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kaanda. Canto, chapter; stalk, water.

kaanuka. Gift.

Kabanda (Kabandha). A mountain-sized demon who attacked Rama and Lakshmana.

Kabandi Kathyayana (Kabhaandhi Kaathyaayana). Descendent of the great sage Kathya and disciple of Pippalada.

Kabir (Kabeer). Also Kabirdas. 15th century mystic poet; preached equality before God of all creatures and the religion of love/devotion (bhakthi), which was aimed at the union of the soul with God. Born to a Muslim weaver family of Benares.

Kachchapa. Son of Viswamitra.

Kaika (Kaikaa). Same as Kaikeyi. A princess of Kekaya (Kashmir), third wife of Dasaratha, and mother of Bharatha.

Kaikeyi (Kaikayee). Same as Kaika.

Kailas (Kailaasa). Siva's mountain abode; Bhagiratha performed penance here to bring down the river Ganga.

Kaitabha. Born from ear-wax of Vishnu; brother of Madhu.

kaivalya. Absolute oneness, final beatitude.

kaivalya-mukthi. Absolute unity with the Supreme; final emancipation.

Kaivalya Upanishad (Upanishath). A Upanishad; it portrays the state of consciousness of one's absolute identity with God.

Kakuthstha. King of the Ikshvaku dynasty; son of Somadatta; father of Anenas.

kala. Fragment.

kala (kaala). Time, death (yama).

Kala (Kaala). Yama; the God of death, time.

kala-chakra (kaala-chakra). Divine weapon of time.

kala-naada (kalaa-naadha). Cuckoo sound.

Kalanemi (Kaalanemi). Demon minister of Ravana, who advised him to take refuge in Rama.

Kalayavana (Kaalayavana). Wicked king, who secured boon from Siva that no Yadava could kill him. In combat with Krishna, was tricked into challenging Muchukunda who destroyed him.

kali. Wickedness, black, iron.

Kali (Kaali). Mother goddess associated with death.

Kalidasa (Kalidhaasa). Sanskrit dramatist and poet ca 5th century A.D.

Kalinga. A pool of poisoned waters of the Yamuna where the hydraheaded serpent King Kaliya resided.

Kali-purusha. Personification of the kali-yuga, the evil age.

Kaliya (Kaaliya). Wicked serpent killed by Krishna.

Kali-yuga. Fourth in the cycle of four eras, our present age, the dark, evil age; characterized by discord and wrong action. See yuga.

Kalki. Tenth Avatar of Vishnu during the Kali-yuga.

kalpa. Age; a day of Brahma, a period of 4,320,000,000 years.

Kalpataru (Kalpatharu). Heavenly wish-fulfilling tree in Indra's paradise.

kalpa-vriksha. Wish-fulfilling tree.

kalyaana mantapa (kalyaana mantapa). Wedding hall.

kama (kaama). Desire, lust, worldly fulfillment; one of four goals of humans.

Kamada (Kaamadhaa). A goddess, fulfiller of desires.

Kamadhenu (Kaama-dhenu). Divine cow granting all wishes.

kamandalu. Water pot of ascetics.

Kambhoja (Kaambhoja). King who fought for Duryodhana; killed by Krishna.

Kampilya (Kaampilya). A city, ruled by Brahmadatta.

Kamsa. Brother of Krishna's mother, Devaki, and killer of her first six sons.

kamya (kaamya). Desirable.

kamya-karma (kaamya-karma). Acts done to gain the fruits thereof.

Kanaada (Kanaadha). Founder of the Vaiseshika school of philosophy.

kanda (khaanda). Section, chapter, canto, expanse of water, sugar cane.

kanjee. Rice gruel.

Kanya-kumari (Kanyaa-kumaari). Pilgrimage centre: the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, on the Indian Ocean.

Kapila. Also Kapilamaharshi. Ancient sage-philosopher; prime exponent of the one of the six systems of philosophy known as Sankhya, which emphasizes duality of spirit and nature.

karana (kaarana). Causal or cause.

karana. Sense organ.

Kardama Prajapathi (Kardhama Prajaapathi). Grandson of Brahma and husband of Devahuthi.

karika (kaarika). Verse.

karma. (a) Activity, action, work, duty. (b) Fate; consequences of acts done in this life and past lives.

karma-atheetha. Beyond karma.

karma-brashta (-bhrashtha). Action without restraint or control; fallen or sinful person.

karma-bhumi (-bhuumi). Land of karma, Godward-directed activity; India.

karma-deha (-dheha). Body acquired as a result of action.

Karma-kanda (-kaanda). The section of the Vedas dwelling mainly on rituals; the samhithas and the Brahmana of the Vedas.

karma-kshetra (-kshethra). Field of activity.

karma-marga (-maarga). Path of renunciation of the fruit of action.

karma-mukthi. Progressive liberation.

karma-nishta (-nishtha). Dedicated action.

