Term |
Explanation |
Aaru Padai Veedu |
The six permanent abodes of Lord Muruga before He vanquished Surapadman as
the generalissimo of the divine forces |
Abhayam |
Refuge |
Abishekam |
A holy ritual ablution given to the Deity with oil, milk, scented powder,
honey, rose water, ghee, sugar-cane juice etc. |
Adi Sesha |
Divine serpent said to have one thousand heads and represented as forming the
couch of Lord Vishnu. |
Agamas |
Traditional principles governing worship, construction, festivals in
temples.The word Agama means tradition |
Aiavatham |
The legendary white elephant of Indra, the King of the Devas |
Alwars |
Vaishnavite saints whose hymns in praise of Vishnu constitute the tamil canon
- considered to be on par with the Vedas. |
Amirtham (Amrit) |
Nectar of immortality |
Amman, Ambal |
Goddess |
Appar |
Tirunavukkarasar, one of the foremost of the 63 Saivite Nayanmar saints;
associated closely with Tiruvatikai, Paatirippuliyur, Tiruvaiyaru and Tiruppugalur |
Arattu |
A kind of holy bath given to the festival images of the deities, when they
are immersed in water on the final day of the annual festival in Kerala and in Kanyakumari
district of Tamilnadu |
Archakar |
Priest |
Archana |
Devotional worship offered to the deity by the priest with flowers or saffron |
Artha Mandapam |
An intermediary space between the Sanctum Sanctorum and the exterior of the
temple |
Arthajamam |
The last of the daily poojas performed at night |
Ashram |
A hermitage or abode of ascetics |
Ashtothram |
A form of Archana worship usually offered to the deity with a recital of 108
names of a deity |
Asthana Mandapam |
Assembly Hall |
Asura |
Demon |
Avataram, Avtar |
An Incarnation of God |
Bali Peetham |
Altar or the sacrificial stone |
Bhajanai, Bhajan |
Group singing of divine songs |
Bhaktha, Bhakth |
Devotee (The word Bhakti means devotion) |
Bhattachariar |
A Brahmin priest belonging to the Vaishnavite sect who offers poojas in a
Vishnu temple |
Chakram |
Discus of Lord Vishnu |
Chapparam |
Chariot |
Dakshinayanam |
The sun's progress south of Equator(July-December) |
Darshan, Darisanam |
Sight of God or of holy men |
Dasavatharam |
The ten incarnations of Vishnu to punish the wicked |
Deepa Aradhanai |
A ceremonial waving of lamps - Illuminating the image of a deity with camphor
or with a deepam (oil, clarified butter lamps) |
Devasthanam |
A body administering the affairs of the temple |
Devaswom |
The Keralite name for temples |
Dwajasthambam |
The flag-mast, usually a pillar fixed outside the main shrine in line with
the Sanctum Sanctorum |
Dwapara Yugam |
The third among the four Yugas or aeons of time, the current aeon being
Kaliyugam |
Dwara Palakas |
Figures of guards of the deities found on either side of the entrance to the
Sanctum Sanctorum |
Gadha |
Club |
Garbagriham |
The interior of Sanctum Sanctorum |
Garuda |
A mythological bird, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu |
Gopuram |
Temple Tower crowning entrances; the foremost of these towes crowning the
main entrance is the Raja Gopuram. |
Guru |
Preceptor, Teacher |
Gurukkal |
A priest belonging to the Saivite sect who offers pooja in aSiva temple; a
gurukkal is also known by the name Sivachariar. |
Homam |
Sacrificial ritual conducted with an altar of fire, as a part of daily
worship, festivals and special occasions. |
Hundi |
A sealed receptacle with a slit at the top in which devotees make offerings
to a temple |
Jeer |
A spiritual head of Vaishnavites |
