Kancuka, Kamcuka, Kañcuka: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Kancuka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Kanchuka.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚaivismKañcuka (कञ्चुक):—Represents five factors of limitation that occur in the second stage during the unity of Śiva and Śakti (subject and object). Their unity is initiated upon the cosmic process of creation.
Source: Google Books: An Introduction to Indian Philosophy (Shaivism)Kañcuka (कञ्चुक).—Human souls are subject to mala, māyā and karma. Such souls are equipped with five derivatives from māyā that are called kañcukas:
- kalā-tattva (a limited capacity for agency),
- vidyā-tattva (a limited capacity for sensory perception and other intellectual acts),
- niyati-tattva (a principle of causal regularity),
- rāga-tattva (an interest in the bojects of experience),
- kāla-tattva (our experience of time and its successiveness)
Kañcuka (कञ्चुक).—Kalā, vidyā, and rāga form a special inner group among the five kañcukas, such that these three alone are sometimes referred to with the term kaṅcuka even where the existence also of kāla and niyati is acknowledged (as here). Jayaratha ad loc., following the lead given by Abhinavagupta in his avatārikā in Tantrāloka 9:206ab, asserts that the Śivatanuśāstra too knows six kañcukas (including māyā as the sixth), arguing that kāla and niyati are not mentioned not because they are held not to exist but because they are purified (in initiation) when one purifies the other three, and to this effect he quotes a prose statement that he attributes to the Ruruvṛtti, and which therefore may have belonged to a lost section of Sadyojyotis’s commentary on the Rauravasūtrasaṅgraha.

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.
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)Kañcuka (कञ्चुक, “chamberlain”) is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the Bāhattaraniyogādhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (Śāsana-śabdakośāmu). The bāhattaraniyoga-adhipati is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Kañcuka). For example: During the reign of Gaṇapatideva, the area extending between Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi was entrusted to Gaṇḍapeṇḍāru Gangayasāhiṇi as Bāhattaraniyogādhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to Kāyastha Jannigadeva.

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Kañcuka (कञ्चुक) refers to a “serpent’s sloth”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “All sin (pāpa) committed in seven lifetimes [i.e., saptajanma-kṛta] by (one’s) action (karman) or by the mind (manas) is destroyed as is a serpent’s sloth [i.e., kañcuka—sarpasya kañcukaṃ] (and the adept attains) the Accomplishment of Speech (vācāsiddhi), the Arousal of the Body (purakṣobha), conquers flight and the rest”.
2) Kañcuka (कञ्चुक) refers to the “enveloping cover” (of sin), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] Abandoning the enveloping cover (kañcuka) of sin, O dear one, by praising the sacred seats he sees no misfortune even if he is yoked to terrible sins (or) has killed his mother, father or a cow or steals the sacrificial offerings of the Heroes (vīradravya) or has fallen from the Rule due to (his) carelessness or even if he has stopped uttering the Mantras”.

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.
