Keli, Kelī: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Keli means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationKeli (केलि) refers to “playful activity”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.3.—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Umā (Durgā/Satī) with devotion:—“[...] she who is the Tāmasika power of all the Gods, she who is visible in the Rājasika quality of the Creator, she who is heard by us as the benefactress and of the form of Śiva is eulogised here. Let us bow to her who is interested in residing on the Vindhya mountains; who is clever in the playful activity (i.e., keli-dakṣa) of affording protection to Aṣṭāṅga Yoga; who is devoid of cessation and who acts like a raft that enables the crossing of the ocean of worldly existence with its terrible miseries”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexKeli (केलि).—A son of Brahmadhāna.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 98.

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsKeli [केली] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Canna spp. from the Cannaceae (canna) family. For the possible medicinal usage of keli, 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.

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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Keli (केलि) refers to “acts of amusement”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] Her foot-rest is illuminated by the rays of jewels on the forehead of the king of gods and other gods as they bow in devotion [to her feet]. She has roving, wide eyes, and she bestows as boons the sovereignty [of Indra] and status [equal to] Vaiśravaṇa, lord of riches, and still more, which she creates in fleeting acts of amusement (cala-keli-kḷpta). [...]”.

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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryKeli.—(EI 9), the earth. Note: keli is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Keli in India is the name of a plant defined with Cocos nucifera in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Calappa nucifera Kuntze (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2004)
· Illustrations of the Botany … of the Himalayan Mountains (1840)
· Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. (2007)
· Not. Pl. Asiat. (1851)
· Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. (2005)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Keli, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, extract dosage, health benefits, 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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarykeḷī : (f.) sport; enjoyment.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary1) Keḷi, 2 (f.) (either fr. kil as in kilijjati & kilissati, or fr. kel, as given under keḷanā) the meaning is not quite defined, it may be taken as “attachment, lust, desire, ” or “selfishness, deceit” (cp. kerāṭika & kilissati), or “unsettledness, wavering. ” —keḷi-sīla of unsettled character, unreliable, deceitful PvA. 241. °sīlaka id. J. II, 447.—pañca citta-keḷiyo=pañca nīvaraṇāni (kāmacchanda etc.), the gratifications of the heart Th. 1, 1010 (corr. kelisā to keḷiyo!).—citta-keḷiṃ kīḷantā bahuṃ pāpakammaṃ katvā enjoying themselves (wrongly) to their heart’s content J. III, 43. Cp. kāmesu a-ni-kīḷitāvin unstained by desires S. I, 9, 117. (Page 226)
2) Keḷi, 1 (f.) (fr. krīḍ to play, sport: see kīḷati) 1. play, amusement, sport PvA. 265 (=khiḍḍā); parihāsa° merry play, fun J. I, 116.—2. playing at dice, gambling, in °maṇḍala “circle of the game, ” draught-board; °ṃ bhindati to break the board, i.e. to throw the die over the edge so as to make the throw invalid (cp. Cunningham, Stupa of Bharhut, plate 45) J. I, 379. (Page 226)

