Kuhaka, Kuha-ka: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Kuhaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Kuhak.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kuhaka (कुहक).—A chief of the Krodhavaśa group of serpents (Nāgas).*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 24. 29.
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.
Shaktism
Kuhaka (कुहक) or Kuhakatantra refers to one of the twenty-three Vāmatantras, belonging to the Śāktāgama (or Śāktatantra) division of the Āgama tradition. The Śāktāgamas represent the wisdom imparted by Devī to Īśvara and convey the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation. According to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana, the Śāktatantras are divided into to four parts, the Kuhaka-tantra belonging to the Vāma class.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Kuhaka (कुहक) refers to “trickery”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] A pretentious Jyotiṣaka [i.e., kuhaka] whose knowledge of the science has been picked up from what has occasionally fallen on his ears ought not to be consulted. He who, not having studied the science, passes for a Jyotiṣaka is a sinner and a disgrace to society. He who ridicules the words of a Jyotiṣaka, as well as the person who sneers at the science itself, will suffer miseries in the hell of darkness”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Kavya (poetry)
Kuhaka (कुहक) refers to “jugglery”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 226).—There are apparently several Tantric rites that Bāṇa pejoratively associates with the priest: he, “the ageing Draviḍa religious man” “demeans Durgā with his prayers for the boon of sovereignty over the Southern lands”; “he had copied a hymn to Durgā (durgāstotra) on a strip of cloth”, “he had collected palm-leaf manuscripts of spells, Tantras and jugglery (kuhaka) the letters of which were written in red lac and fumigated with smoke” [...].
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’.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Kuhaka (कुहक) refers to “astonishing (magical) feats”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] By astonishing, [magical] feats (kuhaka) such as [creating] enmity [among friends], driving off and killing [adversaries] and by [tantric] mantras [of all kinds], [deluded] multiplicity multiplies. By all [yogic] practices, the various Bandhas and Mudrās, nothing but union with ignorance [is achieved]. Meditation on points in the body, the channels [of vitality] and the six Cakras is an error of mind. Therefore, having abandoned all that, [because it has been] constructed by the mind, resort to the no-mind [state]. [...]”.
Note: The word kuhaka has a more specific meaning than “trickery” in the general sense, because its context is magic. The terms dveṣa, uccātaṇa and māraṇa are clear references to three of the six magical rites in Tantra, called the ṣaṭkarma. In his commentary to the Svacchandatantra (11.197), Kṣemarāja provides the following definition: “Kuhaka is that which causes astonishment and convinces those of limited understanding. It is chiefly magic”. In his commentary on the Netratantra (18.89), Kṣemarāja glosses kuhakāni as: “Deceitful (things) such as amulets of control, witches, etc.”. These glosses affirm that kuhaka can be understood more specifically to mean an astonishing, magical feat rather than its general sense of something that causes astonishment, the latter definition being that of Dhātupāṭha 10.443.
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).
Shaivism
Kuhaka (कुहक) refers to “jugglery” (which, in alms-collection, should be avoided by an ascetic), according to the Pātravidhi—a manual of the Lakulīśa Pāśupata school of Śaivism dealing with purification of the initiate’s vessel (pātra) and other concerned issues.—Accordingly, “Jugglery (kuhaka), deceit, feigning, and separation of a wife and a man, and attraction: an ascetic should avoid these five possible flaws in alms-collection. (26) That deed of a Yogin which is unwholesome and causes him affliction in his spiritual pursuit, always [carried out] with a wicked intention, is called jugglery (kuhaka). (27)”.
Note: The meaning of kuhaka is unclear in our text, though it is defined in the next verse. But the term is well attested in various texts, and little doubt remains about its meaning: it includes all sorts of black magic or jugglery.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
kuhaka : (adj.) deceitful. (m.) a cheat.
Kuhaka, (der. fr. prec. ) deceitful, cheating; a cheat, a fraud, combined with lapaka D. I, 8; A. III, 111.—A. V, 159 sq.; Sn. 984, 987; J. I, 375 (°tāpasa); DhA. IV, 152 (°brāhmaṇa); IV, 153 (°cora); Miln. 310, 357; PvA. 13; DA. I, 91. (Page 224)
1) kuhaka (ကုဟက) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[kuha+ṇvu]
[ကုဟ+ဏွု]
2) kuhaka (ကုဟက) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[kuha+ka]
[ကုဟ+က]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) kuhaka—
(Burmese text): အံ့ဖွယ်သရဲ။ ကုဟကဝုတ္တိ-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): Amazing ghost. Look at the horror.
