AP ART HISTORY BUDDHISM THROUGH HINDUISM

Bodhisattva

 In Buddhism, an enlightened being who delays entering nirvana in order to guide and help 

others reach enlightenment 

Buddha

An individual who has achieved complete spiritual enlightenment. The best-known Buddha is 

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism 

Mandorla

An almond-shaped halo that surrounds the entire figure of a sacred person, such as Christ or the Buddha

Mithuna

 A pair of male and female figures that symbolize love, fertility, prosperity, or the union of 

opposites in Hindu and Buddhist art

Mudra

 A meaningful hand position used in Hindu and Buddhist art to communicate specific ideas or spiritual qualities

Sakyamuni

Another name for Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha who founded Buddhism

Stupa

A dome-shaped Buddhist monument that often contains sacred relics and serves as a place for worship and meditation

Torana

A decorative gateway that marks the entrance to a Buddhist sacred site, often carved with 

religious stories and symbols

Urna

A small circular mark between a Buddha's eyebrows that symbolizes spiritual insight and wisdom 

Ushnisha

The rounded bump or topknot on a Buddha's head that represents enlightenment and higher 

knowledge

Vairocana

The Universal Buddha, representing ultimate wisdom, truth, and the limitless nature of 

enlightenment

Wat

A Buddhist temple complex or monastery commonly found in Cambodia and other parts of 

Southeast Asia

Yakshi

Nature spirits associated with fertility, abundance, and prosperity that 

frequently appear in Hindu and Buddhist sculpture

Amaterasu

the Shinto sun goddess who is considered the divine ancestor of Japan's imperial family 

Kami

sacred spirits or divine beings in Shinto believed to exist in nature, people, places, and natural force

Komainu

a pair of lion-like guardian statues placed at the entrances of Shinto shrines to protect 

against evil spirits

Sakaki

an evergreen tree regarded as sacred in Shinto and commonly used in religious ceremonies 

and shrine offerings

Shide

zigzag-shaped strips of folded white paper attached to sacred objects or ropes to mark them as spiritually significant

Shimenawa

a rope made from rice straw or other natural fibers used to mark a sacred space or object where kami are believed to be present

Tomoe

a comma-shaped swirling symbol often found on Shinto shrines that represents movement, energy, and the balance of natural forces

Torri gates

traditional gateways that mark the entrance to a Shinto shrine and symbolize the transition from the ordinary world into a sacred space

Darshan

In Hinduism, a sacred exchange in which a worshipper sees a deity and is spiritually seen in return

Garbha griha

The innermost sanctuary of a Hindu temple where the primary deity's image is placed

Mithuna

A pair of male and female figures that symbolize love, fertility, prosperity, or the union of opposites in Hindu and Buddhist art

Mudra

A meaningful hand position used in Hindu and Buddhist art to communicate specific ideas or spiritual qualities

Puja

 A Hindu act of worship that may include prayers, offerings, and rituals honoring a deity

Shikhara

A tall, curving tower built above the sanctuary of a Hindu temple

Shiva

One of the principal Hindu gods, associated with destruction, transformation, and renewal

Vishnu

A major Hindu deity known as the protector and preserver of the universe