Kalavati, Kalāvatī, Kaḷavaṭi, Kālāvati: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Kalavati means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, 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.
The Sanskrit term Kaḷavaṭi can be transliterated into English as Kalavati or Kaliavati, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Kalāvatī (कलावती) was the wife of King Kṛtavarman, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 9. Kṛtavarman had a daughter named Mṛgāvatī who was an incarnation of the apsara Alambuṣā.
2) Kalāvatī (कलावती) is the daughter of Amīla: a Daitya king from the second underworld, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 45. Accordingly, as the friend of Kalāvatī said to Sūryaprabha: “... Listen, King: in the second underworld there is a victorious king named Amīla, a chieftain of the Daityas, the son of Hiraṇyākṣa; this is his daughter Kalāvatī, whom he loves more than life”.
3) Kālavatī (कलावती), daughter of Kālajihva, is one of the five Vidyādhara maidens that vowed to take Naravāhanadatta for a husband together, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 110. Accordingly, as Mandaradevī said to her father Akampana and to emperor Naravāhanadatta: “... I have four companions here, of like age, noble maidens; [...] the second is the daughter of Kālajihva, Kālavatī by name [...] We five, when roaming about, saw previously in a grove of ascetics this my destined husband, and, setting our hearts on him, we [viz., Kālavatī] made an agreement together that we would all, at one and the same time, take him for our husband, but that, if any single one married him alone, the others should enter the fire, and lay the guilt at her door”.
4) Kālavatī (कलावती), daughter of Alambuṣā, is the name of an Apsaras, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 121. Accordingly, as Agniśikha said to Yamaśikha: “... while all these nymphs of heaven are engaged in bathing, quickly snatch up the clothes, which they have laid on the bank, and bring them here; and do not give them back their garments until they surrender to you this young nymph, named Kalāvatī”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kalāvatī, 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.
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’.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: JSTOR: Tāntric Dīkṣā by Surya KantaKalāvatī (कलावती) or Kalātma refers to the third of the four types of Dīkṣā: an important Śākta ritual described Śāradātilaka-tantra, chapters III-V.—As the five kalās, beginning with Nivṛtti (nivṛtti, pratiṣṭhā, vidyā, śānti, and śāntyatītā) are the powers of Bhūtas, these are penetrated into the body of the disciple. Nivṛtti prevails in the portion of the body from the sole of the foot to knee, pratiṣṭhā from the knee to the navel, vidyā from the navel to the throat, śānti from the throat to the forehead and śāntyatītā from the forehead to the knot of hair on top of head. The guru unites these five kalās with proper parts of the disciple’s body. This is known as Kalāvatī-dīkṣā.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Kalāvatī (कलावती).—A daughter of the King of Kāśī. This gem of a woman worshipped the sage Durvāsas and became a saint by obtaining the Śaiva Pañcākṣara (five letters pertaining to Śiva—Sivāya namaḥ). Afterwards Dāśārha, King of Mathurā, married her. The King felt very hot whenever he approached her and he questioned her about it. She said she had received the Pañcākṣara Mantra even from childhood and sinners would feel the heat if they touched her. The King was greatly disappointed and Kalāvatī took him to Sage Garga to redeem him from all his sins. The sage dipped the King in the river Kālindī and when the King rose up all his sins flew away from his body as tiny birds. The King reaching the palace, embraced Kalāvatī and then he felt her body very cool and pleasant. They got a son also. (Pañcākṣaramāhātmya, Śiva Purāṇa).
2) Kalāvatī (कलावती).—Mother of Mṛgāvatī, a queen. Mṛgāvatī was the mother of Udayana. See under Mṛgāvatī).
3) Kalāvatī (कलावती).—A nymph. See under Ṭhiṇṭhākarāla.
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationKalāvatī (कलावती) is one of the three daughters of Svadhā who is one of the sixty daughters of Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] the daughter Svadhā was given to the forefathers. She had three daughters all of whom were of handsome features and virtuous forms. O excellent sage, listen to their holy names which remove obstacles and confer blessings. Menā was the eldest. Dhanyā was the middle. Kalāvatī was the youngest. All these were mentally conceived daughters of the forefathers. They were not born of the womb of Svadhā. They were conventionally considered her children. On reciting their names, men can achieve their desires”.
Kalāvatī was cursed by Sanatkumāra according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra said to the three sisters:—“[...] O ye three daughters of forefathers (i.e., Kalāvatī), listen with pleasure to my words that will dispel your sorrow and bestow happiness on you. [...] The youngest Kalāvatī shall be the wife of the Vaiśya—Vṛṣabhāna. At the end of Dvāpara, Rādhā shall be her daughter. [...] Kalāvatī by the virtue of Vṛṣabhāna shall become a living liberated soul and attain Goloka along with her daughter. There is no doubt about it. [...] Ye the daughters of forefathers (i.e., Kalāvatī) shall shine in heaven. By the vision of Viṣṇu your evil actions have been quelled. [...] Kalāvatī’s daughter Rādhā, resident of Goloka shall become the wife of Kṛṣṇa united with him in secret love”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarykāḷavaṭī (काळवटी).—f kāḷavaṇa f (kāḷavaṭa) Slur, stain, stigma, sulliedness. 2 See the word following.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkāḷavaṭī (काळवटी).—f Stain, slur.
