rasambhava, a consummate masterpiece about SHIVA
and PARVATI and their young son, Kumara. Another
of his great works is Meghaduta (Cloud messenger),
a charming poem about the God Kubera’s sending
a message of consolation to his lover far away by
means of a cloud messenger. Nature here is beauti-
fully described. Finally, Ritusamhara, a short lyric
uncertainly ascribed to Kalidasa, includes a beauti-
ful description of the four seasons and the amorous
moods appropriate to each.
Further reading: Chittenoor Kuhan Raja, Survey of
Sanskrit Literature (Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
1962); Moriz Winternitz, History of Indian Literature
(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1964–67).
Kali Yuga
All of the YUGAS or ages in the Indian tradition
refer to throws in an ancient game of dice. Kali
(spelled differently in Sanskrit from the goddess
of that name) is the “four,” the worst throw of the
dice, comparable to “craps” in the Western dice
game. Our age is understood to be the Kali Yuga,
in which TA M A S, the worst aspect of nature, pre-
dominates. Trickery, envy, and even the murder of
holy persons are the norm in this era, as are fatal
disease, fatal hunger, fear, and instability.
Kings in the Kali Yuga are angry and debauched.
People are short-lived and short in stature. Money,
power, pleasure, and falsehood reign. BRAHMA,
VISHNU, RUDRA, and the Sun are all worshipped in
the Kali Yuga.
Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van
Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the
Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University
Press, 1978); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and
Puranic, 2d ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).
Kalki Avatar
Indian tradition speaks of YUGAS or ages of his-
tory. Today we are in the KALI YUGA, or Iron Age,
a period of decline. It was preceded by the ages of
gold, silver, and bronze. After the end of the KALI
YUGA and a short hiatus, a new age will begin:
the age of truth (KRITA YUGA), when all the wick-
edness, strife, and dissension of this era will be
replaced by righteousness. It is understood that
this age will be ushered in by Kalki, the future
incarnation or AVATA R of VISHNU, riding on a mag-
nificent white horse.Further reading: Shakti M. Gupta, Vishnu and His
Incarnations (Bombay: Somaiya, 1993); Pandrimalai
Swamigal, The Ten Incarnations: Dasavatara (Bombay:
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1982).kalpa
A kalpa is a traditional Indian eon or unit of time,
an eon. Sources differ as to its exact length, but
a common measure is that a kalpa is made up of
1,000 MAHAYUGAS, or 4,320,000,000 years. This
is considered to be a day in the life of the god
BRAHMA.Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van
Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the
Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University
Press, 1978); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and
Puranic, 2d ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).kama See ENDS OF LIFE, FOUR.
Kamadeva (Kama)
Kamadeva or Kama is the Indian cupid, the god
of love. He is found in the VEDAS as a divinity, but
his character was developed in the Indian epics
and PURANAS. Most famously Kamadeva is known
to have been burned to ashes by the third eye of
Lord SHIVA. In that tale, Shiva was in a state of
MEDITATION and ascetic withdrawal. The gods des-
perately wanted him to marry and have progeny,
because they knew that his offspring would beKamadeva 223 J