A kuladevatā (), also known as a kuladaivaṃ, is an ancestral tutelary deity in

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

and

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

. 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). Male kuladevatas are sometimes referred to as a kuladeva, while their female counterparts are called a 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

The deity can be represented in a male or a female human, an animal, or even an object, like a holy stone. It is believed that rituals done at a kuladeva/kuladevi temple benefits all those genetically connected with the one performing the ritual. Kuladaivams of the

Shaiva Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...

tradition are often considered to be forms of

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...

and Parvati, while those of the Vaishnava tradition are often regarded to be forms of

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...

and

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with '' Maya'' ("Illusion"). A ...

. 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 worshipped in several sects of

and

. 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:

Southern India

Andhra Pradesh

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

include: * Venkateshvara * Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshvari Beluru Chennakeshava Temple WLM 2022 India 16

Karnataka

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...

include: * Chennakeshava * Narasimha *

Virupaksha Virupaksha Raya (born 1365, reign 1404–1405 CE) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. With the death of Harihara II in 1404, the throne for the Vijayanagara Empire was disputed amongst his sons: Deva Raya I, Bukka Raya II, and Virupa ...

Kerala

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...

include: * Padmanabhaswamy * Guruvayurappan * Narayani * Lakshmi-Narayana * Narasimha *

Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu ...

Ayyappan Ayyappan an incarnation of dharma sastha, also called Manikandan, is a Hindu deity popular in Southern India, He is considered to be the epitome of dharma, truth, and righteousness and is often called upon to obliterate evil. Although devotion ...

* Shasta * Navadurga * Damodara

Tamil Nadu

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

include: *Annanmar Thangal * Shastha * Kurathiamman * Kamakshi * Angalamman * Kala Bhairavar * Narasimha * Bhadrakali * Kallalagar * Mariamman * Thillai Kali * Karuppu Sami * Pavadairayan * Renukamba * Pachchaiamman * Peradachiyamman * Periyandichiyamman * Madurai Veeran * Muneeshvarar * Ayyanar * Murugan * Veerabhadrar * Periandavar * Sudalaimadan *Nondi Veeran

Western India

Maharashtra

The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include: *

Ambabai Ambabai Temple (also known as Mahalaxmi Mandir) is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, who resides here as Supreme Mother Mahalakshmi and is worshipped by locals as Ambabai. Goddess Mahalakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu ...

Vajreshwari Vajreshwari also known as Vajrabai is a village situated near the Tansa River in the Bhiwandi taluk of Thane district, Maharashtra, India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the sevent ...

* Mahalakshmi * Tulja Bhavani *

Charbhuja Charbhuja is a famous temple of the lord Krishna in the Garhbor village in the Kumbhalgarh tehsil of Rajsamand district in the state of Rajasthan, India. Charbhuja is another name of the Lord Krishna due to his four hands, ishtdevta of ''Merti ...

* Ekvira * Jyotiba * Jaganmata/ Parvati/

Durga Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around c ...

* Khandoba * Jyotiba * Khandoba *Kedar Janani * Lakshmi-Narasimha * Mahadeva *

Mandhradevi Mandhardevi Kalubai temple is near Wai ( Satara District, Maharashtra, India). Located on a hill 4,650 feet above sea level, the temple, some 20 km from Wai, Satara, overlooks the picturesque Pandavgad Fort and Purandar fort. Devotees a ...

Renuka Renuka, also known as Yellamma, is a Hindu goddess worshipped predominantly in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and western state of Maharashtra. She is also known as the mother of Paras ...

* Vasavi Mata *Mothi Devi *

Shree Vyadeshwar Shree Dev Vyadeshwar temple is a temple dedicated to the God Shiva. It is located in Guhagar town from Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra State in India. The deity is considered as the Kuladevata (Clan-deity) of many Chitpavan families from the ...

Yamai The Yamai Devi Temple is situated in a hill complex in the town of Aundh, Satara district, Maharashtra, India. History It is said that Goddess Mahalaxmi, God Jyotiba of Kolhapur and Sri Rama (Lord Vishnu) called her as "Ye Mai" (in Marat ...

* Yogeshvari *Manudevi *Shakatambika *

Konkan

The kuladevatas venerated in the Konkan region include: *Aryadurga * Bhagavati *

Chamundeshwari Chamunda ( Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses) ...

* Damodar *

Devaki Devaki ( Sanskrit: देवकी, IAST: ''Devakī'') is a character in Hindu literature, most noted for being the mother of the god Krishna. She is one of the seven daughters of Devapa or Devaka, a king of the Yadu dynasty, and has four b ...

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

* Gajantalakshmi * Ekvira * Jaganmata * Kamakshi * Mallikarjuna * Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya * Mahalakshmi * Mahalasa * Mahamaya * Mahamaya Kalika * Mangeshi * Nageshi * Kali * Waghjai * Lakshmi-Narasimha * Navadurga * Ramnath *

Ravalnath Ravalnath ( knn, रवळनाथ, ), also widely known as Roulu, (रवळू, ) is a popular Hindu deity in Goa and the Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra, in western India. Shrines of Ravalnath are also found in border areas of Belg ...

