A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Kailash (or Kailasha) : mountain in south Tibet. According to the legend, it's a mythical place, the abode of gods, especially Shiva and Pârvatî, the Ganesh parents. Mount Kailash is, for that reason, considered as the centre of the Universe. Circumambulation around Mount Kailash is a hard pilgrimage which requires several weeks to achieve

Kalamkari : mural tissue hangings manufactured in Andhra Pradesh (Shri Kalahasti) in the main blue and yellow colors and religious designs. The making of kalamkari is limited to a few skilled specialized handicraftmen only. The technique is time-consuming and needs specific vegetal colors (curcuma, pomegranate skin, etc.)

Kalasha : Sacred pot used in religious rituals. It is supposed to contain the Nectar of Immortality (Amrita); kamandalu is a synonym

Kâlî : literally "The Black (Goddess)". This goddess is the awful form of the Shiva's Shakti; She represents also the destructive power (Shakti) of Time (Kâla). Her images are terrifying, in order to strike mind : standing, black-colored, She exhibits a long bloody tongue. Her neck is ornamented with a garland of newly cut human heads. She brandishes fiercely threatening weapons and dances on a lifeless body

Kâlinga : An ancient name for Orissa, when the capital city was Dantapura (Bhubaneshvar nowadays). This Kingdom was attacked and sacked by King Ashoka in 261 BC.
Kâliya : Nâga King of the river Yamunâ, Kâliya, was a colossal four-headed serpent. In His childhood, Krishna fighted against Him and subdued Him. This is why Krishna is often represented dancing on the serpent Kâliya before the latter escaped to the Ocean bottom

Kalki : name of the last Vishnu Avatara, to come at the end of the Kali Yuga; He is represented as a man riding a tall white horse; sometimes, He is a horse-headed man

Kalpa : a Brahmâ day, about 4.3 billion years

Kâma : god of desire, of love. His wife is Ratî. His unusual representations show Him as a handsome young man. With His bow made of a sugarcane stem, He launches arrows made of flowers

Kamandalu : water pot carried by sannyasin (monks who have renounced to all attachments)

Kângrâ : Ancient Râjput State in north-west India (present Himachal Pradesh). Although much older, it became famous from the 18th century forward, thanks to a School of miniature paintings, the Pahâri School which, among other characteristics, emphasizes the Krishna legend

Kapila : Rishi (One of the Sages in the antique India; rishi were endowed with a deep higher intuition), son of Devabhûti. He explained to His father the Sâmkhya philosophy. He is sometimes considered as a minor Vishnu avatar and sometimes identified with Agni

Karma : literally "action". According to hinduism (and also buddhism), any action generates a result, beneficial or not. The action issue can be delayed and come to maturation (i.e. to happen) in the course of a further life. Therefore, reincarnation process cannot be separated from karma consequences. Of course, there is karma only for significant actions. One may think that consciousness of ones own actions increases the effects of the karma

Kârtikeya : Ganesh brother, Kârtikeya is also named Skanda, or more familiarly Murugan, in south India, where He is widely worshipped. He is the God of war and He is often represented with His peacock, as a mount. In some cases, He is six-headed and His name is therefore shanmukha (shan = six, mukha= head)

Keyura : bracelet

Kîrtimukha : "Face of Glory", a decorative motive on the temple towers, which represents a human face inside a horseshoe-shaped stone arch, or a pippal-tree leaf-like

Kosha : literally "sheath". In the Yogic anatomy, five kosha are told to constitute the human body :

 Annamaya kosha : the physical, material body (of flesh)
 Pranamaya kosha : the body of breath, or body of energy, of vibration
 Manomaya kosha : the mental body (the mind), that is to say thoughts, the ability of reasoning, the usual mental process
 Vighnânamaya kosha : the body of Consciousness, of upper mental, of visions and intuitions
 Anandamayakosha : the body of Supreme, Divine Bliss.

Krishnâ : eighth Vishnu incarnation (Avatâra, literally "descent") who took a human form to free the Mathura city from a tyrant. For hindu people, Krishna represents the model of the divine love; for this reason, He is highly loved and worshipped. His cult is centered on bhakti, i.e. devotion and illimited love towards the benevolent God. The mystic union with Krishna is described and emphasized in the legends of His Loves with gopi (cow-herd girls) in His native village Vrindaban. In the Mahâbhârata epic, Krishna is the driver of the Arjuna chariot, during the Kurukshetra hard battle. Then, Krishna teaches Arjuna about Yoga of action, and other kinds of Yoga. This episode is reported in the Bhagavad Gîtâ ("Poem of the Blessed Lord")

Kshatriya : warriors, land rulers in ancient times. They form the second cast (varna), after the brahmin group. Many times in the history, Brahmins and Kshatriya were in conflicts to get the first place in social organization

Kubera : god Kubera (or Kuvera) is the King of underground worlds, particularly of wealth and hidden treasures. Being one of the eight Dikpâla, He is Regent of the north cardinal point. He is represented as a short squat man, sitting on His treasury, or riding side-saddle on His horse

Kudû : tamoul word which names a decorative design in the shape of a horse-shoe, or sometimes a pippal-tree leaf

Kumârî : the goddess Kumârî ("The Girl"), another name of Pârvatî in Nepal, is especially worshipped in the Kathmandu region. She is represented by a young girl choosen from her very childhood, and replaced when she becomes suitable for marriage. During the period when she incarnates the goddess, she is strictly kept outside the eyes of unauthorized persons, except for rare festivals

Kundalini :

Kâsha ou Kusha : a variety of herb (Saccharum spontaneum) used as a seat for certain deities, for instance Shiva

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