Glossary Terms

|Term (EN)|Definition|Exam Relevance|
|-----------|-----------|------------|----------------|
|Aniconic|Representing a deity through symbols (footprints, throne) rather than human/divine images|Early Buddhist art period before Buddha was depicted in human form|
|Cire-perdue|Lost-wax casting — wax model covered in clay, molten metal poured in after wax melts|Technique used for Indus Valley "Dancing Girl" bronze|
|Charbagh|Four-part garden divided by water channels — the Persian/Mughal garden plan|Mughal tomb gardens: Humayun's Tomb, Taj Mahal|
|Corbelling|Stone construction using successive horizontal layers projecting inward — creates a false arch|Pre-Sultanate Indian architecture; replaced by true arches after 1200 CE|
|Dhamma Chakra|The Wheel of Law — Buddhist symbol for the first sermon of Buddha; appears on Indian flag|Ashokan pillars, national emblem, national flag (24-spoke wheel)|
|Gopuram|Monumental ornate gateway tower of South Indian Dravidian temples|Dravida architecture identifier; distinguishes from Nagara style|
|Jataka|Stories of the Buddha's previous lives used in Buddhist didactic literature and art|Ajanta murals, Sanchi stupa carvings — standard exam example|
|Mauryan Polish|Mirror-like finish on stone achieved by polishing with sand — characteristic of Ashoka-era stone|Identifies Mauryan-era sculptures and architecture|
|Miniature Painting|Small-scale detailed paintings, typically on paper/cloth, associated with Mughal and Rajput courts|Mughal school (Hamzanama, portraits), Rajput schools (Mewar, Kangra)|
|Nagara|North Indian temple architectural style with curvilinear shikhara over the garbhagriha|Khajuraho, Somnath, Dilwara temples — exam standard examples|
|Natyashastra|Treatise on performing arts by Bharata Muni (c. 200 BCE–200 CE) — codifies rasas, dance, theatre|Foundation of all 8 classical dance forms; 9 rasas concept|
|Nava Rasa|Nine emotional essences of Indian aesthetics: shringara, hasya, karuna, raudra, vira, bhayanaka, bibhatsa, adbhuta, shanta|Natyashastra — tested in dance/literature questions|
|Pietra Dura|Inlaying of semi-precious stones (lapis, carnelian, malachite) into marble — Mughal decorative technique|Taj Mahal, Agra Fort interiors — Mughal architecture identifier|
|Puram|Exterior/heroic poetry of the Sangam tradition — dealing with war, death, the king, and public life|Sangam literature classification; contrasted with akam (love)|
|Raga|Melodic framework in Indian classical music specifying scale, characteristic phrases, time of day, and emotional mood|Hindustani/Carnatic music — fundamental concept|
|Sangam|Literary academy of ancient Tamil Nadu; also the corpus of literature produced there (c. 300 BCE–300 CE)|Sangam literature — India's earliest secular literary corpus|
|Sarnath|Site near Varanasi where Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta); home of the Lion Capital|Mauryan art — location of India's national emblem original|
|Shikhara|The curvilinear tower rising above the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) in Nagara temple architecture|Nagara style identifier; contrasted with vimana (Dravida)|
|Stupa|Dome-shaped Buddhist reliquary mound, typically built over Buddha's remains or at pilgrimage sites|Sanchi Stupa (UNESCO 1989) — standard exam example|
|Tala|Rhythmic cycle in Indian classical music, measured in beats (matras) — e.g., teentaal (16 beats), ektal (12 beats)|Hindustani/Carnatic music — paired with raga|
|Torana|Ornamental gateway or arch at the entrance to a stupa or temple, with elaborate sculptural decoration|Sanchi Stupa toranas (Sunga period, 2nd–1st century BCE)|
|Tribhanga|Three-bend posture in Indian sculpture/dance — body curves at head, torso, and hip in S-shape|Odissi classical dance; also common in Buddhist/Jain sculpture|
|Vesara|Hybrid temple architectural style of the Deccan combining Nagara and Dravida elements|Chalukya/Hoysala architecture; Doddabasappa Temple, Gadag|
|Vimana|The pyramidal tower of a Dravida-style temple — also refers to the entire temple structure in South Indian usage|Brihadeeswara Temple vimana (66m) — apex of Dravida style|