Common Nouns Lexicon

A riwâq is a covered gallery supported by columns or arcades, typical of Islamic architecture.

Round arches, also known as Roman arches, are semi-circular architectural structures widely used in Roman and medieval architecture to support loads and create openings

Sadhu refers to an ascetic or holy man in the Hindu tradition, often seen in temples or during pilgrimages. They lead a life of renunciation, dedicated to spirituality and meditation.

A "sala" is an open structure typical in Laotian temples, primarily used for meditation and religious offerings

The salagramam is a sacred fossil stone used in Hindu rituals and regarded as a manifestation of Vishnu.

Salat refers to the obligatory ritual prayer performed five times a day by practicing Muslims, facing Mecca.

A Samadhi is a funerary monument or memorial shrine in Hindu and Sikh traditions, erected in memory of a saint or guru. These structures are often pilgrimage sites and places of veneration.

Samsara is a central concept in Indian religions, representing the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth to which all living beings are subjected.

The sanctum sanctorum is the most sacred space in a temple, often reserved for priests and housing the main deity or relic of the place of worship.

Sanskrit is an ancient language of India, known as the classical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the oldest documented Indo-European languages