dhvaja-stambha
ध्वजस्तम्भ dhvaja-stambhaThe flagstaff that stands before the sanctum of a temple, on the axis between the gopuram and the garbhagriha.
Where this term appears
- Anatomy of a Hindu Temple: Gopuram to Garbhagriha Temples
The first is the dhvaja-stambha , the flagstaff, usually a wooden mast sheathed in metal, planted directly before the temple on the line that runs to the deity.
- What is a Hindu Temple? Temples
Near the entrance you often find the dhvaja-stambha , the flagstaff planted before the sanctum, marking the deity's presence the way a standard marks a king.