A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie
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101 Kürma Puräæa<br />
K•irasägara<br />
(‘ocean <strong>of</strong> sweet milk’)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the oceans separating the DVIPÄS.<br />
Kubera, also Kuvera<br />
God <strong>of</strong> wealth and presiding deity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
north, king <strong>of</strong> YAKÆAS and KINNARAS.<br />
Represented as a deformed dwarf, with<br />
three legs, eight teeth and one eye.<br />
Kumära (‘boy’, ‘prince’)<br />
A name <strong>of</strong> KÄRTTIKEYA.<br />
Kumära Sambhava (‘Birth <strong>of</strong><br />
the war-god’)<br />
Celebrated poem by KÄLIDÄSA.<br />
Kumäras<br />
The four mind-born sons <strong>of</strong> Brahmä:<br />
Sanatkumära, Sananda, Sanaka,<br />
Sanätana. Sometimes Øbhu is added as<br />
a fifth. They refused to procreate.<br />
Kumärï (‘virgin’)<br />
A name <strong>of</strong> the Goddess (DEVÏ).<br />
Kumärila Bhaflfla (c. 650–725 CE)<br />
Famous exponent <strong>of</strong> Pürva MÏMÄßSÄ,<br />
author <strong>of</strong> the Ÿlokavärttika and the<br />
Tuptïka, a gloss on the Mïmäƒsäsütra;<br />
a staunch opponent <strong>of</strong> Buddhism.<br />
Kumbha-mela<br />
Major religious gathering (mela) when<br />
the sun stands in Aquarius (kumbha). It<br />
takes place every three years and rotates<br />
between the holy cities <strong>of</strong> Hardwar,<br />
Präyäga, Ujjainï and Nasik. It is an<br />
occasion for many members <strong>of</strong> all<br />
Hindu SAßPRADÄYAS to gather and<br />
decide on controversial matters or to<br />
introduce changes in their routine.<br />
around the base <strong>of</strong> the spine, whose<br />
awakening and movement through the<br />
CAKRAS brings about bliss and LIBERA-<br />
TION.<br />
Kuntï<br />
She is also called Pøthä and Pärsnï. One<br />
<strong>of</strong> the wives <strong>of</strong> Päæõu, mother <strong>of</strong><br />
YUDHIÆfiHIRA, BHÏMA and ARJUNA.<br />
Kuppuswami, Sethurama Sastri<br />
(1880–1943)<br />
‘Mahämahopadhyäya’ (great teacher),<br />
outstanding Hindu scholar. He was<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Sanskrit at Madras<br />
Sanskrit College, editor <strong>of</strong> many important<br />
texts and collections, founder <strong>of</strong><br />
the Oriental Research Institute at the<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Madras, originator <strong>of</strong><br />
New Catalogus Catalogorum, founder<br />
<strong>of</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> Oriental Research, and a<br />
recipient <strong>of</strong> many academic and civic<br />
honours. In 1944 a Sanskrit research<br />
institute was founded in Madras<br />
(Cennai) and named after him.<br />
Kureÿa (11th century)<br />
Faithful disciple <strong>of</strong> RÄMÄNUJA. He stood<br />
in for Rämänuja and underwent interrogation<br />
by a hostile Ÿaivite king, who<br />
had his eyes plucked out for not<br />
acknowledging Ÿiva as the greatest god.<br />
Rämänuja’s tears miraculously brought<br />
back his eyesight.<br />
kürma<br />
(‘tortoise’)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the forms in which Vi•æu<br />
appeared as an AVATÄRA. The tortoise<br />
also served as foundation for Mount<br />
Maæõara which was used as a churning<br />
stick when the gods and demons<br />
churned the milk ocean. (See also<br />
CHURNING OF THE OCEAN.)<br />
kuæõalinï<br />
In TANTRA (2), the energy (ÿakti) <strong>of</strong> a<br />
person conceived <strong>of</strong> as a snake wrapped<br />
Kürma Puräæa<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the Mahäpuräæas, dealing mainly<br />
with ŸIVA.