Kala, Kālā, Kalā, Kāla: 91 definitions

Introduction:

Kala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology, Tamil. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Kaal.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Lalita Sahasranama

Following are the sixty four arts:

  1. gītam,
  2. vādyam,
  3. nṛtyam,
  4. nātyam,
  5. ālekhyam,
  6. viśeṣaka-cchedyam,
  7. taṇḍula-kusuma-balivikārāḥ,
  8. puṣpāstaranam,
  9. daśana-vasanāṅgarāgāḥ,
  10. maṇi-bhūmikā-karma,
  11. śayana-racanam,
  12. udaka-vādyam,
  13. udaka-ghātaḥ,
  14. citrā-yogāḥ,
  15. mālya-granthana-vikalpāḥ,
  16. keśa-śekharāpīḍayojanam,
  17. nepathya-yogāḥ,
  18. karṇa-pattra-bhaṅgāḥ,
  19. gandha-yuktiḥ,
  20. bhūṣaṇa-yojanam,
  21. indrajālam,
  22. kaucumāra-yogāḥ,
  23. hasta-lāghavam,
  24. citraśākāpūpa-bhakṣya-vikāra-kriyā,
  25. pānaka-rasarāgāsava-yojanam,
  26. sūcīvāpa-karma,
  27. vīṇā-ḍama-ruka-sūtra-krīḍā,
  28. prahelikā,
  29. pratimā,
  30. durvacakayogāḥ,
  31. pustaka-vācanam,
  32. nāṭakākhyāyikā-darśanam,
  33. kāvya-samasyā-pūraṇam,
  34. paṭṭikā-vetrabāṇa-vikalpāḥ,
  35. tarkū-karmāṇi,
  36. takṣaṇam,
  37. vāstu-vidyā,
  38. rūpya-ratna-parīkṣā,
  39. dhātu-vādaḥ,
  40. maṇi-rāga-jñānam,
  41. ākara-jñānam,
  42. vṛkṣāyur-veda-yogāḥ,
  43. meṣa-kukkuṭa-lāvaka-yuddha-vidhiḥ,
  44. śuka-sārikā-pralāpanam,
  45. utsādanam,
  46. keśa-mārjana-kauśalam,
  47. akṣara-muṣṭikā-kathanam,
  48. mlechitaka-vikalpāḥ,
  49. deśa-bhāṣā-jñānam,
  50. puṣpa-śakaṭikā-nimitta-jñānam,
  51. yantra-mātṛkā,
  52. dhāraṇa-mātṛkā,
  53. saṃpāṭyam,
  54. mānasī-kāvya-kriyā,
  55. kriyā-vikalpāḥ,
  56. chalitakayogāḥ,
  57. abhidhāna-koṣa-cchando-jñānam,
  58. vastra-gopanāni,
  59. dyūta-viśeṣaḥ,
  60. ākarṣaṇa-krīḍā,
  61. bālaka-krīḍanakāni,
  62. vaināyikīnāṃ-vidyāṇāṃ-jñānam,
  63. vaijayikīnāṃ-vidyānāṃ-jñānam,
  64. vaitālakīnāṃ-vidyānāṃ-jñānaṃ.

However, the list varies from text to text.

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Kalā (कला) refers to the “energy (above the palate)”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The universe is said to be the body. The energy (kalā) above the palate, by virtue of the nectar (that drips from the palate), is the life (jīvita) that is the essence of the universe beginning and ending with the Rudras”.

Note: This energy (kalā) above the palate is that of the New Moon hidden in the Full Moon, which, inwardly nourished by it, exudes nectar. This nectar is the life of the body and the whole universe represented here by the fifty Rudras who govern the energies of the letters projected onto the cosmic body. In this way the desire of the goddess who resides there, and of all who go there to receive the Command, is fulfilled.

2) Kāla (काल) refers to one of the eight sacred fields (kṣetra), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.—Accordingly, “The man of knowledge should mark the sacred fields located in the towns. [...] Obstacles (vighna), Siddhas and Yoginīs that have penetrated the wind enter the adept having identified (his) weak spot, and lay hold of the best (within him) for no reason. (The adept) abides in (each) place in the (eight) sacred fields, (namely) Gaṇikā, Śiras, Kālī, Kāla, Ālaya, Śiva, Kāliñjara, and Mahākāla”.

3) Kāla (काल) or Kālagranthi refers to the “knot of time” and represents one of the “sixteen knots” (granthi), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.—Accordingly, “(1) The Knot called Ananta, which is HAṂSA, should be placed (on the body). It is at the middle toe of the sixteen parts (of the body). (2) The Knot of Time is below the ankle. [...] (2) the Knot of Time [i.e., kāla-granthi] is below the ankle. [...]”.

4) Kāla (काल) refers to one of the eight Guardians (kṣetrapāla-aṣṭaka) associated with Oṃkārapīṭha (also called Oḍḍiyāna, Ādipīṭha or Uḍapīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight guardians (kṣetrapālāṣṭaka): Kāla, Ḍāmara, Laṃboṣṭa, Daṃṣṭrin, Dundhubhi, Dāruṇa, Durdhara, Raudra

5) Kāla (काल) also refers to one of the eight Bhairavas associated with Jālandhara (which is in the southern quarter).—[...] The eight Bhairavas: Ruru, Kāla, Bahurūpa, Pracaṇḍaka, Tryambaka, Tripurānta, Ūrdhvakeśa, Aghora.

6) Kāla (काल) or Māyā refers to the Cremation Ground associated with Avyakta, one of the eight Sacred Seats (pīṭha), according to the Yogakhaṇḍa (chapter 14) of the Manthānabhairavatantra.

7) Kalā (कला) refers to one of the thirty-two Bhairavīs (also Dūtis) embodying the syllables of the goddess’s Vidyā, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—The thirty-two Bhairavīs [i.e., Kalā] are the consorts of the Bhairavas presiding over the sonic energies of the thirty-two syllables of her Vidyā.

Source: JSTOR: Tāntric Dīkṣā by Surya Kanta

Kalā (कला) or Kalādhvā refers to one of the six adhvans being purified during the Kriyāvatī-dīkṣā: an important Śākta ritual described Śāradātilaka-tantra, chapters III-V.—“... Looking with the divine eye he transfers the caitanya of his disciple into himself and unites it with that of his own, thereby effecting a purification of the six adhvans namely: kalā, tattva, bhavana, varṇa, pada, and mantra”.

The word adhvā means ‘path’, and when the above six adhvans (viz. kalā) are purified they lead to Brahman-experience. Dīkṣā is one of the most important rituals of the Śāktas and so called because it imparts divine knowledge and destroys evil.

The Kalās are: Nivṛtti, Pratiṣṭhā, Vidyā, Śānti, and Śāntyatīta mentioned in Śāradātilaka I.26.

Shaktism book cover
context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

1) Kalā (कला):—First of the five factors of limitation (kañcuka) that occur in the second stage during the unity of Śiva and Śakti (subject and object). Their unity is initiated upon the cosmic process of creation.

2) Kāla (काल):—Fourth of the five factors of limitation (kañcuka) that occur in the second stage during the unity of Śiva and Śakti (subject and object). Their unity is initiated upon the cosmic process of creation.

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Kāla (काल) is the name of a teacher to whom the Kāpālika doctrine was revelead, mentioned in the Śābaratantra. The disciple of Kāla is mentioned as being Hariścandra. The Śābara-tantra is an early tantra of the Kāpālika sect containing important information about the evolution of the Nātha sect. It also lists the twelve original Kāpālika teachers (eg., Kāla). Several of these names appear in the Nātha lists of eighty-four Siddhas and nine Nāthas.

Source: bhagavadgitausa.com: Kashmir Saivism

1) Kalā: is normally the omnipotence of Siva, the power to do anything (Sarva Kartrtva) in this universe and also the Light of His Consciousness. KalA of the individual soul behaves as if its ability is severely restricted by the Maya. There is limited capacity to action, limited capacity for knowing, and impure knowledge. Abhi says that Siva goes into deep sleep (supthasthanin) and thus in his individual soul form, he is incapable of any action. The Kancuka KalA comes to his rescue and gives him a limited capacity for action and a limited knowledge.

2) Kāla: Siva has no Time element in Him; He is eternal. The individual soul has become subject to time, past, present and future.

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra (shaivism)

Kalā (कला), the primary adhvan, has five modes that constitute the entire framework of evolution from the transcendental to the phenomenal. They are:

  1. śāntyātīta, transcendent pacific;
  2. śānti, pacific;
  3. vidyā, knowing;
  4. pratiṣṭhā, establishing;
  5. nivṛtti, obscuring.

Corresponding ta the five kalādhavans of siva, divine agency, are five modes of śākti, divine instrumentality:

  1. parāśakti, transcendent;
  2. ādiśakti, originant;
  3. icchāśakti, intentiona1;
  4. jñānaśakti, knowing (discerning);
  5. kriyāśakti, active.

Of these, the latter three are modes of causality in cosmic evolution.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Kāla (काल) is the name of a deity who was imparted with the knowledge of the Sahasrāgama by Sadāśiva through parasambandha, according to the pratisaṃhitā theory of Āgama origin and relationship (sambandha). The sahasra-āgama, being part of the ten Śivabhedāgamas, refers to one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgamas: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu.

Kāla in turn transmitted the Sahasrāgama (through mahānsambandha) to Bhīma, who then transmitted it to Dharma who then, through divya-sambandha, transmitted it to the Devas who, through divyādivya-sambandha, transmitted it to the Ṛṣis who finally, through adivya-sambandha, revealed the Sahasrāgama to human beings (Manuṣya). (also see Anantaśambhu’s commentary on the Siddhāntasārāvali of Trilocanaśivācārya)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Kalā (कला) refers to “partial agency”, according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā 3.2.11.—Accordingly, “And this Awareness-principle, consisting of [unlimited] Agency, [becomes] limited—[though] it is strengthened by partial agency (kalā)—abiding as a [mere] attribute in a person whose [habitual] nature is unconscious, [identifying as he does with] the void, [prāṇa, mind,] and [body].”.

Shaivism book cover
context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

1) Kāla (काल) is another name for Kāsamarda, a medicinal plant identified with Senna occidentalis (formerly known as Cassia occidentalis Linn.) or “septicweed” from the Fabaceae or “legume” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.171-172 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Kāla and Kāsamarda, there are a total of eight Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2) Kāla (काल) is also mentioned as another name for Raktacitraka, which is a variety of Citraka, a medicinal plant identified with (1) [white variety] Plumbago zeylanica Linn.; (2) [red variety] Plumbago rosea Linn. syn. or Plumbago indica Linn., both from the Plumbaginaceae or “leadwort” family of flowering plants, according to verse 6.46-47.—Note: Bapalal refers a totally different variety, used as Red Citraka or Rato Chitro (rātocitro) in Ābu and Girnār. This is knwon as Vogalia indica.—The sixth chapter (pippalyādi-varga) of this book enumerates ninety-five varieties of plants obtained from the market (paṇyauṣadhi). Together with the names Kāla and Raktacitraka, there are a total of eleven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Kāla (काल) (lit. “one who is black-coloured”) is a synonym (another name) for the [Female] Cuckoo (Kokila), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Kalā (कला, “membrane”) refers to the intermediary septa (a dividing wall or partition) between dhātu and āśaya. They are seven in number. The term is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā.

Source: Google Books: Essentials of Ayurveda

Kāla (काल, “time”):—According to position of the sun e.g. summer solstice and winter solstice (uttarāyaṇa and dakṣiṇāyana) the year is divided into two—ādāna and visarga. In the former the sun is dominant and as such draws out the nutrient essence of the living being, while in the latter the moon is predominant releasing the same to them. According to features, tme is divided into three—cold, hot and rainy which have variations in different geographical regions.

Again there are six seasons in a year—

Visarga (‘release’) phase:

  1. Varṣā (‘rainy’),
  2. Śarad (‘autumn’)
  3. and Hemanta (‘early winter’).

Ādāna (‘accumulation’) phase:

  1. Śiśira (‘late winter’),
  2. Vasanta (‘spring’)
  3. and Grīṣma (‘summer’).
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Kala (कल) refers to “sweet”, mentioned in verse 3.40 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “from him whose mind is at ease, (who is) moist with sandal [...]—wreaths of camphor and of jasmine; strings of pearls furnished with yellow sandal ; young thrushes (and) parrots whose chatter is lovely and sweet [viz., kala]; (and)[...]”.

Note: manohara (“lovely”) and kala (“sweet”) have been transposed, while the bahuvrīhi has been resolved by adding sgrogs-pa (“sending forth”).—śiśu (“young”) has been omitted and sogs (“etc.”) inserted after sārika (“thrush”), which has been interchanged with śuka (“parrot”).

