Kusha, Kusa, Kuśa, Kuśā: 41 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Vaishnavism
3. Shaivism
4. Natyashastra
5. Kavya
6. Ayurveda
7. Jyotisha
8. Shaktism
9. General definition
In Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Biology
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Prakrit
6. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

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

The Sanskrit terms Kuśa and Kuśā can be transliterated into English as Kusa or Kusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

1) Kuśa (कुश):—Son of Rāma (Rāma was an incarnation of Vāsudeva in the form of a son of Daśaratha, who was a son of Aja). He had a son named Atithi. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.12.1)

2) Kuśa (कुश):—Son of Ajaka (son of Balāka). He had four sons, named Kuśāmbu, Tanaya, Vasu and Kuśanābha. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.15.4)

3) Kuśa (कुश):—Son of Suhotra (son of Kṣatravṛddha). He had a son named Prati. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.17.1-3)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Kuśa (कुश).—One of the three sons of Jyotiṣmān, who was a son of Priyavrata, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 74. Priyavrata was a son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Kuśa (कुश).—A great sage of ancient India. He was as effulgent as burning fire. The famous Sage Viśvāmitra was born in Kuśa’s dynasty. (For genealogy etc see under Viśvāmitra). (See full article at Story of Kuśa from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Kuśa (कुश).—One of the two sons of Śrī Rāma, the other, being Lava.

2) . Birth. To Sītā forsaken by Rāma a son called Lava was born while she was living at the āśrama of Vālmīki. One day Sītā took Lava to the stream to bathe him, and Vālmīki, who did not know about it was upset not to see the child in the āśrama. He feared that it might have been eaten up by some animal, and fearing that Sītā might die when she missed the child he created a child with Kuśa grass and laid it where Lava was lying before. When Sītā returned to the āśrama with Lava after their bath Vālmīki explained the whole situation to Sītā. Since the second child was created with Kuśa grass he was called Kuśa, and he was made the second son of Sītā (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa and Kathāsaritsāgara, Alaṅkāravatīlambaka, Taraṅga 1).

3) Kuśa (कुश).—A king born in the Kuru dynasty. To Kuru, who built Kurukṣetra was born a son called Sudhanvā, and to him was born Suhotra, who became the father of Cyavana. Suhotra begot of another wife Girikā seven sons called Bṛhadratha, Kuśa, Yadu, Pratyagraha, Bala, Matsyakāla and Vīra. Kuśa was one of the seven sons. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 78).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Kuśa (कुश) is the name of a flower used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.11:—“[...] offerings of flowers, especially white flowers and rare flowers, shall be made to Lord Śiva. Flowers of Apāmārga, Karpūra, Jātī, Campaka, Kuśa, Pāṭala, Karavīra, Mallikā, Kamala (lotus) and Utpalas (lilies) of various sorts shall be used. When water is poured it shall be poured in a continuous stream”.

2) Kuśa (कुश) refers to the foremost among grasses (tṛṇajāti), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.2 (“The Prayer of the gods).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Śiva: “[...] Among sacrifices you are the horse-sacrifice. Among the Yugas you are the Kṛta Yuga; among the asterisms you are Puṣya; among the Tithis you are Amāvāsyā. Among the seasons you are the spring; among holy occasions you are the Saṃkrama; among grasses you are the Kuśa grass; among gross trees you are the Banyan tree. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Kuśa (कुश).—A son of Rāma, born in Vālmikī's āśrama and brought up by the sage. Father of Atithi.¹ Ruled over Kosala kingdom from its capital Kuśasthalī.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 11. 11; 12. 1; Matsya-purāṇa 12-51; Viṣṇu-purāṇa 4. 104-5.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 198; Viṣṇu-purāṇa 88. 198-9.

1b) A son of Ajaka; father of four sons, Kuśāmbu and others.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 15. 4.

1c) A son of Suhotra and father of Prati.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 17. 3, 16.

1d) A son of Vidarbha.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa 24. 1.

1e) The son of Balākāśva. Father of Kauśāmba and three other sons.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 31-2; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 7. 8.

1f) A son of Caidyoparicara (Vidyoparicaravā p.).^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 50. 27; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 202.

1g) A son of Gaya and father of four sons, all versed in the Vedas.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 91. 61-2.

