Kuladevata
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, and is coaxed to watch over one's clan, gotra, family, and children from misfortune. This is distinct from an ishta-devata and a grāmadevatā.
A male deity is called a kuladeva and female deity kuladevi.
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 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
Himachal Pradesh
- Kamrunag devta
- Murai Mata
Uttar Pradesh
- Shiva
- Durga
- Kali
- Bhairava
- Hanuman
- Krishna
- Shitala
- Gogaji
- Kalwa Pawan
- Lalita Masani
- Shyam Baba
- Sabal Singh Bawri
- Kesarmal Bawri
- Nathia Chowki
- Pittar
- 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
- Chennakeshava
- Virupaksha
- Narasimha
- Renuka
Tulu Nadu
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Kerala include:
- Padmanabhaswamy
- Guruvayurappan
- Bhadrakali
- Rakteswari
- Vettakkorumakan
- Narayani
- Lakshmi-Narayana
- Narasimha
- Ganesha
- Ayyappan
- Navadurga
- Damodara
- Shasta
Tamil Nadu
- 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
- 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
Western India
Maharashtra
The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include:- Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur, also locally referred as Ambabai.
- Vajreshwari
- Tulja Bhavani
- Virabhadra of Mukhed.
- Ekvira at Karla
- Khandoba of Jejuri
- Jyotiba near Kolhapur
- Khandoba of Pali
- Lakshmi-Narasimha of Nira Narsingpur
- Mandhradevi near Wai
- Renuka of Mahur
- Vasavi Mata
- Vyadeshwar
- Yamai of Aundh
- Yogeshwari of Ambejogai
- Venkateswara of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh
- Saptashrungi of Vani, Nashik
- Mahalakshmi of Ganoja, Bhatkuli
- Chandrala Parameshwari of Sannati
Konkan
- Aryadurga
- Bhagavati
- Chamundeshwari
- Damodar
- Devaki-Krishna
- Gajantalakshmi
- Ekvira
- Jaganmata
- Kamakshi
- Mallikarjuna
- 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
- Arasuri Ambaji
- Ashapura Mata
- Baba Mohan Rama
- Baba Ramdevji
- Babosa Bhagwan
- Suswani Mata
- Momai Mata
- Bhadrakali
- Bhagwati Maa
- 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
- Swaminarayan
- Tanot Mata
- Tulja Bhavani
- Vachra Dada
- Varahi Mata
- Veer Teja
- Vindhya
- Umiya Mata
Bihar
In Bihar, the following deities are worshipped as kuldevi kuldevta
- Braham baba
- Saat bahini Mata
- Hanuman ji
- Bhairav ji
- Sokha baba
- 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
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- Kali
- Durga
- Shiva
- Parvati
- Jagadhatri
- Narayana
- Krishna
- Lakshmi-Narayana
- Shitala
- Chandi
- Manasa
Sri Lanka