Term

Explanation

Kailasam

Said to be the foremost abode of Shiva; refers to Mount Kailash in the Himalayas.

Kalasanthi

The morning pooja or worship service

Kali Yuga

The last of the four yugas or aeons of time before Pralaya or Deluge

Kalyana Mandapam

A special mandapam dedicated for the ritual celebration of the marriage of the Lord with Goddess

Kamadhenu

The holy cow with a human face which is believed to fulfil the desires of devotees

Kattalai

A type of endowment of the devotees for doing periodical poojas or offerings

Kavacham

A metalic cover resembling armour

Kavadi

A decorated wooden pole with an arch over it carried on shoulders by devotees with offerings such as flowers, milk, rose-water etc., mostly for Lord Muruga with some parade

Kireetam

Hear-wear or Crown

Kodi Kambam (Dwajastambham in Sanskrit)

The flag-mast, usually a pillar fixed outside the main shrine in line with the Sanctum Sanctorum

Koil or Kovil

Temple

Kritha Yuga

The first of the Chathur or four yugas or aeons of time before Pralaya or the great deluge; the four yugas are Krithayugam, Treta Yugam, Dwapara Yugam and Kaliyugam.

Kshethra

Sacred place

Kumbhabishekam

Purification rites carried out after every renovation or construction in a temple

Laksharchanas

Worship with the recital of a lakh of divine names of a deity (see archana, ashtothra)

Maangalyam

A sacred ornament which is worn by married women as an insignia

Maanyam

Landed endowments to the temple servants for their services

Maavilakku

A form of offering to the deity in wich a wick is burnt in an offering of flour paste

Madapalli

Temple-kitchen where the food for daily worship services is prepared

Maha Mandapam

A big hall in temples for holding religious discourses

Mahabharatha

The Great Hindu epic describing the famous battle of Kurukshethra between the Pandavas and Kauravas

Makutam

The crown

Mandapam

A big terraced hall

Mangala Sasanam

Poems composed by Alwars in parise of Vishnu - constituting the Naalayira Divya Prabandam. (See Alwars)

Manikkavacakar

One of the foremost Saivite Saints who is credited with volumes of poetry, the foremost of which is Tiruvacakam; Tiruvadavoor and Uttirakosamangai in the Pandya Kingdom are 2 of the temples associated with him.

Mantras

The sacred hymns in sanskrit recited during worship services

Moola Vigraham

The presiding deity

Moolasthanam

Sanctum Sanctorum

Munivar

Saint

Mutt

A religious institution

Nagam

Serpent

Namam

The Vaishnavite mark of three vertical stripes on the forehead

Nambudiris

A class of Brahmins belonging to the Kerala State

Nandi

Nandi, the Bull is the ceremonial mount of Shiva; an image of Nandi usually faces Shiva's sanctum . Shiva temples are also adorned with images of Nandi on the temple walls.

Nava Thirupathis

The nine sacred Vaishnavite shrines

Nayanmars

The sixty three Saivite Saints, whose history is narrated in "Periyapuranam" who lived between the 5th and the 9th centuries, travelling around, visiting various temples , singing hymns of praise. Several miracles are associated with their visits.

Neivedhiyam

Offerings to the deity,

Oduvars

Torchbearers of the great tradition of Tevaram singing in Siva Temples; hymns that were composed by the Saints Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar in the 7th-9th centuries; now sung in Saivite temples in keeping with ancient tradition.

OM'

The sacred syllable representing the universal vibratory sound

Paasuram

Sacred song in praise of God (generally refer to the works of the Vaishnavite Alwars)

Padai

Army

Padakkam

A locket or pendant

Palliyarai

A bed chamber where the festival deities are kept after the daily poojas

Pancha-Murthys

The five deities,namely,Vinayakar, Murugar, Shiva, Parvati and Chandikeswarar

Panchaksharam

A sacred word signifying the five syllables of Namasivaya - signifiying surrender to Shiva

Panchalogam

An alloy of five metals

Pancharatra

A Vaishnava Agama

Patikam

Sacred song in praise of God (generally refer to the works of the Saivite Nayanmars)

Payasam

Sweet Pudding

Pooja

A form of ceremonial worship offered to the deity

Poosari

A priest who does pooja at village temples

Prabandham

The celebrated Vaishnavite poetic compilation of the works of the Alwars

Pradhosham

Evening of the 13th phase of the moon, 90 minutes before and after Sun set. It is considered auspicious for worshipping Shiva in all Saivite temples - when thousands congregate for worship.

Pradishta

Installation

Prakaram

The verandah or passage around the Sanctum Sanctorum

Pranavam

The sacred syllable "OM"

Prasadam

Anything given to devotees after being symbolically offered to the deity

Prithvi

Earth

Pushkarini

The sacred temple tank