Kahapana, Kahāpaṇa: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Kahapana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kāhāpaṇa.—same as Sanskrit kārṣāpaṇa and modern kāhaṇ, etc. Note: kāhāpaṇa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Discover the meaning of kahapana in the context of India history from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kahapana in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kahāpaṇa : (nt.) a coin whose value is about a half-crown.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kahāpaṇa, (doubtful as regards etym.; the (later) Sk. kārṣāpaṇa looks like an adaptation of a dial. form) 1. A square copper coin M. II, 163; A. I, 250; V, 83 sq.; Vin. II, 294; III, 238; DhsA. 280 (at this passage included under rajataṃ, silver, together with loha-māsaka, dārumāsaka and jatu-māsaka); S. I, 82; A. I, 250; Vin. II, 294; IV, 249; J. I, 478, 483; II, 388; Mhvs 3014. The extant specimens in our museums weigh about 5/6 of a penny, and the purchasing power of a k. in our earliest records seems to have been about a florin.—Frequent numbers as denoting a gift, a remuneration or alms, are 100, 000 (J. II, 96); 18 koṭis (J. I, 92); 1, 000 (J. II, 277, 431; V, 128, 217; PvA. 153, 161); 700 (J. III, 343); 100 (DhA. III, 239); 80 (PvA. 102); 10 or 20 (DhA. IV, 226); 8 (which is considered, socially, almost the lowest sum J. IV, 138; I, 483). A nominal fine of 1 k. (=a farthing) Miln. 193.—ekaṃ k° pi not a single farthing J. I, 2; similarly eka-kahāpaṇen’eva Vism. 312.—Various qualities of a kahāpaṇa are referred to by Bdhgh in similes at Vism. 437 and 515. Black kahāpaṇas are mentioned at DhA. III, 254.—See Rh. Davids, Ancient Measures of Ceylon; Buddh. India, pp. 100—102, fig. 24; Miln. trsl. I. 239.

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Discover the meaning of kahapana in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kahāpaṇa (कहापण).—(= Pali id., for Sanskrit kārṣāpaṇa, a coin), only in °ṇa-māṃsika, nt., or °kā, f., or °kaṃ, adv. (so read for Senart's text °māsikaṃ, see especially the ms. reading at iii.260.14), cutting from the body pieces of flesh the size of a small coin, a form of torture, called in Pali kahā- paṇaka: Mahāvastu iii.258.18 (kāmaṃ) khalu me śākyā kāyaṃ tīkṣṇena śastreṇa kahāpaṇa-māṃsikaṃ (°kāṃ?) pi chin- detsuḥ; in Pali lists of tortures, e.g. Majjhimanikāya (Pali) i.87.16, kahā- [Page175-a+ 71] paṇakaṃ is regularly preceded by balisa-maṃsikaṃ (baḷ°), see s.v. biliśa-; in Mahāvastu iii.260.14, verse version of the same pasage, Senart reads kahāpaṇa-, but the single ms. obviously read kārṣāpaṇa-māṃsikaṃ (°kāṃ?), i.e. the Sktized form; see this, and kārṣāpaṇa-chedikam, another expression for the same.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Discover the meaning of kahapana in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: