Dictionary Of Hindoo Religion

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Kaajal
A kind of black powder which is prepared by lighting an oil lamp, normally with mustard oil, and then covering it with a plate. Over a couple of hours black soot is collected on that plate. After it is done it is collected in a small box and is applied in eyes. Sometimes one or two drops of mustard oil is added to that powder to make it a bit wet and the wet Kaajal is also applied in the eyes in the same way.

Kaal
(1) Time.  (2) Death.

Kaalaa Jaadoo

Kaaldarsh Varsh    see    Time

Kaaliya Daman
Kaaliya was a Naag (serpent) who lived in Yamunaa River and made its water poisonous which killed many people and animals in Mathuraa. Krishn forced him to leave the River and go to the ocean. This activity of Krishn was called "Kaaliya Daman".

Kaam
(1) Desire.  (2) Sexual desire.

Kaam Dev
Cupid, the God of love. Shiv burnt Kaam Dev when he came to disturb his Tap. He is known as Manmath, Madan etc names also.

Kaamaakshee
Another name of Devee.

Kaamanaa
Desire.

Kaamdhenu
This is combined word by joining Kaam and Dhenu. Kaam means desires, and Dhenu means cow. So Kaamdhenu means the cow which fulfills desires. This cow appeared from Samudra at the time of Saagar Manthan.

Kaamee
Covetous,  Lusty.

Kaanch
(1) Crystal.  (2) Glass.  (3) Quartz.

Kaand
(1) Section.  (2) Chapter.  (3) Happening

Kaantaa
Thorn.

Kaantimatee
It is the name of Brahmaa's court in his Vairaaj named palace, in Shreenidhaan named city on Meru Parvat.
(Padm Puraan, p 43)

Kaaran
Reason. 

Kaartik
The 8th month of Hindoo Lunar year. It is very dear to Vishnu and good for Snaan, Daan, especially Deep Daan, fasting, Bheeshm Panchak Vrat etc. It is said that one who avoids luxurious foods in the month of Kaartik will daily attain the fruit of great austerities. The vows of the month of Kaartik are - (1) Hari Jaagaran - Keeping an all-night vigil for Hari; (2) Praatah Snaan - Bathing early in the morning; (3) Tulasee Sevan - Serving Tulasee; (4) Udyaapan - Concluding the Vrat; and (5) Deep Daan - Offering lamps. Then, options are given for those, who for some unfortunate reason cannot complete certain vows. If one cannot bathe in water, he should bathe with the names of Vishnu. If one cannot follow the directions for completing a vow, one may complete it by feeding Braahmans. If one cannot offer a lamp of his own, he should light the lamps of others or protect their lamps from the wind and so forth. If no Tulasee is available, one should worship a twice-born Vaishnav. In his absence, one should serve Braahmans, cows, bodhi-trees and banyan trees.

Kaashth
Wood.

Kaashyap
Descendants of Maharshi Kashyap.

Kaatyaayanee Tantra

Kaatyanee Tantra

Kaavya
Poem.

Kaaya
Body

Kachchhap       see also      Koorm Avataar
Tortoise.    Kashchap

Kalaa

Kalaavaa
Sacred thred. It is bunch of strands of cotton threads of red and yellow color. Before worship, at the start of major ceremonies, the priest asks God to purify the body and mind. In order to symbolize this purification, this thread is tied on the right wrst of male and left wrist of the female accompanied with chanting the purification Mantra. Either the priest or any other person can help tie this Kalaavaa. On Rakshaabandhan day (Shraavan Poornimaa) also sisters and Braahman tie this Kalaavaa (or Raakhee) on the wrists of their brothers and Yajamaan respectively asking God to shower blessings to them.

Kalash
Pitcher. It can be made of anything, but normally it is made of clay or brass or copper. Till recently, it was an integral part of a Hindoo family. It was used to store things, especially water to keep it cool. Villagers still use it for these purposes. It is used in worship also. When it is used in worship, it is filled with water and covered with mango leaves or a coconut fruit wrapped in red cloth. At some places it itself is worshipped.

Kali Yug      see      Yug
The fourth of the four divisions of time - Sat Yug, Tretaa Yug, Dwaapar Yug, and Kali Yug.

Kalki
The 10th Avataar of Vishnu, appearing at the end of the Kali Yug.

