Kanthi, Kaṇṭhī, Kaṃṭhī, Kamthi: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Kanthi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Kanthi refers to the medicinal plant “Indigofera heterantha Wall. ex Brandis.” from the Fagaceae family, and is used for ethnomedicine treatment of Fever in Ahmednagar district, India. The parts used are: “Whole plant”. Instructions for using the plant named Kanthi: Leaves are rubbed on skin allergy. Leaves are given to cattle to treat dysentery.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी) or Kaṇṭhikā refers to a type of necklace or “neck-ornament” (kaṇṭhābhūṣaṇa), as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—Kaṇṭhī is also known as Upagrīva literary meaning “near or above the neck”. This kind of necklace is worn tightly around the neck or just at the bottom of the neck. It can be made of pearl bead, gems, etc., or by a simple thread (sūtra), with or without a pendant. In the icons of Viṣṇu, one may generally notice the kaṇṭhī made of gems and simple thread. [...] Kaṇṭhī with the pendent of makara, generally known as Makarakaṇṭhī is seen in the icon of Viṣṇu.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Shaktism
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी) refers to an “ornamental necklace”, according to the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, as Bhairava describes himself: “[...] I am constantly present in the form of the teacher whose Command issues forth and functions. One should know that these teachers are born from the limbs of my Command. They are like the forms of gold which are of many kinds (only) because of (their) diverse names (such as) belt, bracelet, anklet, necklace (kaṇṭhī), seal and ring [...]”.
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)
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी) refers to “necklace” and represents one of the five mudrās (tantric ornaments) of Vajravārāhī, according to the 12th-century Abhisamayamañjarī. These mudrās are depicted upon Vajravārāhī’s body and are all made of human bone. They are made to represent the five signs of kāpālika observance.
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी) refers to a “necklace”, representing one of the “five insignias” (Pañcamudrā) worn by the initiate who observed the outer form of the Vow of Knowledge, according to the Buddhist Hevajratantra.—Accordingly, “He receives the five symbolic adornments, crown [cakrī], earrings [kuṇḍala], necklace [kaṇṭhī], bracelets [rucaka], and girdle, as signs of his success. These he wears on those set occasions... when perfected Yogins and Yoginīs come together, to consume flesh and wine, to sing and dance, and realised their consummation of bliss. He is free from all conventions and wanders as he pleases, knowing no distinction between friend and foe, clean or unclean, good or evil”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Kanthi in India is the name of a plant defined with Indigofera cassioides in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Anila pulchella (Roxb.) Kuntze (among others).
2) Kanthi is also identified with Indigofera hebepetala It has the synonym Indigofera hebepetala Baker ex Baker (etc.).
3) Kanthi is also identified with Indigofera heterantha It has the synonym Indigofera gerardiana var. heterantha (Wall. ex Brandis) Baker (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora Indica (1832)
· Cytologia (1984)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (DC.) (1825)
· The Flora of British India (1876)
· Nuovo Giornale Botanico Italiano (1910)
· Indian J. Forest. (1984)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Kanthi, for example health benefits, side effects, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
kaṇṭhī (कंठी).—f (kaṇṭha) An ornament (of gold, pearls &c.) for the neck and breast of men. 2 The square breast-piece of an aṅgarakhā.
kaṇṭhī (कंठी).—f An ornament for the neck and breast of men.
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
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी).—
1) Neck, throat.
2) A necklace, a collar.
3) A rope round the neck of a horse.
1) Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी):—[from kaṇṭha] f. neck, throat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] a rope or leather round the neck of a horse, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] a necklace, collar, ornament for the neck, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
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
Kaṃṭhī (कंठी) [Also spelled kanthi]:—(nf) a string of small beads (of [tulasī] etc.) donned esp. by Vaishnavas as a matter of faith; ~[dhārī] one who dons a [kaṃṭhī; —chūnā] to swear by the [kaṃṭhī; —toḍanā] to renounce the [vaiṣṇava] faith (and take to wine and meat etc.); —[bāṃdhanā/lenā] to be initiated in the [vaiṣṇava] faith, to become a [vaiṣṇava].
