K•irasägara (‘ocean of sweet milk’)
One of the oceans separating the DVIPÄS.Kubera, alsoKuvera
God of wealth and presiding deity of the
north, king of YAKÆASand KINNARAS.
Represented as a deformed dwarf, with
three legs, eight teeth and one eye.Kumära (‘boy’, ‘prince’)
A name of KÄRTTIKEYA.Kumära Sambhava (‘Birth of
the war-god’)
Celebrated poem by KÄLIDÄSA.Kumäras
The four mind-born sons of Brahmä:
Sanatkumära, Sananda, Sanaka,
Sanätana. Sometimes Øbhu is added as
a fifth. They refused to procreate.Kumärï (‘virgin’)
A name of the Goddess (DEVÏ).Kumärila Bhaflfla (c. 650–725 CE)
Famous exponent of Pürva MÏMÄßSÄ,
author of the Ÿlokavärttika and the
Tuptïka, a gloss on the Mïmäƒsäsütra;
a staunch opponent of Buddhism.Kumbha-mela
Major religious gathering (mela) when
the sun stands in Aquarius (kumbha). It
takes place every three years and rotates
between the holy cities of Hardwar,
Präyäga, Ujjainï and Nasik. It is an
occasion for many members of all
Hindu SAßPRADÄYAS to gather and
decide on controversial matters or to
introduce changes in their routine.kuæõalinï
In TANTRA(2), the energy (ÿakti) of a
person conceived of as a snake wrappedaround the base of the spine, whose
awakening and movement through the
CAKRASbrings about bliss and LIBERA-
TION.Kuntï
She is also called Pøthä and Pärsnï. One
of the wives of Päæõu, mother of
YUDHIÆfiHIRA, BHÏMAand ARJUNA.Kuppuswami, Sethurama Sastri
(1880–1943)
‘Mahämahopadhyäya’ (great teacher),
outstanding Hindu scholar. He was
professor of Sanskrit at Madras
Sanskrit College, editor of many impor-
tant texts and collections, founder of
the Oriental Research Institute at the
University of Madras, originator of
New Catalogus Catalogorum, founder
of Journal of Oriental Research, and a
recipient of many academic and civic
honours. In 1944 a Sanskrit research
institute was founded in Madras
(Cennai) and named after him.Kureÿa (11th century)
Faithful disciple of RÄMÄNUJA. He stood
in for Rämänuja and underwent inter-
rogation by a hostile Ÿaivite king, who
had his eyes plucked out for not
acknowledging Ÿiva as the greatest god.
Rämänuja’s tears miraculously brought
back his eyesight.kürma (‘tortoise’)
One of the forms in which Vi•æu
appeared as an AVATÄRA. The tortoise
also served as foundation for Mount
Maæõara which was used as a churning
stick when the gods and demons
churned the milk ocean. (See also
CHURNING OF THE OCEAN.)Kürma Puräæa
One of the Mahäpuräæas, dealing mainly
with ŸIVA.101 Kürma PuräæaEncyclo - Letter K 10/2/03 9:46 am Page 101