Kalp  (Time period)

Kalp Sootra   see   Sootra

Kalp Taru
Kalp is a name and Taru means tree.      see      Kalp Vriksh

Kalp Vriksh
A special Tree that fulfills all wishes. This tree came out of Ksheer Saagar when it was churned for Amrit. It was planted in Nandan Van of Indra Puree. Once Krishn went to Swarg Lok and brought it to Dwaarakaa to please His wife Satyabhaamaa. It remained there until Krishn was present on Prithvi. It came again to Swarg Lok when Krishn left earth for His Lok. It is called Paarijaat tree also.

Kamal
Lotus flower. Synonyms - Ambuj, Aravind, Indeevar (blue lotus), Jalaj (born from water), Jalajaat (born from water),  Mrinaal, Nalin, Neeraj, Paarijaat, Padm, Pankaj, Pundareek, Raajeev, Saroj, Saroruha.

Kamp
(1) Tremble.  (2) Tremor.  (3) Quake.

Kampan
Vibration

Kanakbhadra
A kind of tree - Devadaar tree.

Kanchan
Gold.

Kanyaa
(1) Girl. Virgin girl - normally under 10 years of age.
(2) According to Bhavishya Puraan, p 198, a girl is of four type - Gauree (up to 7-years of age), Nagnikaa (10-year old girl), Dev Kanyaa (a 12-year old girl) and Rohinee (above 12-years of age).
(3) Five Kanyaa are famous in Hindoo mythology. They are not below 10 years of age, as the definition says, but they used to become below 10 years of age every morning. They, according to Mahaabhaarat, are Ahalyaa (Maharshi Gautam's wife), Kuntee (Paandu's wife), Draupadee (Paandav's wife), Taaraa (Vaanar Raaj Baali's wife), and Mandodaree (Raavan's wife).

Kapaat
Panel of the door.

Kapil
(1) Avataar of Vishnu. (2) Red color.

Kapilaa
(1) Red color. (2) Wish cow - a cow that fulfills the wishes and desires.

Kapitth
Wood-apple.

Kapoor
Camphor.

Karan
(1) Used in Hindi grammar, a part of sentence, such as Kartaa (subject) Kriyaa (action) etc parts. (2) In astrology half a Tithi, or half lunar day is called Karan.

Karm

Karm Bhoomi
Where people perform actions. Prithvi or Earth is said to be the Karm Bhoomi for people, as people do Karm here.

Karm Kaand
Pure ritualistic activities.  Rituals.  Whoever does these, is called Karm-kaandee.

Karm Kshetra     see     Karm Bhoomi

Karm Indriyaan     see     Indriyaan

Karm Yog     see     Yog

Kartaa and Karan
Kartaa means doer of the Karm, and Karan means means to do the Karm.

Kashchap       see also       Koorm Avataar
Tortoise.    Kachchhap

Kastooree
Musk. Animal perfume - there is a kind of deer in whose navel this Kastooree is found. It is said that the deer smells the fragrance of the Kastooree but doesn't know that the fragrance is coming from him only, and he runs here and there in search of the source of that smell.

Kath Upanishad
One of the 14 main Upanishad.

Kathaa Saritsaagar
Literally means the "ocean of stories". It is a collection of popular stories written by Somdev Bhatt of Kaashmeer about 12th century AD.

Kathputalee
Puppet.

Kaumodakee
It is the name of Krishn's Gadaa (mace).

Kaustubh
A Mani (Ratn or gem) obtained from Saagar Manthan and taken by Vishnu. He wears it on His chest.

Kavach
Armor. Coat of mail. (1) A couple of centuries before, Armors were used in battles to protect their bodies to get harmed from sword, spears etc weapons. Normally they were made of iron etc metals. But since those kinds of battles are not fought now a days, so those armors are out of date. 
(2) In Indian mythology, when these battles were fought, perhaps these metal armors might also have been used, but there was another kind of armor which only Rishi, Muni, Guru etc used for their disciples and kings etc to protect them for various kinds of troubles. They were not made of any materials but were of Mantra. Those Mantra used to protect their body from weapons, enemies, wild or poisonous animals etc.

Kavi
Poet.

Kedaarnaath
(1) Another name of Shiv.  (2) The place in Himaalaya where one of the 12 Shiv Jyotirling is there.

Keertan
Singing praise of Bhagavaan (God).
Repeating the name of God aloud, with or without music.

Ken Upanishad
One of the main 18 Upanishad. It is a genuine Upanishad which starts with a question.

