{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DefinedTermSet","@id":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","name":"Kalakrithi Emporium Open Cultural Iconography Dataset","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kalakrithi Emporium","url":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com"},"hasDefinedTerm":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","termCode":"nataraja-ananda-tandava","name":"Nataraja (Lord of the Cosmic Dance)","alternateName":"आनन्दताण्डवनटराज","inDefinedTermSet":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","description":"The supreme iconographic synthesis of cosmic creation, preservation, destruction, illusion, and grace as embodied by Lord Shiva.","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30275","slug":"nataraja-ananda-tandava","sanskrit":"आनन्दताण्डवनटराज","iast":"Ānandatāṇḍava Naṭarāja","category":"deity","deepDescription":"Codified to its zenith during the 10th-century Chola dynasty under Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, the Nataraja iconography depicts Shiva dancing within the flaming circle (Prabhavali). His upper right hand holds the hourglass drum (Damaru) initiating vibration and creation; his upper left holds the flame of dissolution (Agni); his lower right is held in the gesture of solace (Abhaya Mudra); his lower left points gracefully across the chest towards his uplifted left foot in the gesture of refuge (Gajahasta Mudra); his right foot firmly crushes the dwarf of spiritual amnesia (Apasmara Purusha).","dhyanaSloka":{"sanskrit":"सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहं भुजङ्गभूषणं देवं भक्ताभीष्टप्रदायिनम्। नटेशं चिद्घनाकारं वन्दे ज्ञानप्रदायकम्॥","transliteration":"saccidānandavigrahaṁ bhujaṅgabhūṣaṇaṁ devaṁ bhaktābhīṣṭapradāyinam | naṭeśaṁ cidghanākāraṁ vande jñānapradāyakam ||","translation":"I bow to the Lord of Dance, the embodiment of Truth, Consciousness and Bliss, adorned with serpents, who fulfills the noble aspirations of his devotees, whose form is pure consciousness and who bestows sacred wisdom.","textSource":"Chidambara Rahasya Mahatmyam, Patala 12"},"proportionalRules":["Height: 124 Angulas (Uttama Dasatala)","Prabhavali flames: Traditionally 24 or 32 fire bursts representing the cosmic hours and cycles of creation","Center of gravity: Must pass vertically from the crown jewel (Chudamani) through the right hip directly down through the right heel"],"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30275","cidocCrmClass":"E22_Human-Made_Object"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","termCode":"panchaloha-sacred-alloy","name":"Panchaloha (The Sacred Five-Metal Alloy)","alternateName":"पञ्चलोह","inDefinedTermSet":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","description":"A traditional, Agamically sanctified quinary bronze alloy formulated with five metals: Copper, Tin, Zinc, Silver, and Gold.","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7130282","slug":"panchaloha-sacred-alloy","sanskrit":"पञ्चलोह","iast":"Pañcaloha","category":"metallurgy","deepDescription":"Panchaloha is specified in the Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra as the only metallurgical medium authorized for public temple procession deities (Utsava Murtis). Unlike brittle commercial brass, Panchaloha exhibits high crystallographic ductility, an acoustic sound decay of up to 6.8 seconds, and an innate electromagnetic responsiveness when anointed with consecrated temple waters, milk, and honey.","dhyanaSloka":{"sanskrit":"ताम्रं वङ्गं तथा जसदं रजतं काञ्चनं तथा। पञ्चलोहमिति प्रोक्तं सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम्॥","transliteration":"tāmraṁ vaṅgaṁ tathā jasadaṁ rajataṁ kāñcanaṁ tathā | pañcalohamiti proktaṁ sarvasiddhipradāyakam ||","translation":"Copper, Tin, Zinc, Silver and Gold—this combination is declared as Panchaloha, the granter of all spiritual attainments.","textSource":"Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra, Chapter 8"},"elementalComposition":{"copper":82.4,"tin":12.1,"zinc":4.2,"silver":0.85,"gold":0.45},"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7130282","cidocCrmClass":"E57_Material"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","termCode":"abhaya-mudra","name":"Abhaya Mudra (Gesture of Fearlessness)","alternateName":"अभयमुद्रा","inDefinedTermSet":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","description":"A sacred hand gesture characterized by an upright palm facing forward with fingers joined, symbolizing divine protection and peace.","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q320721","slug":"abhaya-mudra","sanskrit":"अभयमुद्रा","iast":"Abhayamudrā","category":"mudra","deepDescription":"Observed across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain iconographies, the Abhaya Mudra dispels fear (bhaya) and anxiety in the devotee. In South Indian Agamic bronze sculpting, the forearm is angled at precisely 45 degrees from the torso, with the hand raised to the level of the sternum (Hridaya Kamala), conveying reassuring intimacy and benevolence.","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q320721","cidocCrmClass":"E55_Type"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","termCode":"cire-perdue-lost-wax-casting","name":"Cire-Perdue (Lost-Wax Casting Process)","alternateName":"मधूच्छिष्टविधानम्","inDefinedTermSet":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","description":"The ancient metallurgy technique where a hand-carved wax model is encased in Kaveri silt clay, fired to expel the wax, and filled with molten bronze.","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1058440","slug":"cire-perdue-lost-wax-casting","sanskrit":"मधूच्छिष्टविधानम्","iast":"Madhūcchiṣṭavidhānam","category":"metallurgy","deepDescription":"Registered as a Geographical Indication (GI Certificate No. 63) under the Government of India, the Swamimalai lost-wax casting technique is an unbroken lineage surviving since the 3rd century BCE. Because each refractory terracotta mold must be cracked open with a hammer to retrieve the cooled metal casting, no two lost-wax icons can ever be identical. Every single piece is an irreplaceable, solid masterwork.","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1058440","cidocCrmClass":"E12_Production"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","termCode":"chola-dynasty-bronze-lineage","name":"Imperial Chola Dynasty Bronze Lineage (848–1279 CE)","alternateName":"चोलराजवंशकांस्यपरम्परा","inDefinedTermSet":"https://kalakrithiemporium.com/api/open-research/iconography","description":"The golden epoch of South Indian bronze sculpture under the imperial Chola rulers of Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180720","slug":"chola-dynasty-bronze-lineage","sanskrit":"चोलराजवंशकांस्यपरम्परा","iast":"Cōlarājavaṁśa Kāṁsyaparamparā","category":"dynasty","deepDescription":"Revered globally by art historians and museums for their dynamic balance of supple organic anatomy and divine transcendence. Spearheaded by Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi and King Rajaraja Chola I, Chola bronzes established the canon of expressive grace, slender proportions, and anatomical refinement that remains the highest benchmark of Asian figurative sculpture.","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180720","cidocCrmClass":"E4_Period"}]}