A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

Kauverï 98
Kauverï
Major river in South India on whose
banks are many famous holy places.
The temple city of ŸRÏRA¢GAM is located
on an island in the Kauverï.
kavi (1)
‘poet’, ‘sage’
kavi (2)
The colour of the garment worn by SAM-
NYÄSIS (ochre orange, saffron).
Kedär(a)-näflha (1)
A name of ŸIVA.
Kedär(a)-näflha (2)
A place of pilgrimage in the Himälayas,
location of one of the twelve JYOTIR-
LIŒGAS.
Kena Upani•ad
One of the major Upani•ads, beginning
with the word kena (by whom?).
Keÿava Miÿra (14th century)
Author of the Tarkabhä•a, a popular
introductory text to NYÄYA.
Keÿï (1)
In the Mahäbhärata, a demon slain by
Indra.
Keÿï (2)
In the Puräöas: a DAITYA who appeared
in the form of a horse, and attempted to
kill Kø•æa. Kø•æa pulled his jaws asunder
and killed him.
khadi
Homespun and homewoven cotton
cloth, whose production was encouraged
by Mahatma GANDHI to provide
work for villagers who had lost their
traditional occupations through the
importation of foreign, machineproduced
textiles. Wearing khadi
became obligatory for members of the
Indian Congress Party to show their solidarity
with the people. Gandhi himself
took to spinning yarn and promoted it
among his fellow party members.
Khajuräho
Former capital city of the Chandella
kings (c. 650–1150 CE), in Bundelkhand,
today’s Madhya Pradesh, famous for a
group of 85 temples, built between 950
and 1100 CE, which are amongst the
finest examples of North Indian temple
architecture, such as the Kaæõarïya
Mahädeo (Ÿiva) temple. Some of these,
such as the Devï Jagadambi (mother of
the universe) temple, are profusely decorated
with erotic sculptures, probably
connected with tantric practices. Most
of the temples are dedicated to the
major gods of Hinduism, but there are
also Jain temples and temples in honour
of lesser deities.
kingship
For most of its history India consisted of
a number of kingdoms (räjya) ruled by
hereditary monarchs. Thus the notion
of kingship is very important and a
major issue in Hindu literature. Hindu
tradition has it that in the beginning
people were virtuous and followed the
DHARMA spontaneously. When they
began cheating and exploiting each
other, it became necessary to introduce
punishment, the main function of the
king. The Mahäbhärata has a long section
called räjadharma which lays out
the duties and rights of a king in classical
times. The king’s duties comprised
protection of the country, the safety of
its citizens, support for the socially
weak and for scholars. The Kauflilïya
Ärthaÿästra describes in great detail the
actual administration of an ancient