Kesar
Saffron. Kesar is yellow-orange stigmas of a purple flower and is very strong sweet smelling. In India it is used in sweets, sweet rice etc dishes. Since it is sweet smelling, it is used in Ubatan also to keep the body sweet smelled. It is very expensive ($500 a pound) and has a very strong smell, that it is used very little and only by rich people. About 15,000 flowers are needed to get one ounce saffron because only three stamens are in one flower. The tiny red threads of saffron must be handpicked from the center of the crocus flower. They leave behind the yellow stamens which have no taste. This spice comes either powdered or in threads (the whole stigmas). Store it in a container away from sunlight. If stored properly, it will last for years

One may use it (1) for every teaspoon of saffron, add 3 teaspoons of liquid; using a spoon make sure that the saffron threads get properly soaked (do not crush the threads). Let the saffron soak for a minimum of two hours. The mixture can be left soaking for as long as twelve hours, but two hours will give you the proper results. The leaves will expand to 1 1/2 times their dry size. (2) add 5 teaspoons of liquid for every teaspoon of saffron; let soak for 20 minutes. Using the back of a spoon or in your ceramic mortar, mash the threads so that a thick paste is formed. You can then add the paste to the dish when required. Do not use wooden utensils when mixing saffron. Wood utensils tend to absorb saffron easily and you do not want to waste saffron like this.

Ketu
(1) Bright appearance.  (2) Name of an imaginary planet.

Khand
(1) Division.  (2) Portion.  (3) Chapter.  (4) A term in mathematics.

Khand Kaavya
A minor poem dealing only with one topic.

Kheer
A kind of rice pudding. An Indian sweet dish made of rice and milk. Rice is cooked in milk and later sugar is added to it.

Khichadee
A kind of semi-liquid salty dish. Moong Daal (split Moong beans) and rice, taken equal portion of each, cooked in water with salt until it is cooked so soft that one should not chew it. This dish is made with Urad Daal also. Both are eaten in winter season by healthy people with enough Ghee. But the Moong Khichadee is good for a dysentery patient also in UP and Panjaab regions. The patient eats it without Ghee.

Kimpurush
Half lion and half man.

Kingdom
Kingdom has eight limbs - (1) law, (2) judge, (3) the assessors, (4) the scribe, (5) the astrologer, (6) gold, (7) fire and (8) water.

Kinnar
(1) The word is a joint word of "Kim" and "Nar", which means "Is this human?"; and the answer "No" is inherent in the question. Kinnars are mythical beings with human body and the head of a horse or vice versa. (2) Celestial musician.

Kiraat
It is tribe of India which lives in forest and subsists on hunting.

Kivaad
Panel of the door.

Klesh
Sorrows. According to Yog Darshan, 1-30, there are five types of Klesh - (1) A-Vidyaa - Ignorance, (2) Asmitaa - Ahankaar or pride, (3) Raag - Too much attachment, (4) Dwesh - Jealousy, and (5) Abhinivesh - Death pain.

Knowledge     see     Gyaan

Kohinoor (Diamond)

Koorm Puraan
One of the 18 Puraan. Gives the description of Koorm (Kashchap or tortoise) Avataar taken by Vishnu at the time of Saagar Manthan.

Koop
Well.

Koorm
Tortoise. Kashchp, or Kachchhap. 

Koorm Avataar       see also       Koorm Puraan
Vishnu incarnated as a tortoise when Saagar Manthan took place. He supported Mandaraachal Parvat on His back so that it should not shake while Devtaa and Daitya were churning it. That Avataar is famous as Kashchap or Koorm Avataar.

Koorm Puraan      see also       Puraan

Kop Bhavan
Kop means anger, Krodh and Bhavan means room. In olden times when queens used to be angry with their king, they used to wear torn and dirty clothes, take off their jewelry and lie down on the floor in this special room - Kop Bhavan. When Raajaa used to come to his queen's palace and did not see her there, he used to ask her maids and they would point him out to that Bhavan. When he saw his queen lying in such condition, naturally he could not tolerate it and asked her what she wished. Normally, in such condition, those queens could fulfill their wishes.

Kos
Ancient measurement of distance. 1 Kos = 3 Kms = 2.25 miles
1 Yojan = 4 Kos = 12 Kms = approx 9 miles

Kratu

Kripaa
(1) Grace. (2) Kindness.

Krish
Noun - (1) Very thin. [use - His body is very Krish]. Verb - (1) To do fasting opposite to Shaastra, drying one's body by doing severe activities, afflicting Bhagavaan's part Jeev, is to Krish Bhoot (five Bhoot) and Paramaatmaa.

Krishn

Krishn Paksh       see also      Shukla Paksh
Dark fortnight of the Lunar Calendar in which Moon wanes. According to Indian calendar, a month is divided into two parts - the first 15 days, from the 1st day to 15th day, when Moon wanes, up to Amaavasyaa (New Moon), is called Krishn Paksh; while the other half, from 16th day to 30th day, when Moon waxes, up to Poornimaa (Full Moon), is called Shukla Paksh.