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 dictionaryKalāvatī (कलावती).—A kind of lute.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kalāvatī (कलावती):—[=kalā-vatī] [from kalā-vat > kalā] f. a mystical ceremony (the initiation of the Tantrika student in which the goddess Durgā is supposed to be transferred from the water-jar to the body of the novice), [Tantrasāra]
2) [v.s. ...] (in mus.) a particular Mūrchanā
3) [v.s. ...] the lute of the Gandharva Tumburu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of an Apsaras
5) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of the Apsaras Alambuṣā, [Kathāsaritsāgara cxxi, 111 ff.]
6) [v.s. ...] of several other women.
7) Kālavatī (कालवती):—[=kāla-vatī] [from kāla-vat > kāla] f. Name of a daughter of Kāla-jihva, [Kathāsaritsāgara cx, 34.]
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusKalāvati (ಕಲಾವತಿ):—
1) [noun] a woman who works in or is skilled in the techniques of, any of the fine arts, esp. in painting, drawing, sculpture, drama, etc.
2) [noun] one of the Śakti (cosmic energy) goddesses.
3) [noun] the vīṇe (Indian lute) of the celestial musician, Tumburu.
4) [noun] (mus.) a mode, in Karnāṭaka system, derived from the main mode Cakravāka.
5) [noun] (mus.) another mode derived from the main mode Yāgapriya.
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Kaḷāvati (ಕಳಾವತಿ):—
1) [noun] a woman who works in or is skilled in the techniques of, any of the fine arts, esp. in painting, drawing, sculpture, drama, etc.
2) [noun] one of the forms of Śakti (energy or power) goddesses.
3) [noun] the vīṇe (Indian lute) of the celestial musician, Tumburu.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconKaḷavaṭi (களவடி) [kaḷavaṭittal] intransitive verb < களவு¹ [kalavu¹] +. To play the truant; திருட்டுத்தனஞ்செய்தல். அந்தப் பையன் பள்ளிக்கூடம்போகக் களவடிக்கிறான். [thiruttuthanancheythal. anthap paiyan pallikkudambogak kalavadikkiran.]
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Kaḷāvati (களாவதி) noun < kalāvatī. A kind of lute; வீணைவகை. [vinaivagai.] (பரதசாஸ்திரம் ஒழிபி. [magaparatham ozhipi.] 15.)
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Kālāvati (காலாவதி) noun < idem. + avadhi. Lit., time-limit, (a) season of cultivation at the expiry thereof fresh arrangements are made with the ryots; விவசாயகாலம். [vivasayagalam.] (C. G.); (b) period of limitation when rights become barred; வியாச்சி யஞ் செய்தற்குரிய காலவரையறை. [viyachi yagn seytharkuriya kalavaraiyarai.]
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Kaḷavaṭi (களவடி) [kaḷa-aṭi] noun < களம் [kalam] +. Sweepings of grain of a threshing-floor; களத்திற் சிதறிய தானியம். [kalathir sithariya thaniyam.] Local usage
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ati, Kala, Vati.
Starts with: Kalavatikamarupa, Kalavatikapattiram, Kalavativalaki.
Ends with: Anikkalavati, Harikelikalavati, Pushkalavati.
Full-text (+39): Drumila, Radha, Kalavamtini, Kalaharanam, Kalatitam, Golokavasin, Krishnapatni, Madhavacampu, Kanishtha, Kalatman, Vrishabhana, Dvaparaanta, Goloka, Kalavantina, Anikkalavati, Svarocis, Pancaksharamahatmya, Kalatma, Kalavant, Amila.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Kalavati, Kalāvatī, Kāḷavaṭī, Kālavaṭī, Kala-vati, Kalā-vatī, Kālavatī, Kāla-vatī, Kalāvati, Kaḷāvati, Kaḷavaṭi, Kālāvati, Kaḷa-aṭi, Kala-ati, Kalavathi, Kalaavathi, Kalavadi, Kalavadhi, Kaalaavathi; (plurals include: Kalavatis, Kalāvatīs, Kāḷavaṭīs, Kālavaṭīs, vatis, vatīs, Kālavatīs, Kalāvatis, Kaḷāvatis, Kaḷavaṭis, Kālāvatis, aṭis, atis, Kalavathis, Kalaavathis, Kalavadis, Kalavadhis, Kaalaavathis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.15.57 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]
Verses 2.6.17-18 < [Chapter 6 - The Liberation of Aghāsura]
Verse 5.19.20 < [Chapter 19 - The Festival on Śrī Kṛṣṇa Return]
Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) (by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah)
Part 2: Profession of Women < [Chapter 4 - Status of Women]
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
At Ramacandra Prabhu’s Home < [Chapter 2.14 - Lessons on Service and Absorption]
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Part 2 - The Summary of the Līlāvatīvīthī < [Chapter 7 - Vīthī (critical study)]
Part 7 - Characters in the Līlāvatī-Vīthī < [Chapter 7 - Vīthī (critical study)]
Part 10 - Application of the Junctures (sandhi) in a Vīthī < [Chapter 7 - Vīthī (critical study)]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 34 - In Praise of Jñānavāpī < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Chapter 33 - Description of Jñānavāpī < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Chapter 100 - Index to Kāśīkhanda < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)