Kankala, Kaṅkāla, Kaṃkāla, Kamkala, Kaṅkala, Kamkala, Kaṇkala, Kaṅkalā: 24 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Kavya
2. Shaivism
3. Shaktism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Prakrit
6. Kannada
7. Tamil
8. Nepali
See also

Introduction:

Kankala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi, 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.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Kavya (poetry)

Source: archive.org: The ocean of story. vol. 8

Kaṅkāla is given by Watt (op. cit., vol. vi, pt. 1, p. 256) as the Bombay vernacular of Piper chaba, commonly known as Bakek. Ridley (Spices, p. 320) says it is especially used as a substitute for betel leaves when travelling in places where the fresh leaves are not procurable. It seems, therefore, that pān would not be needed in a “chew” that already included kaṅkāla. It should not be confused with kankola, the Marathi for Piper cubeba, or cubebs.

context information

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’.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

1) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) or Kaṅkālamūrti refers to one of the twenty-three forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Pūrvakāmikāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): first and foremost among the Mūlāgama. The forms of Śiva (e.g., Kaṅkāla) are established through a process known as Sādākhya, described as a five-fold process of creation.

2) Kaṅkāla is also listed among the twenty-eighth forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Vātulāgama: twenty-eighth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgama.

3) Kaṅkāla is also listed among the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Kāraṇāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): the fourth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgamas.

4) Kaṅkāla is also listed among the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Śilparatna (twenty-second adhyāya): a technical treatise by Śrīkumāra on Śilpaśāstra.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) refers to “bones” and is used to describe Śaṃkara (i.e., Bhairava), according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess (i.e., Khageśī) said to the God (i.e., Bhairava), “[...] Give up the ash, the matted hair and the form with five faces. Give up the bones [i.e., kaṅkāla] and skull and (all) else that is artificial. Give up (the practice of ritual) gestures, the Moon and the sacred thread. [...]”.

2) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) refers to a “skeleton”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Accordingly, “Nādamaṅgalyā (Vinayā) is in the north-east. She has the face of a bird and three eyes. She sits on a pig. She has ten arms and is very fierce. In the right hands she holds a sword, lance, bow, double-headed drum, and skeleton [i.e., kaṅkāla]; in the left, a dagger, a skull, trident, fetter, and goad. [...]”.

3) Kaṃkāla (कंकाल) refers to one of the eight Heroes (vīra-aṣṭaka) associated with Avyaktapīṭha (i.e., ‘the unmanifest seat’ representing the act of churning—manthāna), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight Heroes (vīrāṣṭaka): Kaṃkāla, Nirāpekṣa, Kurūpa, Kārtikeśvara, Kunda, Kumāraka, Vīra, Vīreśa.

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Kaṃkāla (कंकाल) refers to one of the eight Servants (ceṭa-aṣṭaka) associated with Kāmākhya (corresponding to the eastern face of Bhairava), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Servants (ceṭāṣṭaka): Śaṃkhapāla, Kaṃkāla, Viśālaka, Ajaya, Vijaya, Vīrabhadra, Raktākṣa, Kasmāla.

context information

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) is the husband of Prabhāvatī: the name of a Ḍākinī (‘sacred girl’) presiding over Oḍyāna: one of the four Pīṭhas (‘sacred spot’) present within the Cittacakra (‘circle of mid’), according to the 9th-centruy Vajraḍākatantra. The Cittacakra is one of three Cakras within the Tricakra system which embodies twenty-four sacred spots or districts resided over by twenty-four Ḍākinīs whose husbands (viz., Kaṅkāla) abide in one’s body in the form of twenty-four ingredients (dhātu) of one’s body.

Prabhāvatī has for her husband the hero (vīra) named Kaṅkāla. She is the presiding deity of Oḍyāna and the associated internal location is ‘right ear’ and the bodily ingredients (dhātu) are ‘skin’ and ‘dirt’.

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

1) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) refers to a “skeleton” and represents one of the items held in the left hand of Heruka: one of the main deities of the Herukamaṇḍala described in the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Heruka is positioned in the Lotus (padma) at the center; He is the origin of all heroes; He has 17 faces (with three eyes on each) and 76 arms [holding, for example, kaṅkāla]; He is half black and half green in color; He is dancing on a flaming sun placed on Bhairava and Kālarātrī.

2) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Prabhāvatī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vajracakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the vajracakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Kaṅkāla] each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum and a knife; they are dark-bluish-black in color.

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) is the name of a Ḍāka (male consort) and one of the deities of the Cakrasaṃvara-maṇḍala or Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—The Cakrasaṃvara mandala has a total of sixty-two deities. [...] Three concentric circles going outward, the body, speech and mind wheels (kāya-vāka-citta), in the order: mind (blue), speech (red), and body (white), with eight Ḍākinīs each in non-dual union with their Ḍākas, "male consorts".

Associated elements of Prabhāmatī and Kaṅkāla:

Circle: kāyacakra (mind-wheel) (blue);
Ḍākinī (female consort): Prabhāmatī;
Ḍāka (male consort): Kaṅkāla;
Bīja: oṃ;
Body-part: right ear;
Pīṭha: Oḍiyāna;
Bodily constituent: tvaṅ-mala (skin/filth);
Bodhipakṣa (wings of enlightenment): mīmāṃsā-ṛddhipāda (power of analysis).

