Kanka, Kaṅka, Kaṅkā: 22 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Kanka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryKaṅka (कङ्क).—The name Yudhiṣṭhira used during the last year of exile in the kingdom of Virāṭa.

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’).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKaṅka (कङ्क) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “heron”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Kaṅka is part of the group of birds named Vartakādi, which is a sub-group of Viṣkira, refering to “birds similar to common quail who eat while scattering the gains”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume IKaṅka (कङ्क)—Sanskrit word for a bird corresponding to “heron”, cf. gujurātī Kākrū “bird of prey”; in epics, it haunts the battlefields. This animal is from the group called Prasaha (‘carnivorous birds’). Prasaha itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Jāṅghala (living in high ground and in a jungle).

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaKaṅka (कङ्क) is another name for Hemaparvata, one of the seven major mountains in Kuśadvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 87. Kuśadvīpa is one of the seven islands (dvīpa), ruled over by Vapuṣmān, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—One of the seven famous archers of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty. The seven are: Kṛtavarmā, Anādhṛṣṭi, Samīka, Samitiñjaya, Kaṅka, Śaṅku and Kunti. (Chapter 14, Sabhā Parva).
2) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—A King of ancient India. (Śloka 233, Chapter 1, Ādi Parva).
3) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—A bird, son of Surasā. (Śloka 69, Chapter 66, Ādi Parva).
4) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—The name which Dharmaputra bore when he spent his life incognito at the palace of the King of Virāṭa. (See under Dharmaputra).
5) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—A place of habitation of ancient India. This place was given to Dharmaputra as a gift by the inhabitants of the place. (Chapter 51, Sabhā Parva).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationKaṅka (कङ्क) is the name of a Sage (Muni) who once attended a great sacrifice by Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, O sage. To partake in that sacrifice, the celestial and terrestrial sages and devas were invited by Śiva and they reached the place being deluded by Śiva’s Māyā. [Kaṅka, ...] and many others along with their sons and wives arrived at the sacrifice of Dakṣa—my son”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Kaṅka (कङ्क).—A hill of Śālmalidvīpa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 39.
1b) A son of Ugrasena.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 133.
1c) A son of Ugrasena, and brother of Kaṃsa; killed by Balarāma.1 His daughter was the queen of Andhaka.2
1d) A son of Devamīḍha alias Śūra, and Māriṣā. His queen was Karṇikā and sons were Ṛtadhāman and Jaya.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 27-9. & 44.
1e) The avatār of the Lord in the fifth dvāpara with four sons, all yogins.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 129.
1f) A ṛtvik at Brahmā's yajña.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 106. 36.
1g) (Mt.) a chief hill of the Śālmalidvīpa.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 42. 50; 49. 36; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 27.
1h) A mountain in Kuśadvīpa.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 122. 57.
1i) A royal dynasty of sixteen princes noted for their greed. See maunas.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 1. 29.
1j) A tribe defeated by Bharatas. Purified of sin by devotion to Hari.1 Heard of Kṛṣṇa going to Mithilā, and met him there with presents.2
2a) Kaṅkā (कङ्का).—A daughter of Ugrasena.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 134.
2b) A daughter of Ugrasena; wife of Ānaka and mother of Satyajit and Purujit.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 25 and 41; Matsya-purāṇa 44. 76.
Kaṅka (कङ्क) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.177.18) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kaṅka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismKanka (कंक): Assumed name of Yudhishthira at Virata's court.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarykaṅka : (m.) a heron.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryKaṅka, (Sk. kaṅka, to sound-root kṇ, cp. kiṅkiṇī & see note on gala) a heron M. I, 364, 429; J. V, 475.

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 Dictionarykaṅka (कंक).—m S A heron or curlew.
--- OR ---
kāṅkā (कांका).—m C The end-portion of a Cocoanut-branch.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkaṅka (कंक).—m A heron or curlew.
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 dictionaryKaṅka (कङ्क).—1 A heron; Mb.11.16.7.
2) A variety of mango.
3) Name of Yama.
4) A Kṣatriya.
5) A Vṛṣṇi.
