Kulpurush (called as कुलपुरुष in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
and कुळपुरुस or पुरुस in
Konkani) is believed to be the progenitor of a clan.
''Kul'' literally could mean lineage, race, family, or clan and ''Purusha'' could mean man, soul, spirit or even chief.
This aspect of ancestral worship is very predominant in
Goa
Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
and is still practiced today. According to Goan Folklore researcher Mr. Vinayak Vishnu Khedekar, the word ''Purus'' or ''Puris'' originated from the Sanskrit word ''Puris''. All the communities and castes including
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
s have custom of and tradition of ''Kulapurusha'' in their clan. A separate temple is found in the vicinity of ''
Kuldevta'' temple, and ''Kulapurush'' is often worshipped in the form of
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
or
Narayana
Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: ''Nārāyaṇa'') is one of the forms and names of Vishnu, who is in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, referring to the masculine principle. He is also known as Purushottama, and is co ...
or sometimes in the form of a stone, sword, idol, or any other form like a stick or even a shield.{{citation needed, date=March 2019
See also
*
Ancestral worship
References
* "Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti" by B.D. Satoskar, published by Shubhada Publication
* "Hindu Temples and deities" by Rui Pereira Gomes
Konkani
Hinduism in Goa