Kunti, aka: Kuntī; 15 Definition(s)

Introduction

Kunti means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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

Katha (narrative stories)

1) Kuntī (कुन्ती) is the daughter of king Kuntibhoja and was ordered to attend upon a hermit named Durvāsas, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 16. The story was told to Padmāvatī by her mother, in order to show her that “gods and hermits remain in the houses of good people for the sake of deluding them”.

2) Kuntī (कुन्ती) is one of the wifes of Pāṇḍu: a king of olden times, and ancestor of Udayana (king of Vatsa), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 21. Accordingly, when sage Nārada cam to visit Udayana, he related: “Listen, O King; I will tell you a story in a few words. You had an ancestor once, a king of the name of Pāṇḍu; he like you had two noble wives; one wife of the mighty prince was named Kuntī and the other Mādrī. That Pāṇḍu conquered this sea-engirdled earth, and was very prosperous.”

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kuntī, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Kuntī (कुन्ती):—Wife of Pāṇḍu (one of the sons of Vyāsa (or Bādarāyaṇa)). She bore to him three sons (Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna) through Dharmarāja (god of the wind), as Pāṇḍu was restrained from sexual life due to a curse. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.25)

1) Kuntī (कुन्ती).—(PṚTHĀ). Wife of King Pāṇḍu and the mother of the Pāṇḍavas, Kuntī is a noble heroine in the Mahābhārata. Birth. Kuntī was the sister of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s father Vasudeva. Her real name was Pṛthā. Vasudeva and Pṛthā were the children of King Śūrasena of the Yādava dynasty. King Kuntibhoja was the son of Śūrasena’s sister. He had no issues. Śūrasena had promised to give the daughter first born to him as the adopted daughter of Kuntibhoja, and accordingly his first-born daughter Pṛthā was given to Kuntibhoja, and Kuntī was brought up in his palace. From that day onwards Pṛthā came to be known as Kuntī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 111). (See full article at Story of Kuntī from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Kunti (कुन्ति).—A particular region in ancient India. The warriors there were known as Kuntis. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 34, Verse 11).

3) Kunti (कुन्ति).—An urban area in ancient India. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 27).

4) Kunti (कुन्ति).—A King born in the Yayāti dynasty.

1a) Kunti (कुन्ति).—The son of Dharmanetra and father of Samjaya (Sohañji, Bhāgavata-purāṇa), (Sahajit, Viṣṇu-purāṇa).^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 22. Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 69. 5; Matsya-purāṇa 43. 9; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 11. 8.

1b) The son of Kratha and father of Dhṛṣṭi(a) (Vṛṣṇi-burnouf).^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 3; Matsya-purāṇa 44. 38-9; Vāyu-purāṇa 95. 38; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 12. 40-41.

1c) A son of Kṛṣṇa and Satyā.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 61. 13.

1d) A Yadu tribe who took part in the marriage festivities of Kṛṣṇa and Rukminī.¹ They went to Syamantapañcaka for solar eclipse.² Heard of Kṛṣṇa going to Mithilā and met him with presents.³ Fought with their kinsmen and ended their lives.⁴

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 54. 58.
• 2) Ib. X. 82. 13.
• 3) Ib. 86. 20.
• 4) Ib. XI. 30. 18.

2a) Kuntī (कुन्ती).—Daughter of Śūra and adopted by Kuntibhoja as he was childless. Durvāsas taught her a mantra by which she invoked the sun who returned after blessing her with a child. Being an unmarried girl, she abandoned her son in a box, and this was discovered by Adhiratha who brought him up. This child was Karṇa;¹ queen of Pāṇḍu: gave birth to Yudhiṣṭhira and four other sons by the favour of gods—Dharma, Vāyu and Indra and the Aśvins; outlived her husband for the sake of their welfare.² Seen by Akrūra: Narrated to Vidura her troubles after Pāṇḍu's death. Her affection and love for Kṛṣṇa; addressed him on the difficulties encountered by the Pāṇḍavas. Kṛṣṇa comforted her and explained how it was not possible for him to go to Hāstināpura earlier.³ Her stotra of Kṛṣṇa;⁴ grieved at his departure from Hāstināpura. Her thoughts on the other world.⁵ Heard of Drupada's defeat by her sons. Was met by Kṛtavarman at Hāstināpura. At the news of the alleged burning of (Pāṇḍavas, etc.), Kuntī went to the Kurus accompanied by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, though the latter was aware of the fact of their living.⁶ Heard the story of the marriage of Kṛṣṇa from his wives and was lost in wonder.⁷ Left for Syamantapañcaka, and complained to Vasudeva of his neglect of her sons. Vasudeva consoled her saying that oppression from Kaṃsā had scattered them in different directions.⁸ Joy at Kṛṣṇa's visit to Hāstināpura. Taking leave of her Kṛṣṇa went to Dvārakā.⁹ (See pṛthā) Regretted with her sons the loss of Duryodhana and others.^10