1h) (kuśadvīpa, kumudadvīpam?)—thrice the Suroda in size surrounded by Ghṛtoḍa (sea of Ghee) (milk ocean-m.p.). Its name comes from a shining divine cluster of grass in it. Its king was a son of Priyavrata, Hīraṇyaretas, who divided it among his seven sons. Here Agni is worshipped.¹ Jyotiṣmat, its first king divided it among his seven sons. Their names, and the names of hills and rivers described.² A tīrtha sacred to Kuśodakā³ in the neighbourhood of Jambūdvīpa;⁴ of different villages and the residence of Kumuda the wily sister of Mahādeva.⁵

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 1. 32; 20. 13-17; Matsya-purāṇa 122. 49; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 12; 49. 47-58.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 12-30; 19. 52-64.
3) Matsya-purāṇa 13. 50.
4) Vāyu-purāṇa 48. 14. 34.
5) Ib. 48. 34-35.

2a) Kuśā (कुशा).—A tribe.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 268; Matsya-purāṇa 273. 73.

2b) A son of Aśoka: ruled for eight years.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 146.

Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

Kuśa (कुश) refers to a type of grass, according to the Rāmāyaṇa chapter 2.28. Accordingly:—“[...] soothening with kind words to Sītā, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rāma spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back: ‘[...] Oh, Sītā! Forest is full of trees, Kuśa grass and bamboos with ends of their branches spread on all sides. Hence, living in a forest is a great misery’”.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Kuśa (कुश) refers to one of the two sons of Rāma: one of the four sons of Daśaratha, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] The son of Raghu was very famous from whom Daśaratha was born. Daśaratha had four sons who were religious and famous in the world. They were Rāma, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna. All of them were devoted to Lord Mahādeva. [...] Lava and Kuśa were two sons of Rāma. From Kuśa was born Atithi and from Atithi was born Niṣadha.

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Kuśa (कुश).—An auspicious grass used in Vedic rituals and sacrifices.

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Kuśa (कुश) refers to:—Grass–a long pointed grass considered to be very pure, used in the worship of the Lord. (cf. Glossary page from Arcana-dīpikā).

context information

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’).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Kuśa (कुश) refers to one of the seven continents (saptadvīpa) situated within the world of the earth (pṛthivī), according to Parākhyatantra 5.61. It is also known as Kuśadvīpa. These continents are located above the seven pātālas and may contain even more sub-continents within them, are round in shape, and are encircled within seven concentric oceans.

According to the Parākhya-tantra, “beyond that is the continent Kuśa, where Brahmā grasped Kuśa grass and began the marriage of Śiva with oblations. Beyond that is the ocean of curds, where the creator, for the sake of satisfying the whole universe, in a sacrifice (kratu) gave this large quantity of curds”.

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Kuśa (कुश) refers to a type of “grass”, according to the Mataṅgapārameśvara (with Rāmakaṇṭha’s commentary).—Accordingly, “[...] [Rāmakaṇṭha]:—Now if you ask what this vidyāvrata is which he must have observed, this is what the text teaches: The power of the vidyā that is mentioned here [in this compound vidyāvrata] is first to be recited for a year in a temple to Śiva, while exercising control of the senses, maintaining purity (śuciṣmat—śuciṣmatā), eating daily [only the sacrificial gruel known as] caru, sleeping on the ground in the room reserved for pūjā and fire[-sacrifice] on a spread of kuśa-grass, with his mind engaged [in meditation], focussed. [Rāmakaṇṭha]:—It [viz. the power of the vidyā] is the vyomavyāpin.

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Kuśa (कुश) is the name of a sage who was in the company of Bharata when he recited the Nāṭyaveda them, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 35. Accordingly, they asked the following questions, “O the best Brahmin (lit. the bull of the twice-born), tell us about the character of the god who appears in the Preliminaries (pūrvaraṅga). Why is the sound [of musical instruments] applied there? What purpose does it serve when applied? What god is pleased with this, and what does he do on being pleased? Why does the Director being himself clean, perform ablution again on the stage? How, O sir, the drama has come (lit. dropped) down to the earth from heaven? Why have your descendants come to be known as Śūdras?”.

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).

