is still an important pilgrimage site.
Kashmir also has a minority Hindu pop-
ulation, known as the Kashmiri Pandits.
Recent troubles have prompted many of
them to migrate south to other parts of
India. Although these two communities
profess different religious beliefs, they
share a common language and sense of
Kashmiri identity and culture. For gen-
eral information about Kashmir and
regions of India, see Christine Nivin et
al., India. 8th ed., Lonely Planet, 1998.
Kashyapa
In Hindu mythology, Kashyapa is the
chief of the Prajapatis(a class of semi-
divine beings) and the father of Garuda,
the divine eagle who serves as the ani-
mal “vehicle” for the god Vishnu.
Kashyapa is also one of the Seven Sages
whose names mark exogamous clan
“lineages” (gotra); the others are
Gautama, Bharadvaja, Vasishtha,
Bhrgu, Atri, and Vishvamitra. All brah-
minsare believed to be descended from
these seven sages, with each family tak-
ing the name of its progenitor as its
gotra name. In modern times, gotras are
still important, since marriage within
the gotra is forbidden. After her mar-
riage, the new bride adopts her hus-
band’s gotra as part of her new identity.
See also marriage prohibitions.Kataka Hasta
In Indian dance, sculpture, and ritual, a
particular hand gesture (hasta), in
which the tips of the fingers are loosely
joined to the thumb, to create a ring (the
word katakaliterally means “bracelet”).
This hasta is common in the images of
Hindu goddesses, but also serves a use-
ful purpose: a fresh flower may be
inserted in her hand every day.Kataragama
Sacred site (tirtha) located in the
extreme southeastern part of Sri Lanka
that is dedicated to the god Skandain
his southern Indian manifestation as
Murugan. The site is notable for being
outside of the Indian mainland and as
an important place of worshipfor both
Hindus and Buddhists. According toKataragamaSome pilgrims to the sacred site of Kataragama participate in extreme ascetic practices,
such as swinging from hooks that are pierced through their backs.