Kanha, Kaṇha, Kāṇha, Kanhā: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
2. Tibetan Buddhism
Biology
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Prakrit
See also

Introduction:

Kanha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, biology. 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kanha - A name for Mara (q.v.). E.g., Sn.v.355; M.i.377; D.ii.262; Thag.v.1189.

2. Kanha - The name of the Bodhisatta; he was born in a brahmin family and later became a sage. He is also called Kanha tapasa, and is mentioned among those the memory of whose lives caused the Buddha to smile. See Kanha Jataka (2). DhsA.294, 426.

3. Kanha - Another name of Vasudeva (J.iv.84, 86; vi.421; PvA.94ff ); the scholiast explains that he belonged to the Kanhayanagotta (q.v.).

4. Kanha - Son of Disa, a slave girl of Okkaka. He was called Kanha because he was black and, like a devil (kanha), spoke as soon as he was born. He was the ancestor of the Kanhayanagotta (D.i.93). Later he went into the Dekkhan and, having learnt mystic verses, became a mighty seer. Coming back to Okkaka, Kanha demanded the hand of the kings daughter Maddarupi. At first the request was indignantly refused, but when Kanha displayed his supernatural powers he gained the princess. D.i.96f.; DA.i.266.

5. Kanha - A Pacceka Buddha, mentioned in the Isigili Sutta. M.iii.71.

6. Kanha - A dog. See Maha Kanha.

7. Kanha - See Kanhadipayana.

-- or --

1. Kanha - Daughter of the king of Kosala. Before she was born, Brahmadatta, king of Benares, killed her father and carried off her mother. When the child was born, Brahmadatta adopted her as his own daughter; she is, therefore, called dvepitika (=having two fathers). The king promised to grant her a boon, and she held a svayamvara, at which she chose as her husbands all the five sons of King Pandu; Ajjuna, Bhima, Nakula, Yuddhitthila, and Sahadeva. According to the Mahabharata, Draupadi, daughter of the Pancala king, was the wife of these five princes.

By her strong passions she won the love of them all. Not satisfied with them, she also made love to a hump backed slave who was in her service. One day, when she was sick, all her husbands were gathered round her, and she made signs to each of them to show that she loved him best. Ajjuna, however, was suspicious, and by questioning the hump back, learnt the truth. The five brothers left her and retired to the Himalaya, where they became ascetics. The story was related by Kunala, who is identified with Ajjuna. J.v.424, 426f.

2. Kanha - See Kanhajina.

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).

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: Tibetan Renaissance

Kāṇha: One of the four lineages of the Hevajra generation, according to the Sakyapa tradition. Kāṇha, conversely, was the disciple to whom Virūpa is said to have transmitted the root text of the Mārga-phala. Kāṇha was said to have been one ofthe Śaiva yogins who were subdued by Virūpa. In the compendium of old Bengali poetry that has come to be known as the Songs of Action (Caryāgīti), a Kāṇha sings of dressing as a Kāpālika yogin while being a Buddhist. Apparently there have been several siddhas with the name Kāṇha/Kṛṣṇa, so that the identification of the old Bengali poet with Virūpa’s disciple is potentially true but is by no means assured.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

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

1) Kanha in India is the name of a plant defined with Terminalia arjuna in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Terminalia glabra (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (among others).

2) Kanha in South and Central America is also identified with Desmoncus orthacanthos It has the synonym Atitara palustris (Trail) Kuntze (etc.).

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

· Historia Naturalis Palmarum (1853)
· Bihang til Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar (1900)
· Gentes Herbarum (1943)
· Gentes Herbarum (1949)
· Fieldiana, Botany (1951)
· Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (1933)

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

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kaṇha : (adj.) black; dark; evil. (m.), the black colour; god vishṇu.