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 Dictionarykēli (केलि).—f S (Common in poetry.) Play, sport, pastime, amusement.
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kēḷī (केळी).—f A small vessel (metal or earthen). 2 A variety of jōndhaḷā. 3 The Plantain. This form is found in the Desh, but generally it is kēḷa.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkēli (केलि).—f Amusement, play, sport.
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 dictionaryKeli (केलि).—m. f. [kel-in]
1) Play, sport.
2) Amorous sport, pastime; केलिचलन्मणिकुण्डल (kelicalanmaṇikuṇḍala) &c. Gītagovinda 1; हरिरिह मुग्ध- वधूनिकरे विलासिनि विलसति केलिपरे (haririha mugdha- vadhūnikare vilāsini vilasati kelipare) ibid; राधामाधवयोर्जयन्ति यमुनाकूले रहः केलयः (rādhāmādhavayorjayanti yamunākūle rahaḥ kelayaḥ) ibid; Amaruśataka 8; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.175; Manusmṛti 8.357; Ṛtusaṃhāra 4.17; केलिं कुरुष्व परिभुङ्क्ष्व सरोरुहाणि (keliṃ kuruṣva paribhuṅkṣva saroruhāṇi) Udb.
3) Joke, jest, mirth.
-liḥ f. The earth.
Derivable forms: keliḥ (केलिः).
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Kelī (केली).—
1) Play, sport.
2) Amorous sport; मालत्याः कुसुमेषु येन सततं केली कृता लीलया (mālatyāḥ kusumeṣu yena satataṃ kelī kṛtā līlayā) (bhramarāṣṭakam).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeli (केलि).—mf. (-liḥ-liḥ or -lī) Play, sport, pastime, amusement. f.
(-liḥ) The earth. E. kil to sport, Unadi affix i.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeli (केलि).—m. and f. 1. Amorous sport, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 357. 2. Sport, [Gītagovinda. ed. Lassen.] 7, 11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeli (केलि).—[masculine] [feminine], lī [feminine] play, sport, [especially] amorous sport.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumKeli (केलि) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Madhuvarṇana kāvya. Kh. 85.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Keli (केलि):—[from kel] mf. play, sport, amorous sport, pastime, amusement, [Manu-smṛti viii, 357; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] disguise, concealment, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]
3) [v.s. ...] f. the earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Kelī (केली):—[from kel] f. rarely for keli (play, sport).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeli (केलि):—(liḥ) 2. m. f. Play, pastime, amusement. (lī) f. The earth.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Keli (केलि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Keli, Kelī.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryKeli (केलि):—(nf) amorous sport, amorous dalliance; fun and frolic; sexual intercourse.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryKeli (केलि) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Keli.
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 corpusKēli (ಕೇಲಿ):—
1) [noun] any activity or experience that gives enjoyment or recreation; a game; a sport.
2) [noun] a amorous sport or love-making activity.
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Kēḷi (ಕೇಳಿ):—[noun] the fruit of the coconut palm; a coconut.
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Kēḷi (ಕೇಳಿ):—
1) [noun] any activity or experience that gives enjoyment or recreation; a game; a sport.
2) [noun] an amorous sport or love-making activity.
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Kēḷi (ಕೇಳಿ):—[noun] any of a series of such horizontal lines in parallel, as of seats in a hall, etc.; a row.
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Kēḷi (ಕೇಳಿ):—[noun] a road in a town or city; a street.
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Kēḻi (ಕೇೞಿ):—[noun] any of a series of such horizontal lines in parallel, as of seats in a hall, etc.; a row.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+72): Kelia-lata, Kelibhudhara, Kelibudageri, Kelichi rimba, Kelichot, Kelidaksha, Kelige, Keligila, Keligopala, Keligriha, Kelika, Kelikadam, Kelikadamba, Kelikagriha, Kelikailasa, Kelikala, Kelikalaha, Kelikalapa, Kelikalita, Kelikam.
Ends with (+49): Amb-keli, Amdolakeli, Arikeli, Asatikeli, Balakeli, Calakeli, Cittajakeli, Devakeli, Dhanakeli, Dhulikakeli, Dhulikeli, Dolakeli, Dyutakeli, Harakeli, Hemakeli, Jalakeli, Jangli-keli, Jatakeli, Kadanakeli, Kakeli.
Full-text (+188): Kelishayana, Keligriha, Kelishushi, Kelimukha, Kelikuncika, Kelivani, Dhanakeli, Kelipika, Balakeli, Kelinagara, Keliranga, Kelivriksha, Kelikosha, Keliniketana, Kelisaciva, Kelisadana, Kalakeli, Kelikala, Kamakeli, Vakkeli.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Keli, Keḷi, Keḷī, Kēḷī, Kēli, Kelī, Kēlī, Kēḷi, Kēḻi; (plurals include: Kelis, Keḷis, Keḷīs, Kēḷīs, Kēlis, Kelīs, Kēlīs, Kēḷis, Kēḻis). 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 2.22.32 < [Chapter 22 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verse 1.17.10 < [Chapter 17 - Description of the Yogurt Theft]
Verse 1.17.8 < [Chapter 17 - Description of the Yogurt Theft]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 8.357 < [Section XLVI - Adultery]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 11 < [Chapter 5 - Pañcama-yāma-sādhana (Aparāhna-kālīya-bhajana–kṛṣṇa-āsakti)]
Text 20 < [Chapter 8 - Aṣṭama-yāma-sādhana (Rātri-līlā–prema-bhajana sambhoga)]
Text 27 < [Chapter 6 - Ṣaṣṭha-yāma-sādhana (Sāyaṃ-kālīya-bhajana–bhāva)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.3.60 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]
Verse 2.4.10 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Verse 3.5.18 < [Part 5 - Conjugal Love (mādhurya-rasa)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.13.335 < [Chapter 13 - The Deliverance of Jagāi and Mādhāi]
Verse 1.1.107 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 2.13.341 < [Chapter 13 - The Deliverance of Jagāi and Mādhāi]