Source: Internation Journal of Ayurveda: Basic concept of Kala (membrane)

Kala is a unique Ayurveda concept explained by Sushrutacharya in Sushruta samhita. Seven kalas are present in the body. Kalas are the covering between dhatu and Aashay. These are extremely minute particles and invisible to naked eye, similar to cells. They can be understood by their functions in the body. The specif ic kalas are located at specific sites. We can co-relate kalas as formative elements similar to the cell.

Even though Kalas are explained in embryonic life they are found to be functioning throughout the life. Reference of ‘Kalas’ are also found in kalpa sthana during the treatment (chikitsa) of snake bite. Hence we can say that kalas are present and functioning in the body from the time of birth up t o the end of the life.

We can correlate the kalas structurally with fascia, septum, fibrous membrane; mucous membrane or serous membrane but functionally, we can correlate them with cells or formative elements.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

1) Kalā (कला):—1. A covering membrane 2. A division of time

2) Kāla (काल):—Kala is of two types Nityaga and Avasthika Kala. Eternally moving time is Nityaga and conditional moving time is Avasthika.

3) Time in general , the point or period when something occurs , Proper time or occasion, time of the death

Ayurveda book cover
context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

1) Kāla (काल) refers to the “time” (of the planets), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “And in horoscopy, the Jyotiṣaka must know such divisions of space as rāśi (a sign of Zodiac or a space of 30°), horā (15° or half a sign), drekkana (10° or one third of a sign), navāṃśaka (3° 20' or one-ninth of a sign), dvādaśāṃśaka (2° 30' or one twelfth of a sign), triṃśāṃśaka (one-thirtieth of a sign), and their strength or weakness considered horoscopically; he must know the horoscopic strength of the planets with respect to their Dik (direction), Sthāna (place), Kāla, (time) Ceṭā (motions, conjunctions and the like)”.

2) Kāla (काल) refers to “season”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12).—Accordingly, “[...] I will now speak of the rules of the arghya (offering) to be presented to Agastya as stated by the Ṛṣis. [...] The offering to be made by princes in honor of Agastya shall consist of the fragrant flowers of the season [i.e., kāla-udbhavakālodbhavaiḥ surabhibhiḥ kusumaiḥ], of fruits, of precious stones, of gold cloths, of cows, of bulls, of well-cooked rice, of sweet-meats, of curdled milk, of colored rice, of perfumed smoke and fragrant paste”.

Source: Daivi Varnashram: Nakṣatra Gaṇḍānta

Kāla (काल):—Period of 90 minutes is one Kāla (as in kālachakra). The exact lunar transit in one kāla (90min) is 0°50’ arc.

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Kalā (कला).—A time unit equal to one-sixtieth of a muhūrta. 2. In the Jyotiṣa vedāṅga, a time unit equal to 201/20 of a ghaṭikā. 3. Minute of Arc. Note: Kalā is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: Google Books: The Khecarividya of Adinatha

Kalā (कला):—The basic meaning of kalā is “a part”, especially “sixteenth part of the moon” (e.g. Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad 1.5.14). The moon waxes and wanes in periods of fifteen days; each day it gains or loses one kalā. The sixteenth kalā is the amṛtakalā which never dies, even at the dark of the moon.

Kalā can also mean “tongue” and, in tantric descriptions of the phonematic emanation of reality, “vowel”.

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

1) Kalā (कला) refers to “divisions”, according to the Devyāmata f. 30r2-3 (From the Paramatattvavicārapaṭala verse 57-60b).—Accordingly: while discussing the dichotomy of Śiva as mental and transmental: “[Śiva as] the receptacle of divisions (kalā) is mental (samanaska) whereas the supreme Śiva is beyond mind (unmana). The mental [aspect] is that which has mind alone, into which Śiva is fused and from which he does not ascend. That which has no mind and from which the mind does not return, is known as the no-mind [aspect of] the omniscient and all-pervasive Śiva”.

2) Kala (कल) refers to “melodious voices”, according to Hemacandra’s Yogaśāstra (12.22-25): [śṛṇvann api giraṃ kalamanojñām ]

Yoga book cover
context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Kalā (कला) refers to a “unit of the time measure in music” according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 5.

2a) Kāla (काल) is a Sanskrit word referring to “time”. Acording to the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.88-93, when Brahmā, Indra and all other gods went to inspect the playhouse (nāṭyamaṇḍapa) designed by Viśvakarmā, he assigned different deities for the protection of the playhouse itself, as well as for the objects relating to dramatic performance (prayoga). As such, Brahmā assigned Kāla and Kṛtānta to the door complex (entrance, dvāraśālā). The protection of the playhouse was enacted because of the jealous Vighnas (malevolent spirits), who began to create terror for the actors.

2b) Kāla (काल), as a deity, is to be worshipped during raṅgapūjā, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 3.1-8. Accordingly, the master of the dramatic art who has been initiated for the purpose shall consecrate the playhouse after he has made obeisance (e.g., to Kāla).

3) Kala (कल) refers to one of the four kinds of vyañjana (indication), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 29. Vyañjana represents one of the four classes of dhātu (stroke), which relate to different aspects of strokes in playing stringed instruments (tata).

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “kala is touching a string simultaneously with the two thumbs”.

Source: Sreenivasarao’s blog: Music of India

Kāla (काल).—The three kinds of units of measure (kāla) that were employed in the Gandharva Music were:

  1. laghu (short),
  2. guru (long)
  3. and pluta (extended).

Laghu is equal to one matra; Guru to two matras; and Pluta to three matras.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (natya)

Kāla refers to “time-measure” (past, present, and future) and is related to the tradition of Kūttu (dance) as defined in the first book of the Pañcamarapu (‘five-fold traditional usage’) which deals with niruttam (dance, one of the sixty–four arts) and represents an important piece of Tamil literature.—To keep the rhythm at a particular level and then proceed, to dance the exact dance relevant to its rhythm when rhythm comes to sama, and to dance one or two counts beyond are referred to the past, present and future kāla

Natyashastra book cover
context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Kāla (काल).—One of the eleven rākṣasas facing the eleven rudras in the battle of the gods (devas) between the demons (asuras), according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 94. This battle was initiated by Mahiṣāsura in order to win over the hand of Vaiṣṇavī, the form of Trikalā having a red body representing the energy of Viṣṇu. Trikalā is the name of a Goddess born from the combined looks of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara (Śiva).

The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.

Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana

Kāla (काल, “death and time”) refers to one of the fifty-six vināyakas located at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and forms part of a sacred pilgrimage (yātrā), described in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Skanda-purāṇa 4.2.57). He is also known as Kālavināyaka, Kālagaṇeśa and Kālavighneśa. These fifty-six vināyakas are positioned at the eight cardinal points in seven concentric circles (8x7). They center around a deity named Ḍhuṇḍhirāja (or Ḍhuṇḍhi-vināyaka) positioned near the Viśvanātha temple, which lies at the heart of Kāśī, near the Gaṅges. This arrangement symbolises the interconnecting relationship of the macrocosmos, the mesocosmos and the microcosmos.

Kāla is positioned in the North-Eastern corner of the fifth circle of the kāśī-maṇḍala. According to Rana Singh (source), his shrine is located at “at the steps of Ramaghat, K 24 / 10”. Worshippers of Kāla will benefit from his quality, which is defined as “the remover of fear from death and strife”. His coordinates are: Lat. 25.18843, Lon. 83.00996 (or, 25°11'18.4"N, 83°00'35.9"E) (Google maps)

Kāla, and the other vināyakas, are described in the Skandapurāṇa (the largest of the eighteen mahāpurāṇas). This book narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is composed of over 81,000 metrical verses with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Kāla (काल)—One of the eleven other names of Rudra, according to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.12.12.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Kalā (कला).—A measure of time. See under Kālamāna.

2) Kāla (काल).—(yama) * The god of Death. When the life span of each living being allotted by Brahmā is at an end Yama sends his agents and takes the soul to Yamapurī (the city of Yama). From there, the holy souls are sent to Vaikuṇṭha (Heaven, the abode of Viṣṇu) and the sinful souls to Hell. Genealogy and birth of Yama. From Mahāviṣṇu were descended in the following order—Brahmā, Marīci, Kaśyapa, Sūrya (Sun), Yama (Kāla).

3) Kāla (काल).—A Maharṣi. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 7, Verse 14, refers to this sage as offering worship to Indra, in Indra’s assembly.

4) Kālā (काला).—A daughter of Dakṣaprajāpati. (See under Kālikā).

5) Kāla (काल).—See under the word Kālamāna.

6) Kala (कल).—A group of Manes. This group lives in the Brahmasabhā. (Chapter 11, Śānti Parva).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Kāla (काल) refers to the God of “death and time” and is stationed at Kālātīta, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.17. Accordingly, “[...] at the end of the same is the wheel of Time (Kālacakra) and beyond the ken of Time there is the space called Kālātīta. There Kāla (God of death and Time) backed by Śiva and in the name of Cakreśvara, unites every one with Time. In his activity he occupies Dharma in the form of a buffalo whose four legs are untruth, untidiness, violence and ruthlessness. He can assume any form he wishes. He assumes the form of a great buffalo, is rich in Atheism, has evil association and utters sounds other than those of the Vedas. He has an active association with Anger. He is black in colour. He is called great lord (Maheśvara) to that extent. The ability to vanish is up to that extent”.

2) Kāla (काल) is the name of a leader of Gaṇas (Gaṇapa or Gaṇeśvara or Gaṇādhipa) who came to Kailāsa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.20. Accordingly, after Śiva decided to become the friend of Kubera:—“[...] The leaders of Gaṇas revered by the whole world and of high fortune arrived there. [...] Kuṇḍin, Vāha and the auspicious Parvataka with twelve crores each, Kāla, Kālaka and Mahākāla each with a hundred crores. [...]”.

These [viz., Kāla] and other leaders of Gaṇas [viz., Gaṇapas] were all powerful (mahābala) and innumerable (asaṃkhyāta). [...] The Gaṇa chiefs and other noble souls of spotless splendour eagerly reached there desirous of seeing Śiva. Reaching the spot they saw Śiva, bowed to and eulogised him.

Kāla participated in Vīrabhadra’s campaign against Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.33. Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“O Nārada, listen to the numerical strength of the most important and courageous of those groups. [...] Kāla, Kālaka and Mahākāla went to the sacrifice of Dakṣa with a hundred crores. [...] Thus at the bidding of Śiva, the heroic Vīrabhadra went ahead followed by crores and crores, thousands and thousands, hundreds and hundreds of Gaṇas [viz., Kāla]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Kala (कल).—Sixty in number:1 a period of time;2 30 lavas according to a calculation;3 33 kāṭhas;4 30 kalas make a muhūrta or 160 mātras.5

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 34. 70.
  • 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 30. 13; 70. 15; Matsya-purāṇa 34. 9.
  • 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 216.
  • 4) Vāyu-purāṇa 57. 6; 100. 218; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 3. 8; II. 8. 59; VI. 3. 6.
  • 5) Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 179; 93. 72; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 7. 19; 13. 14.

1b) A Janapada of the Ketumāla country.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 44. 15.

1c) Digits of Soma recovered by propitiating Dakṣa:1 one-sixteenth part.

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 24; Matsya-purāṇa 34. 9; 142. 4.

2a) Kalā (कला).—A svara śakti.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 44. 57.

2b) A daughter of Kardama married to Marīci; bore two sons, Kaśyapa and Pūrṇiman.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 24. 22; IV. 1. 13.

3a) Kāla (काल).—Time as the phase of the Universal Spirit.1 Is īśvara, and only rūpabheda.2 Lord of creation and destruction; fearful to look at.3 Vanquished by Kṛṣṇa;4 makes and unmakes things by keeping all things under control.5

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 6. 4; 11. 6; 13. 45; II. 10. 43; VIII. 17. 27.
  • 2) Ib. III. 12. 12; 29. 4, 37 & 45; X. 51. 19.
  • 3) Ib. IV. 12. 3; Vāyu-purāṇa 32. 11, 22.
  • 4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 3. 10; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 82; Vāyu-purāṇa 32. 29.
  • 5) Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 38. 55-64.

3b) A name for Mṛtyu: ety. as Lord of Death; adhidevata for Rāhu the planet;1 described as having four faces each comprising a yuga.2 One origin of.3

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 128; Matsya-purāṇa 93. 14; 213. 5 & 18.
  • 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 32. 8-67.
  • 3) Ib. 21. 52, 73.

3c) A son of Dhanva; a Vasava; a Viśvedeva.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 23, 30; Matsya-purāṇa 5. 23; 203. 4; Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 21, 31; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 111.

3d) A Bhairva god.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 20. 82.

3e) One from brahman; see also Avyakta.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 2. 14, 15 and 27.

3f) A mountain west of the Sitoda lake.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 36. 27.

3g) Division of time—Paramāṇu defined:*

  • * 1 Yuga make 5 years. 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. ch. 11 (whole); Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 24. 58; 13. 109; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 179-82; 97. 30-31. based on Sūrya. 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 31. 24; 53. 39.

