Kuladevata

Kula-dèvatā (transl. clan-deity),[1] also known as Kuladeva or Kuladevi, is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism, who is often the object of one's devotion (bhakti) in order to coax the deity to watch over one's clan (kula), family and children from misfortune. This is distinct from ishta-devata (personal tutelar) and village deities.

Shri Mangesh, also popularly known as Mangireesh or Manguesh, is the Presiding Deity at one of Goa's most popular prominent temples. Shri Mangesh is the Kuladevata of millions of Hindu GSBs around the world.

In practice

The word Kuladevata is derived from two words: Kula, meaning clan and Devata, meaning deity, and refers to deities that are worshiped by particular clans. The deity can be a male, female, animal or even an object, like a holy stone, and it is believed that rituals done at the Kuladevata/Kuladevi temple benefit all those genetically connected with the one performing the ritual. 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 worshiped in several sects of Hinduism and Jainism. In the state of Maharashtra, the Kuladevatas are mainly manifestations of Shiva or Shakti such as Khandoba or Bhavani, respectively. In the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan these deities are generally the various manifestations of Parvati, the wife of Shiva, and are worshiped by different names by different clans. The Indian King Cobra (Nag) is also a famous Kuladevata. It is known by several names, such as, Nagadevata and Nagabaapji and is worshiped by several Hindu, Jain and Kshatriya clans. Some Kshatriya clans also claim themselves to be "Nagavanshi" or Descendants of the Naga.

In Southern India, Balaji of Tirupati is one of the main Kuladevatas.

SrisriKashiswarJiu- kuladevata of Dutta Chowdhury family of Andul village.

In Kerala,the namboodiris, ezhavas and nairs all have their own own family deities for their families. These are believed to be the Gods who have been protecting their families from ancestors' times. For the brahmins, kuladevatas were the ones who their forefathers did upasanas on. Upasana( life long dedicated worship). For Ezhavas and Nairs, it's not a completely dedicated upasana like that of namboodiris brahmins, but they worship their kuladevatas for their entire life. They construct temple for the kuladevatas in their premises and carry out pujas through hired brahmins to do puja called pujaris.

In Andhra Pradesh, Goddess Vasavi Kanyakaparameshwari is the Kuladevi for the Arya Vysya community.

In Tamil Nadu, Goddess Kamakshi, Goddess Renukamba and Lord Murugan are family deities among many others, for many Brahmin Iyers and also to Maravar And Vellalars. Goddess Bhadrakali is the tutelary deity of Nadars. Majority of the Nadar Settlements will have a temple for Goddess Bhadrakali. Goddess Angalaparameshwari for majority of chettiars and vellalars. Lord Narashima for Brahmin Iyengars and also to Naidu. Worship of Kuladevta is very much prominent amongst the Brahmins and Kshatriyas of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, that are the Konkani Saraswats, Daivajnas and Konkani Kharvis. Most of the Kuladevata temples are found in Goa, Shantadurga, Mahalakshmi, Nagesh, Mangesh, Ramnath to name a few. Kuladevatas play a very pious role in the Saraswat Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins and Konkani Kharvis, it can even supplant the role of the Istadevata.

Bengal

Maharashtra

Kuladevata worshipped in Maharashtra include:

Konkan

Konkani people worship following deities as their Kuladevatas/Kuldevi, most of the temples are located in Goa. Some of the deities were shifted to other places in Konkan by the devotees during the Goa Inquisition.[7] Some of them are listed below:

Gujarat and Rajasthan

Kuladevata worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan include:[9]

blessing is [JAI CHARBHUJA KI]

Randhal Maa- kuldevi of HAPANI's and many others

  • Sakrai Mata - In Sikar, Rajasthan
  • Shakti Mata - Zala Kuldevi, Makwana - in Patdi - Dhama, Gujarat
  • Siriyal Mata - Savla Kuldevi, Bhisra - in Kutch, Gujarat
  • Sachiya Mata
  • Bapu Bhalara Bapa -Kuldev of Palan family Lohana, Panchavda, Dist. Rajkot, Gujarat
  • Renuka mata(mother of god Parshuram) - kuldevi of mourya(Rajput-nimad-MP)now in someplaces of Gujarat
  • Satsariya Bapa of Dhasa (Nag-dev)
  • Tanot Mata
  • Tulja Bhawani
  • Umiya Mata kadava patel, Brahman
  • Vachra Dada - Solanki and others.
  • Veer Teja - In Kharnal in Nagaur district in Rajasthan
  • Vindhya-Vasini Mata
  • Shree Sindhvi Sikoter Mataji At Jamnagar "Gujrati Lohana Kataria Pariwar" Kuldevi
  • Shree MastRam Baba Ji At Khansurjapur Bharatpur khainwar pariwar
  • Shakatambika of Gautam Gotra

Tamil Nadu

Citations
  1. "What does कुल (Kula) mean in Hindi?".
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Gupta, R.R., 2007. Wada of Maharashta, an Indian courtyard house form. Cardiff University (United Kingdom).
  7. Pra. Pā Śiroḍakara; H. K. Mandal; Anthropological Survey of India (1993). People of India: Goa Volume 21 of People of India, Kumar Suresh Singh Volume 21 of State Series, Kumar Suresh Singh. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 283 pages. ISBN 9788171547609.
  8. Mallikarjuna Temple, Goa
  9. "Kuldevi List & Gotra List of Oswal Samaj - Agam Nigam - A Jain Hub". 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
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