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Kuśa (कुश) is the name of a person created out of kuśa grass by sage Vālmīki, according to in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 51. Accordingly, “... the hermit made a pure babe of kuśa grass, resembling Lava, and placed him there; and Sītā came, and seeing it, said to the hermit: ‘I have my own boy, so whence came this one, hermit?’ When the hermit Vālmīki heard this, he told her exactly what had taken place, and said: ‘Blameless one, receive this second son, named Kuśa, because I by my power created him out of kuśa grass’. When he said this to her, Sītā brought up those two sons, Kuśa and Lava, for whom Vālmīki performed the sacraments. And those two young princes of the Kṣatriya race, even when children, learned the use of all heavenly weapons and all sciences from the hermit Vālmīki”.

The story of Kuśa was narrated by the Vidyādharī Kāñcanaprabhā to Naravāhanadatta while in a Svayambhū temple of Śiva, in order to demonstrate that “people who possess firmness endure for a long time mutual separation to which no termination is assigned”, in other words, that “heroic souls endure separation for so long a time”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kuśa, 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.

context information

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’.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Kuśa (कुश) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning kuśa] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

Kuśa (कुश) refers to one of the items offered to the nine planets (navagraha), according to the grahaśānti (cf. grahayajña) section of the Yājñavalkyasmṛti (1.295-309), preceded by the section called vināyakakalpa (1.271-294), prescribing a rite to be offered to Vināyaka.—[verse 302-303: Faggots to be burned]—These two verses prescribe different faggots to be burned for grahas with offerings of honey, ghee, dadhi, and milk. It is interesting to note that some of the faggots (i.e. parāśa, khadira, pippala, and śamī) mentioned here are also used in the Suśrutasaṃhitā in the context (Uttaratantra chapters 27-37) of curing the diseases caused by grahas, which, in this case, are not planetary. [verse 304-305: Cooked rice (odana) to be offered to grahas]

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Ali (अलि) refers to a type of grass, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “I will (now) talk about the offering of libation (tarpaṇa) to the deities in the gathering (melaka), sacred seats, primary and secondary, the fields, or in the maṇḍala and in the middle of the wheel. Libation should be offered (in these places) with the waters of meat, liquor, kuśa grass and sesame seeds. The gods who are fierce, tranquil and valorous are (all) pleased by this”.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

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

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The Bodhisatta, son of Okkaka, king of Kusavati and of his queen Silavati. Okkaka has no heir, in spite of performing various rites. But at length, by the favour of Sakka, Silavati miraculously gives birth to two sons. The elder, though ill favoured, is supernaturally wise and is called Kusa. The younger, very handsome, is called Jayampati. Kusa consents to marry only on condition that a princess can be obtained exactly like an image which he himself has fashioned. Pabhavati, daughter of King Madda of Sagala, is found to fulfil this condition, and is married to Kusa. The bride is not to look upon her husbands face until she has conceived, but Kusa plays various pranks upon her and she accidentally discovers how ugly he is. She leaves him immediately and returns to her fathers court. Thither Kusa follows her, and under a variety of menial disguises, including that of a cook, tries, but in vain, to win her affection. At length Sakka intervenes. He sends letters, purporting to come from King Madda, to seven kings, offering Pabhavati to each of them. They arrive in Sagala simultaneously and threaten to destroy the city. Madda decides to cut Pabhavati into seven pieces, and she is only saved from immediate death by the despised husband. At his appearance the kings flee, for wherever he looks the earth trembles. Kusa returns with his wife to Kusavati and they live there happily.

Pleased at Kusas victory, Sakka gives him a jewel called the Verocanamani. It was octagonal, and was evidently handed down in the succession of kings, for we are told that one of the tests, set by Videha, king of Mithila, to discover the proficiency of Mahosadha, was for him to break the old thread in this gem, remove it, and insert a new one. (J.vi.340; according to SA.i.115 and DA.iii.266, the jewel was also in the possession of Pasenadi; but see the Mahasara Jataka, where no mention is made of Kusa).

Reference is made elsewhere (E.g., MT.552) to a talavanta (fan?) possessed by Kusa, in which could be seen the forms of all things in the world. He also possessed the Kokanadavina (q.v.) given by Sakka to Silavati.

