Ancient names, who and who of Hindu hindu mythology, vedic names - K

ancient mythological vedic names

Kacha

Grandson of sage Angiras and son of Brihaspati, who studied under Sukracharya as a brahmacharin. Devayani, the tutor's lovely daughter, fell in love with him. The Asuras (demons) suspecting him of wanting to steal the secret of reviving the dead, killed him a number of times. But due to Devayani's love for him, her father brought him back to life every time he was killed. Ultimately devas learnt the secret defeating the asuras.

Kagola

A disciple of the great sage and teacher of Vedanta, Uddalaka.

Kaikeyi

She was the youngest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of Bharata.

Kailash

The Holy abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Himalayas. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar.

Kaitabh

Kaitabh is an asura. He along with his companion, Madhu, originated from one of the ears of God Vishnu. Kaitabh and Madhu were supposed to destroy Brahma.

Kalayavan

Kalayavan was an asura who surrounded Mathura with an army of thirty million monsters. Then Krishna built the city of Dwaraka amidst sea, transported all his people there, returned and slew Kalayavan.

Kal Purush 

The time-man, Bengali name of Orion.

Kali

The dark aspect of goddess Parvati whose consort is Shiva.

Kali

Kali was a demon, the personified spirit of the Fourth yuga who possesses Nala.

Kalindi

Kalindi was daughter of Sun god who marries Lord Krishna while he was ruling Dwaraka, Kalindi is also another name for the river Yamuna.

Kaliya

Kaliya was the name of a poisonous snake-Naga living on the bank of Yamuna River. Kaliya was controlled by Krishna and sent to his abode in Ramanaka Dwipa.

Kal nagini

A serpent who kills Lakshmindara, the son of Chand Sadagar who was a merchant-prince of Champaka Nagar.

Kalki

The tenth avatar of Vishnu who is yet to arrive and will appear as a man on a horse at the end of Kali Yug.

Kamadeva

Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love. He is represented as a young and handsome winged man who wields a bow and arrows.

Kamadhenu

Kamadhenu was a divine cow believed to be the mother of all cows. Her child is Nandini and they could grant any wish for the true seeker.

Kampilya

Capital of the Panchala Kingdom ruled by Drupada.

Kamsa

Maternal Uncle of Sri Krishna and son of Ugrasena, also son-in-law of Jarasandha, whom Sri Krishna killed.

Kanika

Minister of Sakuni.

Kanka

Assumed name of Yudhishthira at Virata's court.

Kava

Father of Shakuntala.

Karkotaka

The naga who bit Nala at the request of Indra, transforming Nala into a twisted shape.

Kartavirya Arjuna 

Kartavirya Arjuna was King of Mahishamati, kshatriya of Ramayana period believed to have a thousand arms. He had beheaded Jamadagni, father of Parashurama. In revenge, Parashurama killed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna. Ravana was comprehensively defeated and was put to humiliation by him.

Kausikam

A sage who learnt from Dharmavyadha the secret of Dharma, of performing one's duty.

Karma

A Sanskrit term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect.

Kara

A matchless warrior, son of the Sun god and Kunti. Disciple of Parasurama. Also son of Radha, his foster-mother, and was known as Radheya.

Kartavirya

A great warrior who defeated Ravana, King of Lanka.

Kartikeya

Commander of the armies of the devas, A god born out of a magical spark created by Shiva, his father. His brother is Ganesha.

Kashyapa

An ancient sage , father of the Devas, Asuras, Nagas and all of humanity. He is married to Aditi, with whom he is the father of Agni and the Adityas. His second wife, Diti, begot the Daityas. Diti and Aditi were daughters of King Daksha and sisters to Sati, Shiva's consort. One of Dashratha's counsellors also.

Kauravas

Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, alternate name of sons of Dhritarashtra.

Kausalya

She was the eldest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of Rama.

Kekaya

A brave warrior on the Pandava side into whose chariot Bhima got during the fighting on the sixth day. Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants of Yayati's son Anu.

Kesava

One of the names of Sri Krishna.

