Kanaya, Kana-aya, Kaṇaya: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Kanaya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali. 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 Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraKaṇaya (कणय) refers to a weapon which should measure should measure twenty aṅguli (unit of measurement), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. It is also known by the names Kaṇapa and Kampana. In dramatic plays, weapons such as kaṇaya should be made by experts using proper measurements and given to persons engaged in a fight, angry conflict or siege. It forms a component of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

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).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraKaṇaya (कणय) refers to a kind of weapon (possibly a kind of “arrow”).—(cf. Ardha-māgadhī-koṣa and Meyer, p, 155)—A kaṇaya is made entirely of metal, triangular at both ends, held in the middle. We already have one “arrow”, if śalya is so interpreted, but that might be some other pointed weapon, or kaṇaya might be a different variety.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarykaṇaya : (m.) a sort of spear; a short of lance.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryKaṇaya, (Derivation unknown, cp. Sk. kaṇaya=kaṇapa) a sort of spear, lance J. I, 273; II, 364 (like a spear, of a bird’s beak); Miln. 339.

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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryKaṇaya (कणय).—or kanaya (m. or nt.; = Pali id.; on Sanskrit see below), some kind of weapon, said to be a kind of spear or lance; occurs only in long cpds. consisting of lists of weapons of all kinds: -kaṇaya- Lalitavistara 305.9 (no v.l.); 306.14 (-kan°, v.l. -kanapa-); 317.15 (several good mss. kanaya-); -kanaya- Lalitavistara 218.12 (no v.l.). The form kaṇaya is recorded as v.l. for kaṇapa in some Sanskrit passages, [Boehtlingk and Roth] 2.30, and twice without record of v.l. in late Sanskrit, see Schmidt, Nachtr. The form kaṇapa is not very common in Sanskrit itself, see [Boehtlingk and Roth] l.c. and [Boehtlingk]; it is found Mahābhārata Cr. ed. 1.218.24 (Calcutta (see LV.) 1.8257) and 3.83* (after 3.21.32 ab; Calcutta (see LV.) 3.810 kaṇapa, Bomb. kanapa); no Mahābhārata ms. is recorded with ya for pa in either place. Yet it seems probable that the variation between y and p is purely graphic; Pali and [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] clearly support y, which even Sanskrit sometimes shows as v.l. for p and which may be the original (rela- tively very few occurrences are noted).
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Kanaya (कनय).—see kaṇaya.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryKanaya (कनय):—[from kana] [Nominal verb] [Parasmaipada] kanayati, to make less or smaller, diminish, [Bhaṭṭi-kāvya xviii, 25.]
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryKaṇaya (कणय) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kanaka.
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 corpusKaṇaya (ಕಣಯ):—[noun] a knot tied to hold the sari at the waist.
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Kaṇaya (ಕಣಯ):—
1) [noun] a kind of weapon.
2) [noun] a sharp pointed wooden or metal shaft shot from a bow as a weapon; an arrow.
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Kaṇāya (ಕಣಾಯ):—[noun] = ಕಣಪ [kanapa]1.
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Kāṇaya (ಕಾಣಯ):—[noun] a thick, heavy stick; a staff.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kaana, Aya, Kana.
Starts with: Kanayagga, Kanayakumari, Kanayam, Kanayamdi, Kanayana, Kanayati, Kanayavatta.
Full-text: Kanayagga, Tulakanaya, Makarandakanaya, Kanayam, Kaṇapa, Kanaka, Kampana.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Kanaya, Kana-aya, Kaṇa-aya, Kaṇaya, Kaṇāya, Kāṇaya; (plurals include: Kanayas, ayas, Kaṇayas, Kaṇāyas, Kāṇayas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Youth of Ajita and Sagara < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
List of 14 ornaments < [Notes]
Thirty-six weapons < [Notes]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Pañcāvudha-jātaka < [Chapter XXVII - The Virtue of Exertion]
Vasudevahindi (cultural history) (by A. P. Jamkhedkar)
9. Description of Royal Transport < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study) (by Shri N. M. Kansara)
10. Dissention with Bhoja and migration to Sacora < [Chapter 1 - The Author (biography of Dhanapala)]
Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature (by Sulekha Biswas)
8. Non-gem materials in the Varahamihira’s Brihatsamhita < [Chapter 8 - Non-gem Minerals and Metals in Rasa-shastra]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)
Description of the Idols < [Chapter 6]