4a) Kālā (काला).—A goddess enshrined at Candrabhāgā.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 13. 49.

4b) A daughter of Dakṣa, and wife of Kaśyapa.1 Mother of Kālakeyas.2

  • 1) Matsya-purāṇa 171. 29; Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 54.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 171. 59.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Kāla (काल) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.33, I.65, I.60.20) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kāla) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Kālā also refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.12, I.65).

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Kāla (काल) refers to the son of Dhruva: one of the eight Vasus who are the sons of Vasu, according to another account of Vaṃśa.—Accordingly, the ten wives of Dharma are [viz., Vasu]. The Vasus were born from Vasu. The eight Vasus are Āpa, Nala, Soma, Dhruva, Anila, Anala, Pratyuṣa and Prabhāsa. But the Pañcalakṣaṇa text gives Dhara instead of Nala. Kāla (the chastiser of the world) is the son of Dhruva.

Purana book cover
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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Vaisheshika (school of philosophy)

Source: Wikipedia: Vaisheshika

Kāla (काल, “time”) is one of the nine dravyas (‘substances’), according to the Vaiśeṣika-sūtras. These dravyas are considered as a category of padārtha (“metaphysical correlate”). These padārthas represent everything that exists which can be cognized and named. Together with their subdivisions, they attempt to explain the nature of the universe and the existence of living beings.

Source: Shodhganga: A study of Nyāya-vaiśeṣika categories (vaisesika)

Kāla (काल, “time”) refers to one of the nine substances (dravya) according to the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika school of philosophy (cf. Vaiśeṣikasūtra 1.1.5, Saptapadārthī, Tarkabhāṣā and Bhāṣāpariccheda). In the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika philosophy, kāla is admitted as sixth dravya. The reality of kāla as an entity is accepted by this philosophy. It is not perceptible. But it is real and objective. It is known as only one, omnipresent, eternal and the foundation of all events.

Annaṃbhaṭṭa defines kāla as the special cause of the employment of words such as past, present etc. It is a very simple definition and best appropriate for all practical purposes. That action which is already completed, is known as past, which action is going on, that is present and action which has not started yet that is future. Viśvanātha mentions in his work the definition of kāla as: “time is the cause of things that are produced and is considered to be the substratum of the universe. It is the cause of the notion of priority and posteriority. It is converted into a moment etc. owing to its limiting adjuncts. Kāla is the cause of all produced things and it is the foundation of the universe. It is the cause of all effects. Moreover, kāla is the cause of the knowledge of priority and posteriority”.

Vaisheshika book cover
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Vaisheshika (वैशेषिक, vaiśeṣika) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. Vaisheshika deals with subjects such as logic, epistemology, philosophy and expounds concepts similar to Buddhism in nature

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Samkhya (school of philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Sāṃkhya philosophy

Kāla (काल, “time”) is a type tuṣṭi (complacence), classified internal (ādhyātmika) according to the Sāṃkhya theory of evolution. Tuṣṭi refers to a category of pratyayasarga (intellectual products), which represents the first of two types of sarga (products) that come into being during tattvapariṇāma (elemental manifestations), which in turn, evolve out of the two types of pariṇāma (change, modification).

Samkhya book cover
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Samkhya (सांख्य, Sāṃkhya) is a dualistic school of Hindu philosophy (astika) and is closeley related to the Yoga school. Samkhya philosophy accepts three pramanas (‘proofs’) only as valid means of gaining knowledge. Another important concept is their theory of evolution, revolving around prakriti (matter) and purusha (consciousness).

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Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)

Source: Srimatham: Mīmāṃsa: The Study of Hindu Exegesis

Kāla (काल, “time”) refers to one of the six factors through which positive ethical precepts (regarding Dharma) are conditioned. The discerning student is required to distinguish between grades of vidhi or to compare their levels of authority or applicability. The primary distinction is derived from their motivation and goals, thus producing the concepts of puruṣārtha and kratvārtha.

Mimamsa book cover
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Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.

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Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaiyākaraṇabhūṣaṇasāra: a critical study

Kāla (काल).—Time notion in general expressed in connection with an activity in three ways: past, present and future.

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Kala (कल).—A fault of pronunciation consequent upon directing the tongue to a place in the mouth which is not the proper one, for the utterance of a vowel; a vowel so pronounced; cf. संवृतः कलो ध्मातः (saṃvṛtaḥ kalo dhmātaḥ) ... रोमश इति (romaśa iti) cf.also निवृत्तकलादिकामवर्णस्य प्रत्यापत्तिं वक्ष्यामि (nivṛttakalādikāmavarṇasya pratyāpattiṃ vakṣyāmi) M.Bh. Āhnika 1.

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Kāla (काल).—Notion of time created by different contacts made by a thing with other things one after another. Time required for the utterance of a short vowel is taken as a unit of time which is called मात्रा (mātrā) or कालमात्रा (kālamātrā), lit. measurement of time; (2) degree of a vowel, the vowels being looked upon as possessed of three degrees ह्रस्व,दीर्घ (hrasva, dīrgha),& प्लुत (pluta) measured respectively by one, two and three mātrās; cf. ऊकालो (ūkālo)Sझ्रस्वदीर्घप्लुतः (jhrasvadīrghaplutaḥ) P.I.2.27; (3) time notion in general, expressed in connection with an activity in three ways past (भूत (bhūta)), present (वर्तमान (vartamāna)), and future (भविष्यत् (bhaviṣyat)) to show which the terms भूता, वर्तमाना (bhūtā, vartamānā) and भविष्यन्ती (bhaviṣyantī) were used by ancient grammarians; cf the words पूर्वकाल, उत्तरकाल (pūrvakāla, uttarakāla); also cf. पाणि-न्युपज्ञमकालकं व्याकरणम् (pāṇi-nyupajñamakālakaṃ vyākaraṇam) Kāś. on P. II. 4.21 ; (4) place of recital (पाठदेश (pāṭhadeśa)) depending on the time of recital, cf. न परकालः पूर्वकाले पुनः (na parakālaḥ pūrvakāle punaḥ) (V.Pr.III. 3) a dictum similar to Pāṇini's पूर्वत्रा-सिद्धम् (pūrvatrā-siddham) P. VIII.2.1.

Vyakarana book cover
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Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Kāla (काल) is the name of a Brāhman from a former Kalpa, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 45. Accordingly, as the Asura Maya said to king Candraprabha in a temple in Pātāla: “in a former Kalpa there was a certain Brāhman, of the name of Kāla. He went to the holy bathing-place Puṣkara and muttered prayers day and night. While he was muttering, two myriads of years of the gods passed away. Then there appeared a great light inseparable from his head, which, streaming forth in the firmament like ten thousand suns, impeded the movement of the Siddhas and others there, and set the three worlds on fire”.

2) Kāla (काल) is also mentioned as an Asura who was reborn as Vītabhīti (one of Sūryaprabha’s friends), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 45. Accordingly, as Kaśyapa said to Maya, Sunītha and Sūryaprabha: “... and the other Asuras, who were your companions, have been born as his friends; for instance,... his present friend Vītabhīti was in a former birth a foe of the gods, named Kāla”.

The stories regarding Kāla were narrated by the Vidyādhara king Vajraprabha to prince Naravāhanadatta in order to relate how “Sūryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over the Vidyādharas”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kāla, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of Sriharsa

Kalā (कला) refers to a (1) “art” or (2) “a peg of a lyre” and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 21.127.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

1) Kalā (कला) refers to:—A portion of a portion. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnavism book cover
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Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Kalā (कला) refers to “unit of measurement for images § 2.4.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

Vastushastra book cover
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Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

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Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

1) Kāla (काल) or Kālaka refers to the “color black” which were used as symbols for the unknowns, according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—Āryabhaṭa I (499) very probably used coloured shots to represent unknowns. Brahmagupta (628) in the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta mentions varṇa as the symbols of unknowns. As he has not attempted in any way to explain this method of symbolism, it appears that the method was already very familiar. [...] In the case of more unknowns, it is usual to denote the first yāvattāvat and the remaining ones by alphabets or colours [e.g., kāla].—Cf. Pṛthūdakasvāmī (860) in his commentary on the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta by Brahmagupta (628) and Bhāskara II in the Bījagaṇita.

2) Kalā (कला) or Kalāsavarṇa refers to “operations with fractions” and represents one of the various subjects treated in the Hindu gaṇita (“science of calculation”).—The term gaṇita is a very ancient one and occurs copiously in Vedic literature. The Vedāṅga-jyotiṣa (c. 1200 B.C.) gives it the highest place of honour among the sciences which form the Vedāṅga: “As the crests on the heads of peacocks, as the gems on the hoods of snakes, so is gaṇita at the top of the sciences known as the Vedāṅga”. The subjects treated in the Hindu gaṇita of the early renaissance period consisted of [e.g., kalā-savarṇa (“operations with fractions”)] [...].

3a) Kāla (काल) represents the number 3 (three) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 3—kāla] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

3b) Kalā (कला) represents the number 16 (sixteen) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā).

3c) Kalā (कला) also refers to the fraction 1/16th in the “word-numeral system” [without place-value].

Ganitashastra book cover
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Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Kāla (काल) refers to one of the two companions of Yama, whose iconography is described in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, the image of Yama should be made along with his two companions viz., Citragupta and Kāla. But the Kāśyapaśilpa accepts Kinnara instead of Kāla. Again the Śilparatna accepts Kali instead of Kāla. In the Ṛgveda, two dogs of Yama are referred to as yamadūta i.e., the messenger of Yama. So, there may be a connection between the relation of Citragupta, Kāla and Yama with the Vedic portrayal of the two dogs with Yama. The image of Citragupta and Kāla should be placed in the right and left side of the image of Yama respectively. [...] Moreover, the idol of Kāla should hold a noose in his left hand

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation

Kāla (काल) refers to the “proper season” (for practicing sports such as hunting), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] Among these [sports], eighteen things are mentioned which are known as vyasana (addictions or vices), and without these the senses are useless, and these eighteen are the real causes of exquisite delight. If practised in proper season (kāla) [yathākālaṃ] and within proper bounds, they contribute largely to the delight of all persons, especially of kings. The writers of the Śāstras always deprecate these vyasanas, and stories are current of the fall of those who were addicted to them. [...]”.

Shyainika-shastra book cover
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Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Kāla (काल, “time”):—One of the epiteths of Yama, the vedic God of death, who is the embodiment of Dharma. Yama rules over the kingdom of the dead and binds humankind according to the fruits of their karma.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Kalā means performing art in Sanskrit.

Source: Lingayat: Kalas and Shakti

The concept of kalā is refractory to easy understanding. Sometimes it means just ‘force’ which evolves into the world under the direction of Parashiva; sometimes it is said to be the purer form of the Shakti, the raw material of the world. Occasionally it stands for the spiritual force, which makes a mystic (śivayogi) what he is. While most of Vachana-writers recognise only five kalās, namely,

  1. nivṛtti-kalā,
  2. pratiṣṭhā-kalā,
  3. vidyā-kalā,
  4. śānti-kalā and
  5. śāntyatīta-kalā,

Tōntada Siddhalinga śivayogi recognises a sixth, namely, śāntyatītottarā-kalā.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kala - Son of Anathapindika - As he showed no signs of piety his father, feeling very distressed, made a solemn promise to give him a thousand if he kept the fast day. Kala won the money, and the next day he was promised a thousand if he would listen to the Buddha preaching and learn a single verse of the Dhamma. He listened to the Buddhas sermon, but by the will of the Buddha he could not keep in mind a single verse until the sermon came to an end. He then became a sotapanna and accompanied the Buddha and the monks to his fathers house. There, when in the presence of them all Anathapindika gave Kala the money, he refused to accept it, and the Buddha explained what had happened. DhA.iii.189ff

2. Kala - An Elder. A certain woman ministered to him as though he were her son, but when she expressed her desire to see the Buddha, Kala tried to dissuade her from doing so. One day she visited the Buddha without telling Kala of her intention, and when he learnt where she had gone he hurried to the Buddha and tried to prevent him from preaching to her, in case she should stop caring for him. DhA.iii.155f

3. Kala - Minister of Pasenadi. He was grieved when the king spent his fortune in giving alms to the Buddha and his monks at the Asadisa dana ; the Buddha, knowing his thoughts, spoke but a single stanza by way of thank offering at the end of the dana lest Kalas head should split in seven pieces in anger. When the king learnt, on inquiry, why the Buddha had so acted, he dismissed Kala from his service. DA.ii.654f; DhA.iii.186-8; also ii.89.

4. Kala - An Elder of Kosala. He joined the Order in his old age and lived in the forest with his friend Junha. Once the question arose between them as to which part of the month was cold, and being unable to decide the question, they sought the Buddha, who preached to them the Maluta Jataka (q.v.). (J.i.165)

5. Kala. The name given by his wife to the Ajivaka Upaka (ThigA.i.223) because he was dark in complexion (ThigA.i.226).

6. Kala - King of the Nagas; see Mahakala.

7. Kala - A young stag, son of the Bodhisatta; a previous birth of Devadatta. The story is given in the Lakkhana Jataka. J.i.142f

8. Kala - See Kalahatthi.

9. Kala - One of the Nirayas. J.vi.248.

10. Kala - A Pacceka Buddha, mentioned in a list of Pacceka Buddhas. M.iii.70; ApA.i.107.

11. Kala - Brother of Pasenadi, king of Kosala. Dvy.153.

12. Kala - See also Cullakala, Maha Kala and Kaludayi.

Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

M (Moment, period). / time (how many)

Source: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas

Kala means time.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Kāla (काल) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Kāla).

2) Kāla (काल) is also the name of a Pratyekabuddha mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

3) Kāla (काल) is also the name of a Śrāvaka mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

Source: Google Books: Vajrayogini

Kāla (काल) is another name for Vaivasvata: protector deity of the southern cremation ground.—Yama is associated with the south and with the sun (vivasvat, descended from Sūrya), hence he is also Vaivasvata (Guhyasamayasādhanamālā 34) or “Yamavaivasvata”. He is also god of death, Kāla, whose agents brings departed souls to Yamapurī. Iconographically, the Śmaśānavidhi describes Yama as mounted on a buffalo (mahiṣārūḍha), black, red-eyed, fat, fearsome, holding a stick/cudgel (daṇḍa) and a skull bowl.

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Kalā (कला) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Kala forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Jalacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the jalacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the saṃbhoga-puṭa (‘enjoyment layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Kalā] and Vīras are white in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife..

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kalā (कला) refers to knowledge regarding the “sixty-four arts”, having its roots in the four Vedas, according Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter IV). Accordingly, at the time of the Buddha, the knowledge regarding the “sixty-four arts” (kalā) was commonly exchanged between Brahmins and cow-herders.

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Kāla (काल) is the name of a Nāgarāja appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Soma, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Nāgarāja Kāla in Soma], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Kāla (काल) refers to “(one who knows the) proper time”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, having praised the Lord with these verses, addressed himself to the Lord: ‘[...] The Lord, having known the meaning (artha), is skilled in the knowledge of the division of words. The Lord, having known the proper time (kāla-jñā), is always free of faulty prediction. The Lord, having known the proper measure (mātrajñā), teaches the dharma accordingly to each individual of all living being.[...]’”.

Mahayana book cover
context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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In Jainism

Jain philosophy

Source: International Journal of Jaina Studies: Haribhadra Sūri on Nyāya and Sāṃkhya

Kāla (काल) or Kālavāda refers to “(the doctrine about) time”.—The Śāstravārtāsamuccaya by Haribhadra Sūri’s is not a compendium of philosophical systems (darśana) but a comprehensive account (samuccaya) of doctrinal (śāstra) expositions (vārtā/vārttā) or simply doctrines (vāda). The Śāstravārtāsamuccaya (also, Śāstravārttāsamuccaya) is subdivided into stabakas, chapters or sections, for example: Kāla-vāda, Svabhāvavāda, Niyativāda and Karmavāda—on the doctrines about the leading principle in the world: time, essence, faith or karma.

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General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Kāla (काल) refers to a class of piśāca deities according to both the Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions of Jainism. The piśācas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas).

The deities such as Kālas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition

Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s Paümacariu

Kāla (काल) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Kāla] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Kāla (काल) and Mahākāla are the two Indras (i.e., lords or kings) of the Piśācas who came to the peak of Meru for partaking in the birth-ceremonies of Ṛṣabha, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

2) Kāla (काल) refers to one of the nine treasures mentioned in chapter 1.4 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly: “At the end of the four days’ fast, the nine famous treasures approached him (i.e., king Bharata), each always attended by one thousand Yakṣas, Naisarpa, Pāṇḍuka, Piṅgala, Sarvaratnaka, Mahāpadma, Kāla, Mahākāla, Māṇava, Śaṅkhaka. They were mounted on eight wheels, eight yojanas high, nine yojanas broad, twelve yojanas long, their faces concealed by doors of cat’s-eye, smooth, golden, filled with jewels, marked with the cakra, sun, and moon. [...] As their guardians, Nāgakumāra-gods with names the same as theirs, with life-periods of a palyopama, inhabited them. [...] The knowledge of the future, past, and present for three years, labor such as agriculture, etc., and the arts also are from Kāla”.

3) Kāla (काल) is the presiding deity of Vaḍavāmukha: one of the four Pātāla-vessels in the Lavaṇoda surrounding Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2.—Accordingly, “[...] In it (i.e., Lavaṇoda), in the directions, east, etc., there are 4 Pātāla-vessels, named Vaḍavāmukha, Keyūpa, Yūpaka, Īśvara, respectively, beginning with the east. They are 100,000 yojanas high; have walls of diamond 1,000 yojanas thick; are 10,000 yojanas wide at top and bottom; and have water in the third part supported by wind, resembling large clay water-jars. In them, the gods Kāla, Mahākāla, Velamba, and Prabhañjana, respectively, live in pleasure-houses”.

4) Kāla (काल) is the name of a ram, according to chapter 5.4 [śāntinātha-caritra].—Accordingly, as King Ghanaratha said:—“[...] The two buffaloes (i.e., incarnations of Tāmrakalaśa and Kāñcanakalaśa), arrogant as buffaloes of Kṛtānta, were made to fight by the sons of the king of Ayodhyā out of curiosity. After they had fought a long time, they died, and became strong-bodied rams, Kāla and Mahākāla. Meeting by chance in the same place they fought because of former hostility, died, and were born as these cocks with equal strength. One was not conquered by the other. Now as before one will not be conquered by the other. [...]”.

5) Kāla (काल) is name of an ancient king who besieged king Janamejaya from Campā, according to chapter 6.8 [śrī-mahāpadma-cakrin-caritra].—Accordingly:—“Now King Janamejaya in Campā was besieged by King Kāla, fought with him, and perished. The city was breached and the women of the harem scattered like deer in a forest-fire, confused about directions. Nāgavatī, the wife of the King of Campā, fled with her daughter Madanāvalī and came to that hermitage. [...]”.

Source: Atma Dharma: Principles of Jainism

Time; Also see: Kala Dravya.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Kāla (काल, “time”).—What is the meaning of ‘continuity /time’ (kāla)? Duration of the existence of an entity is called time.

According to Tattvārthasūtra 1.8, “the categories and their details are undefrstood in detail in terms of existence, number (enumeration), place or abode, extent of space touched (pervasion), continuity /time (kāla), interval of time, thought-activity, and reciprocal comparison”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)

Kāla (काल) refers to one of the two Indras (lords) of the Piśāca class of “peripatetic celestial beings” (vyantara), itself a main division of devas (celestial beings) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.6. Kāla and Mahākāla are the two lords in the class ‘goblin’ peripatetic celestial beings.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 5: The category of the non-living

Kāla (काल, “time”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.21.—Now many types of time (kāla) are there? There are two types of time, namely transcendental and practical time. What are the characteristics of the transcendental and practical types of time? The characteristic of transcendental time is vartanā. The characteristics of practical time are pariṇāma, kriyā, paratva and aparatva. How many types of practical time are there? It is of three types namely past, present and future.

According to, “time (kāla) also is a substance (dravya)”. What is duration of the substance time (kāla)? It is of infinite period duration. Why is time also said to be substance? Time is called a substance because all the characteristics of a substance are found in it. What is the peculiar characteristic of time? Hour, minutes etc are the characteristics of practical time while its ability to support change /transformation of all other substances is the characteristic from transcendental viewpoint. What are the distinguishing and generic attributes of time? Ability to support change /transformation of all other substances is its distinguishing attribute while absence of consciousness, taste, touch etc are its generic attributes long with all the generic attributes of a substance.

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Kāla (काल) refers to the “right time”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Sentient beings, inflamed by very intense pleasure [and] unsteady from affliction by wrong faith, wander about in a five-fold life that is difficult to be traversed. It has been stated at length that the cycle of rebirth which is full of suffering is five-fold on account of combining substance, place, right time (kāla), life and intention (dravyakṣetratathākālabhavabhāvavikalpataḥ)”.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Kāla (काल) refers to one of the  fifteen Paramādhārmīs causing suffering in the hells (naraka), according to Rājasoma’s “Naraka ko coḍhālyo”, which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—No name of any source is given in the text but the three stages followed in the exposition correspond closely to those found in a handbook such as Nemicandrasūri’s Pravacanasāroddhāra, [e.g.,] 3) sufferings inflicted by the fifteen Paramādhārmīs [e.g., Kāla]. [...] These gods (here Sūra or Deva) form a sub-class of the Asurakumāras and perform their tasks in the first, second and third hells.

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Kala (कल) refers to “partly”; as opposed to Akala—“entire” which refers to one of the 46 qualities of the soul to be meditated on in the “Practice of Meditation on Liberated Souls (Siddhas)”, according to Jain texts like Ācārāṅga (5.6.123-140), Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama (13.5.4.31) and Samayasāra (1.49).—The pure soul can be recognised by meditation on its true nature, represented by the liberated souls of the Siddhas. [...] The qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is entire (a-kala)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.

General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kalā.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘sixteen’. Note: kalā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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Kāla.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘three’. (CII 3, etc.), time, a period of time; used in the sense of ‘an era’; cf. kāl-ānuvartamāna-saṃvatsara (Select Inscriptions, p. 270, text lines 3-4), etc. See prakāla. Note: kāla 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
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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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Kala [ಕಾಲ] in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Homalium ceylanicum (Gardner) Benth. from the Salicaceae (Willow) family having the following synonyms: Blackwellia ceylanica, Homalium zeylanicum, Blackwellia zeylanica. For the possible medicinal usage of kala, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Kala in Hawaii is the name of a plant defined with Rubus hawaiensis in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Rubus hawaiensis A. Gray var. inermis Wawra (among others).

2) Kala is also identified with Rubus macraei.

3) Kala in India is also identified with Buchanania latifolia.

4) Kala is also identified with Carissa carandas It has the synonym Echites spinosus Burm.f. (etc.).

5) Kala is also identified with Dalbergia lanceolaria It has the synonym Dalbergia lanceolaria Moon.

6) Kala is also identified with Indigofera atropurpurea.

7) Kala is also identified with Indigofera tinctoria It has the synonym Indigofera sumatrana Gaertn. (etc.).

8) Kala is also identified with Rubus ellipticus It has the synonym Rubus rotundifolius P.J. Müll. (etc.).

9) Kala is also identified with Rubus niveus It has the synonym Rubus pedunculosus D. Don (etc.).

10) Kala is also identified with Senna occidentalis It has the synonym Cassia ciliata Raf. (etc.).

11) Kala is also identified with Withania somnifera It has the synonym Withania kansuensis K.Z. Kuang & A.M. Lu (etc.).

12) Kala is also identified with Xylia xylocarpa It has the synonym Acacia xylocarpa A. Cunn. ex Benth., nom. illeg. (etc.).

13) Kala in Kenya is also identified with Corchorus olitorius.

14) Kala in Tanzania is also identified with Corchorus trilocularis It has the synonym Corchorus somalicus Gand. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Bulletin of the Botanical Society of Bengal (1980)
· Pharmazie (1987)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2004)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2005)
· Bulletin of Botanical Research (2000)
· Japanese J. Pharmacol. (1970)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Kala, for example chemical composition, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, side effects, diet and recipes, health benefits, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kala : (m.) a sweet low sound. || kalā (f.), a fraction of a whole; an art. kāla (m.), time. kāḷa (adj.), black; dark. (m.), black colour.

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

1) Kalā, (1a). a small fraction of a whole, generally the 16th part; the 16th part of the moon’s disk; often the 16th part again subdivided into 16 parts and so on: one infinitesimal part (see VvA. 103; DhA. II, 63), in this sense in the expression kalaṃ nâgghati soḷasiṃ “not worth an infinitesimal portion of”=very much inferior to S. I, 19; III, 156=V. 44=It. 20; A. I, 166, 213; IV, 252; Ud. 11; Dh. 70; Vv 437; DhA. II, 63 (=koṭṭhāsa) DhA. IV, 74.—

(1b). an art, a trick (lit. part, turn) J. I, 163. -kalaṃ upeti to be divided or separated Miln. 106; DhA. I, 119; see sakala.—In cpd. with bhū as kalī —bhavati to be divided, broken up J. I, 467 (=bhijjati). Cp. vikala. (Page 198. Kāḷa, see kāla 1. (Page 212)

2) Kāla, (and Kāḷa) — Preliminary. (2a). dark (syn. kaṇha, which cp. for meaning and applications), black, blueblack, misty, cloudy. Its proper sphere of application is the dark as opposed to light, and it is therefore characteristic of all phenomena or beings belonging to the realm of darkness, as the night, the new moon, death, ghosts, etc.

