kama, (Sanskrit) refers to one of the proper pursuits of man as a householder and worker, and in his sexual desire. A classic textbook on erotic and other forms of human pleasure, the Kama-sutra, is attributed to the sage Vatsyayana.

Kama, the Hindu god of Love; his consort (wife) is Rati. During the Vedic age, he personified cosmic desire, or creative impulse, and is called the first-born of the primeval chaos that makes all later creation possible. In later periods he is depicted as a handsome youth, attended by heavenly nymphs, who shoots love-producing flower-arrows. His bow is of sugar cane, his bowstring a row of bees.

Legend: Once directed by the other gods to arouse Shiva’s passion for Parvati, Kama disturbed the great god’s meditation on a mountaintop. Enraged, Shiva burned him to ashes with the fire of his third eye. Thus he became Ananga (Sanskrit: the bodiless). But some accounts say Shiva soon relented and restored him to life after the entreaties of Kama's wife, Rati.

Kamakshi, a Hindu goddess, a form of PARVATI.

Kamatha, evil brother of Prince Parshva. See PARSHVA AND THE LORD OF THE NAGAS.

kamdar, (Hindi) a delegate of the Rana and clan chief; a treasurer.

Kamlavati, the Brahman nanny who reared the orphaned prince, GUHIL, who later formed his own dynasty, the GUHILOTS (AD ca 569), forerunner of the Mewar Dynasty.

Kamori: see JAI SINGH, MAHARANA.

Kanaksen, Raja, traditional descendant of LAV (Lava), eldest son of RAM (Sri Ramachandra of Ayodhya). See MEWAR'S TRADITIONAL LINEAGE.

Kandhal I, Rawat, son of CHOONDA; played a major role in ousting Maharana Udai Singh I after he had killed his father, Maharana Kumbha and usurped the Mewar throne. See SALUMBAR.

Kankroli, a township 65 km. north of Udaipur, east of Kumbhalgarh, near RAJSAMAND LAKE. Although in close proximity, Rajsamand Lake and Kankroli both have their individual identities. The town is now a part of the Rajsamand District, which also contains the twin town of RAJNAGAR. The Temple of DWARIKADHEESH (Lord Krishna of DWARKA) is near the lake; the small palace near the temple is the residence of the Goswami (temple keeper). The town supplied magnificent white marble blocks for the Ahar cenotaphs. Since the establishment of a tyre factory here, the twin towns have taken on a decidedly industrial aspect.

Kanod, a village 90 km. from Udaipur; the estate of the nephew of CHOONDA, a noble of the Sarangdevot clan.

Kanor (Kanore) (Sarangdeots), a town about 85 km. east by south of Udaipur. The estate belongs to the descendants of Ajja, Choonda’s brother. Their title is ‘Rawat’. When CHOONDA renounced his right to the throne of Mewar and went to Mandu in Malwa, Ajja went with him. The Sultan of Mandu gave them separate jagirs and looked after them with utmost respect. Two generations later, Maharana Kumbha (1433-1468) had cause to demand the extradition of a person named Mahapa Panwar from Mandu. The Sultan refused, on the ground that Mahapa had taken shelter (sharna) at Mandu and it would be an act of cowardice to hand over a refugee. The Sultan prepared for war against Kumbha and asked Ajja to join his expedition. However, Ajja refused to fight against his Maharana, and returned to Chittor to show his loyalty to Kumbha. Later, Ajja’s son, Sarangdeo, fought with Maharana Raimal (1473-1509) against Mandu (Malwa) Sultan, Ghiyas-ud-Din Zafar Khan, and sided with Kunwar Sanga when the Raimal’s three sons fought to decide who would succeed their father.

Genealogy: Ajja; Sarangdeo I; Joga; Narbad; Nen Singh; Bhan Singh; Jagnath; Man Singh; Maha Singh; Sarangdeo II; Prithvi Singh; Jagat Singh; Jalam Singh; Ajit Singh; Umaid Singh; Nahar Singh; Kesri Singh; Karan Singh; Pratap Singh.

Kantharia, a town 75 km. southwest of Udaipur; the estate (jagir) of the grandson of Maharana LAKHA (1382-1421).

Kanthora (Rathore Kolawats). The Rathores of this estate were from the Chappan area and are known as Chappanya Rathores. There are two branches: Kolawats and Jagawats. The Kanthora family’s title is ‘Rawat’.

Kanwar (a Rajput male royal title): see KUNWAR.

Kanwari: see KUNWARI.

Kapasan, a town northeast of Udaipur (40 km. northeast of Chittorgarh, site of the BABA DIVAN SHAH MOSQUE.

Kapil Sarovar, Bikaner, an HRH Group heritage hotel; a small modern hotel in the historic village of Kolyat, just 30 km. from Bikaner, offering boating, and camel and jeep safaris. The village is a famous Hindu pilgrim centre with a holy lake, many ghats and temples. An annual fair at the end of October attracts thousands of devotees and tourists. For reservations see HRH GROUP RESERVATIONS.

Kapuria Baba, a Muslim saint; there is a small mosque (Kapuria Baba Mosque) dedicated to him on an island in PICHOLA LAKE.