IMPORTANT TERMS AND FACTS FROM MEDIEVAL INDIAN HISTORY-PART-3

Chhaya-stambha:

 The chhaya-stambha is among the earliest archaeological evidence, and it seems to be rooted in the social practices of the Buddhists.

Nisidhi:

The nisidhi represents the ritual death practices exclusively by the Jains.

Mudrakshasa:

The Mudrakshasa, a play written in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta and generally ascribed to the fifth century, speaks of different regions whose inhabitants differ in customs, clothing and language.

Kuvalayamala:

The Kuvalayamala, a Jain text of the eighth century and largely concerned with western India, notes the existence of 18 major nationalities and describes the anthropological character of sixteen peoples, pointing out their psychological features and citing the examples of their language.

Temple architecture:

Shilpashastras:

 Shilpashastras that deal with the subject of temple architecture are

 Mayamata, Manasara, Shilparatna, Kamikagama, Kashyapashilpa and

Ishanagurudevapaddati.

Rehka,Bhadra,Kharkhara and Gaudiya:

 The local manuscripts of Orissa recognise four main types of Orissa style temples, viz., the Rehka, Bhadra, Kharkhara and Gaudiya.

Vimana, garbhagriha:

The sanctuary, which is the main part is called the vimana where the garbhagriha or the inner sanctum containing the main presiding deity is located.

Shikhara: The part surmounting the vimana is known as the Shikhara.

Mandapa:  pavilion for the assembly of devotees.

Antarala:

which is a vestibule connecting the vimana and mandapa and the pradakshiapath, i.e. circumambulatory passage surrounding these.

Natmandir/ bhogamandapa:

The natmandir or dance hall and bhogamandapa were evolved

subsequently in the Orissan temples such as the famous Sun temple at Konarka.

Gopurams:

A temple of the Dravida type is also notable for the towering gopurams or gate towers of the additional mandapas.

Kudu:

foliated arch on dravidian temple-ornamental motif derived

from the Buddhist Chaitya arch.

Apsidal: building with a ground plan of semi-circular termination.

Bhadra: flat face or facet of the Shikhara.

Bhattaraka: Jain religious teacher/preceptor.

Deul: general name for a temple as a whole.

Garbha-griha: sanctum sanctorum, the most sacred part of a temple.

Jagamohana: hall in front of the sanctum.

Kalasha: water-pot; pitcher-shaped element in the finial of a temple.

Nata-mandir: dancing/festive hall, usually in front of the jagamohana.

Irasada: palace/shrine; also used in the sense of favour by God/Lord.

Pustakaraka: clay-modeller.

Harshacharita:

Terracottas in the post-Gupta centuries were used by landed aristocrats and kings to decorate religious buildings and their own places on auspicious occasions such as marriages as rewarded by Bana in the Harshacharita.

Viharas, mathas:

Just as the Church was the principal organiser of education in Europe in the Medieval times, similarly the post-Gupta centuries saw the concentration of the centres of education in religious establishments, such as the Viharas, mathas and temples.

Vikramashila:

That tantra and mantra became a favourite subject of study may be inferred from the fact that a full-fledged department of Tantra was run in the University of Vikramashila.

Taranatha:

The Tibetan traveller Taranatha, who came to India in the 17th

century is very eloquent about tantrik curricula at Nalanda, Odantapuri and other prominent universities of Bihar and Bengal.

VATTELUTTU/ KOLELUTTU:

The Cheras used a cursive variety of Tamil Brahmi called VATTELUTTU

(rounded script). The Pandyas seem to have popularised the KOLELUTTU (script of straight lines) and the Cholas combined the two. This is not all.

Historical chronicles about different states:

Kashmir: Rajatarangini.

Gujarat: Rasmala. Prabandha, Chintamani, Vasanta Vilasa, etc.,

Sind: Chachnama and

Nepal: Vamshavalis supports the presumption that the archives of different states,

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