(2b). the morning mist, or darkness preceding light, daybreak, morning (cp. E. morning=Goth. maúrgins twilight, Sk. marka eclipse, darkness; and also gloaming= gleaming=twilight), then: time in general, esp. a fixed time, a point from or to which to reckon, i.e. term or terminus (a quo or ad quem).

3) Kāḷa, dark, black, etc., in enumeration of colours;

4) Kāla time, etc.;

(4.a) Morning: kāle early Pv. II, 941 (=pāto PvA. 128), kālassa in the morning (Gen. of time), early VvA. 256. Cp. paccūsa-kāle at dawn DhA. III, 242. Opposed to evening or night in kāḷena in the morning Pv. I, 63 (opp. sāyaṃ). Kāle juṇhe by day and by night Nd2 631.

(4.b) time in general;

(4.c) Time in special, either (1) appointed time, date, fixed time, or (2) suitable time, proper time, good time, opportunity. Cp. Gr. kairiζ and w(=ra; or (3) time of death, death. ‹-›

  1. Mealtime;
  2. Proper time, right time: also season, as in utu° favourable time (of the year);
  3. The day, as appointed by fate or kamma, point of time (for death), the “last hour”;

Note: this is an except of the full article on Kalā, Kāla, Kāḷa.

Pali book cover
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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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kala (कल).—m (S) Inclination, bearing, tendency; bent or leaning towards lit. fig.; inclining or propension of mind or will; bent of genius or disposition. 2 Turn or commencement of decline (of the day, a malady, a paroxysm, a flood or any exorbitance). v khā. kala pāhūna vāgaṇēṃ g. of o. To conduct one's self with obsequious conformity to the will of; to steer according to the wind. 2 To observe the bearing and requirement of the times &c.

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kalā (कला).—f (S) An art (as writing, reading, singing, riding); a mechanical art, of which sixty-four are enumerated. See causaṣṭakalā. 2 The art (as of an ingenious contrivance); the plan of its construction, the mode of its operation, the manner of applying or using it; the secret trick, key, spring, turning pin. 3 Skill, ingenuity, cleverness. Ex. tukā mhaṇē hyācī kōṇa jāṇē kalā || vāgavī pāṅguḷā pāyāṃviṇēṃ. 4 A digit, or one-sixteenth of the moon's diameter. Used in translations for Phase. 5 A division of time; nearly equal to 8 seconds. 6 A 1&2044;60th or minute of a degree. 7 (A sixteenth or a smaller part.) A whit, jot, tittle, grain, particle. 8 Freshness, clearness, comeliness, grace, lustre (of the countenance or person): also cleanness, tidiness, trimness (of places). Pr. gharācī kaḷā āṅgaṇa sāṅgatēṃ.

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kaḷa (कळ).—f Sharp lancinating pain (in the head, belly, or trunk gen.) v uṭha, hō See dhamaka.

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kaḷa (कळ).—f (kalā S) Any little contrivance wherewith to shut and open, to close and unclose; as a stopcock, doorball or lockhandle &c. 2 The art, plan, trick, secret (of a machine or device). See kalā for this sense. kaḷa dābaṇēṃ To press the spring; to touch the home or seat or prime fountain of.

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kaḷa (कळ).—f (kalaha S) Quarreling, brawling, contending. v kāḍha. Pr. bōlatā kaḷa dhutā maḷa Quarrel is aggravated by speaking (answering again): dirt is brought out by washing.

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kaḷā (कळा).—m (kalī S) A large kaḷī or bud: an ornamental bud-form knob (as that of the handle of cauphulā &c. &c.): a large kaḷī in some other senses. See kaḷī, of which word this is the intensive or enhancing form. 2 From kalā and used in all its senses.

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kāla (काल).—n The tender core of the lower part of the stem of kēḷakūla.

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kāla (काल).—m (S) Time. 2 Season or fit time. 3 A calamitous period. 4 A name of Yama, the Judge of the dead or Death personified; and applied to any thing formidable, endangering life, as a serpent, tiger &c.; to any danger; and to death or dissolution, or to the hour of it. 5 The will or decrees of the Supreme Being. kāladēśatārtamya karaṇēṃ & kāla dēśa pāhūna karāvēṃ or varttāvēṃ To act with regard to the proprieties of time, place, and circumstances. kāla sādhaṇēṃ To bring about or hit the favorable or fit time.

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kāla (काल).—n & ad Yesterday.

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kālā (काला).—m (kālaviṇēṃ) Bread, rice &c. squeezed up into a mass with buttermilk or curds. 2 A preparation from pompion-scrapings variously peppered and salted. 3 Elliptically for dahīṅkālā.

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kāḷa (काळ).—m See kāla and its numerous compounds. 2 (kāla Death.) A term for a widely-consuming or destroying person or thing. Ex. hī mulagī kharcāsa kāḷa āhē; hā tupāsa kāḷa-tēlāsa kāḷa-lāka- ḍāsa kāḷa &c. Pr. kuṛhāḍīcā dāṇḍā gōtālā kāḷa. Pr. khāṇyālā kāḷa bhūmīlā bhāra. Pr. māratyācā gulāma paḷatyācā kāḷa. kāḷōkāḷa bhaviṣyati (A phrase from the Sanskrit kālēkālē bhaviṣyati) It will be some time or other. kāḷācī gāṇḍa māraṇēṃ To kill time. kāḷācyā tōṇḍī dēṇēṃ or ghālaṇēṃ (& v i -paḍaṇēṃ-jāṇēṃ-sāmpaḍaṇēṃ) or kāḷācyā dāḍhēnta dēṇēṃ &c. To give, bring, sink &c. into the jaws of death, the brink of the grave &c. To cast (or fall) into great peril or evil; to kill or to die. kāḷāvara dṛṣṭa dēṇēṃ or ṭhēvaṇēṃ To have regard to one's destiny or necessity; to conform to one's condition or circumstances. kāḷa ālā hōtā paṇa vēḷa ālī navhatī (Death came, but not the Time. A paronomasia upon kāḷa in its two senses.) Escape from some extreme peril. kāḷa vinmukha hōṇēṃ, kāḷānēṃ ghēraṇēṃ, or vēḍhā ghāḷaṇēṃ To be adverse; to beleaguer &c.--one's fortune. kāḷānēṃ ōḍhaṇēṃ or bōlāviṇēṃ Expresses the drawing of destiny (to the death or evil appointed). kāḷānēṃ hātīṃ dharaṇēṃ To become favorable unto. kāḷānēṃ māgēṃ pāhaṇēṃ To change unfavorably; to turn against.

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kāḷā (काळा).—a (kalā S) Black. kāḷēṃ karaṇēṃ (For tōṇḍa kāḷēṃ karaṇēṃ) To take one's self off; to make one's self scarce: also to run off into concealment; to abscond. kāḷyācē pāṇḍharē hōṇēṃ g. of s. To have one's black hairs turning gray; to be getting old. pāṇḍhaṛyāñcē kāḷē hōṇēṃ g. of s. To turn back, in hoary age, to the lewd courses of youth. 2 To decline from one's integrity or propriety.

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kāḷā (काळा).—m (Because black.) A covert term for the marking nut.

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kāḷā (काळा).—m (kālā. So named because he is black.) A name of terror or of disdain for Yama. Ex. manānta parama hōtasē kaṣṭī || mhaṇē kāḷyānēṃ ithēṃ ghētalī pāṭhī ||. Also a name of the black idol viṭhṭhala at Panḍharpur. Ex. kāḷyāpuḍhēṃ nṛtya karīta || agaḍadhūta miḷavūniyā ||. Applied also angrily or scornfully to the god Krishn̤a.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

kala (कल).—m Inclination, bearing, tendency; turn of decline (of the day, &c.)., kala pāhūna vāgaṇēṃ Steer according to the wind. kala khāṇēṃ To be on the decline- a malady, &c.

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kalā (कला).—f Skill. An art. A digit. A division of time. Amiminute (of an arc).

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kaḷa (कळ).—f Sharp, lancinating pain. Any little contrivance. The secret of a machine. Quarrelling. kaḷa lāvaṇēṃ Breed a quarrel. kaḷa dābaṇēṃ To press the spring, to touch the home.

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kaḷā (कळा).—m A large bud. f An art, &c. See kalā.

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kāla (काल).—m Time, season; app. to anything endangering life-as a tiger, &c.; to death. ad Yesterday.

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kālā (काला).—m Bread, rice, &c., squeezed up into a mass with curds.

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kāḷa (काळ).—m A term for a widely-consuming person or thing. See kāla. kāḷa ālā hōtā paṇa vēḷa ālī navhatī Just had a narrow escape from some disaster.

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kāḷā (काळा).—a Black. kāḷēṃ karaṇēṃ Take one's self off; abscond. kāḷyācē pāṇḍharē hōṇēṃ Be getting old.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Discover the meaning of kala in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kala (कल).—a. [ kal- ghañ]

1) Sweet and indistinct (aspaṣṭamadhura); कर्णे कलं किमपि रौति (karṇe kalaṃ kimapi rauti) H.1.78; सारसैः कलनिर्ह्रादैः (sārasaiḥ kalanirhrādaiḥ) R.1.41,8. 59; M.5.1. वाग्भिः कलाभिर्ललितैश्च हावैः (vāgbhiḥ kalābhirlalitaiśca hāvaiḥ) Bu. Ch.2.3. (Hence

2) Low, soft, sweet (note &c.); melodious, pleasing, निशासु भास्वत्कलनूपुराणाम् (niśāsu bhāsvatkalanūpurāṇām) R.16.12.

3) Making noise, jingling, tinkling &c.; भास्वत्कलनूपुराणाम् (bhāsvatkalanūpurāṇām) R.16.12; कल- किङ्किणीरवम् (kala- kiṅkiṇīravam) Śiśupālavadha 9.74,82; कलमेखलाकलकलः (kalamekhalākalakalaḥ) 6.14,4.57;

4) Weak.

5) Crude; undigested.

6) Vigorous.

7) Full. दीनस्य ताम्राश्रुकलस्य राज्ञः (dīnasya tāmrāśrukalasya rājñaḥ) Rām.2.13.24.

-lā 1 A low or soft and inarticulate tone.

2) (In poetry) Time equal to four Mātrās.

3) (-m. pl.) A class of manes.

-lam Semen.

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Kalā (कला).—[kal-kac] A small part of anything; स एष संवत्सरः प्रजापतिः षोडशकलास्तस्य (sa eṣa saṃvatsaraḥ prajāpatiḥ ṣoḍaśakalāstasya) Bṛ. Up.1.5.14; विन्देम देवतां वाचममृतामात्मनः कलाम् (vindema devatāṃ vācamamṛtāmātmanaḥ kalām) Uttararāmacarita 1.1; a bit, jot; कलामप्यकृतपरि- लम्बः (kalāmapyakṛtapari- lambaḥ) K.34; सर्वे ते मित्रगात्रस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् (sarve te mitragātrasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2. 59; Manusmṛti 2.86,8.36; a sixteenth part; यथा कलं यथा शफं यथा ऋणं संनयामसि (yathā kalaṃ yathā śaphaṃ yathā ṛṇaṃ saṃnayāmasi) Ṛgveda 8.47,17; a symbolic expression of the number sixteen; Hch.

2) A digit of the moon (these are sixteen); जगति जयिनस्ते ते भावा नवेन्दु- कलादयः (jagati jayinaste te bhāvā navendu- kalādayaḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.36; Kumārasambhava 5.71; Meghadūta 91.

3) Interest on capital (consideration paid for the use of money); घनवीथिवीथिमवतीर्णवतो निधिरम्भसामुपचयाय कलाः (ghanavīthivīthimavatīrṇavato nidhirambhasāmupacayāya kalāḥ) Śiśupālavadha 9.32. (where kalā means 'digits' also).

4) A division of time variously computed; one minute, 48 seconds, or 8 seconds. Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.25.14;12.137.21.

5) The 6th part of one thirtieth part of a zodiacal sign, a minute of a degree.

6) Any practical art (mechanical or fine); there are 64 such arts, as music, dancing &c. मातृवदस्याः कलाः (mātṛvadasyāḥ kalāḥ) Mahābhārata on P.IV.1.9. (See kāmadhenu ṭīkā on kāvyālaṅkārasūtra 7.)

7) Skill, ingenuity.

8) Fraud, deceit.

9) (In Prosody) A syllabic instant.

1) A boat.

11) The menstrual discharge.

12) A term for the seven substrata of the elements of the human body; (they are :ādyā māṃsadharā proktā dvitīyā raktadhāriṇī | medodharā tṛtīyā tu caturthīṃ śleṣmadhāriṇī || pañcamī ca malaṃ dhatte ṣaṣṭī pittadharā matā | retodharā saptamī syāt iti sapta kalāḥ smṛtāḥ ||

13) An atom.

14) A term for the embryo.

15) A fleshy part near the tail of the elephant (also kalābhāgaḥ); Mātaṅga L.3.2.

