Thai. Name of a character from the Ramakien, a female giant belonging to the entourage of Totsakan, who instructed her to harm a reusi, who lived in the forest. She changed herself into a large crow and flew to his hermitage, which she completely destroyed whilst ferociously pecking at the hermit. The hermit then went to see Totsarot and told him what had happened. Totsarot then sent Phra Ram and Phra Lak to help the hermit and when Kaaknasoon returned after seven days, she was shot and killed by an arrow.

kaangkok sawan (คางคกสวรรค์)

Thai. 'Heavenly toad'. Name of an auspicious animal from Chinese mythology. Also called kop sahm kha which means 'three-legged frog'. It is often portrayed with red eyes and flared nostrils, sitting on a pile of traditional Chinese money, often with a string of ancient Chinese coins on each side of its body. It has the power to attract fortune and richness as well as to protect property, but needs to be activated by placing a coin in its mouth. It is said that the heavenly toad lives on the moon and its powers increase visibly during a lunar eclipse. According to a Chinese legend there once was a lady who was the wife of one of the Eight Immortals, who heaven had bestowed with the amrita, the elixir of immortality. This lady loved gold and money but was still a mortal. Thus, she stole the amrita but got caught and punished for it by heaven. She was cursed and changed into a toad with only three legs, and banished to, or vanished into, the moon (leaped into it, and escaped). It is believed that whoever finds the three-legged frog will also find a pile of silver and gold, as it still is its nature to treasure these things. Hence the three-legged frog became the auspicious animal from heaven that drives away evil and assists in bringing great wealth to peoples homes. It needs to be placed facing the entrance of a home or shop to invite money in, but at night it should be turned backwards to prevent the daytime earnings from disappearing again. It is the traditional pet of the immortal Liu Hai, an informal Taoist god of wealth, whose toad would convey him to any place he wishes to go, but occasionally it would escape down a well, and he would then lure it out with a line baited with gold coins. Occasionally, it is portrayed with Nakula, one of the 18 arahats. In Chinese it is called chanchu, with chan also meaning 'moon' in both Chinese and Thai. In English it is also referred to as Lucky Money Toad, Moon Frog and Three-legged Money Frog.

Kadru (कद्रू)

Sanskrit. Name of the daughter of Daksha, wife of Kasyapa and mother of the nagas in the Mahabharata, but in the Ramayana she is described as being the daughter of Kasyapa and Krodhavasa, who is also a daughter of Daksha.

Kailasa (कैलास)

Sanskrit. A mountain in the Himalayas, the dwelling place of Shiva and Parvati. In Thai Krailaat and in Sanskrit also called Kailash.

kala (कला)

1. Sanskrit. Term used to express time and energy, death and creation, as well as the destruction of the universe. Personified as Mahakala, a form of Shiva, and as Kali or Mahakali, a form of his consort Devi. Both represent the terrifying destructive aspects of time. The Thai word for time (kaan, กาล) is derived from it. Pronunciation is ka-lah.

2. In Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, term for kirtimukha. Pronunciation is ka-lah.

kala (काला)

Sanskrit-Pali. 'Black'. The name Kali is derived from it and it also occurs in the name of the Thai province Kalasin, which means 'black water' or 'black river'. Pronunciation is kah-lah.

kalachakra (กาลจักร)

Sanskrit-Thai. 'Wheel of Time'. Associated with the dance of time and eternity performed by Shiva.

Kalewin (กเลวิน)

The reusi who paid homage to the newborn prince Siddhartha and to whom the infant showed his first miracle by placing himself on the turban of the sage. Other texts, however, mention a hermit with the name Asita. In Sanskrit Kaladevaila.

Kali (काली)

1. Sanskrit. In Vedic times the name meant 'the black one' and was associated with Agni, the god of fire, who had seven tongues with which he licked the offerings of butter. Of these seven tongues Kali was the black, terrifying tongue.