Karma phala-pradhaatha (-pradaatha). Giver of the fruit of activity.

karma-siddhi. Success in action.

karma-yoga. Yoga of action.

karma-yogi. Yogi who dedicates his actions to God.

karmen-driyas (-dhriyas). Organs of action: larynx, hands, feet, anus, sex organs.

karmic (kaarmik). Of or pertaining to karma.

Karna. Half-brother of the Pandavas. Valiant but unfortunate eldest son of Kunthi by the Sun deity. Ally of the Kauravas in the war with Pandavas.

Karosa (Karuusha). Region in central India.

kartha. Doer, subject of action.

Karthaviryarjuna (Kaartha-veerya-arjuna). Renowned king of the Hehaya dynasty; brought down by Parasurama because of his pride.

karthavya-karma. Bounden duty.

Karthika (Kaartheeka). October-November.

karthrithwa (karthrithva). Doership, agency of action.

karuna (karunaa). Compassion for the distressed.

karya (kaarya). Effect, product.

Kasi (Kaashee). Benares, and now, Varanasi. One of the oldest and most venerated sacred cities in India.

kasmalam (kashmalam). Faintheartedness, impurity.

Kasyapa (Kashyapa). Father of all living creatures; son of Marichi and grandson of Brahma.

Kasyapa-prajapathi (Kashyapa-prajaapathi). Chief of the progenitors; son of Brahma. All living beings took their origin from Kasyapa.

kataka. Tree whose nut purifies water.

Katha Saakha (Kattha Shaakhaa). A branch of the Black Yajur-veda.

katham. How.

Katha Upanishad (Kattha Upanishath). Also Katthopanishath). One of the ten most important and popular Upanishads because of its clarity and brevity in expressing mystic truths; contains famous dialogue between Nachiketas and Yama, God of death.

Katthopanishad. See Katha Upanishad.

Kathyayana (Kaathyaayana). See Kabandi Katyayana.

Katyayani (Kaathyaayanee). One of Yajnavalkya's two wives.

Kauntheya. Son of Kunthi (who is Arjuna's mother).

Kauravas. Family that fought Pandavas. See Mahabharatha.

Kausalya. A sage, son of Ashvala, from the Aashvalaayana school.

Kausalya (Kausalyaa). Daughter of the King of Kosala, first wife of Dasaratha, and mother of Rama.

Kausambi (Kaushaambi). City built by Brahma's grandson Kusamba.

Kausika (Kaushika). Name for Viswamitra, since he was Kusa's son.

Kausiki (Kaushiki). Now the modern river of Kosi in Bihar. Viswamitra's hermitage stood on its bank.

Kautsu (Kauthsu). Student-hermit disciple of Varathanthu.

kavi. Poet; seer of the future.

kaya (kaaya). Body, feeling, temperament.

kaya-suddhi (kaaya-shuddhi). Body purification.

Kekaya. Kingdom in ancient India; birthplace of Kaika, wife of Dasaratha; modern Kashmir.

Kenopanishad (Kenopanishath). See Kena Upanishath.

Kena Upanishad (Upanishath). One of the ten most important Upanishads; it is divided into two parts: the first expounds the unknowability of the Brahman without attributes, the second the relation of Brahman to the Vedic gods.

Kesari (Keshari). A monkey-general in Rama's army.

Kesava (Keshava). "Slayer of the demon Kesi"; a name for Krishna.

Kesi (Keshi). Demon follower of Kamsa. Krishna got the name Kesava for killing him.

Kesini (Keshinee). Daughter of the king of Vidarbha and wife of Sagara.

kethu. Flag.

Kethu. A demon. Along with Rahu, an inauspicious planet.

Kethumala (Kethumaala). Holy place in Jambudwipa.

kaanda (khaanda). Section, chapter.

Khali. A great sage.

khanda. Part; continent.

Khandava (Khaandava) Forest inhabited by many demons, which was consumed by Agni, the fire god.

Khara. A giant demon chieftain in Ravana's tribe.

Khatvanga (Khatvaanga). King in the Solar Dynasty; ancestor of Rama.

khila. Appendix.

Khila Kanda (Kaanda). Third section of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Kimpurusha. A region of Bharath south of Hemakuta where Hanuman spent his last days worshipping Lord Rama.

kini-naada (-naadha). Insect sound.

kinkini (kinkinee). Small bell.

Kinnara. Sect of gods all of whom hold lutes in their hands.

Kirathas. Mountain tribesmen.

kirtana (keerthana). Recital of the name of God.

kirtanam (keerthanam). Singing bhajans.

Kirthiratha (Keerthiratha). Son of Pratheendhaka and father of Deva- medha.

Kirthiratha (Keerthiratha). Son of Vibudha and father of Maharoma.

Kishkindha. Ancient kingdom of monkeys in Southern India.

kodanda (kodhanda). Bow.

Kodanda (Kodhanda). Bow. Particular kind of bow; Rama's bow.

Koham. Who am I.

kopa. Anger.