16) Enumeration.

17) A form (svarūpa); लीलया दधतः कलाः (līlayā dadhataḥ kalāḥ) Bhāg. 1.1.17.

18) Prowess (śakti); संहृत्य कालकलया कल्पान्त इदमीश्वरः (saṃhṛtya kālakalayā kalpānta idamīśvaraḥ) Bhāgavata 11.9.16.

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Kāla (काल).—a. (- f.)

1) Black, of a dark or dark-blue colour; Rām.5.17.9. Mahābhārata (Bombay) 8.49.48.

2) Injuring, hurting.

-laḥ 1 The black or dark-blue colour.

2) Time (in general); विलम्बितफलैः कालं निनाय स मनोरथैः (vilambitaphalaiḥ kālaṃ nināya sa manorathaiḥ) R.1.33; तस्मिन्काले (tasminkāle) at that time; काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेन कालो गच्छति धीमताम् (kāvyaśāstravinodena kālo gacchati dhīmatām) H.1.1 the wise pass their time &c.

3) Fit or opportune time (to do a thing), proper time or occasion; (with gen., loc., dat., or inf.); R.3.12,4.6,12.69; पर्जन्यः कालवर्षी (parjanyaḥ kālavarṣī) Mṛcchakaṭika 1.6; काले वर्षतु पर्जन्यः (kāle varṣatu parjanyaḥ) &c.

4) A period or portion of time (as the hours or watches of a day); षष्ठे काले दिवसस्य (ṣaṣṭhe kāle divasasya) V.2.1. Manusmṛti 5.153.

5) The weather.

6) Time considered as one of the nine dravyas by the Vaiśeṣikas.

7) The Supreme Spirit regarded as the destroyer of the Universe, being a personification of the destructive principle; कालः काल्या भुवनफलके क्रीडति प्राणिशारैः (kālaḥ kālyā bhuvanaphalake krīḍati prāṇiśāraiḥ) Bhartṛhari 3.39.

8) (a) Yama, the god of death; कः कालस्य न गोचरान्तरगतः (kaḥ kālasya na gocarāntaragataḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.146. (b) Death, time of death; स हि कालोऽस्य दुर्मतेः (sa hi kālo'sya durmateḥ) Rām.7.64.1.

9) Fate, destiny.

1) The black part of the eye.

11) The (Indian) cuckoo.

12) The planet Saturn.

13) Name of Śiva; Name of Rudra; उग्ररेता भवः कालो वामदेवो धृतव्रतः (ugraretā bhavaḥ kālo vāmadevo dhṛtavrataḥ) Bhāgavata 3.12.12.

14) A measure of time (in music or prosody).

15) A person who distils and sells spirituous liquor.

16) A section, or part.

17) A red kind of plumbago.

18) Resin, pitch.

19) Name of an enemy of Śiva.

2) (with the Jainas) One of the nine treasures.

21) A mystical name for the letter म् (m).

22) Name of the one of four contentments mentioned in साङ्ख्यकारिका (sāṅkhyakārikā); प्रकृत्युपादानकालभागाख्याः (prakṛtyupādānakālabhāgākhyāḥ) Śāṅ. K.5.

-lā 1 Name of several plants.

2) Name of a daughter of Dakṣa.

3) An epithet of Durgā.

-lī 1 Blackness.

2) Ink, black ink.

3) An epithet of Pārvatī, Śiva's wife.

4) A row of black clouds.

5) A woman with a dark complexion.

6) Name of Satyavatī, mother of Vyāsa. जनयामास यं काली शक्तेः पुत्रात्पराशरात् (janayāmāsa yaṃ kālī śakteḥ putrātparāśarāt) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.6.2; Bu. ch.4.76.

7) Night.

8) Censure, blame.

9) One of the seven tongues of Fire : काली कराली च मनोजवा च सुलोहिता या च सुधूम्रवर्णा । स्फुलिङ्गिनी विश्वरुची च देवी लेलायमाना इति सप्तजिह्वाः (kālī karālī ca manojavā ca sulohitā yā ca sudhūmravarṇā | sphuliṅginī viśvarucī ca devī lelāyamānā iti saptajihvāḥ) || Muṇḍ.1.2.4.

1) A form of Durgā कालि कालि महा- कालि सीधुमांसपशुंप्रिये (kāli kāli mahā- kāli sīdhumāṃsapaśuṃpriye) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 4.6.17. कालीतनयः (kālītanayaḥ) a buffalo.

11) One of the Mātṛs or divine mothers.

12) Name of a wife of Bhīma.

13) A sister of Yama.

14) A kind of learning (mahāvidyā)

15) A small shrub used as a purgative.

16) A kind of insect.

-lam 1 Iron. क्षुरो भूत्वा हरेत्प्राणान्निशितः कालसाधनः (kṣuro bhūtvā haretprāṇānniśitaḥ kālasādhanaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.14.89.

2) A kind of perfume.

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

Kala (कल).—perhaps = Sanskrit kara, hand, in Lalitavistara 12.11 (verse) kena sa kalagata (Lefm. prints sakalagata) ti bodhi (so read with ms. A m.c., for bodhī); so Foucaux and Tibetan (khyod ni byaṅ chub phyag mthil bzhag daṅ ḥdra, enlightment is the same as put in thy hand-palm; kena is difficult; Foucaux seems to have read tena with ms. H; Tibetan has no evident correspondent; does sa go with bodhi?).

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Kāla (काल).—(°-) (v.l. kāra-) pattrika, m. pl., some sort of artisan or trader, in a list of such: Mahāvastu iii.113.16; 443.3; follows vardhakirūpakārakā(ḥ), carpenters and carvers (sculptors), and followed by śelālakā(ḥ) or pela°, q.v. (masons?). Senart em. to kālapātrika, q.v., but this obviously does not fit here.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kala (कल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) 1. Crude, undigested. 2. Weak. m.

(-laḥ) 1. A low or soft tone, as humming, buzzing, &c. 2. The Sal tree. 3. In poetry, time equal to four matras or instants. n.

(-laṃ) 1. Semen virile. 2. The jujube, Zizyphus jujuba.) f.

(-lā) 1. A small part of anything. 2. A digit or one sixteenth of the moon’s diameter. 3. A division of time, equal to thirty Kash'has or about eight seconds. 4. The 60th part of one thirtieth of a zodiacal sign, a minute of a degree. 5. Interest on a capital. 6. Any practical art, mechanecal or fine, sixty-four such are enumerated, as carpentering, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry, &c. 7. The menstrual discharge. 8. A boat 9. Fraud, deceit. E. kal to sound, to count, &c. ac affix or ka pleasure, and la what gives, from to bring, &c.

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Kāla (काल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Black, of a dark colour, dark blue especially, which is usually confounded with black. m.

(-laḥ) 1. Time. 2. A name of Yama, regent of the dead. 3. A black colour. 4. Death. 5. A form of Siva. 6. The planet Saturn. 7. The Koil. 8. Cassia fistula. 9. Resin. 10. A plant, a red kind of plumbago. n.

(-laṃ) 1. Iron. 2. A black agallochum: see kālīyaka. 3. A vegetable poison, perhaps the fruit of the Cocculus Indicus. f.

(-lā) 1. Indigo, (Indigofera tinctoria.) 2. A black sort of Teori. 3. Calonji, (Nigella Indica.) 4. Madder, (Rubia manjith.) (-lā or -lī) A name of the goddess Durga the wife ef Siva. (-lī) 1. The wife of Santanu a king. 2. One of the Matris or divine mothers. 3. A female deity of the Baudd'has. 4. A row or succession of clouds. 5. Ink or blacking. 6. A worm or animalcule generated in the acetous fermentation of milk. 7. Abuse, censure, defamation. 8. Night. 9. Trumpet flower, (Bignonia suave-olens.) 10. One of the seven tongues or flames of fire. E. kal to count or reckon, &c. in the causal form, ac affix, fem. affix ṭāp or ṅīṣ.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kala (कल).—I. adj., f. , 1. Dumb (ved.). 2. Low, [Brāhmaṇavilāpa] 3, 21; soft, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 85; [Ṛtusaṃhāra] 6, 29. kalam, adv. Softly, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 19, 10. 3. Indistinct, confused, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 31. 4. Uttering a low sound, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 119. Ii. m. A kind of Pitṛs or Manes, Mahābhārata 2, 463. Iii. Often in compound words after aśru and vāṣpa, adj. Indistinct on account of tears, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 106, 33; 2, 34, 53. vāṣpa-kala + m, adv. Mahābhārata 3, 10839. vāṣpa-kalā, f. A torrent of tears, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 3, 22, 55.

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Kalā (कला).—i. e. kṛ10 + a, f. 1. A small part, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 36. 2. A part, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 86. 3. The sixteenth part of the moon’s disc, [Hitopadeśa] pr. [distich] 1. 4. Interest on capital, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 32 (at the same time, a sixteenth part of the moon’s disc). 5. A division of time, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 64. 6. One of the seven elements of the human body, as blood, etc., [Suśruta] 1, 326, 13. 7. One of the sixty-four mechanical or elegant arts, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 9, 8; [Daśakumāracarita] in Chr. 180, 7; 9.

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Kāla (काल).—m. 1. Due season, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 80; instr. kālena, In due season, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 246. 2. Time, Man, 1, 24; 7, 183; instr. kālena, and abl. kālāt, In the long run, [Pañcatantra] 32, 24; [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 251; gen. dīrghasya kālasya, After a long time, [Nala] 18, 1; kasya cit kālasya, After some time, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 110, 15. 3. Mealtime; there are two meal-times a day, therefore, ṣaṣṭha kāla, The sixth meal-time = the evening of the third day, Mahābhārata 13, 5175; [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 31, 47. 4. A period, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 73. 5. Death, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 9, 9, 2. 6. Time personified, fate, Mahābhārata 13, 56; [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 70, 35; endowed with the attributes of Yama, the regent of the dead, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 21, 13; 3, 35, 43, etc.

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Kāla (काल).— (cf. kalaṅka), I. adj., f. , Dark blue, black, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 67, 2; Mahābhārata 16, 57. Ii. m. 1. A black and poisonous snake, Coluber naga, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 16, 13. 2. The black in the eye, [Suśruta] 2, 336, 20. 3. A name of Rudra, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 3, 12, 12. 4. A proper name, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 189. 5. The name of a mountain, [Rāmāyaṇa] 4, 44, 21. Iii. f. . 1. The name of several plants, [Suśruta] 1, 131, 19, etc. 2. A proper name, Mahābhārata 1, 2520. 3. The name of a female demon, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 11552. Iv. f. . 1. A name of Durgā, Mahābhārata 4, 195. 2. A surname of Satyāvatī, Chr. 6, 1.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kala (कल).—[adjective] dumb, indistinct, low, soft (of sounds); [neuter] [adverb]

— [feminine] kalā q.v.

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Kalā (कला).—[feminine] a small part, [especially] a sixteenth of the moon’s orb; a cert. small division of time; an art (there are 64).

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Kāla (काल).—1. [feminine] ī dark-blue, black, [masculine] the black part of the eye, [Epithet] of Rudra-Śiva; [Name] of [several] kings etc., also = kālasarpa q.v.; [feminine] ī [Epithet] of Durga etc.

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Kāla (काल).—2. [masculine] time, [especially] the right or proper time ([with] [genetive], [dative], [locative], [infinitive], or —°); opportunity, case; season, mealtime (twice a day); the half of a day, hour, age, era, measure of time, prosody; time as ruler or destroyer of the world, i.e. destiny, fate; end; death or the god of death. —paraḥ kālaḥ high time ([with] [infinitive]). kālaṃ kṛ appoint a time for ([locative]). kālena in course of time (also gacchatā; kālāt or kālatas), at times; kālena dīrgheṇa, bahunā, or mahatā (also [genetive]) after a long time. kasya citkālasya after some time. kāla & kāle in time, at the right or appointed time; (also kāle gacchati) in course of time, little by little. kāle kāle always in time or at the right time. kasmiṃścitkāle one day.

ubhau kālau morning and evening. ṣaṣṭhe kāle on the sixth half-day i.e. after three days; pancaśate kāle after 250 days.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Kala (कल) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Subhāshitāvali by Vallabhadeva]

2) Kalā (कला):—Vaiyākaraṇasiddhāntamañjūṣāṭīkā by Vaidyanātha Pāyaguṇḍe.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kala (कल):—mf(ā)n. ([etymology] doubtful) indistinct, dumb, [Bṛhad-āraṇyaka-upaniṣad; Chāndogya-upaniṣad]

2) (ifc., bāṣpa, or aśru preceding) indistinct or inarticulate (on account of tears), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

3) low, soft (as a tone), emitting a soft tone, melodious (as a voice or throat), [Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Vikramorvaśī] etc.