2) kuhaka—
(Burmese text): အံ့ဖွယ်သရဲကို ဖြစ်စေသော၊ အံ့ဩစေသော၊ ဟန်ဆောင်ဝါကြွားသော၊ သူ။
(Auto-Translation): The one who is astonishing, amazing, and extraordinary.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Kuhaka (कुहक).—[Uṇādi-sūtra 2.37]
1) A cheat, rogue, juggler; यथा दारुमयी योषिन्नृत्यते कुहकेच्छया (yathā dārumayī yoṣinnṛtyate kuhakecchayā) Bhāgavata 1.54.12.
-kam, -kā Jugglery, deception; इन्द्रजालं च मायां वै कुहका वाऽपि भीषणा (indrajālaṃ ca māyāṃ vai kuhakā vā'pi bhīṣaṇā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 5.16.55. धाम्ना स्वेन सदा निरस्तकुहकं सत्यं परं धीमहि (dhāmnā svena sadā nirastakuhakaṃ satyaṃ paraṃ dhīmahi) Bhāgavata 1.1.1.
Derivable forms: kuhakaḥ (कुहकः).
Kuhaka (कुहक).—adj. or subst. m. (= Pali id.; see next), hypocritical, or a hypocrite (in the sense explained s.v. kuhana): Śikṣāsamuccaya 20.16 kuhako vatāyaṃ, lapako vatāyaṃ, naṣṭadharmo…
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Kūhaka (कूहक) or Akūhaka.—adj., (not) deceiving: Daśabhūmikasūtra.g. 16(352).18 sumanāś ca akūhakaś ca; probably m.c. for Sanskrit kuhaka. Cf. next.
Kuhaka (कुहक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) A cheat, a rogue, a juggler. m.
(-kaḥ) Juggling, deception, slight-of-hand, &c. E. kuh to astonish, kvun aff.
Kuhaka (कुहक).—[kuh + aka] (kuh probably = ), I. adj., f. kā, and sbst. Deceiving, a cheat, Mahābhārata 3, 14718; a juggler, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 1, 15, 21. Ii. m. 1. A kind of frog, [Suśruta] 2, 290, 6. 2. The name of a king of the Nāgas or serpents, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 24, 29. Iii. n. and f. kā, Juggling, [Hitopadeśa] iv. [distich] 101; Mahābhārata 5, 5461.
Kuhaka (कुहक).—[masculine] cheat, deceiver, juggler; [feminine] ā and [neuter] juggling, deception.
1) Kuhaka (कुहक):—[from kuh] 1. kuhaka m. ([Uṇādi-sūtra ii, 38]) a cheat, rogue, juggler, [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Kāmandakīya-nītisāra]
2) [v.s. ...] an impostor, [Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra]
3) [v.s. ...] a kind of frog, [Suśruta]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of a Nāga prince, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] n. juggling, deception, trickery, [Hitopadeśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.
6) Kuhakā (कुहका):—[from kuhaka > kuh] f. idem, [Mahābhārata v, 5461.]
7) Kuhaka (कुहक):—2. kuhaka ind. onomatopoetic from the cry of a cock, etc., only in [compound]
Kuhaka (कुहक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. Juggling; a cheat.
Kuhaka (कुहक):—[Die Uṇādi-Affixe 2, 38.]
1) adj. subst. Schelm, Gaukler, Betrüger [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 377.] dveṣyairapakṣairahitaiśca tasya (bhartuḥ) bhidyasva nityaṃ kuhakoddhataiśca [Mahābhārata 3, 14718.] sarvaṃ kṣaṇena tadabhūdasadīśariktaṃ bhasmaṃhutaṃ kuhakarāddhamivoptamūṣyām [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 1, 15, 21.] keyaṃ kuhaka matsthānaṃ rathamāropitā [9, 23, 35. 3, 15, 32.] akuhaka nicht Charlatan [Suśruta 2, 290, 6.] —
2) m. eine Art Frosch [Suśruta 2, 290, 6.] —
3) m. Nomen proprium eines Schlangenkönigs: kādraveyāṇāṃ sarpāṇāṃ naikaśirasāṃ krodhavaśo nāma gaṇaḥ kuhakatakṣakakāliyasuṣeṇādipradhānā mahābhogavantaḥ [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 24, 29.] dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakastakṣako vā daśatu (mām) [1, 19, 15.] [BURN.] : puissé-je être mordu par le faux serpent qu'envoie le Brahmane! Vgl. kuhara . —
4) n. Gaukelei, Betrügerei [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 926.] kuhakacakito lokaḥ satye pyapāpamadhīkṣate [Hitopadeśa IV, 101.] kuhakābhijña [Kathāsaritsāgara 19, 75.] tasyendriyaṃ vimathituṃ kuhakairna śekuḥ [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 1, 11, 37.] nirastakuhaka [1, 1.] kuhakajīvin von Gaukeleien, Taschenspielerkünsten lebend [Mahābhārata im Śabdakalpadruma] —
5) f. kuhakā (kuhanā?) dass.: indrajālaṃ ca māyā vai kuhakā vāpi bhīṣaṇā [Mahābhārata 5, 5461.] — Desselben Ursprungs wie 2. kuha .
