Candi: ancient Hindu or Buddhist temple or shrine

The word candi is most commonly used to refer to ancient stone remains of (likely) Hindu or Buddhist origin. Typically such remains are temple remains, but they can also be the remains of a funebral structure or another site of a (semi-) sacral nature.

The word <candi> is said to derive from Candika, on of the consorts of the Hindu God Siva. Originally the term referred solely to a stone memorial erected over the ashes of a diseased person. Now the meaning has widened to include any ancient Hindu or Buddhist temple or shrine. Contemporary Hindu or Buddhist shrines are called <vihara>.