2. Sanskrit. 'Black goddess'. The horrifying form of Devi, the consort of Shiva. She is sometimes depicted with a terrifying face with tusks and smeared with blood, and four or more arms, one of which holds a weapon and another sometimes the head of a giant dripping with blood. Her ornaments include snakes, skulls, and figures of children. She is a form of Durga.

3. Sanskrit. Fourth and last of the four yugas, and the present time cycle according to Indian cosmology. For more see Kali Yuga.

Kalika (कालिक, กาลิกะ)

Sanskrit-Thai. 'Relating to time', akin to the Thai word kaan (กาล). Name of one of the eighteen arahats, who is usually depicted sitting on an elephant whilst studying a scroll. Though some sources state that he formerly was a mahout, the elephant, an animal of immense strength, endurance and perseverance, is more likely an allegory for the power of Buddhism, whereas the scroll represents the sutra. In Chinese he is known as the luohan Qi Xiang, literally 'To Mount an Elephant'. In English he is referred to as the Elephant-Riding Lohan or the Dust Cleaning Arhat, indicating the dusty mind that needs to be cleaned and akin to Chudapanthaka, the Door Watching Arhat, who sweeps dusty floors as a cleaning meditation.

Kaliya (कालिया)

The serpent king with five heads which was subdued by Krishna, when he was a mere child. It lived in a whirlpool of the river Yamuna, polluting the neighborhood with its poison, until it was removed by Krishna. This scene is often depicted in art as the young Krishna dancing on the head of the snake.

Kali Yuga (कलीयुग)

Sanskrit. The present era or time period and the most depraved of the four yugas, the cycles of creation. This cycle began in 3,102 BC and will last 432,000 years, according to Brahman beliefs.

Kalkin (कल्किन्)

The tenth, still to appear avatara of Vishnu in the form of a white horse. Riding this horse he will destroy all evil with a blazing sword and restore the innocence in the world, at the end of the present Kali era. Sometimes called Kalki.

kalpa (कल्प)

Sanskrit. The duration of a cosmic period equaling 4,320,000,000 years for mortals, but just one day and night for Brahma.

kalyanamandapa (कल्याणमण्डप)

Sanskrit. 'Mondop of good fortune' or 'auspicious mondop'. A hypostyle hall used for the symbolic marriage of the temple deity.

kama (काम)

Sanskrit. 'Love' or 'desire'. In Hinduism personified by Kama. In Buddhism kama refers to both the senses and visible phenomena.

Kama (काम)

The god of love and desire, portrayed as the most handsome of all gods. He has wings and carries a bow that is made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees and arrows decorated with fragrant flowers. His mount is a parrot and the apsaras are his servants. He is also known as Manmatha and Kamadeva.

Kambuja

Khmer. Name of the ancient Khmer people. They are the supposed descendants of the Hindu sage Kambu Svayambhuva, their eponymous ancestor. An ancient legend tells that Shiva gave him the apsara Mera, a celestial nymph, as his bride. From their names the word Khmer is said to have derived, i.e. Kambu and Mera became Kamera, later to be pronounced Khmer. A royal lineage came forth from this couple and the name Kambuja means 'born from Kambu'. In another legend, it is told that the father of Mera was a dragon king who ruled over a watery kingdom. When is daughter was to marry an Indian Brahmin named Kaundinya (another name for Kambu) and in need of a dowry, he drank all the water of his kingdom in order to provide his son-in-law with land. That land, is told, was named Kambuja. This is reminiscent of a Thai legend in which a phayanaag, the chief of the nagas, drank all the water of the world to provide his son-in-law with land, but was ordered by Vishnu to return it all and was squeezed until he had expelled all the water he had consumed. These stories are perhaps inspired by Cambodia's Tonlé Sap lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, which dimensions swell and shrink up to five times its original size, depending on the seasonal monsoons and the flow of the Tonlé Sap river that in the Southeast converges with the Mekhong river. In the rainy season, when the level of the Mekhong rises rapidly, it reverses the natural flow of the Tonlé Sap river, causing it to flow upstream, into the lake. The name Kambuja is still in use in Cambodia today.