Krishn Yajur Ved        see        Ved
 

Krit Yug       see       Yug
Another name of Sat Yug, or Satya Yug - the first of the four divisions of time - Sat Yug, Tretaa Yug, Dwaapar Yug, and Kali Yug.

Krityaa
Krityaa is a man or woman produced through fire or anything else to kill somebody. If he or she fails to kill that person for whom he or she is produced to kill,  then, he or she may kill the person who has produced him or her. There are some Krityaa in HIndoo religious literature - (1) Twashtaa produced a Krityaa (Vritraasur) to kill Indra when he killed his son Vishwaroop. (2) There was a king of Kaashee named Paundrak who said himself as Krishn, but Krishn killed him. Paundrak's son produced a Krityaa to kill Krishn after Krishn had killed Paundrak; but unfortunately that Krityaa couldn't harm Krishn.

Kriyaa
Doing something is called Kriyaa.

Kriyaa Yog       see       Yog

Krodh
Anger.

Kshamaa
Forgiveness. Glory of Kshamaa has been written great, not only in Hindoo scriptures, but also in other religions. There is nothing greater than Kshamaa. Following Kshamaa is even difficult for Devtaa. Kshamaa is grace, Kshmaa is Dharm, Kshamaa is Yagya, Kshamaa is charity, Kshamaa is truth, Kshamaa is virtue, Kshamaa is glory,  and on Kshamaa alone this whole universe is abiding. 

Kshar  
(1) Destructible. (2) The material case, that is this body. That, which is seen, is said to be destructible and is called Kshar. (Antonym: A-Kshar)

Kshatriya
The second Varn among four Varn. This is warrior race. According to Bhaagvat Puraan, 11/14 a Kshatriya's 10 characteristics are - (1) Tej, (2) Bal (strength), (3) patience, (4) bravery, (5) tolerance, (6) giving any thing, (7) hardworking, (8) stabilization, (9) Braahman Bhakti, and (10) wealth.

Kshaya
(1) Mortal. (2) Which is decayed over the period. (Antonym: A-Kshaya)

Ksheer Saagar        see           Vishnu's Lok

Kshem       see also       Yog
(1) To protect the means to attain Bhagavaan is called Kshem.
(2) Welfare.

Kshetra       see also       Kshetragya
(1) An area of land. (2) Human being. (3) This physical body. (4) Aatmaa (soul).

Kshetragya
(1) Who understands the Truth. (2) Bhagavaan. Brahm.

Kshobh
Agitation.

Kuber
The treasurer of Devtaa. It is believed that his treasury is never empty. At the same time it is also said that "if you don't put anything in the treasury, then even Kuber's treasury is also empty." He lives in Alakaa Puree.

Kudavaa        see        Weight Measurement

Kujaa
(1) Mars. (2) It is known as Bhaum, Mangal, Rakt, Veer, and Angaarak also.

Kul
Family

Kul Devata
Family-deity.

Kumbh

Kumbhak       see also         Praanaayaam
One of Praanaayaam's four processes - others are
Rechak, Poorak, and Shoonyak. In this situation the breath air is locked inside, like a filled pitcher, and is not released.

Kumkum
A red colored powder used by women to put it on their forehead as a dot and draw a line parting their hair. Normally this is used by married women whose husbands are alive.

Kumud
Water lily.

Kumudinee
A kind of water lily which blooms in night along with the rising of Moon. On the contrary Kamal (Lotus) blooms in day time along with the rising of Sun and closes its petals as the Sun sets.

Kund
(1) Basin.  (2) Bowl of water.  (3) Pond or Tank. A water filled place surrounded by a low wall. This may be of any size, say from 6'-7' square to 50-70 or 100' square, or even larger than that.  (4) Vedee. A lower level place surrounded by a low wall, for example Havan Kund, Agni Kund. Kund can be of any size. These types of Kund are normally of smaller sizes, maybe from 8" square place to 4-5', or even 8" square place as they are meant to do Hom or Yagya, so fire can be lit in these Kund.

Kundal
Earring

Kundalinee

Kush
(1) A kind of grass which is used in religious activities.
(2) Name of one of the two sons of Raam and Seetaa, the other was Lav.

Kusumit
Blooming

Kutee or Kutiyaa
Small hut made of grass, leaves and branches of a tree etc material.

 

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Created and Maintained by Sushma Gupta
Created on 03/15/2006 and Updated on 01/06/2009
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