Kalacuri \,ka-l3-'ku-re\ dynasty or Kalachuri dynasty Any of
several dynasties in Indian history. Apart from the dynastic name and per¬ haps a belief in common ancestry, there is little in known sources to con¬ nect them. The earliest known Kalacuri family ruled c. 550-620 in central and western India; its power ended with the rise of one branch of the Calukyas. The rise of another Kalacuri dynasty (1156-81), centred in Kar¬ nataka, coincided with the rise of the Lingayat, or Virashaiva, Hindu sect. The best-known Kalacuri family ruled in central India with its base at the ancient city of Tripuri (modern Tewar); it originated in the 8th century, expanded significantly in the 11th century, and declined in the 12th—13th centuries.
Kalahari Desert \,ka-la-'ha-re\ Desert region, southern Africa. It cov¬ ers an area of 360,000 sq mi (930,000 sq km) and lies mostly in Botswana but also occupies portions of Namibia and South Africa. It was crossed by the British explorers David Livingstone and William C. Oswell in 1849. Although the region has no permanent surface water apart from the Boteti River, it supports trees, low scrub, and grasses as well as abundant wild¬ life. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and the Gemsbok National Park.
kalam \k3-'lam\ Islamic speculative theology. It arose during the Umayyad dynasty over varying interpretations of the Qur’an and over ques¬ tions the Qur’an provoked, including those on predestination, free will, and the nature of God. The most prominent early school was the 8th- century Mu'tazilah, which asserted the supremacy of reason, championed free will, and rejected an anthropomorphic characterization of God. The 10th-century school of Ash'ariyyah moved kalam back toward traditional faith, accepting, for example, the eternal, uncreated nature of the Qur’an and its literal truth. The school also represented the successful adaptation of Hellenistic philosophical reasoning to Muslim orthodox theology.
Kalamukha See Kapalika and Kalamukha
kalanchoe \,ka-l9n-'ko-e\ Any of several species of succulent plants that make up the genus Kalanchoe in
the stonecrop family(Crassulaceae). popular for their easy indoor culture.
Potted K. blossjcliliana plants are marketed widely for their winter-
blooming bright red and orange (• ^ j *
llowers. which may remain fresh for j£r $7 ’■ *'■
as long as eight weeks. As suceu- - mh[SS /
lents. kalanchoes require little care. ■ '' 4 V . , A - * i'4' •. *
needing only considerable direct
sunlight (or at least bright indirect Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.
light) and occasional watering. On ©Sydneykarp : photo/nats _
some species, young plants grow in
notches on the leaves of parent plants, then drop to the soil below and begin root growth.
Kalaupapa Xka-.la-ii-'pa-paV Peninsula Peninsula on the northern shore of Molokai island, Hawaii, U.S. Occupying a 5-sq-mi (13-sq-km) plateau, it is isolated from the rest of the island by 2,000-ft (600-m) cliffs. Kalawao village, now abandoned, was the site of the original leper colony (see leprosy) established by King Kamehameha V in 1866; Father Damien ministered to the lepers there 1873-89. The entire peninsula was occu¬ pied by the state leprosarium until 1969, when Hawaii’s isolation laws were abolished.
Kalb \kalp,\ English \'kalb\, Johann (b. June 29, 1721, Hiittendorf, near Erlangen—d. Aug. 19, 1780, Camden, S.C., U.S.) German army officer who fought in the American Revolution. He served in a German regiment of the French infantry from 1743. In 1768 the French sent him on a secret mission to the American colonies to determine their attitude toward Britain. In 1776 he obtained a commission in the Continental Army. He reached Philadelphia in July 1777 and was eventually appointed a major general by the Continental Congress. He became a strong admirer of Gen. George Washington and served with him at Valley Forge. In 1780
he joined Gen. Horatio Gates at Camden, S.C., in an abortive attack on British forces. After Gates was driven from the field, Kalb fought on and was mortally wounded.
kale Loose-leafed, edible plant ( Brassica oleracea, Acephala group) derived from the cabbage, in the mus¬ tard family. Common (or Scotch) and Buda kale have stems up to 2 ft (60 cm) long that carry a rosette of elon¬ gated, dark bluish green, wavy or frilled leaves. Grown mainly for autumn and winter harvest because cold weather improves the quality of this hardy vegetable, kale is usually served cooked. It is highly nutritious.
See also coliard.
kaleidoscope Optical device consisting of mirrors that reflect images of bits of coloured glass or other objects in a symmetrical geo¬ metric design through a viewer. The design may be changed endlessly by rotating the section containing the loose fragments. A simple kaleido¬ scope consists of two thin, wedge- shaped mirror strips touching along a common edge. The mirrors are enclosed in a tube with a viewing eyehole at one end. At the other end is a thin, flat box that can be rotated; it is made from two glass disks, the outer one ground to act as a diffusing screen. In this box are pieces of coloured glass, beads, etc. When the box is turned, the objects inside tumble into an arbitrary grouping, and when the diffusing screen is illu¬ minated, the sixfold or eightfold multiplication creates a striking sym¬ metrical pattern. The kaleidoscope was invented by Sir David Brewster c. 1816.
Ka leva la Yka-la-,va-la\ Finnish national epic. It was compiled by Elias Lonnrot from the songs and ballads of Finland’s oral tradition and pub¬ lished in complete form in 1849. Kalevala, the dwelling place for the poem’s chief characters, is also a poetic name for Finland, meaning “land of heroes.” The epic contains a creation story and adventures of legend¬ ary heroes. The main character is Vainamoinen, a musician and seer of supernatural origins. Other characters include Ilmarinen, a smith who forged the lids of heaven; Lemminkainen, a warrior-adventurer and charmer of women; and Louhi, the female ruler of a land in the north. Though the Kalevala depicts conditions during the pre-Christian era, it also seems to foretell the decline of the old religions.
Kalf \'kalf\, Willem or Willem Kalff (b. Nov. 3, 1619, Rotterdam, Neth.—d. July 31, 1693, Amsterdam) Dutch painter. He is among the best-known Dutch painters of still lifes. His early works depict kitchen interiors, with such elements as gourds and pots strewn on the floor.
His later paintings feature luxurious, expensive objects such as Venetian glass and Chinese porcelain, painted with restraint and richness of texture.
Though his still lifes followed an established formula, Kalf greatly enriched the genre with his use of simple composition, dark back¬ ground, and acutely perceived high¬ lights. In restraint and richness of texture, Kalf’s still lifes were sel¬ dom, if ever, matched. Works such as Still Life with a Nautilus Cup (c.
1660) were popular among Amster¬ dam’s wealthy.
Kali Destructive and devouring Hindu goddess. She is a terrifying aspect of Devi, who in other forms appears as peaceful and benevolent.
Kali is commonly associated with
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
1012 I Kalidasa ► Kamehameha IV
death, violence, sexuality, and, paradoxically, with motherly love. Noted for killing the demon Raktavija, she is usually depicted as a hideous, black-faced hag smeared with blood. In her four hands she holds, vari¬ ously, a sword, a shield, the severed head of a giant, or a noose for stran¬ gling. Nearly naked, she wears a garland of skulls and a girdle of severed hands. She is often shown standing or dancing on her husband, Shiva. Until the 19th century the thugs of India worshiped Kali and offered their vic¬ tims to her. In the late 20th century she became a symbol of feminine empowerment in some circles.