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kuladevata

{{short description|Ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2020}}

File:Madurai Veeran - 16th Century.jpg with his consorts, a kuladevata of communities in Madurai.]]

A kuladevata or Kuldevi{{Cite web |date=2025-03-06 |title=Rajput Kuldevi |url=https://www.rajputkuldevi.com/ |access-date=2025-03-06}} ({{Langx|sa|कुलदेवता or कुलदेवी|lit=clan deity|translit=Kuladevatā or Kuladevī}}),{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-10-17 |title=Kuladevata, Kuladevatā, Kula-devata: 9 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kuladevata |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} also known as a kuladaivaṃ ({{langx|ta|குலதெய்வம்}}),{{Cite web |title=Kuladeivam & Its Significance - The Verandah Club |url=https://theverandahclub.com/article/kuladeivam-its-significance-250 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=theverandahclub.com |language=en}} is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-10-17 |title=Kuladevata, Kuladevatā, Kula-devata: 9 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kuladevata |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}

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).{{Cite book |last1=Cush |first1=Denise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3N4mGlbutbgC&dq=kula+devata+means&pg=PA437 |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Robinson |first2=Catherine |last3=York |first3=Michael |date=2012-08-21 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-18978-5 |pages=437 |language=en}}

Male kuladevatas are sometimes referred to as a kuladeva, while their female counterparts are called a kuladevi.{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-10-17 |title=Kuladeva, Kula-deva: 7 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kuladeva |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}

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.{{Cite book |last=Saravanan |first=V. Hari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y2noBgAAQBAJ&dq=kula+clan+devata+deity&pg=PT14 |title=Gods, Heroes and their Story Tellers: Intangible cultural heritage of South India |date=2014 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-93-84391-49-2 |pages=14 |language=en}}

Veneration

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.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=Shiva and Shaivism - Origin, Beliefs, Practices, History & mentions in Vedas |url=https://www.templepurohit.com/shiva-shaivism-origin-beliefs-practices-history-mentions-vedas/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination {{!}} Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite book |last=Kurien |first=Prema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxneawQ8sKQC&dq=holy+men+kuladevata&pg=PA36 |title=A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism |date=2007-06-19 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4161-7 |pages=36 |language=en}}

In western India, some communities regard local monarchs who belonged to their clan to be their kuladevata.{{Cite book |last=Lachaier |first=Pierre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j-xSUpZrzgMC&dq=jashraj,bride&pg=PA70 |title=Firmes et entreprises en Inde: la firme lignagère dans ses réseaux |date=1999-01-01 |publisher=KARTHALA Editions |isbn=978-2-86537-927-9 |pages=70 |language=fr}}

List

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the various kuladevatas revered in different regions of the Indian subcontinent:

= Nepal =

The kuldevata (Nepali: Kuldeuta कुलदेउता) in many hilly Nepalese families are often local deities worshipped by the people before the arrival of Hinduism in the region. For those of Khas descent, this is often the 12 Masto gods or one of the 9 Durga Bhawanis, which include:

  • Adi Masto
  • Bawira Masto
  • Dare Masto
  • Kamal Masto
  • Leudi Masto
  • Rumal Masto
  • Channa Masto
  • Winayak Masto
  • Khapar Masto
  • Kala Shree Masto

= Northern India =

= Himachal Pradesh =

== Uttar Pradesh ==

Some of the Primary Kuladevatas of Uttar Pradesh include:

= Southern India =

== Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ==

Some of the primary kuladevatas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana include:

File:Beluru Chennakeshava Temple WLM 2022 India 16.jpg

== Karnataka ==

Some of the primary kuladevatas of Karnataka include:{{Cite book |last=Atmashraddhananda |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IP1bEAAAQBAJ&dq=karnataka+kuladevata&pg=PT15 |title=A Pilgrimage To Western Ghats Temples In Karnataka |date=2022-02-01 |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math |pages=15 |language=en}}

== Tulu Nadu ==

Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tulu Nadu include:

