A kuladevata (), also known as a kuladaivaṃ (, ), is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.
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).
A male deity is called a kuladeva and female deity kuladevi (sometimes spelled kuldev and kuldevi respectively).
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.
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.
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.
In western India, some communities regard local monarchs who belonged to their clan to be their kuladevata.
List The following is a non-exhaustive list of the various kuladevatas revered in different regions of the Indian subcontinent:
Northern India Jammu and Kashmir
• Baba Mandlik ji
• Baba Kaliveer ji
• Mata Mal Devi ji
• Baba Surgal Dev ji
• Baba Siddh Goriya Nath ji
Himachal Pradesh Kamrunag devta Murai Mata
Uttar Pradesh Some of the Primary Kuladevatas of Uttar Pradesh include: Shiva Durga Kali Bhairava Hanuman Krishna Shitala Gogaji Kalwa Pawan Lalita Masani Shyam Baba Sabal Singh Bawri Kesarmal Bawri Nathia Chowki Pittar (Ancestors) Brahm Baba
Southern India Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Some of the primary kuladevatas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana include: Venkateswara Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshvari Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Sita Ramachandra Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Kameswari devi Chennakeshava Mallanna, also known as Khandoba Sri Kaleshwara Sri Mallikarjuna Kanaka Durga Rajarajeswari Shakambhari Nimishamba Yellamma Peddamma Thalli Muthyalamma Pochamma Patala Lakshmi Shakambhari Kattalamma
Karnataka Some of the primary kuladevatas of Karnataka include:
Chennakeshava Virupaksha Narasimha Shri Katyayani Baneshwar Temple, Aversa Renuka Kala Bhairaveshwara Lakshmi Devi Chamundeshwari Male Mahadeshwara Veerabhadreshwara Anjaneya Swamy
Tulu Nadu Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tulu Nadu include: Naga/Naga Bermeru Panjurli Mahakali Lakkesiri Jumadi Guliga
Kerala Travancore Some of the primary kuladevatas of Kerala include:
Padmanabhaswamy Guruvayurappan Bhadrakali Rakteswari Vettakkorumakan Narayani Lakshmi-Narayana Narasimha Ganesha Ayyappan Navadurga Damodara Shasta Bhuvaneshwari Krishna Nagaraja Vishnumaya Malabar Muthappan Arya Poomala Arya Poomaruthan Wayanattappan Kathivanoor Veeran Kudi Veeran Daivathar Easwaran Kottiyoorappan Vishnumurthy Kodungallur Amma
Tamil Nadu Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tamil Nadu include: Annanmar Thangal Azhiya Ilangai Amman Shastha Kurathiamman Ellamman Kamakshi Angalamman Kala Bhairavar Narasimha Bhadrakali Kallalagar Mariamman Thillai Kali Karuppu Sami Veeramaathi Amman Kodaiyalappan Pavadairayan Renukamba Pachchaiamman Draupadi Amman Peradachiyamman Periyandichiyamman Palavesakaran Marudhaiyan Madurai Veeran Muneeshvarar Maada saamy Thalavai Nalla Maada saamy Ayyanar Murugan Veerabhadrar Periandavar Sudalaimadan Sadaiudayar Nondi Veeran Kateri Amman Sapta Kanni Sankara Narayana Selliamman / Sellandiamman Valampuri Muneeshwarar Virumandi Pechiyamman Maayan Kazhuvanaathar
Western India
Maharashtra The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include: Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur, also locally referred as Ambabai. 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. Ekvira at Karla Khandoba of Jejuri 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:
Aryadurga Bhagavati Chamundeshwari Damodar Devaki-Krishna Gajantalakshmi Ekvira Jaganmata Kamakshi MallikarjunaMallikarjuna Temple, Goa 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: Arasuri Ambaji Ashapura Mata Baba Mohan Rama Baba Ramdevji Badmataji Babosa Bhagwan Suswani Mata Momai Mata Bhadrakali Bhagwati Maa Handya Bhairuji Maharaj Bhatiji Maharaj Brahmani Mata Chamunda Mata Dada Jasraj Eklingji Devnarayan Gajanan Mata Gogaji Vitthalanatha Harkor Harsidhhi Mata Hinglaj Mata Jeen Mata Kaila Devi Mahakali Mata Mahalakshmi Mata Manasa Devi Meldi Maa Modheswari Nagnechiya Maa Pabuji Rana Jashraj Sachiya Mata Sati Mata Siriyal Mata (Savla) Swaminarayan
Tanot Mata Tulja Bhavani Vachra Dada Varahi Mata Veer Teja Vindhya Umiya Mata
Bihar Bihar
In Bihar, the following deities are worshipped as kuldevi kuldevta
Braham Baba Dharmaraj Saat bahini Mata Hanuman ji Bhairav ji Sokha baba Bandi Devi Banni Mata Sati Mata Parmeshwari Mata Durga Mata Kali Mata Lakshmi Mata Sarswati Mata Shitala Mata Phulmati Mata Kumari Mata Gahil Mata Kamla Mata Chandika Mata Vindhyavashni Mata Maha Maya Mata Narsingh baba Shiv ji Gauraiya Baba Karikh baba Feku baba Bhuiya baba Chauharmal baba Sahlaish baba
Bengal In Bengal, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas: ™\ Kali Durga Shiva Parvati Jagadhatri Narayana Krishna Lakshmi-Narayana Shitala Chandi Manasa Gandheswari
Sri Lanka The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in Sri Lanka: Nayinai Nagapoosani Nallur Murugan Keerimalai Naguleswaram Temple Thirukketheeswaram Thirukonamalai KonEesar Temple
References
External links Kamrunag devta, Mandi Himachal Pradesh Murai Mata, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh