Kanci, Kāñci, Kāñcī, Kañcī: 27 definitions

Introduction

Introduction:

Kanci 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Kanchi.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions (purana)

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—The Purāṇas attach great importance to Kāñcī. It is included in a list of seven holy cities of India. The Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa (IV.19.15) associates Kāñcī with Kāśī, the two forming the two eyes of Śiva. It is stated in the Bārhaspatya-sūtra (III.124) that Kāñcī is a Śākta-kṣetra. In the Devībhāgavata (8.38.8), Kāñcī is said to be a sthāna of the Devī called Annapūrṇā. The Vāmana Purāṇa (7.50) mentions it as the best among the cities. The Skandapurāṇa (1.19-23) counts it amongst the holy places. The Bhāgavatapurāṇa (10.79,14) and the Yoginītantra (1.17) also mention it. In Daśakumāracaritam it is referred to as a city of the Drāviḍa country.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—(KĀNCĪPURA). This was the capital city of the Cola Kings. This city was also called "Kāncīvaram". It is mentioned among the holy cities. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 161, Verse 21).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) refers to one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, according to a footnote at the Śivapurāṇa-māhātmya chapter 1. Accordingly, —“[...] the holy rivers, Gaṅgā and others, the seven sacred cities [viz., Kāñcī] and Gayā can never be equal to Śivapurāṇa. If one wishes for the greatest of goals (Liberation) one shall recite at least a stanza or even half of it from Śivapurāṇa. He who constantly listens to Śivapurāṇa fully comprehending its meaning or simply reads it with devotion is undoubtedly a meritorious soul”.

The seven sacred cities of the Hindus are: Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā, Kāśī, Kāñcī, Āvantikā and Dvārikā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Kañcī (कञ्ची).—In the liṅga deśa of the personified Veda.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 104. 76.

1b) A R. of the Ketumāla country.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 44. 18.

2a) Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—A river in the Ketumāla continent.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 44. 18.

2b) A R. of the Bhadrā.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 25.

2c) Visited by Balarāma;¹ visited by Agastya; also vāraṇaśailendra and ekāmranilaya. Viṣṇu Hayagrīva appeared before Agastya.² A Vaiṣṇava kṣetra with śiva sānnidhya. Prayers of Brahmā, to Lakṣmī and Viṣṇu requested to reside here. Here were celebrated. Śiva's marriage, Brahma's with Vāṇī, and Viṣṇu with Kamalā. But Brahmā subsequently left this.³

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 79. 14.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 5. 6-10; 7-10.
3) Ib. IV. 39 (whole): 40. 16, 59, 82-91.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. V.158.20) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kāñcī) 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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Kāñci (काञ्चि) refers to one of the ten kinds of yamaka, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17. Yamaka is one of the four “figures of speech” (alaṃkāra), used when composing dramatic compositions (kāvya).

2) Kāñci (काञ्चि) refers to a “girdle of one string” and is a type of ornament (ābharaṇa) for the hips (śroṇī) to be worn by females, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. Such ornaments for females should be used in cases of human females and celestial beings (gods and goddesses).

Ābharaṇa (‘ornaments’, eg., kāñcī) is a category of alaṃkāra, or “decorations”, which in turn is a category of nepathya, or “costumes and make-up”, the perfection of which forms the main concern of the Āhāryābhinaya, or “extraneous representation”, a critical component for a successful dramatic play.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., 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) and poetic works (kavya).

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is the name of an ancient city, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 43. Accordingly, as Rājyadhara said to Naravāhanadatta: “there is a city named Kāñcī possessed of great excellences, which, like a girdle, well adorns the earth-bride. In it there was a famous king of the name of Bāhubala, who won Fortune by the might of his arm, and imprisoned her in his treasury, though she is a gadding dame”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kāñcī, 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.

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara

Kāñci (काञ्चि) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—(Kanei) This is known as Kāñcipura or Conjeevaram, the capital of the Draviḍa or the Cola country on the river Palār. This situated at a distance of forty-three miles south-west of Madras.

context information

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’.

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is the alternative name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) mentioned by Hemacandra (1088-1173 C.E.) in his auto-commentary on the second chapter of the Chandonuśāsana. Kāñcī corresponds to Vācālakāñcī. Hemacandra gives these alternative names for the metres by other authorities (like Bharata), even though the number of gaṇas or letters do not differ.

context information

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: eScholarship: Chapters 1-14 of the Hayasirsa Pancaratra

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is the name of an ancient region, being born from there represents an undesirable characteristic of an Ācārya, according to the 9th-century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra Ādikāṇḍa chapter 3.—The Lord said:—“I will tell you about the Sthāpakas endowed with perverse qualities. He should not construct a temple with those who are avoided in this Tantra. [...] Nor originating in Kāmarūpa or Kaliṅga, or Kāñcī, Kāśmīra or Kośala, nor one having bad behavior, bad company or come from Mahārāṣṭra. [...] A god enshrined by any of these named above (viz., kāñcī), is in no manner a giver of fruit. If a building for Viṣṇu is made anywhere by these excluded types (viz., kāñcī) then that temple will not give rise to enjoyment and liberation and will yield no reward, of this there is no doubt”.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Acta Orientalia vol. 74 (2013): Historical sequence of the Vaiṣṇava Divyadeśas

Kāñci refers to either [Vēḷukkai, Nīrakam, Pāṭakam, Nilāttiṅkaḷtuṇṭam, Ūrakam, Veḥkā, Kārakam, Kārvaṉam, Kaḷvaṉūr, Pavaḷavaṇṇam or Paramēccuraviṇṇakaram], some of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desam (divyadeśas or divyasthalas), located in the topographical division of Toṇṭaināṭu (“Northern Tamil Nadu”), according to the 9th century Nālāyirativviyappirapantam (shortly Nālāyiram).—Tradition would record the Vaiṣṇava divyadeśas or divyasthalas are 108. The divyadeśa is a base of the cult of Viṣṇu in Viṣṇuism [Vaiṣṇavism] tradition. The list of 108 [viz., Kāñci] seems to have reached maturation by about the early 9th century CE as all the deśas are extolled in the hymns of the twelve Āḻvārs.

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) refers to a “girdle” and represents a type of “ornaments for the loins” (śroṇī), as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—Bharata (cf. Nāṭyaśāstra 23.35-37) mentions the ornaments for the loins (śroṇī) [viz. kāñcī (girdle) with one string of pearls].

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions (hinduism)

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—The earliest literary reference to Kāñcī is in the Mahābhāṣya of Patañjali. The Mahābhāṣya on Vārttika 26 to Pāṇini IV. 2. 104 mentions Kāñcīpuraka (i. e. a resident of Kāñcīpura). Literally Kāñcī means a ‘girdle’. It seems to have been so named because it is situated like a girdle round the sea.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdomlib Libary: Vajrayogini

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is the name of a sacred site (pīṭha) presided over by Hayakarṇā, according to the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala. Hayakarṇā is a deity situated in one of the six petals of the western lotus, of which the presiding deity is kuleśvarī (presiding lady) named Tārā. The central deity of the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala is the twelve-armed Vajravarāhī.

Kāñcī is one of the twenty-four pīṭhas, or ‘sacred-site’ (six lotuses each having six petals), each corresponding with a part of the human body. Kāñcī is to be contemplated as situated in the heart. Besides being associated with a bodily spot, each pīṭha represents an actual place of ancient India frequented particularly by advanced tantric practitioners

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is one of the two Upacchandoha (‘sacred spot’) present within the Vākcakra (‘circle of word’) which is associated with the Ḍākinī named Bhūcarī (‘a woman going on the ground’), according to the 9th-centruy Vajraḍākatantra. Vākcakra is one of three Cakras within the Tricakra system which embodies twenty-four sacred spots or districts (viz., Kāñcī) resided over by twenty-four ‘sacred girls’ (ḍākinīs) whose husbands abide in one’s body in the form of twenty-four ingredients (dhātu) of one’s body.

Kāñcī has the presiding Ḍākinī named Hayakarṇā whose husband, or hero (vīra) is named Mahābhairava. The associated internal location is the ‘heart’ and the bodily ingredients (dhātu) are the ‘feces’. According to the Vajraḍākavivṛti, the districts Himagiri, Kāñcī, Devīkoṭa and Rāmeśvara are associated with the family deity of Saṃcālinī; while in the Abhidhānottarottaratantra there is the Ḍāka deity named Padmaḍāka standing in the center of the districts named Kaliṅga, Kāñcī, Lampāka and Himālaya (Himagiri).

Source: academia.edu: Holy Sites in Buddhist Saṃvara Cycle

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) refers to one of the sixty-four inner channels running through the nirmāṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Nirmāṇacakra is an inner circle of the shape of a lotus with sixty-four petals. This inner circle is visualized in one’s abdomen. The inner channels [viz., Kāñcī] run through the petals of these inner circles.

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 geogprahy

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) refers to one of the kingdoms of the south (see Dakṣiṇāpatha) mentioned in Gupta inscription No. 1. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. According to this inscription, all the kings of the region of the north were who attained great fame by liberating them. One of the regions mentioned as situated in the south is Kāñcī.

Kāñcī as included within Dakṣiṇapatha is also mentioned by Rājaśekhara (fl. 10th century) in his Kāvyamīmāṃsā (chapter 17) who places Dakṣiṇapatha ahead of Māhiṣmatī.

Source: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptions

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) or Kāñcīpura is now represented by Conjeevaram on the river Palar, forty-three miles south-west of Madras, in the Chingaleput district of Madras. It was the ancient capital of the Cola and the Pallava rulers. Most of the inscriptions of Pallava rulers are dated from Kāñcīpura. It was a famous seat of Iearning. Mayūraśarman went with his guru to this city to study the sacred writings and quickly entered the ghāṭikā as a mendicant. Athole inscriptions refers to the conquest of Kāñcīpura by Pulakeśn II, the Calukya ruler.

