Idol in Malayalam
പ്രതിമ (prathima) is the ordinary word for an idol, image or statue, in a temple or a town square alike. Say it pra-thi-ma with the dental th. The consecrated deity of a shrine has its own separate term.
Image, idol, resemblance, symbol, measure.
പാര്ക്കില് ഒരു പഴയ പ്രതിമ ഉണ്ട്.
paarkkil oru pazhaya prathima undu.
There is an old statue in the park.
All Malayalam words for “idol”
- പ്രതിമ (prathima) — Image, idol, resemblance, symbol, measure.
- ബിംബം (bimbam) — Image, idol, the disc of the sun or the moon, mirror, reflected image, a globular object.
- പ്രതിമാനം (prathimanam) — Specimen, sample, image, idol, resemblance, picture, shadow, the space between the two tusks of an elephant, weight.
- അങ്കി (anki) — Gown, jacket, robe, small drum, ornamental frame for an idol, cloak.
- അധിവസിക്കുക (adhivasikkuka) — Reside, wear, instal an idol, dwell, inhabit.
- അഷ്ടബന്ധം (ashta bandham) — A paste made of eight ingredients for fixing an idol.
- ആറാടുക (aaraaduka) — Bathe, bathe an idol in a river ceremonially.
- പീഠം (peedam) — Seat, stool, pedestal for placing an idol, etc., altar, throne, school, institute.
- പ്രതിഷ്ഠ (prathishta) — Firm stance, firmness, installation, erection and consecration of an idol, idol in a temple.
പ്രതിമ (prathima) is the general image or statue and പ്രതിമാനം (prathimanam) its rarer twin; പ്രതിഷ്ഠ (prathishta) is specifically the installed and consecrated temple idol; പീഠം (peedam) is the pedestal, അഷ്ടബന്ധം (ashta bandham) the eight-ingredient paste that fixes an idol in place, and അങ്കി (anki) an ornamental covering.
Common questions
What is the Malayalam word for idol?
പ്രതിമ (prathima), which covers both an idol and a statue.
Which word means the deity installed in a temple?
പ്രതിഷ്ഠ (prathishta), used both for the consecrated idol and for the act of installing it.