Kayastha, Kāyastha, Kāyasthā, Kaya-stha: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Kayastha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKāyasthā (कायस्था) is another name for Tulasī, which is a Sanskrit word referring to Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil), from the Lamiaceae family. It is classified as a medicinal plant in the system of Āyurveda (science of Indian medicine) and is used throughout literature such as the Suśrutasaṃhita and the Carakasaṃhitā. The synonym was identified in the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 10.148-149), which is a 13th century medicinal thesaurus.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Shodhganga: A critical appreciation of soddhalas udayasundarikathaKāyastha (कायस्थ).—Soḍḍhala calls himself a Kāyastha and at the same time claims to he a Kṣatriya. Kāle says that Kāyastha is a nan of mixed origin, being the offspring of a Kṣatriya father and a Śūdrā mother. They formed the writer class. According to wilson, men of the Kāyastha tribe were usually employed by Hindu princes in the collection and record of their revenue and their character for extortion became proverbial.
Yājñavalkyasmṛti refers to Kāyastha and the Mitākṣarā on it says that a Kāyastha is a writer (lekhaka) and an accountant (gaṇaka). He is a favourite of kings and fradulent by nature.
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’.
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics (Artha)Kāyastha (कायस्थ) refers to “writers” of grant plates (used as legal documents in ancient India).—They were written by professional writers. The existence of such writers is mentioned in the southern Buddhist canons and in the Epics. They have been called lekhaka, lipikara and later on divira, karaṇa, kāyastha, etc. According to Kalhaṇa (Rājataraṅgiṇī), the Kings of Kashmir employed a special officer for drafting legal documents. He bore the title of paṭṭopādhyāya, i.e., the teacher (charged with the preparation) of title deeds. The existence of manuals such as the lekhapañcaśikā, the lekhaprakāśa, which give rules for drafting letters, land grants, treaties, and various kinds of bonds and bills of exchange, show beyond doubt that the writing of grant plates [by the kāyastha] was a specialised art and that the style of writing those documents must always have been centuries behind the times, just as it is even to-day with respect to legal and state documents.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchKāyastha (कायस्थ) refers to “occupying a body”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] Performing the practice of the elements, [the Yogin continues to be] seen in the world occupying a body (kāyastha), and he maintains the practice of the elements in order to [remain] absorbed in the Śakti element. [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
India history and geography
Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his timesKāyastha is one of the ancient dynasties from India (Āndhradeśa or Andhra Pradesh), conquered and subjugated by Gaṇapatideva (r. 1199-1262 A.D.) who let them rule their territory as an independent māṇḍalika.—The Kāyasthas were an important ruling family who held sway over a vast tract of land in Āndhra from Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi, They ruled from the capital city of Vellūr and Gaṇḍikoṭa in Cuddapeh district.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryKāyastha.—(EI 24; ASLV; HD), a clerk; explained by some as ‘a registrar’ (EI 31); a scribe or writer in the king's revenue department according to some. See Yājñavalkyasmṛti, I. 322; Viṣṇu Dharma Sūtra, VII. 3; etc. Cf. Aśvaghāsa-kāyastha and Grāma-kāyastha (Rājataraṅgiṇī, V. 175; IHQ, Vol. IX, p. 12). See also Hist. Dharm., Vol. II, pp. 75-77. For derivation, cf. Bhār. Vid., Vol. X, pp. 280 ff. Note: kāyastha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Source: Shodhganga: Vernacular architecture of Assam with special reference to Brahmaputra ValleyKayastha is an Assamese term referring to “An Assamese caste”.—It appears in the study dealing with the vernacular architecture (local building construction) of Assam whose rich tradition is backed by the numerous communities and traditional cultures.