Keshini

Wife of Sagara

Ketama

Another chief whose head was cut off by Drona.

Ketu

Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It has a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation. Astronomically, Ketu and Rahu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere.

Khadavaprastha

The ancient capital from where the ancestors of Pandavas, Nahusha and Yayati ruled. The Pandavas rebuilt the ruined city and erected palaces and forts and renamed it Indraprastha.

Khara

Khara was younger brother of Ravana who was slain by Rama.

Kichaka

Sudeshna's brother, commander-in-chief of Virata's army, who made advances to Sairandhri (Draupadi). He was invited to meet her at night at the ladies dancing hall and was met instead by Valala (Bhima) dressed up as a female who killed him (Kichaka).

Kinnars

Human birds with instruments of music under their wings.

Kirata

Huntsman, The non-Aryan aborigines of the land. They are mentioned along with Cinas for Chinese. Kiratas are believed to be of Tibeto-Burman origin.

Kirmira

Kirmira was a Rakshasa, the brother of Bakasura. He lived in the forest of Kamyaka, and used to terrorize the Rishis who inhabited that forest. He ran into the Pandavas when they began their exile in the Kamyaka forest. Upon learning that Bheema was present, who had slain his brother Bakasura, the Rakshasa then challenged the Pandava to fight. After a fierce battle, Bhishma choked Kirmira to death

Kishkindha

Kishkindha was the Kingdom ruled by a Vanara King Sugreeva, the younger brother of Bali, during the Ramayana period. This was the Kingdom where he ruled with the assistance of his most intelligent minister, Hanuman.

Kosala

Kosala was an ancient Indian Aryan Kingdom, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Its capital was Ayodhya, where Rama was born.

Kripacharya

Aswathama's uncle who advocated a combined assault on Arjuna in battle as against Karna's boast that he could take him on single-handed.

Krishna

The eighth avatar of Vishnu, one of the most worshipped by many Hindus. Krishna is famous for his lecture to Arjuna written in the Bhagavad Gita.

Krishna-Dwaipayana

Another name of Sage Vyasa.

Krauncha

Curlew-heron.

Kritavarma

A notable Yadava warrior fighting on the side of Kaurava forces.

Kshatriya

One of the four fundamental colours (Varnas) in Hindu tradition, consisting of the warriors, soldiers and rulers of society.

Kshatradharma

This is a form of spiritual practice that involves "Protection of the seekers and destruction of the evildoers". In other words, it is the duty of fighting against evil as told by lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Kubera

One of the gods of wealth and riches.

Kuchasthala

A city where Krishna stayed the night on his way to the court of Dhritarashtra.

Kumara

Son of Shiva and Parvati who conquered and slew the demon Taraka.

Kumbha

Kumbha was a rakshasa who led a host against the monkeys when Hanumana fetches healing herb.

Kumbhakarna

Brother of Ravana, King of Lanka, who was asleep most of the time because of the curse of Brahma.

Kundalpur

Capital of Raja Bhismak who was father of Rukmini, the wife of Krishna.

Kundinapura

Capital of Vidarbha.

Kunti

Mother of Pandavas, Daughter of Sura also known as Pritha. She was given in adoption to the King's childless cousin Kuntibhoja and was named Kunti after her adoptive father.

Kunti-Madri

Queens of King Pandu who gave birth to three and two sons known as the Pandavas in the forest where he spent many years for having committed some sin. The sons were known as Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.

Kurma

Tortoise, The second avatar of Vishnu where he took the form of a tortoise.

Kurukshetra

Plain of, scene of great battle between the Pandavas and Kurus for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient Kingdoms participated as allies of the rival clans. The location of the battle was Kurukshetra in the modern state of Haryana in India .

Kurus

The name of an Indo-Aryan tribe and their Kingdom in the Vedic civilization of India . Their Kingdom was located in the area of modern Haryana. Bhisma was their guardian.

Kusha

Kusha and his twin brother Lava are the children of the Hindu God Rama and his wifeSita, whose story is told in the Ramayana

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