Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

97 Kautsa

Käÿï

See VÄRÄŒASÏ.

Käÿïkhaæõa

Part of the Skanda Puräæa, giving a

detailed description of Ÿiva temples in

and around VÄRÄŒASÏ.

Kaÿyapa (‘tortoise’)

One of the seven Vedic ØÆISwho mar-

ried Aditi and twelve other daughters of

DAKÆA. He is the father of Indra as well

as of Vivasvat, whose son was MANU

(2). He is also believed to be the forefa-

ther of nägas(serpents), demons, birds,

reptiles, and all kinds of living things.

He is often called PRAJÄPATI, progenitor.

Kaflha Upani•ad

One of the principal UPANIÆADS, famous

for its teaching that liberating knowledge

cannot be earned or acquired, but is

freely given by the Supreme to the ‘elect’.

Kathä-sarit-sägara

(‘ocean of rivers of stories’)

A very large collection of tales by

Somadeva Bhaflfla of Kashmir (early

12th century).

Kätyäyana (fourth century BCE?)

Famous grammarian, author of Värttika,

which provides supplementary rules to

PÄŒINÏ’s A•flädhyayï. He is also the

author of the Kätyäyana Ÿrauta Sütras.

Kaula

The highest rank in TANTRA(2), a prac-

titioner of the Kula-äcära, one who has

overcome all inhibitions based on con-

ventional distinctions.

Kaundiæya

An ancient sage and grammarian. He

was saved from the anger of Ÿiva, whom

he had offended, by Vi•æu’s interven-

tion and was then known as Vi•æugup-

ta, ‘protected by Vi•æu’.

kaupina

A piece of cloth covering the private

parts, tied around the initiate by his

GURUas part of DÏKÆÄ.

Kauravas

Descendants of Kuru. Kuru was the son

of Saƒvara and Taptï. The Kauravas

were the sons of DHØTARÄÆfiRA and

opponents of the PÄŒ¥AVASin the Great

War. (See also MAHÄBHÄRATA.)

Kauÿalya

(‘belonging to the Koÿala clan’)

A patronymic of several famous women

such as the mothers of JANAMEJAYA,

RÄMA, DHØTARÄÆfiRA and PÄŒ¥U.

Kauÿïtakï (1)

A branch of the ØGVEDA.

Kauÿïtakï (2)

A BRÄHMAŒA, an ÄRAŒYAKAand an

UPANIÆAD.

Kaustubha

A famous jewel obtained by the gods

from the CHURNING OF THE OCEANand

worn on the chest by Vi•æu or Kø•æa.

Kauflilya

See CÄ¢AKYA.

Kautsa

Author of Nirukta, an early etymologi-

cal lexicon of obscure words in the

Veda, one of the VEDÄŒGAS. He consid-

ered the Vedas as meaningless and the

Brähmaæaswrong.

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