Kanaka Bharadvaja (कनकभारद्वाज, กนกภารัทวาช)

Sanskrit-Thai. 'Golden Bharadvaja'. Name of one of the eighteen arahats, who was a Buddhist mendicant monk known for begging with his alms bowl and eyes upraised, accepting food without shame. This is contrary to normal practice, as monastic precepts prohibit monks to eyeball anyone at any given time and monks on bintabaat are instructed to submissively bow their heads toward the ground when accepting food. He thus represents one who can receive gifts graciously. He is usually portrayed standing on one foot with one knee pulled up and both hands stretched out in the air, holding a small alms bowl. It is assumed that as joy descends from heaven, he raises the bowl to receive happiness. In paintings he is sometimes pictured with a small disciple at his side. In Chinese he is known as the luohan Tuo Bo, literally 'To Hold An Alms Bowl Up With The Palm'. In English he is referred to as the Raised Bowl Lohan or Alms Holding Arhat.

Kanaka Vatsa (कनकवत्स, กนกวัจฉะ)

Sanskrit-Thai. 'Golden Calf'. Name of one of the eighteen arahats, who was a well-known public speaker and debater of the Buddhist doctrines and famous for his sermons on happiness which he described as experienced through the five senses, in contract to bliss which defined he as joy not coming from the five senses, but from deep within, like a feeling in ones his heart and not being subject to changes on the outside, it could be sustained indefinitely. He often smiled during debates and is sometimes portrayed banging cymbals in joy. In Thai his name is pronounced Kanakawatcha, but he is also known as Khayaket. In Chinese he is known as the luohan Xi Qing (喜庆, or in traditional Chinese: 喜慶), literally 'To Be Happy and Celebrate'. In English he is referred to as the Happy Lohan or Jolly Arhat. Also written Kanakavatsa.

Kan Khwan

Kayang. Name of a traditional religion as practiced by the Kayang (Kayan) people of Burma and Northern Thailand. Its doctrine asserts that the world was created by the eternal creator Phu Kabukathin assisted by two other deities, that is Ti who created the earth and La Taon who created man and the animals. Kan Khwan belief trusts that all components of the Universe are linked together by a giant spider's web, embracing the earth, the moon and all the stars. In the beginning the land of the earth was fluid, so, the god Phu Kabukathin planted a small post in the ground. As the post grew the earth also grew into seven outer and inner layers and it became firm. The post was named Kan Thein Bo, meaning 'the means of formation of earth' and is today an important part of their religious worship. Kan Khwan belief is in practice since the Kayang people emigrated from Mongolia during the Bronze Age.

Kanthaka (कण्टक)

Sanskrit. 'Rebel'. The snow-white horse of prince Siddhartha, born on the same day as its master. After carrying the prince away from the palace during the Great Departure, the horse died of sorrow. Also Kantaka.

Kanthakumara (कण्टकुमार)

Sanskrit. 'Rebel prince'. Son of Uma or Devi, the shakti or consort of Shiva. Also Subramaniam and in Thai usually called Phra Kanthakuman. Sometimes transcribed Kantakumara.

Kan Thein Bo

Kayang. 'The means of formation of earth'. Name of a kind of totempole worshipped by the Kayang people of Burma and Northern Thailand. It is said that after the creation of the earth all land was fluid and Phu Kabukathin, the eternal creator, therefore planted a small post in the ground, enabling earth to grow and the land to become firm. This eventually enabled the Kayang people to settle down. Every year between March and April, the Kayang erect a new pole, if possible, made from the eugenia, the first tree said to ever been created. The pole comprises of the sun, at its peak; the sanctuary, a place where the deities reside; and the streamer, a ladder that connects earth with heaven, with at the top a spider's web that humans need to pass to go to heaven. See also Kan Khwan.

