 It is a cylindrical structure usually located after the first "gopuram" behind the "vahana" in "Agamic" temples.The flag staff can have a three-part division with the top representing Shiva, middle Vishnu and lower half Brahma.Each main deity of the Shiva temple has a vehicle associated with them - Shiva has "Nandi"(sacred bull), Parvati has lion, Muruga has peacock and Vinayagar has mice.