6) A false or pretended Brāhmaṇa.
7) Name assumed by Yudhiṣṭhira in the palace of Virāṭa.
8) One of the 18 divisions of the continent.
9) Name of a people (pl.); cf. कङ्कस्तरङ्गे गुप्ते च गृध्ने काके युधिष्ठिरे । कूले मधुरिपौ कोके पिके वैवस्वतेऽप्यथ (kaṅkastaraṅge gupte ca gṛdhne kāke yudhiṣṭhire | kūle madhuripau koke pike vaivasvate'pyatha) || Nm.
-ṅkā 1 A sort of sandal.
2) Scent of the lotus.
Derivable forms: kaṅkaḥ (कङ्कः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṅka (कङ्क).—m.
(-ṅkaḥ) 1. A heron. 2. Yama or death. 3. A false or pretended Brahman. 4. A title of Yudisht'Hira, from his assuming the disguise of a Brahman. 5. A man of the second or military tribe. 6. One of the eighteen divisions of the continent. 7. The brother of Kansa. 8. A kind of mango. f.
(-ṅkā) 1. A daughter of Ugrasena. 2. A sort of sandal. E. kaki to go, ac aff.
--- OR ---
Kaṅkā (कङ्का).—f.
(-ṅkā) Scent of the lotus.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṅka (कङ्क).—I. m. 1. A heron, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 90, 25. 2. The name of a king, Mahābhārata 1, 227. 3. pl. The name of a people, Mahābhārata 2, 1850. Ii. f. kā, A proper name, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 2029.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṅka (कङ्क).—[masculine] heron; [Name] of a man, [plural] of a people.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumKaṅka (कङ्क) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. Padyāvalī.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kaṅka (कङ्क):—m. ([from] the above according to, [Tārānātha tarkavācaspati’s Vācaspatyam, Sanskrit dictionary]), a heron (the first heron is supposed to be a son of Surasā, [Mahābhārata i, 2633]), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxiv, 31; Sāma-veda; Mahābhārata; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.
2) a kind of mango, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) Name of Yama, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) of several men, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.
5) a Name assumed by Yudhiṣṭhira (before king Virāṭa, when in the disguise of a Brāhman), [Mahābhārata iv]
6) a false or pretended Brāhman, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) a man of the second or military tribe, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) one of the eighteen divisions of the continent, [Horace H. Wilson]
9) m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
10) Kaṅkā (कङ्का):—[from kaṅka] f. a kind of sandal, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [v.s. ...] the scent of the lotus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) Kaṅka (कङ्क):—f(ā and ī). Name of a daughter of Ugrasena (and sister of Kaṅka), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kaṅka (कङ्क):—(ṅkaḥ) 1. m. A heron; Yama or death; name of Yudishthir.
2) Kaṅkā (कङ्का):—(ṅkā) 1. f. Scent of the lotus.
[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Böhtlingk and Roth Grosses Petersburger WörterbuchKaṅka (कङ्क):—
1) m. a) Reiher (hier und da scheint aber ein Raubvogel gemeint zu sein. Die Federn bei Pfeilen verwendet.) [Amarakoṣa 2, 5, 16.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 5, 16. 3, 3, 15.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1333. 1247.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 3.] [Medinīkoṣa k. 18.] [Hārāvalī 186.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 24, 31.] [Sāmaveda II, 9, 3, 6, 1.] [ADBH. BR.] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 40.] [Mahābhārata 1, 3603. 13, 5473.] [Hiḍimbavadha 4, 9.] [Rāmāyaṇa 6, 90, 25.] [Suśruta 1, 114, 8. 118, 5. 132, 8. 202, 13. 2, 196, 17.] [Mṛcchakaṭikā 144, 11.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 87, 12.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 3, 10, 23.] (śarāḥ) kaṅkabarhiṇavāsasaḥ [Mahābhārata 4, 1867.] kaṅkavāsasaḥ [Rāmāyaṇa 6, 19, 63.] der Urreiher ein Sohn der Surasā [Mahābhārata 1, 2633.] kaṅkacit in Gestalt eines Reihers geschichtet [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 5, 4, 11, 1.