Kao Suriya

In the Ramakien the wife of the mythological king Totsarot of Ayutthaya, and mother of Rama.

Kapilavatthu

Sanskrit. The empire in nowadays southern Nepal (formerly India) where king Suddhodana, the father of the historical Buddha ruled, and consequently the birthplace of prince Siddhartha. In Pali called Kapilavasthu.

karawak

Sanskrit. A mythical creature half human and half bird. See also Garuda.

karma (कर्म)

Sanskrit. The law of cause and effect, in which one's present state is the result of actions from the past, either in this life or in former lives. Karma ends when one attains nirvana and the cycle of death and rebirth is broken. Karma is closely linked with samsara and transmigration.

Karttikeya (कार्तिकेय)

The god of war, leader of Shiva's troops and usually considered to be the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is often represented with six heads and six arms, holding a double thunderbolt, a sword, a trident, and riding a mayura. In art from Champa his mount is a rhinoceros. In South India he is known as Subrahmanya. As the son of Shiva he is named Kumara, meaning 'prince'. He is also known by the name Skanda. Also transcribed Kartikeya.

Kashyapa (कश्यप)

See Kasyapa.

Kassapa

1. A buddha of the past, a precursor of the historical Buddha.

2. The monk who succeeded the Buddha as leader of the Sangha. In mural paintings usually portrayed as an old man accompanied by the young monk Ananda, the Buddha's nephew and his most important disciple. Also Maha Kassapa.

Kasyapa (कश्यप)

1. Sanskrit. Name of a rishi who is the father of the devas, asuras, nagas and all humans. He has several consorts, i.e. the thirteen daughters of Daksha, with whom he had several offspring, e.g. Garuda and Aruna are his sons with his consort Vinata, the apsaras are his children through Muni, the nagas are his sons from Kadru, Agni and the Adityas are his sons by his wife Aditi, etc. Also transcribed Kashyapa.

2. Sanskrit. Name of one of the candidates for inclusion as the 17th or 18th arahat, especially when referred to as Maha Kasyapa which is sometimes spelled Maha Kassapa. As Maha Kasyapa the name may also refer to one of the four initial arahats, whom the Budhha had asked to remain in the world to propagate the dhamma, one for each of the four directions of the compass.

Kauravas (कौरव)

Descendants of the Lunar king Kuru, a royal family branch in the Indian epos Mahabharata. See also Pandava.

kaustubha

A magical gem that surfaced during the churning of the Ocean of Milk and is worn on the chest by both Vishnu and Krishna.

Ketu (เกตุ)

1. Sanskrit-Thai. The lower part of Rahu that represents his tail and is considered the personification of comets and meteorites, whilst the upper part of Rahu travels through the universe in a chariot pulled by eight black horses. The demon Rahu was cut in two by Vishnu using his chakra for secretly lining up among the gods and receiving a portion of the amrita. Ketu is one of the nine gods worshipped in the phra prajam wan system of the Hindus, lined up in the northwestern corner, facing South. The Rahu name also appears in the Buddhist Phra prajam wan geut system as the pahng pah leh laai Buddha pose, corresponding with Wednesday after sunset.

2. Sanskrit-Thai. Name of the planet Neptune.

Ketumati

Sanskrit. The earthly paradise that the bodhisattva Maitreya will preside over when he descends from Tushita heaven as the future Buddha.

khakkhara (खक्खर)

Sanskrit. Name for a ringed staff held by certain arahats, monks and bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. It is meant to inform people of their presence through the jingling sound caused by the rings and in order to seek alms, as well as to warn small and crawling creatures of their approach, so as to avoid stepping on them. By announcing their arrival in this way they avoid speak unnecessarily. It is also used by Shaolin warrior monks as a weapon and in prayer, e.g. by the abbot of a Chinese temple usually wields the staff during grand ceremonies, striking the ground three times to symbolize the breaking of ignorance. The khakkhara consist of a usually thin, wooden staff capped with metal loops and rings which are either four, six or twelve in number, indicating the Four Noble Truths, the Six Paramitas or the Twelve Nidanas, respectively. Occasionally, the rings may be double. The bodhisattva Ksitigarbha is usually depicted carrying a khakkhara, which he also uses to force open the gates of hell, and the arahat Chudapanthaka was given one by the Buddha, to stop him from knocking on doors when begging for alms. In Chinese called xi zhang, literally 'thin cane' or 'thin walking stick', but also 'bestowing staff'. It is sometimes referred to as a Buddhist beggar's staff.

