Kalasha
For the temple topper, see Mandir Kalasha. For other uses, see Kalash. The Purna-Kalasha A kalasha , also spelled kalash or kalasa (Sanskrit: कलश , kalaśa ; Tamil: பூரணகும்பம் , pooranakumbham , literally "pitcher, pot"), is a metal (brass, copper, silver or gold) pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes "Kalasha" also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut. This combination is often used in Hindu rites and depicted in Hindu iconography. The entire arrangement is called Purna-Kalasha ( पूर्णकलश ), Purna-Kumbha ( पूर्णकुम्भ ), or Purna-ghata ( पूर्णघट ). Each of these names literally means "full or complete vessel" when the pot is referred to as the Kalasha (to avoid confusion, this article will refer to the pot as Kalasha and the entire arrangement as Purna-Kalasha). Sometimes the Kalasha is filled with coins, grain, gems, gold, or a combination of these it