The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

group had a monopoly. The Lohars’
hereditary occupation was black-
smithing and iron working.

Lohari

Festival falling on the night before
Makara Sankranti, the day when the
sun moves into the zodiological sign of
Capricorn, which almost always falls on
January 14. The central focus of this fes-
tival is a large bonfire. Celebrants collect
fuel for weeks beforehand, lighting the
fire on the evening of the festival. People
dance, sing, and walk around the fire,
giving the fire offeringsof sweets, fried
snacks, and peanuts; these same items
are also given to those present as prasad
or sanctified food.
Lohari is a seasonal festival, marking
the passing of the coldest period of the
winter and anticipating the return of
warmer weather, symbolized by the fire.
This festival is celebrated in the Punjab
and in northern India where Punjabis
have settled. This festival also serves as a
public display recognizing some change
within the family. Families that have
recorded marriages or births in the past
year celebrate with particular fervor,
whereas families in which a person has
died usually refrain.

Lokacharya

(ca. early 14th c.) Religious leader also

known as Pillai Lokacharya, the founder

of the Tengalai branch of the

Shrivaishnava religious community.

The Shrivaishnavas are devotees (bhakta)

of the god Vishnu. The Tengalais

have no faith in human capacities,

emphasizing the need for the devotee’s

absolute surrender to the graceof God,

which alone will save the devotee.

Lokayata

One of the traditional names for

the materialist school of philosophy.

See materialist.

Lopamudra

In Hindu mythology, the wife of the

sage Agastya.

Lost Wax Casting

A method of metal-casting used to cre-

ate the southern Indian bronzesduring

the Chola dynasty(9th–14th c.). The

artisan makes a wax image of the statue,

then covers the wax with layers of clay.

The clay is fired and the wax vaporizes,

leaving a clay mold into which molten

metal is poured. Once the metal cools,

the clay mold is broken, revealing the

statue. Small imperfections are removed

by hand, and the statue is polished to a

high gloss. This casting method produces

exquisite detail and subtlety of expres-

sion, but is extremely time-consuming

because each wax image and clay mold

can only be used once.

Lota

A vessel for holding water that usually

narrows near the top (so that the vessel

can be carried in one hand) with a flared

opening to facilitate accurate pouring.

The lota is used for drinking. Water can

be poured directly into one’s mouth

without touching the vessel to one’s lips,

which would render the vessel and its

contents impure. A lota is also often

used in bathing (snana), to pour water

Lohari

The lota is a vessel designed to allow one to drink

from it without touching one’s lips to its surface,

which would render it impure.