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Kuhaka (कुहक):—
1) Betrüger [Spr. 3195] (Gegens. satya). Gaukler, Taschenspieler [KĀM. NĪTIS. 7, 46.] yathā dārumayī yoṣinnṛtyate kuhakecchayā [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 54, 12.] a kein Charlatan [Suśruta 1, 30, 3.] —
4) [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 12, 10, 29.] vikṛtākāravāgveṣaceṣṭādeḥ kuhakādbhavet . hāsaḥ [Sāhityadarpana 228.] jīvaka adj. [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 16, 19.] jña m. Gaukler, Charlatan [86, 32.] —
5) kuhakā = kṛtyā [Nīlakaṇṭha]
Kuhaka (कुहक):——
1) m. — a) Schelm , Gaukler , Betrüger , Taschenspieler. — b) Heuchler [Āpastamba’s Dharmasūtra] — c) eine Art Frosch. — d) Nomen proprium eines Schlangendämons. —
2) f. ā und n. Gaukelei , Betrügerei.
Kuhaka (कुहक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kuhaga, Kuhaya.
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
Kuhaka (कुहक) [Also spelled kuhak]:—(nf) cooing, twittering (of a cuckoo); warbling; melodious notes.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Kuhaka (ಕುಹಕ):—
1) [noun] the act or an instance of cheating; a dishonest action or trick; fraud; deceit.
2) [noun] a jeering cry or remark; sarcastic or derisive comment.
3) [noun] the supposed use of an evil supernatural power over people and their affairs; witchcraft; black magic; sorcery.
4) [noun] a man who cheats; a fraud.
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Kūhaka (ಕೂಹಕ):—[noun] The action or practice of deceiving; concealment or misrepresentation of the truth in order to mislead; deception, fraud, cheating.
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)
Partial matches (+0): Kuha, Ka.
Starts with (+10): Kuhaka Jataka, Kuhaka Sutta, Kuhakabhikkhu, Kuhakabrahmana, Kuhakabrahmana Vatthu, Kuhakabuddhi, Kuhakacakita, Kuhakacora, Kuhakajivaka, Kuhakajivin, Kuhakajna, Kuhakakaka, Kuhakakamma, Kuhakakara, Kuhakakaraka, Kuhakakarika, Kuhakakuhaka, Kuhakana, Kuhakapuggala, Kuhakarava.
Full-text (+47): Akuhaka, Kuhakasvana, Kuhakavritti, Kuhakakara, Kuhakajivin, Kuhakacakita, Kuhakasvara, Kuhakakarika, Kuhakakuhaka, Kuhakabrahmana, Kuhakakaka, Kuhakatapasa, Kuhakavutti, Kuhakavatthu, Kuhakacora, Kuhakavatta, Kuhakapuggala, Dushkuhaka, Kuhakakamma, Kuhakabhikkhu.
Relevant text
Search found 32 books and stories containing Kuhaka, Kuha-ka, Kuha-nvu, Kuha-ṇvu, Kūhaka, Kuhakā, Kuhakas; (plurals include: Kuhakas, kas, nvus, ṇvus, Kūhakas, Kuhakās, Kuhakases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
History of Indian Medicine (and Ayurveda) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)
Chapter 27 - Quacks (Kuvaidya or Kuhaka) < [Part 2-3 - Medical Institutions in Ancient India]
Chapter 25 - The Vaidya and Society < [Part 2-3 - Medical Institutions in Ancient India]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
First Verse of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa < [Appendices]
Chapter 24 - Rāhu’s Position and the Subterranean Regions < [Book 5 - Fifth Skandha]
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 10.40.1 < [Sukta 40]