A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

K
Kabïr (1440–1518)
Famous poet-saint, composer of many
hymns used by Hindus, Sikhs and
Muslims, author of the Bijak and founder
of the non-sectarian Kabïr-Panth.
Kädambarï (1)
Daughter of Chitraratha, king of the
GANDHARVAS (1) and one of the sixteen
sons of KAŸYAPA and Madirä (also
called Väruöï, the goddess of wine).
Kädambarï (2)
Title of a Sanskrit prose work by Bäna
(seventh century CE).
Kaikeyï
A princess of the Kaikeya nation, a
major figure in the RÄMÄYA¢A, one of
the three wives of Daÿaratha, and mother
of BHARATA (3). When she nursed
Daÿaratha back to life after he was
severely wounded in a battle, he
promised to grant her any two wishes.
Prompted by her maid-servant
Mantharä, and fearing that Daÿaratha’s
eldest son, Räma, would kill his rivals,
she used this promise to prevent Räma
from ascending the throne, and to send
him into a 14-year forest exile.
Kailäsa
Mountain in the Himälayas, Ÿiva’s
heaven.
kaivalya (‘aloneness’)
The ultimate aim of PATAÑJALA YOGA.
Käla (‘time’)
A name of YAMA, the king of the dead.
(See also TIME.)
Kalahasti
Famous Ÿiva temple in Andhra Pradesh,
connected with the story of how an elephant,
a spider and a snake gained salvation
by worshipping a Ÿiva LI¢GA (3).
Kälarätrï (‘black night’)
One of the names and forms of the
Goddess (DEVÏ).
Kälï (1) (‘the black one’)
In the Vedas the name was associated
with AGNI, who was represented as having
seven tongues to devour butter: kälï
was his black or terrible tongue.
Kälï (2) (‘black [Goddess]’)
The fierce aspect of DEVÏ, associated
with disease, death and terror. She is
usually represented by a black image,
with a red tongue protruding from the
mouth and a garland of skulls around
the neck. In former times she was placated
with human SACRIFICES; today she
is honoured by the sacrifice of goats,
which are decapitated. Kälï and DURGÄ