Kalapurusha, Kālapuruṣa, Kala-purusha: 10 definitions

Introduction:

Kalapurusha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 Kālapuruṣa can be transliterated into English as Kalapurusa or Kalapurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Kalapurusha in Shaivism glossary
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Kālapūruṣa (कालपूरुष) refers to “(seeing) dark men” (in dreams), according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.21-27, while describing inauspicious dreams]—“[The dreamer] sees a bear or monkey, demons, cruel beings, and dark men (kālapūruṣa...darśanam ... tathaiva kālapūruṣāḥ). [He sees those who] have erect hair, dirty ones, those who wear black garlands, clothes, and coverings. That man who, in his dream, embraces a red-eyed woman, he dies, there is no doubt, if he does not bring about peace. [...]”

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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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Kalapurusha in Hinduism glossary
Source: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA: Baudhik Yojana

In Bharat, the Rishis have revered time as Kalapurusha (the embodiment of time) and have given him five limbs (his foundation). The driving force of Kala (Kalatma) is the Sun – who is praised by the sacred ‘Gayatri’ of the Rig Veda. The cosmic mind of Kalapurusha is the moon.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kalapurusha in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kālapuruṣa (कालपुरुष).—m (S) One of Yama's attendants or ministers: also an iron image of Yama filled with money &c. (to be given to Brahmans). 2 fig. A term for any fierce, terrific fellow.

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kāḷapuruṣa (काळपुरुष).—m (kāḷa Death, and puruṣa Person, Death impersonate.) A name of Yama or of any of his ministers. See kālapuruṣa. Applied freely to persons monstrous, hideous, or formidable for ferocity &c.; as mhaṇatī kāḷapuruṣa dhaṭiṅgaṇa || āḍavā yētō āmhākāraṇa ||.

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

kālapuruṣa (कालपुरुष).—m A term for any terrific fellow. One of Yama's attendants.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kalapurusha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kālapuruṣa (कालपुरुष).—m.

(-ṣaḥ) 1. One of Yama'S attendants or ministers. 2. An astrological figure of a man, with the positions of the constellations, &c. inscribed on different parts of the body for the purpose of predicting his fortunes; also kālanara, &c. E. kāla black, and puruṣa a man.

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

1) Kālapuruṣa (कालपुरुष):—[=kāla-puruṣa] [from kāla] m. = -nara, time personified, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

2) [v.s. ...] a servant of the god of death, [Kādambarī]

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

Kālapuruṣa (कालपुरुष):—[kāla-puruṣa] (ṣaḥ) 1. m. One of Yama’s attendants or ministers; astrological figure of a man.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kalapurusha 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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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kalapurusha in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kālapuruṣa (ಕಾಲಪುರುಷ):—

1) [noun] (myth.) the regent-deity of time.

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

3) [noun] a messenger of the Death-God.

4) [noun] a sketch of a man, drawn countouring the zodiac.

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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