Kusa is called Sihassara, and his shout, when he appeared before the seven kings, announcing his name, was one of the four shouts heard throughout Jambudipa (SNA.i.223; SA.i.248).

The Dipavamsa (iii.40) speaks of Kusa and Mahakusa, both descended from Mahasammata.

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: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Kuśa (कुश) refers to “holy grass”, according to the purification (śodhana) of the Pañcagavya (five cow products) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “[...] Oṃ purified with conch-water Hūṃ. [Give water to patrons.] Cow urine, cow dung, milk, curd, ghee, holy grass (kuśa), (and) water, The forementioned Pañcagavya and holy grass purifies the body. Oṃ purified with conch-water Hūṃ. [Give water again]”.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Kusa (कुस) is the son of Reṇu: an ancient king from the Solar dynasty (sūryavaṃśa) and a descendant of Mahāsaṃmata, according to the Mahābuddhavaṃsa or Maha Buddhavamsa (the great chronicle of Buddhas) Anudīpanī chapter 1, compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw. Disampati’s son was King Reṇu. Reṇu’s son was King Kusa. Kusa’s son was King Mahākusa.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Kuśa (कुश) or Darbha, is Poa cynosuroides (synonym of Desmostachya bipinnata): a sacred grass used in some sacrificial ceremonies. It is considered very undesirable in cultivated ground.

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kuśa.—cf. kuśa-kkāṇam (SITI), Tamil, tax on the potters. Note: kuśa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Kusa in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Cenchrus ciliaris L. from the Poaceae (Grass) family having the following synonyms: Pennisetum ciliare, Cenchrus longifolius. For the possible medicinal usage of kusa, 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.

Kusa in the Telugu language, ibid. previous identification.

Kusha in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf from the Poaceae (Grass) family having the following synonyms: Uniola bipinnata, Poa cynosuriodes, Eragrostis cynosuroides.

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

1) Kusha in East Africa is the name of a plant defined with Girardinia bullosa in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Urtica bullosa Steud. (among others).

2) Kusha in India is also identified with Desmostachya bipinnata It has the synonym Poa cynosuroides Retz., also spelled cynosuriodes (etc.).

3) Kusha is also identified with Saccharum spontaneum It has the synonym Imperata spontanea (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult., nom. illeg., non Imperata spontanea (L.) P. Beauv. (etc.).

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

· Grasses of Burma (1960)
· Current Science (1989)
· Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique (1854)
· Mantissa Plantarum Altera (1771)
· The Flora of British India (1897)
· Observationes Botanicae (1789)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Kusha, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, side effects, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, health benefits, 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

kusa : (m.) a kind of fragrant grass; citronella; a lot.

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

Kusa, 1. the kusa grass (Poa cynosuroides) DhA. III, 484: tikhiṇadhāraṃ tiṇaṃ antamaso tālapaṇṇam pi; Dh. 311; J. I, 190 (=tiṇa); IV, 140.—2. a blade of grass used as a mark or a lot: pātite kuse “when the lot has been cast” Vin. I, 299; kusaṃ saṅkāmetvā “having passed the lot on” Vin. III, 58.

—agga the point of a blade of grass PvA. 254=DA. I, 164; Sdhp. 349; kusaggena bhuñjati or pivati to eat or drink only (as little as) with a blade of grass Dh. 70; VvA. 73 (cp. Udānavarga p. 105);—kaṇṭhaka=prec. Pv III, 2²⁸;—cīra a garment of grass Vin. I, 305=D. I, 167 =A. I, 240, 295=II. 206=Pug. 55;—pāta the casting of a kusa lot Vin. I, 285;—muṭṭhi a handful of grass A. V, 234= 249. (Page 223)

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

kuśa (कुश).—m n (S) Sacrificial grass, Poa cynosuroides.

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kusā (कुसा).—m A hand-implement for turning up of clods,--a pole with an iron blade or head: also the iron-member of this implement.

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kusā (कुसा).—m The womb &c. See kusavā.

