Katyayana Smrti
One of the smrtis or “remembered”
texts, a class of literature deemed
important but less authoritative than
the other textual category, the shrutis
or “heard” texts. This smrti is attrib-
uted to the sage Katyayana and is an
example of one of the Dharma
Shastras, manuals prescribing rules
for correct human behavior and ideal
social life. Unlike the Dharma Sutras,
which are ascribed to recognizable
individuals, the Dharma Shastras are
usually credited to mythic sages as a
strategy to reinforce the authority of
these texts. Katyayana’s complete text
has not survived, although more than
one thousand verses have been com-
piled from later works. Katyayana’s
text was the first to focus on the rights
of women: he gave particular atten-
tion to women’s personal property
(stridhan), both to explain their pow-
ers and to prescribe rules for its inher-
itancewhen a woman died.
Kaurava
In the Mahabharata, the later of the two
great Hindu epics, the Kauravas are the
hundred sons of King Dhrtarashtraand
the epic’s antagonists to the Pandava
protagonists. The Kauravas receive their
name as descendants of Kuru, an ances-
tor of King Shantanu. As in many cases
in Hindu mythology, the Kaurava sons
are born in an unusual manner. Their
mother, Gandhari, receives a blessing
(ashirvad) from the sage Vyasathat she
will give birthto one hundred sons. Her
pregnancy lasts for over two years.
When she grows impatient and tries to
hasten the delivery, she gives birth to a
great lump of flesh. Vyasa advises
Gandhari to divide the lump and place
each piece in a pot of clarified butter
(ghee). In due time, each of the 101
pots break open to reveal one hundred
handsome boys, as well as a single
daughter, Dussala. Of these hundred
sons, the most important are the two
eldest, Duryodhanaand Duhshasana.
Kausalya
In the Ramayana, the earlier of the two
great Indian epics, Kausalya is the first
wife of King Dasharathaand the mother
of the god-king Rama.Kaustubha
In Hindu mythology, the gem that the
god Vishnuwears on his chest. The
Kaustubha jewel is one of the precious
things produced by churning the ocean
of milk. Other products include the god-
dess Lakshmi, the Kamadhenuor wish-
ing-cow, and the nectar of immortality
(amrta). Vishnu’s possession of the
Kaustubha jewel is a symbol of his
power and his mastery over the uni-
verse. See also Tortoise avatar.Kautilya
According to tradition, Kautilya was the
author of the Arthashastra(“Treatise on
Power”), a text which is a handbook on
the exercise of royal power. The ruler
portrayed in the Arthashastracares little
for ideals or dreams, but rather is willing
to do whatever is necessary to remain in
power. Aside from his authorship of the
Arthashastra, Kautilya is also identified
as the Machiavellian brahminminister
who orchestrated Chandragupta
Maurya’s rise to power, but there are
serious doubts that these Kautilyas are
the same person.Kavadi
A bamboo yoke topped with semicir-
cular splints of bamboo that is carried
on a devotee’s (bhakta) shoulders dur-
ing certain festivals devoted to the god
Murugan. A kavadi is usually decorat-
ed with flowers, pictures, ribbons, and
other ornaments. A devotee carrying a
kavadi is inviting Murugan to descend
and rest upon it, bestowing his grace
through divine possession. Carrying a
kavadi is usually done to fulfill a vow
often made when asking Murugan for
some favor, such as healing or deliver-
ance from other distress. This can beKatyayana Smrti