About The Glossary

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K

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: Short pants or pants tied with a drawstring (in the U.S. usually worn as an undergarment); one of the five "k's" which are required of khalsa.


 

(Japanese)  A building for the performance of kagura (a Shinto ritual).


 

(Japanese) A pictorial or calligraphic hanging.


 

(Japanese: "god-shelf")  Household altar in the home of a Shinto believer. The kamidana usually houses a rectangular paper or wooden amulet known as o-fuda, brought from a major shrine in the region, and prayers and food are offered each morning and evening.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: A comb that keeps the hair tidy; one of the five "k's" which are required of khalsa.


 

The Tibetan canonical collection of the teachings of Buddha, numbering 108 volumes and arranged and edited by the historian Buton (1290-1364).


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: A steel bracelet or thin iron wristlet worn on the right forearm; one of the five "k's" which are required of khalsa.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: The sacramental food distributed in gurdwaras and at the conclusion of important rituals. The food (prasad) which should be prepared in a large iron pan (karah), comprises equal parts of coarsely refined wheat flour (semolina), sugar and ghee. Before distribution it is touched with the point of a kirpan, to strengthen it symbolically, and given to five initiated Sikhs before being served to the rest of the congregation. When distributed, it must be offered to all, regardless of caste, creed or status.


 

In Hinduism: Hand cymbals used in kirtana.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: Uncut hair, including a man’s beard and other body hair. As cleanliness is an important Sikh virtue, regular washing ensures that even waist-length hair is clean. It should be remembered that all Sikhs are expected to bathe daily.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: The covering often worn between hair and turban, or by children instead of turban. (See also pattka.)


 

The central locking stone at the apex (top) of an arch or rib; sometimes carved.


 

(Punjabi) Double-edged sword (used as Sikh symbol).


 

Vertical roof beam joining the tie beam to the ridge above.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: A dagger, sword or sheath knife with one cutting edge; one of the five "k's" which are required of khalsa. For ceremonial occasions, it could be over a meter long or just a symbolic one imbedded in the khanga.


 

(Japanese: "Chronicles of Ancient Events") The first of the two major Shinto scriptures (the second is the Nihonskoki).


 

Old-style transliteration of the Arabic word denoting the book of Muslim sacred scriptures; see Qur'an.


 

The sacred belt worn by male Zoroastrians.


 

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L

Narrow, sharp-pointed arch or window common in early Gothic style buildings with radii much larger than the span.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: A communal kitchen in or adjacent to a gurdwara; also the meal served in a gurdwara. (As a rejection of institutionalized caste separation in Hindu society,) anyone may eat with Sikhs. Both the kitchen and the meal are open to all. In an attempt to offend no one, the food is always vegetarian, usually lentil soup, vegetables, rice and chappatis.

  “Pehle pangat, piche sangat” – first eat together, then worship together (attributed to Guru Amar Das)


 

1. Architectural element atop a cupola, usually with a light inside.

2. Turret with windows, often topping a dome.

3. A small circular or polygonal turret with windows all around, crowning a roof or dome.

4. A lamp suspended from a ceiling.


 

A churchyard cross with lantern-shaped top; usually with sculptured representations on the sides of the top.


 

(Latin) A stone of rich azure blue.


 

A cross with three short arms and a long arm.


 

1. A window with diamond-shaped leaded lights or with glazing bars arranged like an open-work screen.

2. Loosely, any hinged window.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: a marriage hymn.


 

Rectangular or diamond-shaped panes of glass set in lead cames to form a window.


 

In Christian church architecture: The Bible is read from a stand called a lectern, which is usually on the opposite side of the chancel from the pulpit. Reader stands behind lectern on which reading material is placed for easy viewing.


 

(Chinese) One of the Five Classics included in the Confucian Canon, it is a collection of three books on the Li (rights of propriety): Chou Li (Rites of Chou), I Li (Ceremonies and Rites), and Li Chi (Record of Rites).


 

Openings between the mullions of a window.


 

1. Horizontal beam, made of wood or stone, spanning the top of an opening (usually a window or doorway).

2. An upper horizontal element spanning a doorway or window, supported at each end by the upright jambs.


 

That art which makes visible the unseen presence of God, art before which prayers are said.


 

A gallery open on one or more sides, sometimes pillared or with a colonnade or arcade; it may also be a separate structure, usually in a garden.


 

An important sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, compiled in phases up to about 100 CE. It teaches that the forms taken by Buddhist doctrine are provisional only and are provided in accordance with the abilities of its recipients.


 

Slat that can be angled to admit air, while preventing rain or direct sunlight from entering the building.


 

In Christian church architecture: A window usually on the south side of the chancel, lower than the others, possibly intended for communication between persons outside the chancel and the priest within; perhaps also for the sanctus bell to be heard outside the church.


