Khanjaka, Khañjaka: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Khanjaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Khañjaka (खञ्जक) refers to a class of songs (dhrūva) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 32.394-395:—“At the entrance of middling characters the dhruvā should be of the druta-vilambita class, and in case of inferior characters it should be of the natkuṭā and khañjaka classes. The khañjaka and natkuṭa will be for bringing joy to the occasion. Why is it so? Because these two belong to comic and erotic sentiments”.
Khañjaka (खञ्जक) refers to a particular Laya or Parikrama-Gati (“movement-gait”).—See Abhinavabhāratī, Commentary on Nāṭyaśāstra 12.113-114 (GOS Vol. II, p.148).—Abhinava comments on this portion by saying that the word ‘viṣkambha’ indicates stability. At the outset, the feet are to be placed firmly on the ground. Then they are to be dragged with an effort similar to ploughing land. Bharata gives us an example for this by saying ‘paṅkalagna’—which means stuck in a mire. Abhinava says that in order to present such a gait, the khañjaka, helā and vilambitā gaits described by Kohala are appropriate.
The definition of Khañjaka-laya according to Tumburu is given by M. R. Kavi’s footnote: “Tumburu defines khañjaka-laya as that having a guru in the beginning followed by one ghana (?) and two drutas and ends with a guru. This laya uses the śamyā and tāla one after the other (without a gap)”.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
1) Khañjaka (खञ्जक) refers to a common name for all kinds of the mātrā-vṛttas (Jātis), as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.
2) Khañjaka (खञ्जक) also refers to a catuṣpadi metre (as popularly employed by the Apabhraṃśa bards).—Khañjaka has 23 mātrās in each of its four lines, divided into the groups of 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3 and [S] mātrās.
3) Khañjaka (खञ्जक) is also the name of a antarasama-catuṣpadi metre (also known as Ardhasama).—Khañjaka is made up of 9 and 11 mātrās in their odd and even lines respectively.
Khañjaka (खञ्जक) refers to verses made up of rhyming quarters of 13 moras each (with the rhythm at the end).
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
Gitashastra (science of music)
Khañjaka (खञ्जक) refers to one of the twelve Tālas classified as Bhaṅgatāla, which are associated with the Dhruvā-gāna.—[...] Though belonged to the mārga tradition, Dhrūvā-gāna included some tālas which were employed in nāṭya and yet not described in Nāṭyaśāstra. These tālas were classified as bhaṅga [e.g., khañjaka-tāla], upabhaṅga and vibhaṅga-tālas. These have not been mentioned by Bharata, but they are still considered to be a part of mārga. They do not belong to the deśī tradition. M. R. Kavi also gives a list of tālas associated with Dhruvāgāna.
Gitashastra (गीतशास्त्र, gītaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of Music (gita or samgita), which is traditionally divided in Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance (under the jurisdiction of music). The different elements and technical terms are explained in a wide range of (often Sanskrit) literature.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Khañjaka (खञ्जक).—a. Limping, lame.
Khañjaka (खञ्जक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) Lame, limping. E. khaji to limp, affix vun.
Khañjaka (खञ्जक):—[from khañj] mfn. limping, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Khañjaka (खञ्जक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a. Idem.]
Khañjaka (खञ्जक):—(von khañja) adj. hinkend [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 6, 12.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 455.]
Khañjaka (खञ्जक):—Adj. hinkend.
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)
Full-text: Natkuta, Kanjaka, Bhavini, Vilambita, Rasaka, Pramoda, Bhangatala, Mattaceshtita, Dhruvagana, Chandonushasana, Hela.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Khanjaka, Khañjaka; (plurals include: Khanjakas, Khañjakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Kohala and Gītā (14): Tālas for specific Gaits < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Part 6 - Citations of Kohala in the Bharatabhāṣya < [Chapter 3 - Kohala as seen in citations—an analysis]
Part 4 - Citations of Kohala in the Abhinavabhāratī < [Chapter 3 - Kohala as seen in citations—an analysis]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 282 < [Volume 10 (1911)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 55 < [Volume 6 (1882)]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)