One of the thirty-two lakshanas within Buddhist iconography, the urna is depicted as a dot or a circular curl of hair in the centre of the Buddha’s forehead as a mark of his wisdom.
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Axis Mundi
A Latin phrase meaning “world axis” and referring to the centre of the earth or the point at which the…
Roundel
An intricately carved, round decorative medallion typically featured on pillars and ceilings. They are often carved into niches on window…
Vrishabha-Kunjara
A composite artistic motif, which depicts an elephant and a bull with a common head. It derives its name from…
Ushnisha
One of the thirty-two lakshanas within Buddhist iconography, the ushnisha is an oval arrangement of hair on top of the…
Chakravaka
An aquatic bird resembling geese or swans that recurs in Buddhist and Hindu iconography. In Buddhism, it appears in representations…
Volute
Derived from the Latin word voluta meaning "scroll," it is a spiral, scroll-shaped ornament. A key element in the Ionic…
Kayotsarga Pose
A meditation posture in Jainism, it is frequently observed in artistic depictions of the Tirthankaras (or great teachers) of the…
Bel
A popular floral motif, it depicts a climber or vine. Also known as Bel Buti, the motif is found in…