support for these claims can be drawn
from symbolism connected with the
number four—the four cardinal direc-
tions, the four sacred texts known as
Vedas, and the four organizational
groups of the Dashanami Sanyasis
themselves. The number four symbol-
izes completion and totality, which
makes a fifth sacred center problematic.
Kamakotipith reflects the importance of
Kanchipuram as a significant sacred and
political hub in which any asceticcenter
could gain considerable authority. See
also pitha.
Kandariya Mahadev
The largest of the temples at Khajuraho
in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is
dedicated to the god Shivain his mani-
festation as “Skanda’s Lord”; Skanda is
another deitywho is considered to be
Shiva’s son, and the general of Shiva’s
army. The Kandariya Mahadev temple
was built by the kings of the Chandella
dynastybetween 1025 and 1050. It was
constructed at the end of the wave of cre-
ativity that produced all of the Khajuraho
temples. It is the best-developed example
of the Khajuraho branch of the Nagara
architectural style, in which all of the
temple’s smaller towers lead to and cul-
minate in one central tower directly
over the sanctuary. Like most of the
temples at Khajuraho, the Kandariya
Mahadev temple is covered with erotic
sculpture—perhaps as a symbol for
union with the divine, perhaps as a reli-
gious affirmation of every aspect of
human existence.Kandarpa
Epithet of the god Kama, a minor deity
identified as the personification of kama
(“desire”) who is comparable to the
Greek deity Eros. See Kama.Kangra
The name of a town and district in the
state of Himachal Pradesh; the town
was formerly the capital of a small hill
kingdom with the same name. Kangra is
famous for the temple of Vajreshvari
Devi, one of the nine Shiwalik goddesses.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, Kangra’s status as a courtly
center brought in patronage for the
Paharischool of miniature painting.Kanha
Epithet of the god Krishna. The name
Kanha is actually a form of the name
Krishna, modified in the transition
between Sanskritand vernacular lan-
guage. See Krishna.Kanhaiya
Epithet of the god Krishna. As with
the name Kanha, Kanhaiya is actually
a form of the name Krishna that
has been modified in the transition
between Sanskritand vernacular lan-
guage. See Krishna.Kandariya Mahadev
Vaikuntaperumal Temple in Kanchipuram.