In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Kanīyas (कनीयस्) refers to the “youngest (brother)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.1 (“Description of Tripura—the three cities”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “O great sage, when the Asura Tāraka was killed by Skanda, the son of Śiva, his three sons performed austerities. The eldest of them was Tārakākṣa, the middle one Vidyunmālī and the youngest (kanīyas) Kamalākṣa. All of them were of equal strength. They were self-controlled, well prepared, disciplined, truthful, of steady mind, heroic and inimical to the gods. [...]”.

context information

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Kanīyas (कनीयस्) refers to the “little finger”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering manual of the root-heart] “[...] A Nāga cross-legged hand gesture should be made. The index finger should be like a serpent head. The little finger (kanīyas) should be extended. This is the hand gesture for all Nāgas. Merely upon reciting, all Nāgas will be suppressed. Headache and migraine will arise for them. [...]”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kanīyas (कनीयस्).—a. (-sī f.) (Compar. of alpa or yuvan)

1) Smaller, less; तन्मे भूयो भवतु मा कनीयो (tanme bhūyo bhavatu mā kanīyo) Av.3.15.5.

2) Younger; कनीयान् भ्राता, कनीयसी भगिनी (kanīyān bhrātā, kanīyasī bhaginī) &c. -m.

1) A younger brother; कलत्रवानहं बाले कनीयांसं भजस्व मे (kalatravānahaṃ bāle kanīyāṃsaṃ bhajasva me) R.

2) The lover excited by passions; cf. कनीयाननुजाल्पयोः (kanīyānanujālpayoḥ) ... अतिथूनि स्त्रियां कामिन्युत्के मैथुनिभूतयोः (atithūni striyāṃ kāminyutke maithunibhūtayoḥ) | Nm.

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

Kaṇīyas (कणीयस्).—mfn.

(-yān-yasī-yaḥ) 1. Very small. 2. Young, younger. E. kaṇa small, and īyasun superlative affix; also kanīyasa.

--- OR ---

Kanīyas (कनीयस्).—mfn.

(-yān-yasī-yaḥ) 1. Very young, youngest. 2. Very small, least. 3. Younger born, a younger brother or sister. E. kaṇa small, īyasun affix, the ṇa being changed; or kan to shine, &c.: or kana substituted for yuvan and alpa.

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

1) Kaṇīyas (कणीयस्):—[from kaṇ] mfn. very small, young, younger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) [v.s. ...] = kanīyas q.v.

3) Kanīyas (कनीयस्):—[from kana] mfn. younger, a younger brother or sister, younger son or daughter (opposed to jyāyas), [Ṛg-veda iv, 33, 5; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] smaller, less, inferior, very small or insignificant (opposed to bhūyas and uttama), [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda iii, 15, 5; xii, 4, 6; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] f. (yasī) the younger sister of a wife, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

1) Kaṇīyas (कणीयस्):—[(yān-yhasī-yat) a.] Very small, young, younger.

2) Kanīyas (कनीयस्):—[(yān-yasī-yaḥ) a.] Very young or small, younger.

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

Kanīyas (कनीयस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kaṇīa, Kaṇīasa, Kannasa.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Kaniyabhratri, Kaniyasa, Kaniyasauvalli, Kaniyasi, Kaniyastva, Kaniyasvin.

Ends with: Anukaniyas.

Full-text: Anukaniyas, Kaniyasvin, Kaniyastva, Kaniyahstana, Kaniyokshara, Kania, Anumadhyamam, Kaniasa, Kannasa, Palukkappotu, Kaniyasa, Pancamula, Yuvan, Kana.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Kaniyas, Kanīyas, Kaṇīyas; (plurals include: Kaniyases, Kanīyases, Kaṇīyases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)

Rig Veda 4.24.9 < [Sukta 24]

show preview

Triveni Journal

Theatre Architecture in Ancient India < [November-December 1931]

show preview