4) a kind of faulty pronunciation of vowels, [Patañjali]

5) weak, crude, undigested, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) m. ([scilicet] svara) a low or soft and inarticulate tone (as humming, buzzing etc.), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) Shorea robusta, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) (in poetry) time equal to four Mātras or instants, [Horace H. Wilson]

9) m. [plural] a class of manes, [Mahābhārata]

10) n. semen virile, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) Zizyphus Jujuba

12) Kalā (कला):—[from kala] a f. See kalā below.

13) Kala (कल):—m. Name of a poet, [Subhāṣitāvali]

14) Kalā (कला):—b f. ([etymology] doubtful) a small part of anything, any single part or portion of a whole, [especially] a sixteenth part, [Ṛg-veda viii, 47, 17; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Manu-smṛti] etc.

15) a digit or one-sixteenth of the moon’s diameter, [Hitopadeśa; Kathāsaritsāgara]

16) (personified as a daughter of Kardama and wife of Marīci, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa])

17) a symbolical expression for the number sixteen, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

18) interest on a capital (considered as a certain part of it), [Śiśupāla-vadha ix, 32]

19) a division of time (said to be 1/900 of a day or 1-6 minutes, [Manu-smṛti i, 64; Harivaṃśa]; or 1/1800 of a day or 0-8 minutes [commentator or commentary] on [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]; or 2 minutes and 26 54/201 seconds, [Suśruta]; or 1 minute and 35 205/301, seconds, or 8 seconds, [Bhaviṣya-purāṇa, khaṇḍa 1 & 2: bhaviṣya-purāṇa & bhaviṣyottara-purāṇa])

20) the sixtieth part of one-thirtieth of a zodiacal sign, a minute of a degree, [Sūryasiddhānta]

21) (in prosody) a syllabic instant

22) a term for the seven substrata of the elements or Dhātus of the human body (viz. flesh, blood, fat, phlegm, urine, bile, and semen; but according to Hemacandra, rasa, ‘chyle’, asthi, ‘bone’, and majjan, ‘marrow’, take the place of phlegm, urine, and bile), [Suśruta]

23) an atom (there are 3015 Kalās or atoms in every one of the six Dhātus, not counting the rasa, therefore in all 18090)

24) (with Pāśupatas) the elements of the gross or material world, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]

25) an embryo shortly after conception (cf. kalana)

26) a designation of the three constituent parts of a sacrifice (viz. mantra, dravya, and śraddhā, [Nīlakaṇṭha on Mahābhārata [edition] [Bombay edition] xiv, 89, 3])

27) the menstrual discharge, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

28) any practical art, any mechanical or fine art (sixty-four are enumerated in the Śaivatantra [Tārānātha tarkavācaspati’s Vācaspatyam, Sanskrit dictionary]; the following is a list of them: gītam, vādyam, nṛtyam, nāṭyam, ālekhyam, viśeṣaka-cchedyam, taṇḍula-kusuma-balivikārāḥ, puṣpāstaranam, daśana-vasanāṅgarāgāḥ, maṇi-bhūmikā-karma, śayana-racanam, udaka-vādyam, udaka-ghātaḥ, citrā yogāḥ, mālya-granthana-vikalpāḥ, keśa-śekharāpīḍayojanam, nepathya-yogāḥ, karṇa-pattra-bhaṅgāḥ, gandha-yuktiḥ, bhūṣaṇa-yojanam, indrajālam, kaucumāra-yogāḥ, hasta-lāghavam, citraśākāpūpa-bhakṣya-vikāra-kriyā, pānaka-rasarāgāsava-yojanam, sūcīvāpa-karma, vīṇā-ḍama-ruka-sūtra-krīḍā, prahelikā, pratimā, durvacakayogāḥ, pustaka-vācanam, nāṭakākhyāyikā-darśanam, kāvya-samasyā-pūraṇam, paṭṭikā-vetrabāṇa-vikalpāḥ, tarkū-karmāṇi, takṣaṇam, vāstu-vidyā, rūpya-ratna-parīkṣā, dhātu-vādaḥ, maṇi-rāga-jñānam, ākara-jñānam, vṛkṣāyur-veda-yogāḥ, meṣa-kukkuṭa-lāvaka-yuddha-vidhiḥ, śuka-sārikā-pralāpanam, utsādanam, keśa-mārjana-kauśalam, akṣara-muṣṭikā-kathanam, mlechitaka-vikalpāḥ, deśa-bhāṣā-jñānam, puṣpa-śakaṭikā-nimitta-jñānam, yantra-mātṛkā, dhāraṇa-mātṛkā, saṃpāṭyam, mānasī kāvya-kriyā, kriyā-vikalpāḥ, chalitakayogāḥ, abhidhāna-koṣa-cchando-jñānam, vastra-gopanāni, dyūta-viśeṣaḥ, ākarṣaṇa-krīḍā, bālaka-krīḍanakāni, vaināyikīnāṃ vidyāṇāṃ jñānam, vaijayikīnāṃ vidyānāṃ jñānam ; See also, [Vātsyāyana i, 3, 17]), [Rāmāyaṇa; Pañcatantra; Bhartṛhari] etc.

29) skill, ingenuity

30) ignorance

31) a low and sweet tone, [Bālarāmāyaṇa]

32) a boat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

33) a Name given to Dākṣāyaṇī in the region near the river Candrabhāgā, [Matsya-purāṇa]

34) Name of a grammatical commentary.

35) Kāla (काल):—1. kāla mf(ī[Pāṇini 4-1, 42])n. ([from] √3. kal?), black, of a dark colour, dark-blue, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

36) m. a black or dark-blue colour, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

37) the black part of the eye, [Suśruta]

38) the Indian cuckoo, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

39) the poisonous serpent Coluber Nāga (= kālasarpa), [Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā]

40) the plant Cassia Sophora, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

41) a red kind of Plumbago, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

42) the resin of the plant Shorea robusta, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

43) the planet Saturn

44) Name of Śiva

45) of Rudra, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa iii, 12, 12]

46) of a son of Hrada, [Harivaṃśa 189]

47) of the prince Kāla-yavana, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa iii, 3, 10]

48) of a brother of king Prasena-jit, [Buddhist literature]

49) of a future Buddha

50) of an author of Mantras (= Aśva-ghoṣa), [Buddhist literature]

51) of a Nāga-rāja, [Buddhist literature]

52) of a Rakṣas, [Rāmāyaṇa vi, 69, 12]

53) of an enemy of Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

54) of a mountain, [Rāmāyaṇa iv, 44, 21; Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]

55) of one of the nine treasures, [Jaina literature]

56) a mystical Name of the letter m

57) Kālā (काला):—[from kāla] f. Name of several plants (Indigofera tinctoria, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; Piper longum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; (perhaps) Ipomoea atropurpurea, [Suśruta]; Nigella indica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; Rubia Munjista, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; Ruellia longifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; Physalis flexuosa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; Bignonia suaveolens, [Bhāvaprakāśa])

58) [v.s. ...] the fruit of the Kālā [gana] harītaky-ādi

59) [v.s. ...] Name of a śakti, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

60) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of Dakṣa (the mother of the Kāleyas or Kālakeyas, a family of Asuras), [Mahābhārata i, 2520; Harivaṃśa]

61) [v.s. ...] Name of Durgā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

62) Kāla (काल):—n. a black kind of Agallochum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

63) a kind of perfume (kakkolaka), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

64) iron, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

65) 2. kāla m. (√3. kal, ‘to calculate or enumerate’), [ifc. f(ā). , [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]], a fixed or right point of time, a space of time, time (in general), [Atharva-veda xix, 53 & 54; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc.

66) the proper time or season for ([genitive case] [dative case] [locative case], in [compound], [infinitive mood], or [Potential] with yad e.g. kālaḥ prasthānasya or nāya or ne, time for departure; kriyā-kāla, time for action, [Suśruta]; nāyaṃ kālo vilambitum, this is not the time to delay, [Nalopākhyāna]; kālo yad bhuñjīta bhavān, it is time for you to eat, [Pāṇini 3-3, 168; Kāśikā-vṛtti]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] etc.

67) occasion, circumstance, [Mahābhārata xii, 2950; Mṛcchakaṭikā]

68) season, [Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

69) meal-time (twice a day, hence ubhau kālau, ‘in the morning and in the evening’ [Mahābhārata i, 4623]; ṣaṣṭhe kāle, ‘in the evening of the third day’ [Mahābhārata]; ṣaṣṭhānna-kāla, ‘one who eats only at the sixth meal-time, id est. who passes five meals without eating and has no meal till the evening of the third day’ [Manu-smṛti xi, 200]; or without anna e.g. caturtha-kālam, ‘at the fourth meal-time id est. at the evening of the second day’ [Manu-smṛti xi, 109])

70) hour (hence ṣaṣṭhe kāle hnaḥ, ‘at the sixth hour of the day, id est. at noon’ [Vikramorvaśī])

71) a period of time, time of the world (= yuga), [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

72) measure of time, prosody, [Prātiśākhya; Pāṇini]

73) a section, part, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā-prātiśākhya]

74) the end, [Chāndogya-upaniṣad]

75) death by age, [Suśruta]

76) time (as leading to events, the causes of which are imperceptible to the mind of man), destiny, fate, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

77) time (as destroying all things), death, time of death (often personified and represented with the attributes of Yama, regent of the dead, or even identified with him: hence kālam-√i or kālaṃ-√kṛ, ‘to die’ [Mahābhārata] etc.; kāla in this sense is frequently connected with antaka, mṛtyu e.g. abhy-adhāvata prajāḥ kāla ivāntakaḥ, ‘he attacked the people like Time the destroyer’ [Rāmāyaṇa iii, 7, 9]; cf. kālāntaka; kāla personified is also a Devarṣi in Indra’s court, and a son of Dhruva, [Mahābhārata i, 2585; Harivaṃśa; Viṣṇu-purāṇa])

78) cf. κήρ; [Latin] calen-doe: [Hibernian or Irish] ceal, ‘death and everything terrible.’

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kala (कल):—(t ka) kalayati To count. With ā to take, to bind; with pari to keep in mind; with vi to cut or maim; with saṃ to sum up, to add.

2) (laḥ) 1. m. A low or soft tone. Sāl tree; four mātras. n. Semen virile; jujube. f. A digit 1-16 part of the moon’s diameter; a portion of time; eight seconds; interest; mechanic art; menses; a boat; fraud. a. Crude, weak.

3) Kāla (काल):—(ka) kālayati 10. a. To count time, to reckon.

4) (laḥ) 1. m. Time; death; Shiva; Saturn; the cuckoo; resin; () f. Kālī, wife of Shiva; ink; a worm. () Indigo. n. Iron. a. Black, dark blue.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Kala (कल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kala, Kalā, Kāla, Kālā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kala in German

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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

1) Kala (कल) [Also spelled kal]:—(a) sweet; soft and tender; gentle; low and weak (tone); (nm and adv) tomorrow; yesterday; (nf) peace, tranquillity, comfort; a machine or its parts; ~[kaṃṭha] one blessed with sweet and soft voice; having a pleasing tone or note; ~[kala] sweet and soft sound (of a flowing stream or spring); •[dhvani] sweet and gentle sound; —[] too small (as [laḍakā]); of recent past, of recent origin; pertaining to the future (as [kala kī kala para hai]); ~[dāra] a rupee coin: —[umeṃṭhanā/aiṃṭhanā/ ghumānā] to incite a person to perform or to desist from an act; to give a sudden turn to one’s line of thinking; —[ke chokare] babes and sucklings; —[dabānā] to make somebody act, to cause to act; —[bekala honā] to be ill at ease. to lose physical or mental normalcy, to be disturbed or disquieted; —[hātha meṃ honā] to exercise complete control, to have full sway (over).

2) Kala (कल) [Also spelled kal]:——used as a first member of compound words, meaning black; ~[muhāṃ] lit. black-faced—disgraced, branded with a stigma.

3) Kalā (कला) [Also spelled kla]:—(nf) art, craft, skill; a portion, division; a digit or one sixteenth of the moon’s diameter; sport, play; degree; very minute division of time; ~[kāra] an artist; ~[kṛti] a work of art, an artistic creation; —[kauśala] artistic skill; artifice; ~[jaṃga] a somersault, a trick in the art of wrestling; ~[dhara, ~nidhi] the moon; ~[paraka] artistic; ~[bāja] an acrobat; ~[bājī] acrobatics, acrobatic feat, taking a somersault; ~[vaṃta] an artiste, possessed of artistic skill; ~[vādī] aesthetic; a believer in art for art’s sake; ~[vilāsī] a dilettante.

4) Kāla (काल) [Also spelled kaal]:—(nm) time; period; age, era; tense (in Grammar); end, death; famine; calamity; season; ~[kūṭa] a very deadly poison; —[koṭharī] a death cell; —[devatā] the death - God; —[purūṣa] time personified; —[balī] all-powerful Death; —[ānā] the end to come; —[kavalita honā/ke gāla meṃ samānā/ke muṃha meṃ jānā] to be devoured by Death, to give up the ghost; —[sā laganā] to be as unwelcome as Death; —[sira para khaḍā honā/nācanā] to be at Death's door.