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 13-14; 24. 31-36; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 152-5; Matsya-purāṇa 46. 7.
• 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 27; Matsya-purāṇa 50. 48-50. Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 1. 40. Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 12. 24.
• 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 58. 7. 10; X. 49. 1-15; I. 8. 3: 9. 13.
• 4) Ib. I. 8. 17-43.
• 5) Ib. I. 10. 9; 13. 3; 15. 33; X. 82 24.
• 6) Ib. X. 52. [56 (V) 2], [5], 10; 57. 1.
• 7) Ib. X. 84. 1.
• 8) Ib. X. 82. 18-22; 84. 57 and 69 [3].
• 9) Ib. X. 7 1. 39; 77. 7; 10. Matsya-purāṇa 103. 12.

2b) A R. from the Pāriyatra hill.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 114. 24.

Kuntī (कुन्ती) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.98). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kuntī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Kunti was the adopted daughter of Kuntibhoja. Once, when the tempermental sage Durvasa visited the palace of her father, she pleased him with her devotion and attention to his comfort. He granted her a boon and taught her a powerfull Mantra (Incantation), which when uttered could bring any of the Gods to her and father a child on her, who would inherit the qualities of his father.

In Hindu mythology, Kunti (also called Pritha), was the biological daughter of Shurasena, the sister of Vasudeva, the foster daughter of her cousin King Kunti-Bhoja, the wife of King Pandu of Hastinapur and the mother of King Karna of Anga and King Yudhisthira of Indraprastha.

Yudhisthira’s mother, Queen Kunti, had in her youth been granted the power to invoke the Devas by Rishi Durvasa. Each god, when invoked, would place a child in her lap. Urged by Pandu to use her invocations, Kunti gave birth to Yudhisthira by invoking the Lord of Righteousness, Yama. Being Pandu’s eldest son, Yudhisthira was the rightful heir to the throne. However, this claim was contested by the Dhritarashtra's son, Duryodhana.

Kuntī (कुन्ती).—The mother of the Pāṇḍavas and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s aunt in the Mahābhārata. She was the daughter of Śūrasena and the sister of Vasudeva. She was adopted by King Kuntībhoja and later married King Pāṇḍu. Her other name is Pṛthā.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

A kinnari, mother of the theras Tissa and Sumitta. Their father was a former inhabitant of Pataliputta.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Kuntī (कुन्ती).—According to the Mūlasarvāstivādin Vinaya, after having crossed the Indus towards the west, the Buddha took eight stages to cross Uḍḍiyāna, the Lampāka, and arrived in the neighborhood of Peshawar.

8th and 9th stages.—On leaving Nandivardhana, the Buddha went to the city of Kuntī, where he tamed the yakṣī of the same name; then to the village of Kharjūra where he foretold the building of the great caitya of Kaniṣka. Hiuan tsang tells us that the caitya was near Peshawar; archeologists have found its location in the tumuli at Shāh-ki-Dheri.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geogprahy

Kunti is another name for the river Brahmakuṇḍi of Āndhradeśa (Andhra country).—The Brahmakuṇḍi or Guṇḍlakamma unlike several other larger rivers which are tributaries, has an independent course and falls into the Bay of Bengal. It had more in common with the larger rivers except in its length where it resembles the minor rivers. On either side of the holy river (viz., Kunti), flourished kingdoms of the Yādavas of Addanki and of the Reḍḍis subsequently. Centres of pilgrimage, eg., Kanuparti had their heyday. The region and the river are celebrated in the records and literature of the Reḍḍis and relics of bygone glory are seen even today.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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

kuṇṭī (कुंटी).—f A flowering shrub, Murraya exotica. Grah.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kunti (कुन्ति).—

1) Name of a king, son of क्रथ (kratha); क्रथस्य कुन्तिः पुत्रोऽभूत् (krathasya kuntiḥ putro'bhūt) Bhāg.9.24.3.

2) Name of a son of Kṛṣṇa; Bhāg.1.61.13.

Derivable forms: kuntiḥ (कुन्तिः).

--- OR ---

Kuntī (कुन्ती).—

1) Name of पृथा (pṛthā), daughter of a Yādava named शूर (śūra), adopted by कुन्तिभोज (kuntibhoja) [She was the first wife of Pāṇḍu. As he was prevented by a curse from having progeny, he allowed his wife to make use of a charm she had acquired from the sage Durvāsas, by means of which she was to have a son by any god she liked to invoke. She invoked Dharma, Vāyu and Indra, and had from them Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma and Arjuna respectively. She was also mother of Karṇa by the deity Sun whom she invoked in her virginhood to test her charm.]

2) A fragrant resin.

3) The wife of a Brāhmaṇa.

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