India history and geography
Source: What is India: Inscriptions of the VākāṭakasKañcuka (कञ्चुक) refers to a long robe worn during the reign of the Vākāṭakas (mid-3rd century CE).—Ajaṇṭā paintings give us a clear idea of the costume and jewellery worn by men and women in Vidarbha in the age of the Vākāṭakas. Most of them are shown dressed in a short antarīyaka or lower garment. As it did not cover the knees, it was called ardhoruka. [...] Women also wore their lower garment in a similar fashion. This is clear from one end of it dangling behind when they are shown seated or standing with the back turned towards others. Some women, however, wore their lower garment in the vikaccha fashion i.e. without the ends of it being tucked up behind. Some men wore a pair of shorts which were tied with a band called kaṭibandha. This kind of lower garment was called caṇḍātaka. From the Harṣacarita we learn that women also used to wear such a caṇḍātaka or underwear inside a long robe or kañcuka.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarykañcuka : (m.) a jacket; an over-coat; an armour; mantle; the slough of a snake.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryKañcuka, (from kañc (kac) to bind, cp. Gr. kάkala fetter, Sk. kañcuka) 1. a closely fitting jacket, a bodice Vin. I, 306=II. 267; A. I, 145; DhA. III, 295 (paṭa°ṃ paṭimuncitvā dressed in a close bodice); PvA. 63 (urago tacaṃ kañcukaṃ omuñcanto viya).—2. the slough of a snake (cp. 1) DA. I, 222.—3. armour, coat of mail J. V, 128 (sannāha°); DA. I, 157 (of leather); Dāvs. V, 14.—4. a case, covering, encasement; of one pagoda incasing another: Mhvs. I, 42. (Page 176)

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 Dictionarykañcuka (कंचुक).—m (S) A jacket or sleeved waistcoat; a sort of covering for the upper body. 2 The exuvies or slough of a snake. 3 Husk, rind, peel, skin, shell; an integument or envelope gen. 4 A coat or mail: also armour more gen. 5 (Poetry.) A coating or covering gen. as nabhācā kaṃ0 &c.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkañcuka (कंचुक).—m A sleeved waistcoat. Husk. A coating.
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 dictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक).—
1) An armour, mail; घनाश्च कञ्चुकाः (ghanāśca kañcukāḥ) Śiśupālavadha 1.45. The skin of a snake, slough; भोगिनः कञ्चुकाविष्टाः (bhoginaḥ kañcukāviṣṭāḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.65.
2) आस्तां स्वस्तिकलक्ष्म वक्षसि, तनौ नालोक्यते कञ्चुकः (āstāṃ svastikalakṣma vakṣasi, tanau nālokyate kañcukaḥ) Nāg.5.17.
3) A dress, grab, cloth (in general); धर्म° प्रवेशिनः (dharma° praveśinaḥ) Ś.5; कपटधर्म° (kapaṭadharma°) Daśakumāracarita 29.
4) A dress fitting close to the upper part of the body, robe; अन्तःकञ्चुकिकञ्चुकस्य विशति त्रासादयं वामनः (antaḥkañcukikañcukasya viśati trāsādayaṃ vāmanaḥ) Ratnāvalī 2.3; सुभाषितरसास्वादजातरोमाञ्च- कञ्चुकम् (subhāṣitarasāsvādajātaromāñca- kañcukam) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.1.68.
5) A bodice, jacket; क्वचिदिवेन्द्रगजाजिन- कञ्चुकाः (kvacidivendragajājina- kañcukāḥ) Śiśupālavadha 6.51,12.2; Amaruśataka 81; (Phrase:nindati kañcukakāraṃ prāyaḥ śuṣkastanī nārī; cf. "a bad workman quarrels with his tools").
6) A kind of drawers or short breeches.
7) A strap of leather.
8) Husk.
Derivable forms: kañcukaḥ (कञ्चुकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक).—m., or °kā, f. (doubtless = Sanskrit kañcuka, also fem. °kī, bodice; coat of armor; covering, sheath; skin of a snake), covering, downy coat (of flowers): Mahāvastu i.236.9—10 = 241.3—4 (verses, but defective in meter) tāni ca kara- pramuktā surabhīṇi pañcavarṇo (? °ṛṇe? sc. flowers, strewn over Dīpaṃkara), saṃsthihati puṣpakañcuko bhagavato lokanāthasya; Avadāna-śataka ii.68.6 (dārako jāto…) divyasumanaḥkañcukayā (so read for °kañcikayā) prā- vṛtaḥ; 70.3 divyayā ca sumanasāṃ (mss. °syāṃ) kañcukayā prāvṛto; for kañcukā Speyer cites Tibetan ral chuṅ, fine hair; Feer, couvert d'un duvet de sumanā (jasmine) divin.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक).—[kañc + uka], m. 1. A jacket, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 99, 23; [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 18, 16. 2. Dress, Mahābhārata 12, 816. 3. Mail, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 8, 7, 15. 4. The skin of a snake, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 73 (and mail).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक).—[masculine] [neuter], ī [feminine] (adj. —° [feminine] ā) coat of mail, bodice, jacket.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kañcuka (कञ्चुक):—mf(ī)n. (ifc. f(ā). ) ([from] √kañc?) a dress fitting close to the upper part of the body, armour, mail
2) a cuirass, corselet, bodice, jacket, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] [Ratnāvalī; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.
