Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Further reading: Andre O. Rathel and Annette B.
White, Tantra Yoga: The Sexual Path of Inner Joy and
Cosmic Fulfillment (Hollywood, Calif.: Beyond Beyond,
1981); Sunyata Saraswati, Activating the Five Cosmic
Energies (San Francisco: Kriya Jyoti Tantra Society,
1987); Sunyata Saraswati and Bodhi Avinsha, The Jewel
in the Lotus: The Art of Tantric Union (San Francisco:
Kriya Jyoti Tantric Society, 1987).

K’s, Five See SIKHISM.

Kshatriya
The Kshatriyas are the warrior/kingly class in the
ancient fourfold class system of India. They are
second in the hierarchy beneath the BRAHMINS.
Their duty was to protect and rule. They were
always allied with Brahmins in their role as kings
and overlords, but they vied for control of the top
of the social hierarchy. In the sixth century B.C.E.
the heterodox movements of Buddhism and JAIN-
ISM, which opposed Brahminical orthodoxy, were
founded by men of Kshatriya lineage, respectively,
Siddhartha Gautama (later, BUDDHA) and Vardha-
mana (later, MAHAVIRA).
As do Brahmins, Kshatriyas receive the SACRED
THREAD, making them “twice-born.” Up to the
GUPTA era (c. 600 C.E.) they learned SANSKRIT and
to some degree the scriptures. The UPANISHADS
give examples of Kshatriya kings who teach Brah-
mins the highest wisdom.
Kshatriyas play a significant role in Indian lit-
erature, along with the Brahmins. Both the RAMA-
YA N A and MAHABHARATA are essentially Kshatriya
epics dealing with issues of kingly succession.
They also, of course, highlight the two Kshatriya
heroes RAMA and KRISHNA, both recognized as ava-
tars of Lord VISHNU.

Further reading: Shanta Anand, Ksatriyas in Ancient
India: A Socio-Economic and Religious Study (Delhi:
Atma Ram, 1985); Bimla C. Law, Ancient Mid-Indian

Ksatriya Tribes (Varanasi: Bharatiy Publishing House,

1975); C. T. Metcalfe, The Rajpoot Tribes (New Delhi:

Cosmo, 1982).

Kubera

Kubera is the early god of wealth in India. How-

ever, he did not develop a large cult following

and perhaps was overshadowed by the goddess

LAKSHMI, whose attributes and realm of power

were similar.

There are different stories about Kubera’s birth

and upbringing. Generally he is said to have ruled

over Lanka (Sri Lanka) until the demon Ravana

gained the power to steal some of his magical

belongings and exile him. Both Kubera and Rav-

ana are seen as descendents of the mind-born son

of BRAHMA, Pulastya. Kubera apparently took up

residence in the north; he is seen as the guardian

of the northern direction, while INDRA guards the

east, YAMA the south, and VARUNA the west. In all

these stories he is always heralded as the lord of

gold and riches.

Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van

Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the

Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University

Press, 1978); E. Washburn Hopkins, Epic Mythology

(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu

Mythology, Vedic and Puranic (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).

Kumar, Guru Sushil (1926–1994) Jain

teacher

Guru Sushil Kumar was a teacher of Jain tradition

and of interreligious understanding. He broke

with Jain convention by traveling abroad in pur-

suit of his mission, and he founded the Interna-

tional Jain Mission (see JAINISM).

Sushil Kumar was born on June 15, 1926, into

a Hindu Brahmin family in the small village of

Sikhopur in Hariyana, India. The village was later

renamed Sushalgarh in his honor. When he was a

very young boy, a deceased Jain YOGI and enlight-

ened master, Sri Roop Chandji Maharaj, appeared

K 250 K’s, Five