temple dance pavilion
Ratha m.: 1) Temple floats for processions
2) Hindu temples based on such temple floats
Ratna: Sanskrit "jewel, precious stone"; Tower of Bengali temples
Rekha-Deul: Structure of Hindu temples in Orissa and West Bengal , which contains the Holy of Holies and has a shikara-shaped outline

S.

Sabhamandapa, Sabha Mandapa n.: Front or assembly hall of Hindu or Jain temples
Cream: Mosque courtyard
Senana: see Zenana
Shikhara m.: beehive-shaped tower of north Indian temples
Stambha m.: monumental, often free-standing column
Stupa m.: Buddhist cult building in the form of a grave or reliquary mound
Stupica: Dome-like top of south Indian temple towers

T

Tala: 1st floor of Hindu temple
Thabha n.: vertical post on the stone fences of Buddhist stupas
Torana n.: free-standing or integrated archway of Buddhist, Jainist or Hindu sanctuaries

U

Urushringa (also urahshringa ): Accompanying turrets for North Indian Shikharas

V

Vedika f.: originally wooden fence of Vedic villages; later stone fence of Buddhist stupas
Vesara: Sanskrit "mixture, crossing"; Hindu temple style based on the Western Deccan , combining elements of the North Indian Nagara style and the South Indian Dravida style
Vihara m.: Buddhist monastery
Vimana m.: South Indian temple in the shape of a step pyramid

Y

Yasti f.: Stone mast or axis of Buddhist stupas

Z

Zarih: Cenotaph in the middle of the domed main room (huzrah) of Islamic tombs
Zenana: Women's refuge, women's chambers or harem in Indian palace complexes

swell

Klaus Fischer , Michael Jansen, Jan Pieper: Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1987, ISBN 3-534-01593-2 .
Manfred Görgens: A short history of Indian art. DuMont Verlag, Ostfildern 1986, ISBN 3-770-11543-0 .
Andreas Volwahsen: India. Buildings of the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. From the series: Architecture of the World. Benedikt Taschen Verlag, Cologne 1994, ISBN 3-822-89532-6 .

Web links

Glossary of Indian architecture (English)