Illustrated Terminologies

Brahma

Hindu creator god with four directional faces and four hands

from Birla Temple, Jaipur, India

from Sofitel Hotel, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

bhavan

House, like  Rashtrapati Bhavan (President House).

Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dehli

Macchi Bhavan, Agra Fort

burj

Arabic term for towers, like Musamman Burj in Agra Fort

Musamman Burj, Agra Fort

diwan

Diwan-i-Am means a court's hall of public audience, where the ruler can hold a mass audience. Diwan-i-Khas is a court's hall of private audience, smaller than the Diwan-i-Am.

Diwan-i-Am, Amber Fort

Diwan-i-Khas, Agra Fort

Ganesh

(Ganesha)

An elephant-headed son of Shiva. According to legend, Shiva cut his son's head in anger and in remorse replaced it with the first that came to hand, the head of an elephant, Airavata, of Indra.

Ganesh seen in a shop in Agra

Ganesh seen in Birla Temple, Jaipue

Hanuman

In Hinduism, Hanuman is a monkey-man who aided Rama (an avatar of Vishnu) in rescuing his wife, Sita, from Ravana, the king of rakshasa (i. e., asuras) ruling the land of Lanka.

Hanuman seen in Birla Temple, Jaipur

Hanuman seen entrance of a temple

haveli

The term used for a private residence in Pakistan and North India, meaning "an enclosed place" (of Persian origin).

Haveli in Mandawa

Haveli in Mandawa

mahal

Hindi term for palaces of Kings. Every king (or Raja) or major queens used to live in a mahal which often in a fort. Also meaning a luxurious building in Indian subcontinental countries

Taj Mahal in Agra

Jehangiri Mahal in Agra Fort

mausoleum

A monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons.

Akbar's Mausoleum

Shiva

One of Hindu Great Gods, symbol of the creative and destructive power of nature, riding the bull Nandi. The central image in Shiva temples is the linga.

Shiva (from Birla Temple in Jaipur)

Shiva (from Birla Temple in Jaipur)

Vishnu

One of Hindu Great Gods, who upholds cosmic law and righteousness through many incarnations. His best-known avatars are Rama, the hero-king of the Ramayana, and Krishna. He rides Garuda.

Vishnu (from Birla Temple in Jaipur)

Vishnu (from Birla Temple in Jaipur)