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I (history)Kāyastha (कायस्थ) is the name of an ancient caste from Māthurā (said to have originated from Citragupta), according to the “Samoṣaṇa Kāitha Māthura-rāsa” (dealing with caste history), and is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—In between the work deals with the legendary origin of the Kāyasthas as sons of Citragupta, himself born from Brahmā’s body. The Māthura Kāyasthas are one of the twelve Kāyastha groups. [...] This group, which is said to take its name from the fact that it was associated with Mathura (Māthura Nivāsī) is referred for the first time as such in an inscription dated VS 1161 (1103 CE; cf. Chitrarekha Gupta, The Kāyasthas. A Study in the Formation and Early History of a Caste, calcutta: K.p. Bagchi and company, 1996, pp. 103ff.). the
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsKayastha in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Terminalia chebula Retz. from the Combretaceae (Rangoon creeper) family. For the possible medicinal usage of kayastha, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Kayastha in India is the name of a plant defined with Amomum subulatum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cardamomum subulatum Kuntze (among others).
2) Kayastha is also identified with Ocimum tenuiflorum It has the synonym Lumnitzera tenuiflora (L.) Spreng. (etc.).
3) Kayastha is also identified with Terminalia chebula It has the synonym Myrobalanus chebula Gaertn. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Calyx (1999)
· Cytologia (1989)
· Flora of the British India (1885)
· Flora Indica, or ‘Descriptions of Indian Plants’ (1820)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1982)
· Journal of the Indian Botanical Society (1986)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Kayastha, for example pregnancy safety, chemical composition, diet and recipes, extract dosage, health benefits, side effects, 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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarykāyastha (कायस्थ).—m (S) A caste or tribe or an individual of it. One of the two distinctions comprehended under parabhū, viz. kāyastha & pātāṇyā. Their employment is writing. Of the distinction kāyastha the origin is from a vaidēhaka father and a māhiṣyā mother, according to the vākya in the book jātivivēka, viz. vaidēhakāt māhiṣyāyām. (vaidēhaka is the offspring of a vaiśya male in congress with a Brahman female, and māhiṣyā is the daughter of a kṣatriya father and a vaiśya mother.) Of the distinction pātāṇyā the origin is from a kṣatriya male in commerce with his own wife on the second day of her menstruation. 2 Called also kāsta. An individual of a mixed tribe sprung from a Brahman in commerce with his wife on the second day of her menstruation. See the book jātivivēka. 3 The tribe, or an individual of it, commonly called kāyata q. v.
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 dictionaryKāyastha (कायस्थ).—
1) the Supreme Being.
2) the writer-caste (born from a kṣatriya father and a śūdra mother). कायस्थेनोदरस्थेन मातु- र्मांसं न भक्षितम् । दयावृत्तिर्न चैवात्र दन्ताभावो हि कारणम् (kāyasthenodarasthena mātu- rmāṃsaṃ na bhakṣitam | dayāvṛttirna caivātra dantābhāvo hi kāraṇam) || Subhāṣ.
3) a man of that caste; कायस्थ इति लध्वी मात्रा (kāyastha iti ladhvī mātrā) Mu.1; Y.1.336; Mṛcchakaṭika 9. (-sthā) 1 a woman of that caste.
2) the Myrobalan tree (Mar. hiraḍā).
-sthī the wife of a कायस्थ (kāyastha).
Derivable forms: kāyasthaḥ (कायस्थः).
Kāyastha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kāya and stha (स्थ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKayasthā (कयस्था).—f.
(-sthā) A medicinal plant, commonly Kakoli; also kāyasthā, or more accurately, perhaps, vayasthā.
--- OR ---
Kāyastha (कायस्थ).—m.
(-sthaḥ) 1. The Supreme Being. 2. A caste or tribe, or man of that tribe; the Kayet'h or writer caste, proceeding from a Kshet- triya father and Sudra mother. f.
(-sthā) 1. Yellow myrobalan: see harītakī. 2. Emblic myrobalan. 3. A drug, commonly Kakoli. 4. A woman of the Kayet'h caste. f. (-sthī) The wife of a Kayet'h or scribe. E. kāya the body or house. and stha who stays, or resides.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāyastha (कायस्थ).—[kāya-stha] (vb. sthā), m. A mixed tribe or caste, the writer caste; a writer, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 174; 264; 438.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāyastha (कायस्थ).—[masculine] writer (a mixed caste).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kayasthā (कयस्था):—f. a medicinal plant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) ([varia lectio] for vayaḥsthā.)
3) Kāyastha (कायस्थ):—[=kāya-stha] [from kāya] m. ‘dwelling in the body’, the Supreme Spirit, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a particular caste or man of that caste, the Kāyath or writer caste (born from a Kṣatriya father and Śūdra mother), [Yājñavalkya; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.