 

A diamond shape.


 

A small opening in an attic or spire.


 

One of the Four Books which are part of the Confucian Canon.


 

A semicircular opening; or, any flat, semicircular surface.


 

In Christian church architecture: A covered wooden gateway with open sides at the entrance of a churchyard, providing a resting place for a coffin (the word lych is Saxon for corpse). Part of the burial service is sometimes read at the lych gate.


 

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M

(Arabic) In Muslim usage: An institution of higher learning in traditional Islamic education.


 

In Hinduism: The "Great Epic of the Bharatas," containing 90,000 stanzas, is a compilation of ancient Indian epic material made probably between the 2^nd Century BCE and the end of the 1^st Century CE. It includes the Bhagavadgita.


 

(Arabic) In Muslim usage: A school for the teaching of the Qur'an at the primary level of education, often part of or adjacent to a mosque.


 

(Sanskrit) A marked-out area or a raised earthen platform, representing the cosmos in miniature and used as a place of purification, initiation and meditation in Eastern religious traditions, including Buddhism.


 

In Hinduism: "Abiding place" or "dwelling;" the commonly used word among Hindus for what in English is rendered as "temple.


 

(Punjabi) In Sikhism: stool on which Guru Granth Sahib is placed.


 

(Arabic) In Muslim architecture: A screen or grille of wood in a mosque to protect and separate the imam from the crowd of worshippers.


 

In Christianity: A shrine or church erected on the site of a martyrdom, a martyr’s tomb, or a site referring to an event in Christ's life or Passion.


 

(Arabic) Islamic shrine.


 

(Arabic; often transliterated as mosque) Literally, a place of prostration or prayer, hence the place where Muslims perform the five daily prayers and the congregational prayer on Fridays.


 

(Arabic: "congregational mosque") The place where Muslims perform congregational prayer on Fridays, in which the solidarity of believers is expressed in communal prayer; sometimes called a Friday Mosque.


 

Usually, building work in stone; sometimes the term includes work in brick or concrete.


 

(Arabic) A long, sloping tomb


 

A magnificent and stately tomb. The term derives from the tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus.


 

In Buddhism: A symbol of unity and harmony among all beings. The strand is composed of beads on a string, each representing an individual. However, each bead is not isolated and independent, but connected with all the others.


 

One of the Four Books that are included in the Confucian Canon.


 

(Hebrew: "candelabrum") 

1. In Judaism: A candelabrum with seven branches used in ritual, or the seven-branched oil lamp used in the Tabernacle and Temple.

2. In Judaism: The Hanukkah menorah has eight branches plus a special shammes candle that is used to kindle the others.


 

(Hebrew: "doorpost") A small box hung on the doorpost of a Jewish home, containing scriptural verses; or a charm worn around the neck. Inside is a parchment roll on which the first two paragraphs of the shema are handwritten. A mezuzzah is attached to every doorpost in the traditional Jewish home, usually inside a decorated case. It is customary for Orthodox Jews to kiss the mezuzah on entering or leaving a house.


 

(Arabic) In Muslim architecture: the apsidal niche in one interior wall of a mosque indicating the direction (qibla) of Mecca, towards which the Muslim worshipper must face while performing prayer. It first appeared in mosques in the early 8^th century. (see also niche 2)


 

(from Arabic minara) In Muslim architecture: The tall, usually slender, tower of a mosque from which Muslims hear the call to prayer five times a day either from an official called a muezzin or (increasingly) a recording of a muezzin's call played over a loudspeaker. Traditional minarets have one or more projecting balconies on which the muezzin stands to call the people to prayer.


 

(Arabic) In Muslim architecture: The high pulpit in a mosque; the elevated structure of steps in a mosque from which the khutba is given during Friday communal prayers.


 

1. In Christianity: Originally, the name for any monastic establishment or its church, whether a monastery proper or a house of secular canons.

2. In Midwestern vernacular, it forms part of the proper names of (especially) Presbyterian congregations.


 

(Hebrew: "collection of water") In Judaism: A pool or "gathering" of natural or clear water in or near a Jewish synagogue used for ritual purification, immersion in which renders an individual ritually clean. A miqvah is used by Jewish women to prepare to resume sexual relations with their husbands following the completion of their menstrual cycles, and by Jewish men to prepare for Sabbaths and holy days.


 

In Christian church architecture: A bracket on the underside of the seat of a hinged choir stall which, when turned up, serves as a support for the occupant while standing during a long service.


 

In Christianity: A liturgical book used in the Roman Catholic Church, which, since the Middle Ages, has contained the texts and instructions necessary for the celebration of the Mass.


 

In Christianity: A ceremonial hat; especially, a bishop's hat.


