ka

Thân thiện

A priest offers flowers to the statue of Ka in the temple.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An ancient Egyptian concept of the life force or spiritual double: In ancient Egyptian religion, the "ka" was believed to be a spiritual duplicate of a person, a vital essence that survived after death and required sustenance.
   • An epithet for a Hindu god: In Hinduism, "ka" is used as an epithet, notably for Prajapati and Brahma, meaning "who?" or "the unknown god," referring to the ultimate, ineffable divine principle.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Egyptian concept):
  • The pharaoh's ka was thought to dwell in his statue.
  • Offerings of food were made to nourish the ka of the deceased.
• Noun (Hindu epithet):
  • In the Rigveda, the term "ka" is used to inquire about the supreme, unknown god.
  • Prajapati is identified as "ka," the creator whose true nature is questioned.

Advanced Usage

• "To go to one's ka": An ancient Egyptian expression meaning to die.
  • The noble was prepared with tombs and goods to go to his ka.
• The Ka and the Ba: Often discussed together in Egyptology; the "ba" was the personality or soul, while the "ka" was the vital spark or sustaining life force.
  • The Egyptian afterlife involved the reunion of the ka and the ba.

Variants and Related Words

• Khat (n): The physical body in ancient Egyptian belief, which housed the ka.
• Prajapati (n): A Vedic deity, a lord of creatures, often referred to by the epithet "ka."
• Brahma (n): The Hindu god of creation, also associated with the epithet "ka."

Synonyms

• Spirit double (for the Egyptian concept).
• Vital force (for the Egyptian concept).
• The Unknown (for the Hindu epithet).

Related Idioms or Phrases

• "To be one with the ka": To be in a state of spiritual completeness or vitality (modern interpretive usage based on Egyptian belief).
  • The meditation aimed to help him feel at one with his ka.

Học thuật

Noun

1. unknown god; an epithet of Prajapati and Brahma

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ka