विमान
English meaning: temple spire, divine vehicle
Definition
The main tower or spire directly above the sanctum of a South Indian temple, distinguished from the gopura by being smaller but ritually more important. The term also refers to the aerial vehicles of gods and heroes described in the Purāṇas and epics.
Example
“देवस्य विमानं दिव्यं भाति।”
In English: “The divine spire of the deity shines brilliantly.”
Another example: “रावणः पुष्पकविमानेन आगच्छत्।”
Usage — When, Where & How
Classical register with two senses: a temple's spire/tower over the sanctum (South Indian architecture) and a celestial flying chariot/palace (mythology). Disambiguate by domain; the divine-vehicle sense is common in Epic and Purāṇa.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From the prefix vi- with the root √mā ('to measure'), literally 'that which is well-measured out', a measured (divine) structure or vehicle.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- पुष्पकविमान
- विमानशिखर
- देवविमान
- विमानगृह
- विमानयान
Word Forms
n., a-stem; nom./acc. विमानम्, instr. विमानेन, gen. विमानस्य
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“मन्दः कवियशः प्रार्थी गमिष्याम्युपहास्यताम्। प्रांशुलभ्ये फले लोभादुद्बाहुरिव वामनः।।”
/Mandah kaviyashah prarthhi gamishyamyupahasytam. Pramshu-labhe phale lobhadud-bahur iva vamanah./
“Feeble-minded yet aspiring to a poet's fame, I go to be ridiculed — like a dwarf reaching for high fruit.”
“रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः”
/Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya-parakramah/
“Rama is righteousness incarnate — virtuous and true in valour.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M