Kanthi in Hindi refers in English to:—(nf) a string of small beads (of [tulasi] etc.) donned esp. by Vaishnavas as a matter of faith; ~[dhari] one who dons a [kamthi; —chuna] to swear by the [kamthi; —todana] to renounce the [vaishnava] faith (and take to wine and meat etc.); —[bamdhana/lena] to be initiated in the [vaishnava] faith, to become a [vaishnava]..—kanthi (कंठी) is alternatively transliterated as Kaṃṭhī.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Kaṃṭhi (ಕಂಠಿ):—
1) [noun] that part of a human or animal joining the head to the body; the neck.
2) [noun] the front part of the neck.
3) [noun] the upper part of the passage leading from the mouth and nose to the stomach and lungs; the throat.
4) [noun] a necklace; an ornament for the neck.
5) [noun] a rope round the neck of a horse.
--- OR ---
Kaṃṭhi (ಕಂಠಿ):—
1) [noun] the tree Acacia catechu var. typica of Mimoseae family.
2) [noun] the leguminous twining shrub Clitoria ternatea of Papilionaceae family with blue flowers, the root of which is used as a dieretic and demulcent; butterfly-pea.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Kaṇṭhī (कण्ठी):—n. 1. small necklace; 2. a string of Tulsi beads;
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.
Pali-English dictionary
Kaṇṭhī (in Pali) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 瓔珞 [yīng luò]: “diadem”; “necklace of precious stones”.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+16): Kamthia, Kamthikabamdha, Kamthikalayi, Kamthike, Kamthiravagulige, Kamthiravamadhye, Kamthiravasamdi, Kamthiravavahane, Kamthirayi, Kamthisara, Kamthita, Kanthidara, Kanthika, Kanthika-patta-bandha, Kanthila, Kanthili, Kanthin, Kanthini, Kanthirava, Kanthiravi.
Full-text (+66): Kanti, Kanthirava, Nilakanthi, Sukanthi, Kalakanthi, Kanthiravi, Shatamanyukanthi, Shrikanthi, Kambukanthi, Neel-kanthi, Kanthika, Makarakamthi, Kantha, Kokila, Kokil, Antarbhuta, Tekakanti, Tipakanti, Piratikanti, Matikanti.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Kanthi, Kaṇṭhī, Kaṃṭhī, Kamthi, Kaṃṭhi, Kaṇṭhi; (plurals include: Kanthis, Kaṇṭhīs, Kaṃṭhīs, Kamthis, Kaṃṭhis, Kaṇṭhis). 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 6.7.29 < [Chapter 7 - The Marriage of Śrī Rukmiṇī]
Verses 2.18.31-32 < [Chapter 18 - The Sight of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 311 < [Hindi-Gujarati-English Volume 1]
Page 357 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 309 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Temples of Purushottama Kshetra Puri (by Ratnakar Mohapatra)
2.4. The Bhogamandapa (hall of offering) < [Chapter 3 - Lord Jagannatha Temple]
1. Gundicha Temple (in Puri) < [Chapter 7 - Miscellaneous Temples of Purushottama Kshetra]
3. Sculptures of Lord Jagannatha Temple < [Chapter 3 - Lord Jagannatha Temple]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Bronze, group 3: Age of Parantaka I (a.d. 907 - 950) < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Bronze, group 1: Late Pallava and Early Chola—Age of Vijayalaya (a.d. 785-871) < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Bronze, group 2: Age of Aditya I (a.d. 871-907) < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 22 < [Chapter 8 - Aṣṭama-yāma-sādhana (Rātri-līlā–prema-bhajana sambhoga)]
Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study) (by Sadhu Gyanananddas)