Khom dam din (ขอมดำดิน)

Thai-Khmer. 'Ground submerging Cambodian'. Name for the Khmer envoy who was sent to arrest Phra Ruang. According to legend, he was able to travel underground by using magic powers. However, when he emerged to deliver the Khmer King's message, legend says he was turned into stone by Phra Ruang.

kilen (กิเลน)

Name for a creature of Chinese fables. In Chinese it is called khiling, a compound word consisting of the prefix khi and the suffix ling. Khi stands for a male kilen, whereas ling represents a female kilen. They are therefore often depicted in pair. In traditional iconography the kilen has a scaled, dear-like body, with on its back short curly manes and a bushy tail; legs with hoofs like those of a horse; and the head of a dragon with one dear-like horn. But in popular iconography it usually depicted with a scaled body with long manes on its back; a bushy tail; legs with the paws of a wild dog; the head of a dragon, but somewhat resembling that of a lion; and two dear-like horns. Besides this other varieties with slightly different features may also occur. Sometimes transcribed as kilin, kylin, kirin or qilin.

kiletsamaan (กิเลสมาร)

Thai. Name of a demon who bars the way to bliss. The name is formed by merging the term kilet, i.e. an unwholesome thought that causes unhappiness and barring the way to bliss, and the name Maan, the Thai name for Mara.

Kinnara (किन्‍नर)

Sanskrit. Originally a mythical creature with a human body and the head of a horse, or the other way around. In later times it became a combination of a bird and a man (Kinnara) or woman (Kinnari), with a human torso and head, and the wings and legs of a bird. In India the Kinnaras were a subgroup of the gandharvas. It is similar to a Theppaksi but its lower arms have a winged section with feathers, whereas its counterpart does not.

Kinnon (กินนร)

Thai. Name for a race of beings that are half-bird half-human. The male species is called Kinnaburut, the female species Kinnari or Kinnarin.

kirtimukha (कीर्तिमुख)

Sanskrit. 'Face of glory'. Indian term for a mask-like creature above some temple doors, usually represented as a face with two horns, round bulbous eyes, the nose of a human or lion, a wide mouth with teeth, often without a lower jaw. In both Buddhist and Hindu mythology this creature is intended to drive away evil and protect the devout. In Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia it is called kala. In English also kala face.

kodchasih (คชสีห์)

Thai name of a fabulous animal from the Himaphan forest, similar to a lion but with a trunk and tusks like an elephant. In Pali the cross between an elephant (gaja) and a lion (singha) is called gajasingha, of which there are several types. It is the symbol and logo of the Thai Ministry of Defense. Also transcribed kotchasih.

Kosala (कोशल)

The empire of king Dasharatha, the father of Rama. Also transcribed Koshala.

Krailaat (ไกรลาศ)

Thai name for the mountain on which the Hindu god Shiva dwells, in Sanskrit named Kailasa.

kratha thong daeng (กระทะทองแดง)

Thai. Name for a large copper kettle in which the Yommabaan in hell boil sinful people as a punishment.

Krishna (कृष्ण)

Sanskrit. 'The dark one' or 'dark blue'. The eighth and most popular avatar of Vishnu, with a blue complexion. He is first mentioned in the Mahabharata where he delivers the world the Bhagavad Gita, a religious poem of great significance in which he reveals himself as a supreme being. Although an avatar of Vishnu, Krishna is worshipped as a god in his own right and is as such the most celebrated god of the Hindu pantheon. He is often portrayed as a young boy or a youthful prince playing the bansuri, a bamboo flute of which he is a master.