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 6, 7, 2, 8.] [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 16, 5, 9.] Vgl. kaṅkapatra, kaṅkapatrin . — b) eine Mango - Species (mahārājacūta) [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] — c) ein Beiname Yama's [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 15.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — d) Nomen proprium eines Königs [Mahābhārata 1, 227. 2, 623. 1274.] ein Vṛṣṇi [1, 6999.] ein Sohn Ugrasena's [Harivaṃśa 2028. 5081. 6627.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 24, 23.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 436.] ein Sohn Śūra’s [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 24, 28. 43.] — e) m. pl. Nomen proprium eines Volkes [Mahābhārata 2, 1850.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 14, 4.] in [Weber’s Verzeichniss 240.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 2, 4, 18. 9, 20, 30.] [Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde I, 851.] — f) ein Name, den Yudhiṣṭhira beim König Virāṭa annimmt, wobei er sich für einen Brahmanen ausgiebt, [Mahābhārata 4, 23. 224. 227.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 8, 14.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 707.] Daher — g) ein Brahman dem Scheine nach [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 15.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] Nach der [Śabdamālā im Śabdakalpadruma] auch: ein Krieger; vielleicht stand in einem älteren Wörterbuch: ein Krieger, der sich für einen Brahmanen ausgiebt. —
2) f. kaṅkā a) eine Art Sandelholz (s. gośīrṣa) [Śabdamālā im Śabdakalpadruma] — b) Lotusduft [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] — c) Nomen proprium einer Tochter Ugrasena's und Schwester Kaṅka’s [Harivaṃśa 2029.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 24, 24, 40.] kaṅkī [Viṣṇupurāṇa 436.]
--- OR ---
Kaṅka (कङ्क):—
1) a) [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 43, 62.] śabdajñāna [Oxforder Handschriften 92,b,41.] — d) Nomen proprium eines Muni [Oxforder Handschriften 52,a,32.] ein Sohn Ugrasena's und jüngerer Bruder Kaṃsa’s [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 44, 40.] — e) [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 86, 26.] Name einer Dynastie: kaṅkāḥ ṣoḍaśa bhūpālāḥ [12, 1, 27.] — h) Bez. von [32] best. Ketu [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 11, 26.]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+78): Kamkasi, Kankabhatta, Kankacit, Kankada, Kankada-bharanem, Kankadem, Kankadeva, Kankadi, Kankahrada, Kankai, Kankal, Kankala, Kankalabhairava, Kankalabhairavatantra, Kankaladhara, Kankaladharamurti, Kankaladhyaya, Kankaladhyayavarttika, Kankalaka, Kankalaketu.
Ends with: Alaktakanka, Ankanka, Avarakanka, Curnashakanka, Ekanka, Gunakanka, Hatakanka, Kalankanka, Lokasamvyavaharanamakanka, Mushikanka, Svalpakanka, Svastikanka, Utsrishtikanka, Vaikanka, Vikanka, Vrihikanka.
Full-text (+46): Kankamukha, Kankashaya, Kankaparvan, Kankashatru, Kankatroti, Kankamala, Kankatrota, Kankapatra, Kankavadana, Kanku, Svalpakanka, Kankapatrin, Kankahrada, Kankalodya, Kankapattrin, Avarakanka, Kankavajita, Kankadeva, Kankarola, Kankaranka.
Relevant text
Search found 23 books and stories containing Kanka, Kaṅka, Kaṅkā, Kāṅkā; (plurals include: Kankas, Kaṅkas, Kaṅkās, Kāṅkās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.7.74-75 < [Chapter 7 - Pūrṇa (pinnacle of excellent devotees)]
The Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section VII < [Pandava-Pravesa Parva]
Section XCII < [Jayadratha-Vadha Parva]
Section LXVIII < [Goharana Parva]
The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Chapter 2 - Wonderful and Delusive Contrivances < [Book 14 - Secret Means]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 4 - The story of Ṛṣabha < [Section 3 - Śatarudra-saṃhitā]
Chapter 34 - The March of Śaṅkhacūḍa < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 9 - Śiva’s incarnations as Yogācāryas < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]