APAH South and Southeast Vocab

Ashlar masonry

Carefully cut and grooved stones that support a building without the use of concrete or other kinds of masonry.

Axis-mundi

Axis that connects heaven and earth.

Buddha

Founder of Buddhism; multiple forms; has achieved full enlightenment.

Bulbous

Describes a dome that is fat or bulging at the bottom before tapering inwards slightly.

Cenotaph

An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person.

Chahar bagh

"Fourfold garden"; a garden often divided into quarters by divisions of water.

Chamfered corner

A flattened corner of two buildings, often at 45 degrees.

Chhatri

Elevated, domed tower.

Corbelled arch

Constructed by offsetting successive courses of stone so that they project towards the archway's center, meeting at the apex.

Embryo room

The central most room in a Hindu shrine, housing the deity’s statue and considered the deity’s dwelling place.

Hasht Bihisht

Specific type of floorplan in Mughal architecture with 8 chambers surrounding a central room.

Iwan

A vaulted room opening to a courtyard in Islamic architecture.

Jali

Perforated and decorated screen, usually with calligraphic or geometric ornamentation.

Maithuna

Depictions of couples explicitly engaged in sexual intercourse.

Mausoleum

A building that contains tombs.

Miniature

Small paintings on paper, prized for their detail and precision.

Mughals

Islamic rulers in India, known for opulence and extravagance.

Nimbus

A circle or oval shape surrounding a religious figure, representing spiritual light or glory.

Panchayatana

Hindu temple where the main shrine is surrounded by four smaller shrines.

Pietra dura

Inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished colored stones to create images.

Shiva

The Hindu god of destruction.

Stupa

A dome-shaped Buddhist shrine.

Tantric

Referring to transcendence; often describes deeply meditative and intimate sexual activity.

Torana

A gateway near a stupa with two upright posts and three horizontal lintels, usually elaborately carved.

Urna

Red dot on the forehead of Buddhist figures.

Ushnisha

Top-knot on the top of Buddha’s head, referencing a humble crown.

Vishnu

The Hindu god of preservation.

Wat

A Buddhist monastery or temple in Cambodia.

Yakshi

Female and male fertility figures in Buddhist and Hindu art.