Kuladevata
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A kuladevatā (transl. clan-deity),[1] also known as a kuladaivaṃ,[2] is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.[3]
Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (bhakti), and is coaxed to watch over one's clan (kula), gotra, family, and children from misfortune. This is distinct from an ishta-devata (personal tutelar) and a grāmadevatā (village deities).[4]
Male kuladevatas are sometimes referred to as a kuladeva, while their female counterparts are called a kuladevi.[5]
Etymology
The word kuladevata is derived from two words: kula, meaning clan, and devata, meaning deity, referring to the ancestral deities that are worshipped by particular clans.[6]
Veneration
The deity can be represented in a male or a female human, an animal, or even an object, like a holy stone. It is believed that rituals done at a kuladeva/kuladevi temple benefits all those genetically connected with the one performing the ritual.[citation needed] Kuladaivams of the Shaiva tradition are often considered to be forms of Shiva and Parvati, while those of the Vaishnava tradition are often regarded to be forms of Vishnu and Lakshmi.[7] Hindu families make a pilgrimage to the kuladevata or kuladevi temple to obtain the blessing of the deity after an auspicious occasion, such as a wedding. Kuladevatas are worshipped in several sects of Hinduism and Jainism.
Due to the veneration of holy men (babas) in several regions of the subcontinent, several communities consider such men to be their kuladevatas in the place of a deity.[8]
In western India, some communities regard local monarchs who belonged to their clan to be their kuladevata.[9]
List
The following is a non-exhaustive list of the various kuladevatas revered in different regions of the Indian subcontinent:
Southern India
Andhra Pradesh
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Andhra Pradesh include:
Karnataka
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Karnataka include:[10]
Kerala
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Kerala include:[11][12]
- Padmanabhaswamy
- Guruvayurappan
- Narayani
- Lakshmi-Narayana
- Narasimha
- Ganesha
- Ayyappan
- Shasta
- Navadurga
- Damodara
Tamil Nadu
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tamil Nadu include:
- Annanmar Thangal
- Shastha
- Kurathiamman
- Kamakshi
- Angalamman
- Kala Bhairavar
- Narasimha
- Bhadrakali
- Kallalagar
- Mariamman
- Thillai Kali
- Karuppu Sami
- Pavadairayan
- Renukamba
- Pachchaiamman
- Peradachiyamman
- Periyandichiyamman
- Madurai Veeran
- Muneeshvarar
- Ayyanar
- Murugan
- Veerabhadrar
- Periandavar
- Sudalaimadan
- Nondi Veeran
Western India
Maharashtra
The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include:
- Ambabai[13]
- Vajreshwari
- Mahalakshmi
- Tulja Bhavani[14][13]
- Charbhuja
- Ekvira
- Jyotiba
- Jaganmata/Parvati/Durga
- Khandoba[15]
- Jyotiba[16]
- Khandoba
- Kedar Janani
- Lakshmi-Narasimha
- Mahadeva
- Mandhradevi
- Renuka
- Vasavi Mata
- Mothi Devi
- Shree Vyadeshwar
- Yamai[17]
- Yogeshvari
- Manudevi
- Shakatambika
- Lakshmi
Konkan
The kuladevatas venerated in the Konkan region include:
- Aryadurga
- Bhagavati
- Chamundeshwari
- Damodar
- Devaki-Krishna
- Gajantalakshmi
- Ekvira
- Jaganmata
- Kamakshi
- Mallikarjuna[18]
- Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya
- Mahalakshmi
- Mahalasa
- Mahamaya
- Mahamaya Kalika
- Mangeshi
- Nageshi
- Kali
- Waghjai
- Lakshmi-Narasimha
- Navadurga
- Ramnath
- Ravalnath
- Saptakoteshwar
- Shantadurga
- Sharwani Vetal
- Vijayadurga
- Vimleshwar
- Vetala
- Rameshwar
- Mauli
- Venkataraman
Gujarat and Rajasthan
The kuladevatas worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan include:[19]
- Arasuri Ambaji
- Semoj Mata
- Momai Mata
- Kunjal Mata
- Ashapura Mata
- Baba Mohan Rama
- Baba Ramdevji
- Suswani Mata
- Susmad Mata
- Bhadrakali
- Bhavar Mata
- Bhatiji Maharaj
- Bigga Ji
- Brahmani Mata
- Chamunda Mata
- Chorwadi Zund Bhavani
- Dada Jasraj
- Daryalal
- Dev Narain
- Gajanan Mata
- Gogaji
- Vitthalanatha
