Surajmukhi

Meaning “sunflower” in some South Asian languages, it is a motif used in the Bagh embroidery tradition of the Punjab region of Pakistan, as well as the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. The term is also used to refer to a Bagh textile featuring this motif.

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Phoda Kumbha

A temple motif common to several sari-weaving traditions of Odisha, it consists of triangular shapes that run along the border…

Vajrapradama Mudra

Meaning the "mudra of unshakeable self-confidence," it is made by interlocking the fingers, placing the hands in front of or…

Ithyphallic

The depiction of a figure, usually a deity, with an erect phallus. This portrayal is primarily associated with the Hindu…

Lotiform

A design element shaped like an inverted lotus. It is an important iconographic symbol in Ancient Egyptian art, seen on…

Chakravaka

An aquatic bird resembling geese or swans that recurs in Buddhist and Hindu iconography. In Buddhism, it appears in representations…

Dandahasta

A gesture in which the arm is presented forward and held straight, like a stick. The hand is positioned similar…

Kalpavriksha

Also known as the kalpataru or kalpadruma, it is a sacred, wish-granting tree that is a recurring image in Hinduism,…

Kayotsarga Pose

A meditation posture in Jainism, it is frequently observed in artistic depictions of the Tirthankaras (or great teachers) of the…