== Kerala ==

Some of the primary kuladevatas of Kerala include:{{Cite book |last=Ltd |first=Infokerala Communications Pvt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_II5DwAAQBAJ&dq=kuladevata+kerala&pg=PA197 |title=Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage 2017 |date=2017-09-01 |publisher=Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-81-934567-0-5 |pages=197 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=beexzq__jCsC&q=ayyappan+kuladeivam |title=People of India: pt.1-3 Kerala |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-85938-99-8 |pages=1427 |language=en}}

== Tamil Nadu ==

Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tamil Nadu include:

= Western India =

== Maharashtra ==

The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include:

  • Ambabai, also called Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur{{cite book |author=Maxine Berntsen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PDr-QF4YmYC&pg=PA174 |title=The Experience of Hinduism: Essays on Religion in Maharashtra |date=1 January 1988 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-662-7 |pages=174–175}}
  • Vajreshwari
  • Tulja Bhavaniul 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.
  • Virabhadra of Mukhed.{{Cite book |last=Parāñjape |first=Tārābāī |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Em0uAAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0 |title=Sīmā pradeśātīla bhāvagaṅgā |date=1985 |publisher=Marāṭhī Sāhitya Parishada, Āndhra Pradeśa |language=mr}}
  • Ekvira at Karla{{Cite book |last=Punekar |first=Vinaja B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VOU9AAAAIAAJ |title=The Son Kolis of Bombay |publisher=Popular Book Depot |year=1959 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=160: The deity was the goddess worshipped by Ekveera, who is also mentioned in the Devi Bhāgavata (Skandha 6, Adhyāya 17 : 23 ). Jejuri is the seat of Khandobā. The seat of Ekveerā is popularly known as “ Āy Jāge ' (place of the mother) |language=en}}
  • Khandoba of Jejuri{{cite book |author=Shirish Chindhade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qx5x_0VQuZoC&pg=PA91 |title=Five Indian English Poets: Nissim Ezekiel, A.K. Ramanujan, Arun Kolatkar, Dilip Chitre, R. Parthasarathy |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-7156-585-6 |page=107}}
  • Jyotiba near KolhapurGlushkova, 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.
  • Khandoba of Pali
  • Lakshmi-Narasimha of Nira Narsingpur
  • Mandhradevi near Wai
  • Renuka of Mahur
  • Vasavi Mata
  • Vyadeshwar
  • Yamai of AundhGupta, R.R., 2007. Wada of Maharashta, an Indian courtyard house form. Cardiff University (United Kingdom).
  • Yogeshwari of Ambejogai
  • Venkateswara of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh
  • Saptashrungi of Vani, Nashik
  • Mahalakshmi of Ganoja, Bhatkuli (Amravati)
  • Chandrala Parameshwari of Sannati

== Konkan ==

The kuladevatas venerated in the Konkan region include:

== Gujarat and Rajasthan ==

The kuladevatas worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan include:{{Cite news |date=2017-03-14 |title=Kuldevi List & Gotra List of Oswal Samaj - Agam Nigam - A Jain Hub |language=en-US |url=http://www.agamnigam.com/kuldevi-list-of-oswal-samaj/ |access-date=2018-06-25}}

= Eastern India / Nepal (Terai Belt, Southern Nepal) =

File:Kashiswar Bhairava, Andul.jpg community |alt=]]Bihar

In Bihar, the following deities are worshipped as kuladevatas:

Bihar Rajya Ke Kayastha Jati Shree Chitragupta Ji Ke Vanshaj Asthanaa Kayastha Ki Kuldevi Banni Mata Aur Durga Mata Hai Aur Kuldevta Shiv Ji Aur Hanuman Ji Hai Banni Mata Saat Behen Hai Aur saato behen Main Sabse Badi Banni Mata Hai Banni Mata Swyam Maha Kali Hai Inko Banni Parmeshwari Aur Banni Maha Kali Aur Kai Jagah Banni Sati Ke Naam Se Bhi Jana Jata Hai

== Bengal ==

In Bengal, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas:

= Sri Lanka =

The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in Sri Lanka:

External links

  • [https://hpmandi.nic.in/tourist-place/kamrunag-lake/ Kamrunag devta, Mandi Himachal Pradesh]
  • [https://devbhumi.in/murari-devi/ Murai Mata, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh]

References

{{reflist}}{{Hindu deities and texts|state=collapsed}}

Category:Hindu deities

Category:Tutelary deities