- Harkor
- Harsidhhi Mata
- Hinglaj Mata
- Jaukhar Mata
- Jeen Mata
- Kalsariya Dada
- Khodiyar Mata
- Keway Mata
- Charbhuja Nath
- Randhal Maa
- Sakrai Mata
- Shakti Mata
- Siriyal Mata
- Sachiya Mata
- Bapu Bhalara Bapa
- Renuka Mata
- Satsariya Bapa
- Tanot Mata
- Tulja Bhavani
- Umiya Mata
- Vachra Dada
- Veer Teja
- Vindhya
- Shree Sindhvi Sikoter Mataji
- Mastram Baba
- Shakatambika
Eastern India
Bengal
In Bengal, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas:
- Kali
- Durga
- Shiva
- Parvati
- Jagadhatri
- Narayana
- Krishna
- Gandheshwari
- Damodar
- Shridhar
- Raghuvir
- Lakshmi-Narayana
- Raghunathji
- Gopinathji/Madhusudana/Madanmohana
- Radha-Govinda/Radha Krishna/Radha-Madhava
- Shitala
- Hara-Parvati/Hara-Gauri
- Mahalakshmi
- Balagopala
- Chandi
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
- Manasa
Bihar
The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in Bihar:
- Sokha Baba
- Goraiya Baba
- Bandi Mata
- Karikh Baba
- Salhesh Baba
Sri Lanka
The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in Sri Lanka:
References
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-10-17). "Kuladevata, Kuladevatā, Kula-devata: 9 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ "Kuladeivam & Its Significance - The Verandah Club". theverandahclub.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-10-17). "Kuladevata, Kuladevatā, Kula-devata: 9 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
- ^ Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012-08-21). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge. p. 437. ISBN 978-1-135-18978-5.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-10-17). "Kuladeva, Kula-deva: 7 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Saravanan, V. Hari (2014). Gods, Heroes and their Story Tellers: Intangible cultural heritage of South India. Notion Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-93-84391-49-2.
- ^ "Shiva and Shaivism - Origin, Beliefs, Practices, History & mentions in Vedas". TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination | Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad. 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
- ^ Kurien, Prema (2007-06-19). A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism. Rutgers University Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-8135-4161-7.
- ^ Lachaier, Pierre (1999-01-01). Firmes et entreprises en Inde: la firme lignagère dans ses réseaux (in French). KARTHALA Editions. p. 70. ISBN 978-2-86537-927-9.
- ^ Atmashraddhananda, Swami (2022-02-01). A Pilgrimage To Western Ghats Temples In Karnataka. Sri Ramakrishna Math. p. 15.
- ^ Ltd, Infokerala Communications Pvt (2017-09-01). Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage 2017. Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd. p. 197. ISBN 978-81-934567-0-5.
- ^ Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: pt.1-3 Kerala. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1427. ISBN 978-81-85938-99-8.
- ^ a b Maxine Berntsen (1 January 1988). The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra. SUNY Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-0-88706-662-7.
- ^ ul Hassan, S. S. (1920). The Castes and Tribes of HEH the Nizam's Dominions (Vol. 1). Asian educational services. pp. 49, 46, 88, 97, 109, 118, 183, 234, 280, 622, 616, 556, 595, 407, 304, 370, 338.
- ^ Shirish Chindhade (1996). Five Indian English Poets: Nissim Ezekiel, A.K. Ramanujan, Arun Kolatkar, Dilip Chitre, R. Parthasarathy. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 107. ISBN 978-81-7156-585-6.
- ^ Glushkova, I., 2006. Moving God (s) ward, calculating money: Wonders and wealth as essentials of a tīrtha-yātrā. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 29(2), pp.215-234.
- ^ Gupta, R.R., 2007. Wada of Maharashta, an Indian courtyard house form. Cardiff University (United Kingdom).
- ^ Mallikarjuna Temple, Goa
- ^ "Kuldevi List & Gotra List of Oswal Samaj - Agam Nigam - A Jain Hub". 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-06-25.