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kūsa (कूस).—f sometimes kūśa f (kukṣi S) A side of the body; a hypochondre, or (in pop. understanding) a lateral chamber of the belly. Ex. kuśī or kuśīsa hōṇēṃ To turn on a side; to turn half round. gā- yīcyā dōnahī (or cārahī) kuśī bharalyā The cow has eaten a bellyfull. 2 fig. Room or capacity (for lying, cheating, fraudulent statement, illicit picking &c.); room or place for. Ex. mōjaṇī jhālyā- muḷēṃ śētānta kūsa rāhilī nāhīṃ; cillarakharca kaccā lihi- lyāmuḷēṃ cillarānta kūsa rāhilī nāhīṃ; hyā bhāṇḍyālā kūsa āhē This vessel has some (unsuspected) cavity (to hold more than would be supposed). The above is the prevailing and the dearly cherished acceptation of the word, yet is it sometimes used to express Room or vacancy gen. Ex. pōṭabhara khāllēṃ pāṇī pyāyālā kūsa ṭhēvilī nāhīṃ. Further, the word signifies such room filled up; such opportunity or occasion improved; i. e. False accounting perpetrated; as overcharge on monies expended; understatement of monies or goods received; undue gain gen. in managing for another. Again, it expresses Inaccuracy or inexactness of measurement, or of a quantity stated, or of an account rendered--slight excess or slight deficiency--without necessary implication of fraud. 3 Afterbirth (of cattle). kuśī f pl bharaṇēṃ To fill up one's flanks with stuffing. Pr. māñjara karī ēkādaśī undīra mārūna bharī kuśī 'Tis as if a cat &c. Your fastings are but for your fuller feeding and reveling. See Is. lviii. 3.

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

kuśa (कुश).—m n Sacrificial grass.

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kusā (कुसा).—m The womb. Used only in praising or dispraising the womb of a female with reference to the offspring of it. Ex. icā kusavā cāṅgalā.

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kūsa (कूस).—f A side of the body. kuśīsa hōṇēṃ To turn on one's side. Fig. Room or capa- city (for lying, cheating, fraudulent statement, illicit picking).

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kuśa (कुश).—a.

1) Wicked, vile, depraved.

2) Mad.

-śaḥ 1 A kind of grass considered holy and forming an essential requisite of several religious ceremonies; पवित्रार्थे इमे कुशाः (pavitrārthe ime kuśāḥ) Śrāddha Mantra; कुशपूतं प्रवयास्तु विष्टरम् (kuśapūtaṃ pravayāstu viṣṭaram) R.8.18, 1.49,95.

2) Name of the elder son of Rāma. [He was one of the twin sons of Rāma, born after Sītā had been ruthlessly abandoned in the forest; yet he was the elder of the two in point of first seeing the light of this world. He, with Lava was brought up by the sage Vālmīki, and the two boys were taught to repeat the Rāmāyaṇa, the epic of the poet. Kuśa was made by Rāma king of Kuśāvatī, and he lived there for some time after his father's death. But the presiding deity of the old capital Ayodhyā presented herself to him in his dream and besought him not to slight her. Kuśa then returned to Ayodhya; see R.16.3-42.]

3) A rope of Kuśa grass for connecting the yoke of a plough with the pole.

4) One of the great Dvīpas; Bhāgavata 5.1.32.

-śā 1 A plank for covering anything.

2) A piece of wood.

3) A horse's bridle.

-śī A sort of ladle.

2) Wrought iron.

3) Ploughshare.

4) A pod of cotton.

5) A piece of Udumbara wood used for counting the number of Sāmans in a Stotra; औदुम्बरे स्त्रियाम् । छन्दोगस्तोत्रगणनाशङ्कासु (audumbare striyām | chandogastotragaṇanāśaṅkāsu) ...... Nm.

-śam Water; as in कुशेशय (kuśeśaya) q. v. ह्रदश्च कुशवानेष यत्र पद्मं कुशेशयम् (hradaśca kuśavāneṣa yatra padmaṃ kuśeśayam) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.13.18.

Derivable forms: kuśaḥ (कुशः).

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Kuśā (कुशा).—

1) A rope.

2) A bridle.

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

Kuśa (कुश).—(1) name of a king, previous incarnation of the Buddha (in the 7th bhūmi): Mahāvastu i.128.13 ff.; (2) = Pali Kusa (hero of Kusa Jātaka); his story is told in Mahāvastu twice at great length, Mahāvastu ii.433.19 ff. and iii.8.3 ff.; (kuśajātakaṃ samāptam iii.27.21;) also Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.100.11 ff.; probably referred to (rather than 1 above) in Mahāvyutpatti 3566, in list of cakravartin kings.