5) Kālā (काला):—(a) black; dark; strain: ed; —[kalūṭā] jet black; —[kānūna] black law; —[kauā] as black as a crow; —[cora] unknown/untraced person; —[jīrā] carum; —[dhana] black money; —[namaka] a kind of rock-salt; —[nāga] a cobra; a venomous/wicked person; —[pānī] life imprisonment; the Andamans where Indians sentenced for life were deported during the British regime; —[bājāra] black market; —[bhujaṃga] pitch dark; —[muṃha karanā] to be gone; to acquire a bad name; [kālī karatūta] evil doings; [kālī khāṃsī] whooping cough; [kāle ke āge cirāga nahīṃ jalatā] nothing sustains in an encounter with the devil; [kāle kāranāme] evil deeds; [kāle kosoṃ] very far.

context information

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Discover the meaning of kala in the context of Hindi from relevant books on Exotic India

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

1) Kala (कल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kala.

2) Kala (कल) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kala.

3) Kalā (कला) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kalā.

4) Kāla (काल) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kāla.

5) Kālā (काला) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kālā.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kala (ಕಲ):—

1) [noun] a round vessel of any size, made of earthenware; a pot.

2) [noun] any vessel of considerable size navigating deep water; a ship.

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Kala (ಕಲ):—[noun] an old unit of measure (of quantity).

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Kala (ಕಲ):—[noun] something made by mixing; a combination of ingredients (but not chemically integrated).

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Kala (ಕಲ):—[adjective] pleasing to hear; sounding sweet; melodious.

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Kala (ಕಲ):—

1) [noun] a pleasing note or notes; melodious sounds; a sound that has musical quality.

2) [noun] physical strength; bodily power.

3) [noun] a man lacking the power of speech; a dumb man.

4) [noun] the palm tree Borassum flabellifer (=B. flabelliformis) of Arecaceae family; palmyra palm.

5) [noun] the tree Shorea talura (= S. robusta,= Vatica robusta) of Dipterocarpaceae family; bastard sal.

6) [noun] gold.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[noun] = ಕಳ್ [kal]2.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[noun] a man who habitually steals or is guilty of theft; a thief.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—

1) [noun] a floor made for thrashing grains; a thrashing floor.

2) [noun] a wide area where a battle is fought; a battlefield.

3) [noun] a place where game or games are played; a play-ground.

4) [noun] a bed made for planting plants (esp. seedlings).

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[noun] a person guilty of or likely to commit great crimes; an evil or wicked person; a scoundrel; a villain.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[noun] a man unable to speak, usu. because of a congenital defect or deafness; a dumb man.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[adjective] pleasing to hear; sounding sweet; melodious.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—

1) [noun] a pleasing note or notes; a series of melodious sounds; sound that has musical quality.

2) [noun] physical strength; bodily power.

3) [noun] a man lacking the power of speech; a dumb man.

4) [noun] the palm tree Borassum flabellifer (=B. flabelliformis) of Arecaceae family; palmyra palm.

5) [noun] the tree Shorea talura (= S. robusta,= Vatica robusta) of Dipterocarpaceae family; bastard sal.

6) [noun] gold.

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Kaḷa (ಕಳ):—[noun] (dial.) a pattern of squares often alternately coloured; chequer.

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Kāla (ಕಾಲ):—

1) [adjective] opposite to white; of the color of coal or pitch; black.

2) [adjective] inflicting or tending to inflict pain, agony, etc.

3) [adjective] causing a feeling of horror; terrible; dreadful; frightful; terrifying; ಕಾಲವಾಗು [kalavagu] kālavāgu to cease to live; to become dead; to die.

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Kāla (ಕಾಲ):—

1) [noun] time a) the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another; b) the period between two events or during which something exists, happens or acts; measured or measurable interval; c) any period in the history of man or of the universe, often esp. with reference to a characteristic social structure, set of customs, famous person living then, etc. d) a definite point of time, as indicated by a clock; e) an indefinite period extending into the future; f) a particular period in a day, year; g) an appointed, favourable, proper or convenient time; h) (musc.) relative rapidity of movement; the rate of speed at which a composition or passage is played; tempo.

2) [noun] a period of 12 months (occasionally, 13 months in some calendars); a year.

3) [noun] any of the two fortnights of a lunar month.

4) [noun] cessation of life; death.

5) [noun] Yama, the Death-God.

6) [noun] the suposed agency, that determines the course of events; destiny.

7) [noun] power; strength.

8) [noun] the ending of the universe; universal dissolution.

9) [noun] the colour of coal; the black colour.

10) [noun] Śiva.

11) [noun] 11) Viṣṇu.

12) [noun] Brahma.

13) [noun] Śani, corresponding to Saturn, seventh of the nine planets that affect the course of one’s life.

14) [noun] the ruler of a state; a king.

15) [noun] the edible fruit of the tree Ziziphus jujuba (= Z. mauritiana); Indian cherry; Indian plum.

16) [noun] (myth.) one of the eight serpents; black cobra.

17) [noun] (myth.) one of the hells where severe punishment for one’s sin is awarded.

18) [noun] (myth.) one of the seven tongues (or flames) of fire.

19) [noun] the plant Homalium zeylanicum of Flacourtiaceae family.

20) [noun] (gram.) the time of the action or state of being, as past, present or future, that a verb expresses in a sentence; tense.

21) [noun] the Indian cuckoo.

22) [noun] one who distils and sells spirituous liquor.

23) [noun] ಕಾಲಂಪ್ರತಿ [kalamprati] kālamprati = ಕಾಲಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ [kalakalakke]; ಕಾಲಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ [kalakalakke] kāla kālakke from time to time; at frequent or regular intervals; ಕಾಲ ಕೂಡಿಬರು [kala kudibaru] kāla kūḍi baru (fig.) destiny makes things happen; ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಕೋಲ ಕಟ್ಟು [kalakke takkamte kola kattu] kālakke takkante kōla kaṭṭu to change one’s strategy to suit the context, to get benefits from the situation; ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಕೋಲ [kalakke takka kola] kālakke takka kōla = ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಕೋಲ ಕಟ್ಟು [kalakke takkamte kola kattu]; ಕಾಲ ತುಂಬಿಬರು [kala tumbibaru] kāla tumbibaru (the end, death) to occur, happen; ಕಾಲ ತುಂಬು [kala tumbu] kāla tumbu (period, term) to be over; to elapse; 2. (the end, death) to occur; ಕಾಲವನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲು [kalavannu kollu] kālavannu kollu to spend time; to kill the time.

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Kāla (ಕಾಲ):—[noun] the plant Homalium zeylanicum of Flacourtiaceae family.

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Kāḷa (ಕಾಳ):—[noun] an evil or wicked man; a man guilty of or likely to commit crimes; a scoundrel; a villain.

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Kāḷa (ಕಾಳ):—

1) [adjective] opposite to white; of the colour of coal or pitch; black.

2) [adjective] inflicting or tending to inflict pain, agony, etc.

3) [adjective] causing a feeling of horror; terrible; dreadful; frightful; terrifying.

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Kāḷa (ಕಾಳ):—

1) [noun] time a) the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another; b) the period between two events or during which something exists, happens or acts; measured or measurable interval; c) any period in the history of man or of the universe, often esp. with reference to a characteristic social structure, set of customs, famous person living then, etc. d) a definite point of time, as indicated by a clock; e) an indefinite period extending into the future; f) a particular period in a day, year; g) an appointed, favourable, proper or convenient time; h) (musc.) relative rapidity of movement; the rate of speed at which a composition or passage is played; tempo.

2) [noun] a period of 12 months (occasionally, 13 months in some calendars); a year.

3) [noun] any of the two fortnights of a lunar month.

4) [noun] cessation of life; death.

5) [noun] Yama, the Death-God.

6) [noun] the suposed agency, that determines the course of events; destiny.

7) [noun] power; strength.

8) [noun] the ending of the universe; universal dissolution.

9) [noun] the colour of coal; the black colour.

10) [noun] Śiva.

11) [noun] Viṣṇu.

12) [noun] Brahma.

13) [noun] Śani, corresponding to Saturn, believed to be one of the nine planets that affect the course of one’s life.

14) [noun] the ruler of a state; a king.

15) [noun] the edible fruit of the tree Ziziphus jujuba (= Z. mauritiana); Indian cherry; Indian plum.

16) [noun] (myth.) one of the eight serpents; black cobra.

17) [noun] (myth.) one of the hells where severe punishment for one’s sin is awarded.

18) [noun] (myth.) one of the seven tongues (or flames) of fire.

19) [noun] the plant Homalium zeylanicum of Flacourtiaceae family.

20) [noun] (gram.) the time of the action or state of being, as past, present or future, that a verb expresses in a sentence; tense.

21) [noun] the Indian cuckoo.

22) [noun] one who distils and sells spirituous liquor.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of kala in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Kala (கல) [kalattal] 12 verb [Telugu: kalayu, K. kalasu, Travancore usage kala.] intransitive

1. To mix, unite, join; to commingle, combine; to be absorbed, as the individual soul into the Godhead; கூடுதல். கலந்து நின்னடியாரோ டன்று [kuduthal. kalanthu ninnadiyaro danru] (திருவாசகம் [thiruvasagam] 32, 1).

2. To unite in friendship, grow intimate; to hold communion with, associate in friendship with, form friendly or matrimonial alliance with; கூட்டுறவாதல். ஒருமூவேங் கலந்த காலை [kutturavathal. orumuveng kalantha kalai] (கம்பராமாயணம் சூர்ப்ப. [kambaramayanam surppa.] 140).

3. To spread, as news; பரதசாஸ்திரம்்தல். கட்டுரை கலந்த காலை [parathal. katturai kalantha kalai] (கம்பராமாயணம் கரன். [kambaramayanam karan.] 68).

4. To appear, come into being; தோன்றுதல். அமுதொடு கலந்த நஞ்சை மிடற்றினி லடக்கிய [thonruthal. amuthodu kalantha nanchai midarrini ladakkiya] (தேவாரம் [thevaram] 473, 1).

5. To get close together; to come into close quarters with; நெருங்குதல். கலந்து போர்செய்தா ரோர்சிலர் [nerunguthal. kalanthu porseytha rorsilar] (கந்தபு. சகத்திரவா. [kanthapu. sagathirava.] 32).

6. To be wielded, held; பத்துப்பாட்டு: பொருநராற்றுப்படை்துதல். அலங்கலந் தார் [porunthuthal. alangalan thar] (புலியூரந்தாதி [puliyurandathi] 1). — transitive

1. To mix, blend, compound, amalgamate; கூட்டுதல். பாலொடு தேன்கலந் தற்றே [kuttuthal. palodu thenkalan tharre] (திருக்குறள் [thirukkural], 1121).

2. To copulate; புணர்தல். பெரிதாற்றிப் பெட்பக் கலத்தல் [punarthal. peritharrip pedpag kalathal] (திருக்குறள் [thirukkural], 1276).

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Kaḷa (கள) noun See களா. [kala.] (நன் [nan] 165, மயிலை. [mayilai.])

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Kaḷa (கள) noun < கள்-. [kal-.] See களவொழுக்கம். காமங் களவிட்டு [kalavozhukkam. kamang kalavittu] (பரிபாடல் [paripadal] 11, 42).

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Kaḷā (களா) noun cf. kāla. [K. kaḷave, M. kaḷavu.]

1. A low spreading shrub. See சிறுகளா. தீம்புளிக் களாவொடு துடரி முனையின் [sirugala. thimbulig kalavodu thudari munaiyin] (புறநானூறு [purananuru] 177, 9).

2. Large Bengal currant. See பெருங்களா. [perungala.]

3. Small lance-crenate-acute-leaved whortle-berry, small tree, Vaccinium nilgherrense; களா வகை. [kala vagai.] (L.)

4. Farkleberry. See மலைக்களா. [malaikkala.] (L.)

5. Nepal barberry. See முண்முருங்கை. [munmurungai.] (L.)

6. Whirling-nut. See தணக்கு. [thanakku.] (L.)

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Kālā (காலா) noun A genus of sea-fish, Polynemus; ஒருவகைக் கடல்மீன். [oruvagaig kadalmin.]

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Kāḷā (காளா) noun cf. காலா. [kala.] Robaul fish, Polynemus; மீன்வகை. [minvagai.] (M.M. 761.)

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Kala (கல) [kalattal] 12 intransitive verb To be loosely strung; to have intervening spaces; இடை விட்டிருத்தல். [idai vittiruthal.] Local usage

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Kālā (காலா) noun < Arabic khālā. Mother's sister; தாயின் சகோதரி. [thayin sagothari.] Muhammadan usage

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

Discover the meaning of kala in the context of Tamil from relevant books on Exotic India

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