Gul Buta

A rose motif that appears in block-printed textiles of Rajasthan, it derives its name from the Urdu term for rose. In the Sirohi district of Rajasthan, it can be found on clothing worn by widows of the Jain community.

More Definitions

Jatamukuta

A hairstyle or headdress in the Indian iconographic tradition in which long, matted hair is twisted and piled atop the…

Dabbi

Meaning “small box,” it is a single, squarish motif found in the Rajasthani style of tie-dyed bandhani fabric, which depicts…

Gaja Hasta

A single-handed gesture in South Asian iconography in which the palm is stretched out and downwards from the wrist, with…

Bindu

A circular symbol resembling and implying a point or a dot. It has several meanings in Indian philosophy: while the…

Mukkode

In Jaina religious art, it is a motif featuring a three-tiered divine umbrella that appears in depictions of the Tirthankaras…

Vitarka Mudra

The mudra or gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching, it is made by touching the tips of the…

Khat

A motif found predominantly in kota doria, which uses cotton as warp and silk as weft threads. The warp and…

Chakra

The sacred symbol of a wheel in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, the symbol consists of twenty-four spokes, symbolising the…