 

(Japanese) One of several terms for a Shinto shrine.


 

(Japanese) A wooden fish-shaped drum used in East Asian Buddhist temples.


 

Decorative profile or contours given to a projecting part, such as a ceiling cornice.


 

A single stone, usually in the form of a monument or column.


 

In Christian (especially Roman Catholic) usage: a holder for the host (bread or wafers consecrated during a Mass) in which the latter can be seen and venerated. (see communion)


 

Material made usually from cement, sand and lime. It is used as a bond between bricks and stone.


 

1. Decorative design made up of small squares of colored glass, stone, marble or tile.

2. If capitalized, usually is an adjective referring to Moses of the Old Testament.


 

(from the Arabic: masjid) In Muslim architecture: A place of prostration or prayer; the place where Muslims perform the five daily prayers and the congregational prayer on Fridays; in this latter sense, the edifice is also called a masjid al-jami, congregational mosque, in which the solidarity of believers is expressed in communal prayer.


 

In Hinduism: A clay drum used for congregational chanting


 

The decorative internal support within large Gothic windows; a narrow upright stone pier used to divide the panels of glass in a window; fixed vertical members dividing a window.


 

A representation of deity found in Hindu temples and homes.


 

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N

The sanctuary or principal room of a temple, containing the statue of a god. (= cella)


 

1. arcaded transverse porch or vestibule forming the entrance space of a basilica-style church.

2. covered antechamber at the main entrance of a church (usually, at the west end of the axis)..

3. a long, usually arcaded, porch forming  an entrance into a public building


 

In Christian church architecture: The main or central area of a church where the congregation usually stands (or sits); generally, the longitudinal western arm of a church, but more specifically the middle section of the western arm, with aisles on either side. Derived from the Latin navis, meaning ship, symbolizing a contained vessel ferrying souls from damnation to redemption.


 

(Greek: "city of the dead")  A cemetery in which provision is made for the continued welfare of the dead interred therein on the assumption of their continued existence. (= cemetery)


 

(Hebrew: "perpetual light") In Jewish architecture: A light (now more often battery and/or electric than an oil lamp) that burns perpetually in synagogues as a symbolic reminder of the Temple menorah.


 

The collection of works in Greek that eventually came to be agreed upon as normative or "canonical" for the Christian Church in addition to the Bible inherited from Judaism. It consists of the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles (letters) of various disciples and the Book of Revelation. The New Testament is understood as the scriptural record of the new covenant, which God has made with his people, now taken to include the whole of mankind. (see Bible)


 

1. In Christian architecture: A recess in a wall, often specifically designed to accommodate a statue.

2. In Jewish synagogues, it is a recess intended to direct the worshipper's focus toward Jerusalem. (see also mihrab)


 

(Japanese: "Chronicles of Japan") The second of two major Shinto scriptures, this classical work was compiled in Chinese at the Imperial Japanese court in 720 CE. (The first is the Kojiki.)


 

(Punjabi) A saffron or blue flag, depicting the Sikh emblem (khanda), commonly kept in a gurdwara.


 

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O

Any round window; or, the central, round window (in Roman times, unglazed) at the apex of a dome.


 

(Japanese) A wooded or paper amulet on which is written the name of a Shinto or Buddhist deity. The o-fuda is taken home from the shrine or temple, enshrined on the house altar (kamidana) and worshipped to obtain divine aid.


 

A double-curved line made up of a convex and a concave part.


 

A pointed arch with four arcs, the centers of two inside the arch, of the other two outside; this produces a compound curve of two parts, one convex and the other concave.


 

(Russian) In Eastern Christianity (esp. Russian Orthodox): An ornamented and often bejeweled metal cover originally made to protect especially treasured icons, later made together with the icon, revealing only the face and hands of the sacred figures. The oklad is an extension of the riaa, which leaves the whole body visible and which was itself an extension of the basma, an ornamental metal covering for the frame only.


 

The term used to describe the Hebrew Bible from a Christian perspective. (see Bible)


 

(Japanese) A small amulet obtained from Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples and worn on the body for protection.


 

A convex roof with a circular or polygonal base and an ogee-shaped section.


 

In Christianity: A small private chapel, either in a church or in a house.


 

The styles of Classical architecture, defined by the designs of their columns and entablatures. The three Greek orders are Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Romans added Tuscan and Composite.


 

A window projecting from the flat face of a wall, on an upper story, and usually curved.


 

The siting of a building in relation to the points of a compass. Christian churches often are built with the altar at the east and the main entrance at the west of the structure, but there are many exceptions (including St. Peter's in Rome, which is oriented west-east). (see also axis)


 

A depository for the bones of the dead (unlikely but theoretically possible in the contemporary Midwest; it was a common secondary burial customary among ancient Jews and others).


 

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