Koran. Holy text of the Muslims accepted as revelations from the prophet Mohammed; divinely authorized basis for the regulations of the Islamic world.

kosa (kosha). Sheath.

Kosala. Wealthy country on the banks of the Sarayu river and the people inhabiting it; Dasaratha's wife, Kausalya, came from Kosala.

krama-mukthi. Liberation in stages, progressive emancipation.

krantha-dharsi (kraantha-dharshi). Seeing the next step; person with intuitive knowledge of the future; seer.

krathu. Sacrifice.

krauncha. Poison.

Kripa. Also Kripacharya. Earlier fought against Pandavas; later appointed as advisor to King Parikshith.

kripa-sagara (kripaa-saagara). Ocean of mercy.

kripayaa-vishtham. Overwhelmed by pity.

krishna. Black.

Krishna. A holy river.

Krishna. The Avatar of Vishnu in the Dwapara-yuga, prior to the present Kali-yuga.

Krishna-arpanam. Dedication to God.

Krishna-chandra (-chandhra). Krishna-moon; name for Krishna.

krishna-marga (-maarga). Path of the manes; dark path, as distinguished from the path of light.

krishna-paksha. Dark half of month, when moon is diminishing.

Krishna-rasa. Essence of Krishna.

Krishna Yajur-veda (Yaajur-vedha). "Black" Yajur-veda, a recension of the Yajur-veda, promoted by Veda Vyasa.

Kritha-yuga. First age of man, Golden age of truth. See yuga.

Krithya (Krithyaa). Demoness or demon to whom sacrifices are offered for destructive purposes. Created by the black arts.

kriya (kriyaa). Action, activity, will.

krodha. Anger.

krosha. Cry, shout.

krukara. Vital air that causes sneezing.

kshama (kshamaa). Patience, fortitude, forgiveness.

kshanthi (kshaanthi). Synonym for kshama.

kshara. Perishable; the destructible world.

kshatham. Sorrow, hurt, wound.

kshatriya (kshathriya). Protector, warrior; see Caste.

kshaya. Decline, loss, inertia; destruction.

kshema. Welfare, happiness.

kshetra (kshethra). Field or life.

kshetra-jna (kshethra-jna). Knower of the truth of life.

kshetra-palaka (kshethra-paalaka). Guardian of fields, body, or holy place.

kshira (ksheera). Milk.

Kshira (Ksheera). Sea of milk.

kshira-sagara (Ksheera-saagara). Ocean of milk.

kshudha. Hunger.

Kubera. God of riches; his father was Vishravas and his younger half brother was Ravana.

Kuchela. A poor brahmin classmate of Krishna.

ku-darshan (-dharshan). Distorted vision, false vision.

Kukshi. Son of Ikshvaku and father of Vikukshi.

Kumara (Kumaara). Son of Siva and Parvathi, also called Skanda, Karthikeya.

kumara-raja (kumaara-raaja). Heir apparent.

Kumbha. Kumbhakarna's son.

kumbhaka. Retention of air, holding the breath.

Kumbhakarna. Younger brother of Ravana, who slept for six months at a time.

Kumbhinasa (Kumbheenasa). Demonic mother of Lavana.

kumkum. Auspicious mark of vermillion placed on forehead.

Kumuda (Kumudha). Monkey-general in Rama's army.

kundalini. Spiritual power located at the base of the spine.

Kunthi (Kunthee). Also Kunthi Devi. Mother of Pandavas, wife of King Pandu (the younger brother of emperor Dhritharashtra), and sister of Krishna's father (Vasudeva).

kurma (kuurma). Vital air that causes blinking.

Kurma (Kuurma). Second incarnation of Vishnu, as a Tortoise.

Kuru. The dynasty of kings of Hasthinapura.

kuru-kshetra (kshethra). Field of battle or action.

Kuru-kshetra (-kshethra). Battlefield where the Pandavas and Kauravas fought.

Kuru-Panchala (-Paanchaala). Combined name for Panchala, Punjab.

Kusa (Kusha). Descendent of Brahma and father of Kusamba, Kusanabha, Asurtha-rajasa, and Vasu.

Kusa (Kusha). One of a pair of twin sons of Rama and Sita.

Kusamba (Kushaamba). Son of Kasu and grandson of Brahma.

Kusanabha (Kushanaabha). Son of Kusa and grandson of Brahma. Father of 100 daughters given in marriage to Brahmadatta.

Kusaplava (Kushaplava). Holy place. One who bathes and spends 3 nights there will derive the benefits of a horse sacrifice (aswamedha).

kusha. Grass used in Vedic ritual ceremonies.

Kushadwaja (Kushadhvaja). Brother of King Janaka; King of Sankasya.

Kutastha (Kuutastha). Changeless; the never changing entity is Atma or Brahman.

ku-tharka. Crooked reasoning, false logic.

Kuvalayapida (Kuvalayaapeeda). Fierce elephant of Kamsa, killed by Krishna.