call and response fashion—the leader
sings one line, and the listeners repeat it.
The primary emphasis in this rite is the
repetition of the divine name. As the
identifying mark of the divinity, the
Name is believed to contain the divine
power, benefiting those who hear it as
well as those who speak it. Kirtan is
especially popular among the devotees
(bhakta) of the god Vishnu, who histor-
ically have put greater stress on the the-
ology of the Name. Kirtan is a common
activity during congregational meetings
known as satsang, the “company of
good people,” believed to have benefi-
cial spiritual effects on those who take
part in them.
Kirtimukha
(“mask of glory”) In Indian architecture,
a kirtimukha is a decorative motif in the
form of a devouring leonine monster. It
often appears as the main decorative
element on a temple tower or as a pro-
tective element over doorways.
Kishkindha
In the Ramayana, the earlier of the
two great Indian epics, Kishkindha is a
forest-kingdom ruled by monkeys. The
monkey-king, Bali, rules when Rama
(the epic’s protagonist) first comes to
Kishkindha with his brother, Lakshmana,
searching for Rama’s kidnapped wife
Sita. Bali is killed by Rama, and is suc-
ceeded by his brother Sugriva, Rama’s
ally. Sugriva sends his subjects on a
wide-ranging search for Sita. One of
them, Hanuman, eventually discovers
her being held prisoner on Lanka.Kitawara
One of four major organizational groups
of the Dashanami Sanyasis, renunciant
ascetics who are devotees (bhakta)
of the god Shiva; the other three
divisions are Bhuriwara, Bhogawara,
and Anandawara. Each of these
groups has its headquarters in one of
the four monastic centers (maths)
supposedly established by philosopher
Shankaracharya. Each of the groups
are associated with one of the four
Vedas, one of the “great utterances”
(mahavakyas) expressing the ultimate
truth, a particular asceticquality, and
several of the ten Dashanami divisions.
The Kitawara group is affiliated with the
Sharada mathin Dwaraka, and is thusKirtimukha
Ruins of the Sun Temple in Konarak. Built during the Ganga dynasty,
the temple was designed in the shape of the chariot believed to carry the sun.