Kalasha
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A kalasha is the pot-shaped top piece (finial) at the very peak of a temple tower. In Nagara (north Indian style) temples, it sits above the amalaka. It is often made of metal. The kalasha is a sign of plenty and good luck, and it marks the temple as complete.
Example
The Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneswar in Odisha (c. eleventh century CE) has a tall curved tower. A kalasha sits at its top, above the ribbed amalaka.
Don't confuse with
- Amalaka: the large ribbed stone disc just below the kalasha. The amalaka is shaped like a flattened fruit, while the kalasha is shaped like a pot.
Related concepts
- Puranic Hinduism
- Vaishnavism
- Avatar
- Dashavatara
- Varaha
- Vasudeva-Krishna
- Shaivism
- Linga
- Garbhagriha
- Antarala