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) refers to a “skeleton”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] A circle [of the twenty-four Ḍākinīs] is on an all-colored lotus of forty-eight petals. On the twelve [circles], provided with sixteen gates, pleasing, and [complete with] thirty-two charnel grounds, [marks of] (1) knife, (2) jewel, (3) vajra, (4) lotus, (5) disk, (6) sword, (7) crossed vajra, (8) skull bowl, (9) hairless head, (10) skeleton (kaṅkāla), a powerful entity’s head [muṇḍakaṅkāla īśakam], (11) noose, and (12) hook are to be known: circular patterns [of these marks] are on the respective circles. Every [circle is] also [provided with] thirty-six spokes. A vajra on a lotus is [placed on] a sun [disk].[...]”.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kaṅkala, (Sk. kaṅkāla & cp. śṛṅkhala (as kaṇṇa›śṛnga), orig. meaning “chain”) skeleton; only in cpd. atthi°. Aṭṭhikaṅkal’ūpamā kāmā Vin. II, 25; M. I, 130, 364; J. V, 210; Th. 1, 1150 (°kuṭika): aṭṭhikaṅkalasannibha Th. 2, 488 (=ThA. 287; cp. Morris, J. P. T. S. 1885, 75): aṭṭhikaṅkala aṭṭhi-puñja aṭṭhi-rāsi S. II, 185=It. 17 (but in the verses on same page: puggalass’aṭṭhisañcayo). Cp. aṭṭhisaṅkhalikā PvA. 152; aṭṭhika saṅkhalikā J. I, 433; aṭṭhi-saṅghāṭa Th. 1, 60. (Page 174)

context information

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 Dictionary

kaṅkāḷā (कंकाळा).—a (Poetry.) Cruel, savage, truculent.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kaṅkālā (कङ्काला) or Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल).—A skeleton; जरत्कङ्कालमालोक्यते (jaratkaṅkālamālokyate) Māl. 5.14. किं न पश्यति भवान् विपन्नपन्नगानेककङ्कालसंकुलं महाश्मशानम् (kiṃ na paśyati bhavān vipannapannagānekakaṅkālasaṃkulaṃ mahāśmaśānam) | Nāg.4. कङ्कालक्रीडनोत्कः कलितकलकलः कालकालीकलत्रः (kaṅkālakrīḍanotkaḥ kalitakalakalaḥ kālakālīkalatraḥ) Udb.

-laḥ A particuler mode in music.

Derivable forms: kaṅkālāḥ (कङ्कालाः), kaṅkālam (कङ्कालम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल).—m.

(-laḥ) The skeleton. E. kaki to go, kālac aff.

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

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल).—m. A skeleton, [Sundopasundopākhyāna] 2, 24.

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

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल).—[masculine] [neuter] skeleton.

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

1) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल):—mn. a skeleton, [Mahābhārata; Kathāsaritsāgara etc.]

2) m. a particular mode in music.

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

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल):—(laḥ) 1. m. A skeleton.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kaṃkāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kankala 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Kaṃkāla (कंकाल) [Also spelled kankal]:—(nm) a skeleton, bare physical frame; ~[śeṣa] reduced to/turned into a skeleton.

context information

...

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Kaṃkāla (कंकाल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kaṅkāla.

context information

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 corpus

Kaṃkaḷa (ಕಂಕಳ):—[noun] an ornamental metal band or chain worn about the wrist; a bracelet.

--- OR ---

Kaṃkāla (ಕಂಕಾಲ):—

1) [noun] the hard framework of an animal body, supporting the tissues and protecting the organs; esp. all the bones collectively or the bony framework, of a human being; the skeleton.

2) [noun] a weapon made of bones.

3) [noun] a musical system of India (now extinct).

--- OR ---

Kaṃkāḷa (ಕಂಕಾಳ):—[noun] = ಕಂಕಾಲ [kamkala].

--- OR ---

Kaṃkāḷa (ಕಂಕಾಳ):—[noun] a severe, often fatal complication of malaria characterised by a rapid heartbeat and the passing of dark urine; black water fever.

context information

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 Lexicon

Kaṇkala (கண்கல) [kaṇkalattal] [kaṇ-kala] intransitive verb < idem. +.

1. To look at each other, to exchange glances; ஒருவரையொருவர் பார்த்தல். [oruvaraiyoruvar parthal.]

2. To come in sight; எதிர்ப்படுதல். கண்கலக்கப் பூத்த கற்பக மொத்தது [ethirppaduthal. kankalakkap putha karpaga mothathu] (சீவகசிந்தாமணி [sivagasindamani] 2545).

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

1) Kaṅkalā (कङ्कला):—adj. 1. skeletal; 2. (of crying) loud;

2) Kaṅkāla (कङ्काल):—n. skeleton;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 22 books and stories containing Kankala, Kaṅkāla, Kaṃkaḷa, Kaṃkāla, Kaṅkālā, Kaṅkaḷa, Kaṅkāḷā, Kaṃkāla, Kamkala, Kaṅkala, Kamkala, Kaṃkāḷa, Kaṅkāḷa, Kaṇkala, Kaṇ-kala, Kan-kala, Kaṅkalā; (plurals include: Kankalas, Kaṅkālas, Kaṃkaḷas, Kaṃkālas, Kaṅkālās, Kaṅkaḷas, Kaṅkāḷās, Kamkalas, Kaṅkalas, Kaṃkāḷas, Kaṅkāḷas, Kaṇkalas, kalas, Kaṅkalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

7. Favourable Directions for Installing the Śiva Mūrtis < [Chapter 3 - Prākāra Lakṣaṇa]

show preview

Internal Anatomy < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

show preview

Symbology of khatvanga in the Mahavrata < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]

Chapter 4.1 - Bhikshatana-murti (the Lord becoming a beggar) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]

Chapter 3.8 - Brahma-shirascheda-murti (cutting off Brahma’s head) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]

+ 4 more chapters / show preview

Sculpture at its Best < [September-October, 1929]

Our National Bird: The Peacock its Myths and Legends < [October 1966]

show preview

Chapter 65 - The Greatness of Ānandeśvara (ānanda-īśvara-tīrtha) < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]