Alternative spellings of this word include Kunchi.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Kuñcī (कुञ्ची) refers to one of the four “Door Goddesses”, as commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—Her Colour is yellow; her Symbol are the keys; she has two arms.—The second goddess in this series is called Kuñcī from the keys that she holds. [...] A statuette of this goddess occurs in the Chinese collection under the title Kuñcikādharā.

Kuñcī is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī (pañcaḍāka-maṇḍala ) as follows:—

“Kuñcī is yellow in colour and holds the Keys in her two hands”.

[Collectively they are described as nude, dancing in pratyālīḍha, with fearful appearance, and awe-inspiring ornaments. They are described below in the same order in which they are treated in the maṇḍala. They hold their special symbols appropriate to their names.]

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kuñci.—(IE 8-6), a measure of capacity usually regarded as equal to eight handfuls. Note: kuñci is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kuñcī (कुंची).—f A hooded cloak for children. 2 ( H or kuci S) A brush of hog's bristles &c. tied together at one end; a large painter's brush, or a whitewash dauber &c. 3 A weaver's brush, a paste-dauber for the warp.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

kuñcī (कुंची).—f A hooded cloak for children. A brush.

context information

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 dictionary

Kuñci (कुञ्चि).—A measure of capacity equal to eight handfuls; अष्टमुष्टिर्भवेत्कुञ्चिः (aṣṭamuṣṭirbhavetkuñciḥ).

Derivable forms: kuñciḥ (कुञ्चिः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kuñci (कुञ्चि).—f.

(-ñciḥ) A measure of quantity equal to eight handfuls. E. kuñc to be curved. in aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kuñci (कुञ्चि).—[masculine] a cert. measure of quantity.

--- OR ---

Kuñcī (कुञ्ची).—[feminine] cumin.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kuñci (कुञ्चि):—[from kuñc] f. a measure of capacity (equal to eight handfuls, = kiṃ-cid), [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi] [commentator or commentary] on [Manu-smṛti vii, 126.]

2) Kuñcī (कुञ्ची):—[from kuñc] f. cummin, [Bhāvaprakāśa]

3) [v.s. ...] (= kuñcikā) Trigonella foenum graecum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kuñci (कुञ्चि):—(ñciḥ) 2. f. Measure of quantity equal to 8 handfuls.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kunci in German

context information

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)

Starts with (+10): Kumci, Kumciga, Kumcige, Kumcike, Kumcisu, Kumcitakesha, Kumcitakeshapasha, Kumcitiga, Kumciya, Kumciya, Kumciya, Kumciya, Kuncika, Kuncikadhara, Kuncikakara, Kuncikam, Kuncikavivara, Kunciki, Kuncikkampu, Kuncikkutai.

Ends with: Dumu kunci, Erikunci, Karakunci, Kilkumci, Kumci, Kurakunci, Tamu kunci, Temu kunci, Upakunci, Viparikumci.

Full-text (+2): Kuncalanem, Upakunci, Kumci, Prakunca, Ashtamushti, Dumu kunci, Temu kunci, Tamu kunci, Kuncimani, Kuncanem, Kunciyattai, Kuncikkutai, Erikunci, Kuncikkampu, Kuncani, Upakuncika, Kuncikadhara, Kincit, Adhaka, Kuncam.

Relevant text

Search found 4 books and stories containing Kunci, Kuñcī, Kuñci; (plurals include: Kuncis, Kuñcīs, Kuñcis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)

Pasuram 3.6.5 < [Section 6 - Sixth Tiruvaymoli (Ceyya Tamaraik Kannan Ay)]

show preview

The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)

Chapter 5 - Nṛsiṃha incarnation and race of Hiraṇyakaśipu < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]

show preview

Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)

Daily Life (1): Food and Drinks < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

show preview

The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)

Nayanar 28: Thirugnana Sambandar (Tirujnana Campantar) < [Volume 4.1.1 - A comparative study of the Shaivite saints the Thiruthondathogai]

show preview