5) Kāyasthā (कायस्था):—[=kāya-sthā] [from kāya-stha > kāya] f. a woman of that caste, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] Myrobalanus Chebula, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] Emblica officinalis, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
8) [v.s. ...] Ocimum sanctum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] a drug (commonly Kākolī), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) [v.s. ...] cardamoms, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kayasthā (कयस्था):—(sthā) 1. f. A Kākoli plant.
2) Kāyastha (कायस्थ):—[kāya-stha] (sthaḥ) 1. m. The Supreme Being; the writer caste. f. (sthī) Wife of a Kāyastha; yellow or emblic myrobalan; a drug.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kāyastha (कायस्थ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kāyattha.
[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 corpusKāyastha (ಕಾಯಸ್ಥ):—[noun] a clerk a) an office worker who keeps records,
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 DictionaryKāyastha (कायस्थ):—n. 1. the writer castle; a person from that caste; 2. a particular caste in Terai;
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: Kayasthakshatriyatvadrumadalanakuthara, Kayasthali, Kayasthanirnaya, Kayasthapaddhati, Kayasthasthitinirupana, Kayasthatattva, Kayasthavicara.
Ends with: Akayastha, Ashva-ghasa-kayastha, Ashvaghasakayastha, Balabhadra kayastha, Canda kayastha, Gramakayastha, Jyeshtha-kayastha, Karana-kayastha, Krishnadasa kayastha, Maithilakayastha, Prathama-kayastha, Samdhivigrahakayastha, Sandhivigraha-adhikarana-kayastha, Shasanika-kayastha.
Full-text (+160): Mayabhyudayana, Kutakrit, Panjikakaraka, Kayasthi, Bhadreshvara, Ahittana, Samaulika, Gramakayastha, Suktisamgraha, Navaranga, Srivastava, Surajadhvaja, Asthana, Nigam, Karna, Gaura, Ambashta, Bhatnagar, Shri-bastabi, Valmika.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Kayastha, Kāyastha, Kāyasthā, Kaya-stha, Kāya-stha, Kayasthā, Kāya-sthā; (plurals include: Kayasthas, Kāyasthas, Kāyasthās, sthas, Kayasthās, sthās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD) (by Yashoda Devi)
Introduction (Kayastha dynasty) < [Chapter XIX - The Kayasthas (A.D. 1220-1320)]
Part 41 - Mallideva Choda (A.D. 1250) < [Chapter XX - The Telugu Cholas (Chodas)]
Part 5 - Later and other Kayasthas < [Chapter XIX - The Kayasthas (A.D. 1220-1320)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.14.12 < [Chapter 14 - Yamarāja’s Saṅkīrtana]
Verse 1.8.54 < [Chapter 8 - The Disappearance of Jagannātha Miśra]
Verse 2.14.14 < [Chapter 14 - Yamarāja’s Saṅkīrtana]
Satirical works of Kshemendra (study) (by Arpana Devi)
3. Rasa or the sentiment < [Chapter 4 - Literary study of the Three Satirical Works]
3. Summary of the Narmamālā < [Chapter 3 - Satirical Works of Kṣemendra]
5.1. The Corrupt Bureaucrats < [Chapter 5 - Kṣemendra’s objectives of Satire]
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 6 - Caste system and occupations (found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita) < [Chapter IV - Socio-cultural study of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Part 4a - Chandas (1): Vṛtta type of metre (akṣarachandas) < [Chapter III - Literary Assessment Of The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Part 7 - Literary genius of Maṅkhaka < [Chapter II - The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 8.302 < [Section XLIII - Theft (steya)]
Verse 7.110 < [Section IX - Art of Government]
Verse 7.142 < [Section XI - Customs-Duties]
Mudrarakshasa (literary study) (by Antara Chakravarty)
6.5.1. Minor Male characters of Mudrārākṣasa < [Chapter 6 - Other Literary Estimates of Mudrārākṣasa]
6. Subhāśitas occuring in Mudrārākṣasa < [Chapter 5 - Adoption of Style and Language in Mudrārākṣasa]
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