Glossary

Arati: a ritual that comprises part of puja wherein at least one flame is lit and waved about a murti while chanting before bringing it in front of a worshiper who will cup their hands about the fire and receive the warmth as an act of self-purification and connection with the deity.
Double ikat: An ikat pattern wherein both the warp and weft are tie-dyed.
Garbhagriha: The sanctum, or ‘womb chamber,’ of a temple which houses the sacred image of the primary deity.
Gopuram: A large, often richly ornamented tower which marks the entrance to temple grounds in South India
Ikat: A resist-dye technique wherein bundles of yarn are tie-dyed according to predetermined patterns then arranged on a loom to form geometric designs.
Jāla: The lattice in windows in temple architecture, most often found in the entrances.
Kolam: A geometric design made of rice flower or some other powdery material situated at the entrances of homes.
Mandala: a geometric pattern meant to aid in meditation and other auspicious activities in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Mandapa: A pillared hall in Indian architecture that is used for various public ceremonies, including prayer or dance.
Mordant: A substance that is applied to a textile so as to facilitate the binding of dye to the fibers.
Muggu: see kolam.
Murti: The sacred image of the primary deity which is used during worship and other ceremonies.
Patan Patola: A famous double ikat textile produced in the eponymous Patan, Gujarat.
Plain weave: A simple pattern wherein the weft is wound in front of and behind the warp at even intervals.
Puja: The collection of rituals which comprises worship of a deity in Hindu practice, which may include singing, ablution, prayer, and other such activities.
Rangoli: see kolam.
Resist dye: a method of textile production wherein areas are blocked from absorbing color by applying a nonporous material such as wax.
Single ikat: An ikat pattern wherein only the warp or the weft is tie-dyed.
Shala (Śālā): A barrel-vaulted ceiling which is often used as an architectural motif by rendering a horseshoe-shaped length along the temple wall.
Sukarnaka: A shape most often found in jalas that is composed of a square with four smaller, central square offsets pointing in the cardinal directions.
Vijayanagara: A large empire active in Central and South India from 1336 through 1646 that commissioned many temples and public works.
Warp: The vertical strings stretched taught on a loom that form the basis, or ground, of a plain weave textile.
Weft: The horizontal strings woven between warp threads in a plain weave textile.
Yantra: A geometric pattern associated with specific deities that is imbued with divine power.

Glossary

Arati: a ritual that comprises part of puja wherein at least one flame is lit and waved about a murti while chanting before bringing it in front of a worshiper who will cup their hands about the fire and receive the warmth as an act of self-purification and connection with the deity.

Double ikat: An ikat pattern wherein both the warp and weft are tie-dyed.

Garbhagriha: The sanctum, or ‘womb chamber,’ of a temple which houses the sacred image of the primary deity.

Gopuram: A large, often richly ornamented tower which marks the entrance to temple grounds in South India

Ikat: A resist-dye technique wherein bundles of yarn are tie-dyed according to predetermined patterns then arranged on a loom to form geometric designs.

Jāla: The lattice in windows in temple architecture, most often found in the entrances.

Kolam: A geometric design made of rice flower or some other powdery material situated at the entrances of homes.

Mandala: a geometric pattern meant to aid in meditation and other auspicious activities in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Mandapa: A pillared hall in Indian architecture that is used for various public ceremonies, including prayer or dance.

Mordant: A substance that is applied to a textile so as to facilitate the binding of dye to the fibers.

Muggu: see kolam.

Murti: The sacred image of the primary deity which is used during worship and other ceremonies.

Patan Patola: A famous double ikat textile produced in the eponymous Patan, Gujarat.

Plain weave: A simple pattern wherein the weft is wound in front of and behind the warp at even intervals.

Puja: The collection of rituals which comprises worship of a deity in Hindu practice, which may include singing, ablution, prayer, and other such activities.

Rangoli: see kolam.

Resist dye: a method of textile production wherein areas are blocked from absorbing color by applying a nonporous material such as wax.

Single ikat: An ikat pattern wherein only the warp or the weft is tie-dyed.

Sukarnaka: A shape most often found in jalas that is composed of a square with four smaller, central square offsets pointing in the cardinal directions.

Vijayanagara: A large empire active in Central and South India from 1336 through 1646 that commissioned many temples and public works.

Warp: The vertical strings stretched taught on a loom that form the basis, or ground, of a plain weave textile.

Weft: The horizontal strings woven between warp threads in a plain weave textile.

Yantra: A geometric pattern associated with specific deities that is imbued with divine power.