Kalasha

As Kalasha a stone jar or vase- shaped attachment is referred to in a Hindu temple in the north Indian Nagara style. The roofs of palaces or Muslim dome graves were later inflated with such essays in some cases; often a ribbed amalaka ring stone in the latter also appears.

Origin

Probably the architectural element goes back to victims jars of the same name, which in religious ceremonies in the home and visiting temples still find use in India. These jars can also be made of noble metals such as silver and gold from clay, brass, copper, however.

Symbolism

As early as the Vedas kept in a jug immortality potion is amrita ( Sanskrit: अमृत, Amrta = immortality, see also Ambrosia ) equated with the nectar soma. His enjoyment gives wisdom, wealth and immortality. Some Hindu deities ( Brahma, Lakshmi, Annapurna ) sometimes keep such a pitcher in her hands.

A drinks (water, milk, coconut milk ) or fruit (coconut, mango etc. ) filled pitcher is in India as Purna - Kalasha ( पूर्णकलश ), Purna Kumbha ( पूर्णकुम्भ ) or Purna - ghata ( पूर्णघट ) and are considered by many Indians up to the present day as a symbol of wealth and abundance, and thus a symbol of fertility, vitality and health excellence. In many domestic ceremonies (birth, marriage, house warming ) such pitcher is set up and decorated; the guests often appear with a Kalasha - pitcher in her hands.

A more refined interpretation sets the pitcher and the associated number of subjects with the same five elements: base = ground ( prithivi ); Belly = water ( ap); Border = fire ( agni ); open mouth = air, breath ( vayu ); Foliage = ether ( akasha ).

Representation

Vase or pitcher motifs with bulging leaves play an important role in the early North Indian temple architecture ( cf. Gupta Temple ). Here, however, they are found preferably in the upper part of pillars or portal mounts. It was only in later times they get - together with the Amalakas - an elevated position as the top component of Shikhara towers. With newer temples they are usually gold plated.

Mausoleums and palaces

Perhaps the Kalasha vase is a symbol for immortality of the reason that this architectural element - also combined with Amalakas - also appears on Islamic mausoleums in the territory of the Sultanate of Delhi in the 14th century; with mogul -temporal constructions of the 16th - 18th Century play kalashas however, no longer matters.

By far the largest number of gilded kalashas can be found on the roofs of numerous small, Palace of the Winds ' ( Hawa Mahal ) in Jaipur (Rajasthan)