3) m. the skin of a snake, [Pañcatantra]
4) husk, shell, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
5) cover, cloth, envelope, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
6) ([figuratively]) a cover, disguise, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]
7) = karabha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. The skin of a snake; mail; cloths; kind of drawers. (kī) 3. f. Name of a plant.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kañcuka (कञ्चुक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kaṃcu, Kaṃcua.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusKaṃcuka (ಕಂಚುಕ):—
1) [noun] a jacket, bodice a) a sleeved short outer garment for the upper part of the body (of a man or woman); b) the upper part of a woman’s dress.
2) [noun] a defensive armour; a coat of mail.
3) [noun] the skin of a snake that is the outer layer which is periodically cast off; the slough.
4) [noun] the outer cover of a cereal.
5) [noun] (vīr.) any of the six sheaths of the soul that make the individual soul ignorant of the Supreme Soul.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryKañcuka (कञ्चुक):—n. 1. a cloak; 2. a dress fitting close to upper part of the body; 3. the slough of a snake; 4. armor, mail;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Kamcukadale, Kamcukagale, Kancukacariram, Kancukalu, Kancukam, Kancukan, Kancukasadisa, Kancukasanthana, Kancukathupa, Kancukayamana, Kancuki.
Full-text (+56): Muktakancuka, Kancuki, Pratikancuka, Utkancuka, Kancukalu, Kamcuka, Dharmakancuka, Kambalakancuka, Sakancuka, Muktakancukam, Kancukam, Krishnakancuka, Ahikancuka, Shunakakancuka, Kancukin, Malakancuka, Papakancuka, Pancakancukam, Subhashitarasasvadajataromancakancuka, Kancukiya.
Relevant text
Search found 42 books and stories containing Kancuka, Kaci-uka, Kamcuka, Kaṃcuka, Kañcuka, Kancukas; (plurals include: Kancukas, ukas, Kamcukas, Kaṃcukas, Kañcukas, Kancukases). 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 6.7.24 < [Chapter 7 - The Marriage of Śrī Rukmiṇī]
Verse 1.17.7 < [Chapter 17 - Description of the Yogurt Theft]
Verse 4.19.26 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]
Gitartha Samgraha (critical Study) (by Partha Sarathi Sil)
Appendix: List of Technical Terms of Kashmir Śaivism
3. Tattvas (Principles) of Kashmir Śaivism < [Chapter 3 - A Brief Sketch of Kashmir Śaivism]
Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) (by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah)
15. The style of Costumes < [Chapter 6 - Other Socio-Cultural Aspects]
4. Economic Condition < [Chapter 6 - Other Socio-Cultural Aspects]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 391: The Primal One is Narayana and Brahma as Well < [Tantra Two (irantam tantiram) (verses 337-548)]
Verse 2258: Experiences in the Five States of Consciousness < [Tantra Eight (ettam tantiram) (verses 2122-2648)]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
2.1. Upper Garments (f): Kañcuka (tailored garment) < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]
2.1. Upper Garments (n): Breast Cloth < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]
2.1. Upper Garments (h): Vārabāṇa (armour) < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)
10. The Products of Māyā < [Chapter 4 - Ultimate Reality and God in Pratyabhijñā and Advaita]
Appendix 1 - Glossary of Technical Terms
5.4. Individual Self and Worldly Experiences < [Chapter 3 - The nature of Universe and Individual Self in Pratybhijñā and Advaita]
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