Krita (कृत)

Sanskrit. First of the four yugas.

krodha (क्रोध)

Sanskrit. 'Anger'. A feature of certain Buddhist and Hindu gods intended to fend off foes and protect the devout. The Thai word kroht is derived from it.

Ksitigarbha (क्षितिगर्भ, กษิติครรภ)

Sanskrit-Thai. 'Earth Offspring' or 'Earth Womb'. Name of a bodhisattva who is regarded as the bodhisattva of hell beings, due to his vow to postpone buddhahood, until all hells are emptied. He is therefore sometimes referred to as the Bodhisattva of the Great Vow. He is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, the others being Samantabhadra, Manjushri and Avalokitesvara. He is usually depicted carrying a khakkhara, a Buddhist beggar's staff which he uses to force open the gates of hell, and a small bowl which is sometimes explained to be a chintamani, a wishing jewel akin to the ruyi and mani-stones, or a singing bowl. In Chinese known as Ti Tsang which translates as 'Earth Storehouse', but is often called 'Earth Treasury'.

kuandao (关刀)

Chinese. 'Blade of Kuan'. Name for a type of traditional Chinese weapon consisting of a heavy, serrated blade on a 1.5 to 1.8 meter long pole. The shape of the deeply curved blade somewhat resembles a human hand. It has a spike at the back and usually also an indentation at the spike's upper base to catch an opponent's weapon. It is a defense weapon rather than an offensive one. Its purpose is to disarm an enemy and ward off his strikes rather than to attack. To this end, a large sash or veil cloth is often attached at the joint of the pole and blade, to confuse opponents. Also transcribed guantao and kuantao, but properly called yan yue dao, literally 'falling moon knife'. In literature it is often referred to as 'reclining moon blade' or 'crescent blade' and when held by the Tiger General Kuan U it is called the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Qing Long Yan Yue Dao in Chinese, since its blade is decorated with the motif of a dragon. According to legend, Kuan U was the inventor of the kuandao, hence the name, but there is no historical proof of this.

Kuan U (กวนอู)

Thai-Chinese name for Guan Yu (AD 160–219), the Tiger General of Shu and blood brother of Liu Bei, the warlord under whom he served during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was a fearsome fighter, yet famous for his virtuousness and loyalty, a brave and faithful warrior in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He is posthumously worshipped as the deity who teaches righteousness and is traditionally portrayed as a warrior with a red face and a long lush beard. In ngiw, Chinese opera, the colour red represents loyalty and righteousness. He is also often depicted in combat atop his horse Sek Tao holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, a type of traditional Chinese weapon, called kuandao and which consists of a heavy blade on a long, usually wooden, pole. Kuan U has a fierce looking aide-de-camp who is known as warlord Chou Tsang and a son named Kuan Ping. He is also known as a Cai Shen, i.e. the Chinese warrior god of wealth and in Buddhism he is identified with the bodhisattva Sangharama, the guardian of the dharma.

Kuan Yin (觀音)

Chinese goddess of mercy, in Japan known as Kwannon and in Thailand as Phra Mae Kwan Im. According to legend Kuan Yin was born a princess, daughter of a Chinese emperor who was not a Buddhist and was furious to see his daughter’s devotion to Buddhism. Before her marriage, the princess freed several tortured prisoners and escaped from the palace. Many oppressed people followed her. When her father was gaining on them, a magic bridge appeared to save the princess and her followers. Soon her father became seriously ill and the doctor told her that the only cure included the arms and eyes of a virgin. With appreciation for her father, the princess decided to sacrifice herself, thus healing her father. With her willingness to help those in misery, people came to worship her as the goddess of mercy. As a lady, she is the female form of the male bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the personification of compassion, from Mahayana Buddhism. As the female form of Avalokitesvara she also wears the portrait of Amitabha in her headdress, and she is sometimes depicted with several arms, like the Radiating Avalokitesvara, a representation referred to as the thousand hands.

