Kosta (architectural feature)

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Lingodbhava in kosta in Karkodeswarar Temple in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu Kamarasavalli karkkodesvarar temple11.jpg
Lingodbhava in kosta in Karkodeswarar Temple in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu

Kosta [1] is the outer wall found around the garbhagriha or inner sanctum in the Hindu temples. In this kosta, deities are set up as per Agama (Hinduism) tradition.

In Shiva temples, sculptures such as Nartana Vinayaka, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Lingodbhava, Brahma Vishnu Durga are set up. The komugi through which abisega water which comes out from the sanctum sanctorum is also found here. During the period of kings, in granite temples so many other sculptures are found. The kosta found in the Siva temple is known as Shiva kosta [2] and Shivalaya kosta. [3]

Sakthi temples

In Sakthi temples also known as Amman temples Brahmi, Vaishnavi and other sculptures are found.

Notes

  1. ta:கோஷ்டம் (இந்துக் கோயில்)
  2. கடன் பிரச்னை தீர்த்தருளும் அரன் 2013-12-11 தினகரன்
  3. "சிவாலய கோஷ்டத்தில் தெற்கு நோக்கி அமர்ந்துள்ள தட்சிணாமூர்த்தியை நாம் தரிசிக்கலாம்." குருவே சரணம் - மும்பை ராமகிருஷ்ணன் 01-07-13

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