kathá

Kathā, written as कथा in Devanagari, is a term used across Sanskrit and many modern Indian languages to mean story, tale, or narrative. It appears in literary, religious, and colloquial contexts, where it can denote the content of a narrative as well as the act of storytelling itself.

Etymology and scope: The word comes from Sanskrit kathā, derived from the root kath- meaning to speak or tell, with a feminine noun suffix -ā. This background underpins its broad use to refer to myth, legend, lesson, or sermon, in both poetic and prose forms.

Classical and religious usage: In ancient and medieval Indian literature, kathā denotes a wide range of narratives, often with didactic, devotional, or entertaining aims. Notable examples include the Katha Upanishad, a philosophical dialogue on life and reality, and the Kathasaritsagara, a vast 11th–12th century collection of interconnected tales by Somadeva.

Modern and linguistic nuance: In contemporary Hindustani languages, kahānī is the common everyday term for a story, while kathā frequently appears in formal, classical, or literary contexts. The term also surfaces in titles of books, plays, and scholarly discussions about narrative technique and narrative traditions.

See also: Katha Upanishad; Kathasaritsagara; Kathā in literature and oral storytelling traditions.