A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

95 Karæa
National Research professor of
Sanskrit, editor of many Sanskrit works
and author of the multi-volume History
of Dharmaÿästra (1930–75).
Kangri
Place of pilgrimage near Hø•ikeÿa in the
Himälayas; site of an ÄRYA SAMÄJ
GURUKULA, now Kangri Forest
University, a residential traditional
Hindu school with Sanskrit as medium
of instruction.
Käæphata (‘hole in the ear’)
A sect of Ÿaiva ascetics whose ears are
pierced with a two-edged knife as part
of the initiation ceremonies.
Kanyäkumärï (‘virgin lady’)
Epithet of the Goddess (DEVÏ) and name
of the southernmost point of India, a
place of pilgrimage with a large
Goddess temple.
Kapälika (‘skull-carrier’)
A sect of Ÿaivites who wear garlands of
skulls, from which they also eat and
drink.
Kapila (sixth century BCE)
A famous sage, founder of the SÄßKHYA
system.
karma (‘action’) (1)
In the Veda and Pürva MÏMÄßSÄ, a ritual
act, SACRIFICE.
karma (2)
In the Upani•ads and in Vedänta, nonmaterial
residue of any action performed
by a person, the cause of
embodiment and of SAßSÄRA. Virtually
all Hindu schools have developed their
own karma theories. Some elements are
fairly commonly agreed upon, such as
the derivation of the word karma from
the root kø- to act, and the incompatibility
of karma and LIBERATION (mukti,
mok•a). The notion first occurs in the
Upani•ads where karma is seen as
responsible for enmeshing a living being
in the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Attainment of VIDYÄ, or jñäna (knowledge)
is considered the only means to
gain liberation from saƒsära. In addition
to the karma one accumulates from
one’s own actions in the present life,
there is prärabdha karma with which a
person is born and which has to run its
course. The Bhagavadgïtä teaches that
actions performed without selfish desire
do not yield karma. In the Puräæas the
intervention of God absolves devotees
from having to suffer from their karma
and God’s grace nullifies karma. On a
popular level many Hindus are inclined
to attribute everything that happens to
them, fortune as well as misfortune, to
their karma.
karma-märga (‘path of works’)
One of the three traditional ways to find
spiritual fulfilment. Karma in that context
means (prescribed) Vedic ritual
actions, such as sacrificing an animal or
some other object in fire, undergoing
the saƒskäras (rites of passage), maintaining
the routine of prescribed daily,
monthly and yearly rituals and performing
the ceremonies required in connection
with certain events in one’s life. In
later times a more metaphorical interpretation
was adopted. Ritual usually
meant ceremonies performed to honour
the presence of God in an IMAGE and the
‘path of works’ was understood to
mean selfless and dedicated performance
to one’s (CASTE) duties.
Karæa
Son of KUNTÏ by the Sun, before her
marriage to PÄŒ¥U. Born equipped with
arms and armour, he was exposed by
his mother on the banks of the Yamunä