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

Kuśa (कुश).—mfn.

(-śaḥ-śā-śaṃ) 1. Wicked, deprave. 2. Mad, inebriate. mn.

(-śaḥ-śaṃ) A species of grass used in many solemn and religious observances, hence called sacrificial grass, (Poa cynosuroides.) m.

(-śaḥ) 1. The yoke of a plough. 2. A proper name, one of the sons of Rama. 3. One of the great Dwipas or divisions of the universe, surrounded by the sea of spirituous liquor. f.

(-śā) 1. A rope. 2. A plant, commonly Maukat'ha. n.

(-śaṃ) Water. f. (-śī) 1. A ploughshare. 2. Wrought iron. mf. (-śaḥ-śī) A bridle, a horse’s head rope. E. ku the earth. śīñ to sleep or rest, and ḍa affix, or ku bad, and śī to destroy, again kuś to embrace or enfold, and ka aff.

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

Kuśa (कुश).—I. m. and n. The sacrificial grass, Poa cynosuroides, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 43. Ii. m. 1. A proper name, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 34, 1. 2. One of the great dvīpas or divisions of the universe, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 1, 32.

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

Kuśa (कुश).—[masculine] grass, [especially] the sacred grass used at cert. rel. ceremonies. —[feminine] kuśā & kuśī a little peg, serving as a mark.

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

1) Kuśa (कुश):—m. grass, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra]

2) (the Brāhmaṇas commonly call it darbha)

3) the sacred grass used at certain religious ceremonies (Poa cynosuroides, a grass with long pointed stalks), [Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.

4) a rope (made of Kuśa grass) used for connecting the yoke of a plough with the pole, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) Name of a son of Vasu Uparicara, [Harivaṃśa 1806]

6) of the founder of Kuśathalī, [Skanda-purāṇa]

7) of a son of Balākāśva (grandson of Balāka, father of Kuśāmba or Kuśa-nābha), [Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa ix, 19, 4]

8) of a son of Suhotra (cf. kāśa), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

9) of a son of Vidarbha, [ib.]

10) of a son of Rāma (cf. kuśīlava), [Harivaṃśa 822; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Raghuvaṃśa xvi, 72]

11) of a son of Lava (king of Kaśmīra), [Rājataraṅgiṇī i, 88]

12) one of the great Dvīpas or divisions of the universe (surrounded by the sea of liquefied butter), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa v, 1, 32; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

13) Kuśā (कुशा):—[from kuśa] f. ([Pāṇini 8-3, 46]) a small pin or piece of wood (used as a mark in recitation), [Lāṭyāyana ii, 6, 1 and 4]

14) [v.s. ...] a cord (cf. kaśā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

15) [v.s. ...] a horse’s bridle (cf. kaśā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

16) [v.s. ...] Name of a plant (commonly Madhu-karkaṭikā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

17) Kuśa (कुश):—n. water

18) mfn. wicked, depraved, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

19) n. mad, inebriate, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Kuśa (कुश):—[(śaḥ-śaṃ)] 1. m. n. Sacrificial grass. m. Yoke of a plough. n. Water. f. (śā) Rope. (śī) ploughshare; wrought iron. (śaḥ-śī) 1. m. 3. f. A bridle. a. Weak; mad.

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

Kuśa (कुश) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kusa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kusha 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Kuśa (कुश) [Also spelled kush]:—(nm) a sort of sacrificial grass—Doa cynosuroides.

context information

...

Prakrit-English dictionary

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

1) Kusa (कुस) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kuśa.

2) Kusa (कुस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Krauśa.

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kuśa (ಕುಶ):—

1) [noun] the grass Desmostachya bipinnata ( = Poa cynosuroides) of Poaceae family; with long blades, used in performing religious rites.

2) [noun] another grass of the same family, Desmostachya tripinnata.

3) [noun] water.

4) [noun] a metrical foot consisting of one short syllable followed by two long one (u— ).

5) [noun] name of one of the seven mythological islands.

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Kusa (ಕುಸ):—[noun] the whispering sound; a sound imitating it.

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Kūsa (ಕೂಸ):—[noun] a male child from birth to puberty; a boy.

context information

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

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