The earliest reference to this place (Kāñcī) is in the Mahābhāṣya of Patañjalī. It is idenitfied by some with Satiyaputa of Aśokan Rock-edicts, and in Pali literature. It is noteworthy as the birth-place of the commentator Dhammapāla. and perhaps, also of Anurāddha, author of the Abhidhānmuttha Sangaha. The Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa links Kāñcī with Kāśī, both forming the two eyes of Śiva. It also figures in the Skandapurāṇa, Bhāgavara-purāṇa as well as in the yoginī-tantra. The place is sacred to Vaishnavites and Shaivites alike.

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions

Kāñcī (काञ्ची) is a place-name without suffix and is mentioned in the Gupta inscription No. 1. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The inscription refers to Viṣṇugopa of Kāñcī as one of the kings of Dakṣiṇāpatha defeated by Samudragupta but reinstated in their kingdoms.

Kāñcī is the same as Kāñcīpura or modern Conjeevaram in the Chingleput district of Madras Presidency. The kingdom of Kāñcī extended from the mouth of the Krishna to the south of the river Palar and sometimes even to the Kaveri. It is also known as Kāñcīpeḍu. It is mentioned in several early records relating to the ancient history of the Pallavas of Kāñcī (of about A.D. 250 to 355). The Aihole inscription of Pulakeśin, the Cālukya ruler in the 7th century A.D. refers to his conquest of Kāñcīpura.

Hiuen Tsang informs us that Kāñcī was 30 li or 5 miles in circuit, and that in the city there were eighty Deva temples and many hereties called Nirgranthas.

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

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kāñcī (कांची).—f (S) A girdle or zone of gold or silver.

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

Kāñci (काञ्चि) or Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—f. [kāñc bandhane ini]

1) A woman's girdle or zone furnished with small tinkling bells or other ornaments; एतावता नत्वनुमेयशोभि काञ्चीगुणस्थानमनिन्दितायाः (etāvatā natvanumeyaśobhi kāñcīguṇasthānamaninditāyāḥ) Ku.1.37,3.55; Me.28. Śi.9.82; R.6.43.

2) Name of an ancient city in the south of India, regarded as one of the sacred cities of the Hindus; (for the names of seven cities see avanti).

Derivable forms: kāñciḥ (काञ्चिः).

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

Kāñci (काञ्चि).—f.

(-ñciḥ) See kāñcī.

--- OR ---

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—f. (-ñcī) 1. A woman’s zone or girdle. 2. The name of an ancient city situated in the peninsula, and one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. 3. A plant, (Abrus precatories:) see guñjā. E. kaci to bind or shine, in or ṅīṣ affixes; whence also kāñci.

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

Kāñci (काञ्चि).—m. pl. 1. The name of a people, Mahābhārata 1, 6684. 2. see kāñcī.

--- OR ---

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—f. A woman’s zone or girdle, usually adorned by small bells, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 10, 12.

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

Kāñci (काञ्चि).—[masculine] [plural] [Name] of a people.

--- OR ---

Kāñcī (काञ्ची).—[feminine] a girdle, [especially] a woman’[substantive]

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

1) Kāñci (काञ्चि):—m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata i, 6684]

2) f. = kāñcī [commentator or commentary] on [Uṇādi-sūtra iv, 117]

3) ind. (ifc. ci), [Śiśupāla-vadha ix, 82.]

4) Kāñcī (काञ्ची):—f. ([from] √kac; cf. kāñci) a girdle (especially a woman’s zone or girdle furnished with small bells and other ornaments, raśanā), [Rāmāyaṇa; Raghuvaṃśa; Meghadūta; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Suśruta]

5) the plant Abrus precatorius, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) Name of an ancient city (one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindūs, now Koñjīvaram, not very far from Madras = kāñcī-varam, -puram, [Religious Thought and Life in India p.446]), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Bhāgavata-purāṇa etc.]

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.

Relevant text

Search found 20 books and stories containing Kanci, Kāñci, Kāñcī, Kañcī; (plurals include: Kancis, Kāñcis, Kāñcīs, Kañcīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Sātvata movement and Bhāgavata worship < [Introduction]

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Nayanar 34: Sakkiya (Cakkiya) < [Volume 4.1.1 - A comparative study of the Shaivite saints the Thiruthondathogai]

Chapter 71 - Tiruvekampam (Hymn 61) < [Volume 3.6 - Pilgrim’s progress: away from Otriyur and Cankili]

Nayanar 65: Pusalar (Pucalar) < [Volume 4.1.1 - A comparative study of the Shaivite saints the Thiruthondathogai]

+ 16 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 40 - Greatness of Kāmākṣī

Chapter 5 - Agastya’s pilgrimage to sacred places: Manifestation of Viṣṇu

Chapter 39 - Glory of the Goddess Kāmākṣī

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Chapter 7 - The Seven Holy Cities < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]

Chapter 3 - Pārvatī Goes to Kāñcī for Penance < [Section 3a - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Pūrvārdha)]