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

Kanha, (adj.) (cp. Vedic kṛṣṇa, Lith. kérszas) dark, black, as attr. of darkness, opposed to light, syn. with kāḷa (q. v. for etym.); opp. sukka. In general it is hard to separate the lit. and fig. meanings, an ethical implication is to be found in nearly all cases (except 1.). The contrast with sukka (brightness) goes through all applications, with ref. to light as well as quality. I. Of the sense of sight: k-sukka dark & bright (about black & white see nīla & seta), forming one system of coloursensations (the colourless, as distinguished from the red-green and yellow-blue systems). As such enumerated in connection with quasi definition of vision, together with nīla, pīta, lohita, mañjeṭṭha at D. II, 328=M. I, 509 sq. =II. 201 (see also mañjeṭṭha).—II. (objective). 1. of dark (black), poisonous snakes: kaṇhā (f.) J. II, 215 (=kāḷa-sappa C); °sappa J. I, 336; III, 269, 347; V, 446; Vism. 664 (in simile); Miln. 149; PvA. 62; °sīsā with black heads A. III, 241 (kimī).—2. of (an abundance of) smooth, dark (=shiny) hair (cp. in meaning E. gloom: gloss=black: shiny), as Ep. of King Vasudeva Pv. II, 6¹, syn. with Kesavā (the Hairy, cp. *)apoλlwn *ou)laίos Samson, etc., see also siniddha-, nīla-, kāla-kesa). sukaṇha-sīsa with very dark hair J. V, 205, also as sukaṇha-kaṇha-sīsa J. V, 202 (cp. susukāḷa). °jaṭi an ascetic with dark & glossy hair J. VI, 507, cp. V. 205 sukaṇhajaṭila. °añjana glossy polish J. V, 155 (explained as sukhumakaṇha-lom’ācitattā).—3. of the black trail of fire in °vattanin (cp. Vedic kṛṣṇa-vartaniṃ agniṃ R. V. VIII, 23, 19) S. I, 69=J. III, 140 (cp. III, 9); J. V, 63. ‹-› 4. of the black (fertile) soil of Avanti “kaṇh-uttara” black on the surface Vin. I, 195.—III, (Applied). 1. °pakkha the dark (moonless) half of the month, during which the spirits of the departed suffer and the powers of darkness prevail PvA. 135, cp. Pv III, 6⁴, see also pakkha¹ 3.—2. attr. of all dark powers and anything belonging to their sphere, e.g. of Māra Sn. 355, 439 (=Namuci); of demons, goblins (pisācā) D. I, 93 with ref. to the “black-born” ancestor of the Kaṇhāyanas (cp. Dh. I, 263 kāḷa-vaṇṇa), cp. also kāḷa in °sunakha, the Dog of Purgatory PvA. 152.—3. of a dark, i.e. miserable, unfortunate birth, or social condition D. III, 81 sq. (brāhmano va sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇho añño vaṇṇo). °abhijāti a special species of men according to the doctrine of Gosāla DA. I, 162; A. III, 383 sq. °abhijātika “of black birth, ” of low social grade D. III, 251=A. III, 384; Sn. 563; cp. Th. 1, 833 and J. P. T. S. 1893, 11; in the sense of “evil disposition” at J. V, 87 (explained as kāḷaka-sabhāva).—4. of dark, evil actions or qualities: °dhamma A. V, 232=Dh. 87; D. III, 82; Sn. 967; Pug. 30; Miln. 200, 337; °paṭipadā J. I, 105, and °magga the evil way A. V, 244, 278; °bhāvakara causing a low (re-)birth J. IV, 9 (+ pāpa-kammāni), and in same context as dhamma combined with °sukka at A. IV, 33; Sn. 526 (where kaṇhā° for kaṇha°): Miln. 37; °kamma “black action” M. I, 39; °vipāka black result, 4 kinds of actions and 4 results, viz. kaṇha°, sukka°, kaṇha-sukka°, akaṇha-asukka° D III, 230=M. I, 389 sq. =A. II, 230 sq.; Nett 232. akaṇha 1. not dark, i.e. light, in °netta with bright eyes, Ep. of King Pingala-netta J. II, 242 in contrast with Māra (although pingala-cakkhu is also Ep. of Māra or his representatives, cp. J. V, 42; Pv. II, 4¹).—2. not evil, i.e. good A. II, 230, 231.—atikaṇha very dark Vin. IV, 7; sukaṇha id. see above II. 2. (Page 180)

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kānhā (कान्हा).—m C A piece of the pōī (end-portion of the integument of a Cocoanut-branch). Used to scrape up cowdung &c. 2 (Poetry.) A boy. Ex. yēśōdē bāḷa tujhā kānhā kānhā || tōṃ rāṅgata ālā tānhā ||.

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

kānhā (कान्हा).—m A boy; see kānā.

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.

Prakrit-English dictionary

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

1) Kaṇha (कण्ह) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kṛṣṇa.

2) Kaṇha (कण्ह) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kṛṣṇa.

3) Kaṇhā (कण्हा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kṛṣṇā.

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.

Relevant text

Search found 16 books and stories containing Kanha, Kaṇha, Kāṇha, Kanhā, Kānhā, Kaṇhā; (plurals include: Kanhas, Kaṇhas, Kāṇhas, Kanhās, Kānhās, Kaṇhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 10 - Story of Pokkharasāti Brahmin and Ambaṭṭha < [Chapter 35 - Story of Māra]

(7) Seventh Pāramī: The Perfection of Truthfulness (sacca-pāramī) < [Chapter 6 - On Pāramitā]

Part 4 - Buddha’s Visits to Sihala (Sri Lanka) and Nagadipa < [Chapter 26 - The Buddha’s Eighth Vassa at the Town of Susumaragira]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Jataka 440: Kaṇha-jātaka < [Volume 4]

Jataka 454: Ghata-jātaka < [Volume 4]

Jataka 469: Mahā-Kaṇha-jātaka < [Volume 4]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Kapalikas and Natha Siddhas < [Chapter 2 - Spread and Transition]

Vidhis: Use of Ashes (Meanings and Metaphors) and Nudity < [Chapter 3 - The Ritualistic Context]

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Part V - Sariputta In The Jatakas