like a tortoise, with a head, “shell” (the
trunk), and four outstretched limbs.
Kurukshetra
City and sacred site (tirtha) in the north-
ern part of the state of Haryana, about
ninety miles due north of Delhi. In
Hindu mythology, Kurukshetra is the
site of the climactic battle in the
Mahabharata, the later of the two great
Hindu epics. This battle is still discussed
as if it was a recent event. Kurukshetra is
also famous as a bathing (snana) place.
A bathing pool attracts hundreds of
thousands of pilgrims during eclipses,
at which time it is believed to contain all
the sacred waters of India.
Kusha
In the Ramayana, the earlier of the two
great Indian epics, Kusha is one of the
twin sons of Rama, the epic’s protago-
nist. After their mother, Sita, has been
cast into exile at the ashramof the sage
Valmiki, Kusha is born in an unusual
fashion. One day when Sita takes her
son Lavato bathe in the river, Valmiki
notices that the child is gone and fears
that it has been seized by a wild animal.
To spare Sita’s motherly feelings, he
creates an identical child out of
kusha grass. When Sita returns with
Lava, his twin is given the name
Kusha. Later, Lava and Kusha go with
Valmiki to Rama’s court in Ayodhya.
It is in Rama’s court that they first
recite the epic poem composed by
Valmiki, the Ramayana. After Rama
gives up his throne, he divides his
kingdom between Lava and Kusha.
Kusha (“Kusha Grass”) Dvipa
In traditional mythic geography, Kusha
or “Kusha grass,” is the fourth of
the seven concentric landmasses
(dvipas) making up the visible world.
See also cosmology.
Kutichaka
(“delighting in staying in the house”)
One the of four types of Hindu ascetics.
The basis for these four types was their
livelihood, which in practice has been
much less important for asceticidentity
than sectarian or organizational affilia-
tion. The Kutichaka is the least presti-
gious of the four, with the others
being (in order of increasing status)
Bahudaka, Hamsa, and Paramahamsa.
The Kutichaka is described as an ascetic
who resides in a house (kuti) erected by
himself or his sons and begs for food
from his sons and relatives.Kutichaka