Kubera (कुबेर)

The god of wealth in both Hinduism, Jainism and Mahayana Buddhism. He is a half-brother of Ravana who defeated him and usurped his throne. He is often represented as a obese figure carrying a money bag and a water jar, and accompanied by seven treasures or a mongoose vomiting coins and jewels. He is guardian of the North and in Hinduism rules over the yakshas and kinnaras who guard his treasures. Also Kuvera. In Sanskrit Vaisravana and in the Thai Ramakien called Kumphakan. Compare with Phra Sangkatjaai.

Kui Xing (魁星)

Chinese. 'Chief star'. Name for the god of examinations in Chinese mythology. Kui Xing was a brilliant student and outstanding scholar, but was awfully deformed. After passing the Imperial examinations with remarkable success he was supposed to have received the golden rose from the emperor, but due to his disfigured appearance the emperor was so shocked that he dropped the golden rose and it broke into pieces, or according to another source, was so repulsed that he refused to give it to him. In despair Kui Xing then either drowned himself and his spirit drifted to heaven, or according to another source, he fell or jumped into the water from a boat and was rescued by a sea dragon that escorted him up into heaven, where he became the deity of scholars who took imperial examinations, as related by both sources. He is often depicted standing on one leg and holding up a Chinese writing brush. Chinese has a number of words pronounced the same but with different ideographs which has led to a combination of meanings, e.g. the word Kui can also be translated as 'one-legged monster'. It is suggested that his name before deification was Zhong Kui (Chung K'uei), although this might also be another god, as mythological characters with similar backgrounds or service functions are sometimes blended together and are spoken of as if they are a single entity. It is therefore unclear if Chung K'uei actually ís Kui Xing or if he is yet another character from Chinese mythology. Also transcribed K'uei Hsing.

kumaanthong (กุมารทอง)

Thai. 'Golden prince'. Often seen figurines of a young prince. The most popular one being a figurine of the prince holding a purse in one hand while making a kwak gesture with the other. The figurine is said to bring good luck and fortune. The feminine form is called kumarithong.

Kumara (कुमार)

Sanskrit. 'Prince'. A name of the god of war Skanda, as the son of Shiva.

Kumari (कुमारी)

Sanskrit. 'The maiden'. A name of Parvati, before she became the consort of Shiva.

Kumbhakarna (कुम्भकर्ण)

Sanskrit name for Kumphakan.

Kumphakan (กุมภกรรณ)

Demon from the Thai Ramakien. He is the regent of Longka and the younger half-brother of Totsakan. He has a green complexion and wears no headdress. He is asleep most of the time because of a curse by Brahma. In Sanskrit called Kumbhakarna and in the Ramayana referred to as Kubera.

kumphan (กุมภัณฑ์)

Thai. A devil, demon, giant or monster.

Kunti (कुंती)

Daughter of Shura and mother of the Kauravas. She is an important figure in the epic poem Mahabharata. Previously she was named Pritha.

Kurma (कूर्म)

Sanskrit. 'Turtle' or 'tortoise'. The second avatar of Vishnu who supported the churning stick during the churning of the Ocean of Milk, thus preventing it from going in the soft soil. It thus became a symbol of stability. Also transcribed Kuurma.

Kuru (कुरु)

A king of the Lunar race, who ruled over Kurukshetra, a region near Delhi in northwestern India, that was supposedly the battle scene of the war between his descendants the Kauravas and the Pandavas, described in the epic poem Mahabharata.

Kusa (कुश)

One of Sita's two twin sons in the Ramayana, neither of whom were recognized by their father Rama until they were fifteen years old. The other son was Lava. Also spelled Kusha.

Kuvalayapida

Demon in the form of an elephant, who was sent out by Kansa to kill Krishna, his nephew.