* Saptakoteshwar *

Shantadurga Shantadurga (Devanagari:शांतादुर्गा, ) is the most popular form of the Hindu goddess Durga revered in Goa, India, as well some parts of Karnataka. She is a form of the ancient Mother goddess known as Santeri. She is wor ...

* Sharwani Vetal *

Vijayadurga Sri Vijayadurga is a Hindu Goddess of varying importance in Indian culture and tradition. She is said to have intervened in a battle between Shiva and Vishnuthem, and gone to Shankwali to kill the demons harassing the Brahmins there. When she de ...

* Vimleshwar * Vetala *

Rameshwar Rameshwar also known as Rameshwar Wadi is a small town located on the coast of Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra on the west coast of India. A very old Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple is located in this town which is dedicated to the Hindu deity ...

Mauli Mauli was a dynasty of kings that ruled the '' Bhumi Malayu'' or Dharmasraya kingdom, centered in the Batanghari river system (today Jambi and West Sumatra provinces, Sumatra), from the 11th century to the 14th century.Muljana, Slamet, 2006, ...

* Venkataraman

Gujarat and Rajasthan

The kuladevatas worshipped in

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

and

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern ...

include: * Arasuri Ambaji *Semoj Mata * Momai Mata *Kunjal Mata *

Ashapura Mata Ashapura Mata is an aspect of Devi, a Hindu goddess. She is one of the kuladevis of Kutch, and the Jadeja clan inhabiting the area. She is a goddess regarded to fulfill the wishes of her adherents. In her iconography, the goddess is said to ...

* Baba Mohan Rama *

Baba Ramdevji Baba Ramdev (or Ramdevji, or Ramdeo Pir, Ramsha Pir (1352–1385 AD; V.S. 1409–1442) is a Hindu deity of Gujarat and Rajasthan, India. He was a fourteenth-century ruler, said to have miraculous powers, who devoted his life uplifting the do ...

* Suswani Mata *Susmad Mata * Bhadrakali * Bhavar Mata * Bhatiji Maharaj * Bigga Ji * Brahmani Mata * Chamunda Mata * Chorwadi Zund Bhavani * Dada Jasraj * Daryalal * Dev Narain * Gajanan Mata * Gogaji * Vitthalanatha *

Harkor Harkor is Kuldevi of Lohana clan. She is worshiped by Lohanas along with her brother Rana Jashraj. As per their folk tales, Jashraj, who lived around between 1205 and 1231 near Lohar-gadha (presentday Lahore), was at his wedding mandapa when he ...

* Harsidhhi Mata * Hinglaj Mata *Jaukhar Mata * Jeen Mata * Kalsariya Dada *

Khodiyar Khodiyar is a Hindu folk goddess worshiped in Gujarat and Rajasthan states in India. The suffix ''Mata'' or ''Maa'' (meaning "mother") is generally added to her name, similar to other Hindu goddesses. Legends The legend of Khodiyar is dated a ...

Mata *Keway Mata *Charbhuja Nath * Mahakali Mata * Mahalakshmi Mata * Manasa Devi * Modheswari *

Nagnechiya Maa Nagnechiya Maa (Nagnechi Ma, Nagnechia Ma) is the kuldevi of the Rathore The Rathore is a Rajput clan found in Northern India. Subclans Jodhana, Vadhel, Jaitawat, Kumpawat, Champawat, Meratiya, Udawat, Karamsot etc. are the branches ...

* Pabuji *

Rana Jashraj Rana Jashraj was elevated to the name Veer Dada Jashraj and he was worshiped as kuladevata by the Lohana caste. In memory of Jashraj, ''Vasant Panchami'' (the fifth day of the spring season as per the Hindu calendar) is celebrated as a ''balidaan ...

* Randhal Maa * Sakrai Mata * Shakti Mata * Siriyal Mata * Sachiya Mata * Bapu Bhalara Bapa * Renuka Mata * Satsariya Bapa * Tanot Mata * Tulja Bhavani * Umiya Mata * Vachra Dada * Veer Teja *

Vindhya The Vindhya Range (also known as Vindhyachal) () is a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands and plateau escarpments in west-central India. Technically, the Vindhyas do not form a single mountain range in the ...

* Shree Sindhvi Sikoter Mataji * Mastram Baba *Shakatambika

Eastern India

Bengal

Bengal Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...

, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas: * Kali *

* Parvati * Jagadhatri * Narayana *

* Gandheshwari * Damodar * Shridhar * Raghuvir * Lakshmi-Narayana * Raghunathji * Gopinathji/Madhusudana/Madanmohana * Radha-Govinda/Radha Krishna/Radha-Madhava *

Shitala Sheetala (, IAST: ) , also spelled as Shitala and Seetla, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily in North India. She is regarded to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. She is believed to cure poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules, and diseases, ...

* Hara-Parvati/Hara-Gauri * Mahalakshmi * Balagopala *

Chandi Chandi ( sa, चण्डी, ) or Chandika () is a Hindu deity. Chandika is another form of Mahadevi, similar to Durga. Chandika is a powerful form of Mahadevi who manifested to destroy evil. She is also known as ''Kaushiki'', '' Katyayan ...

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; born Vishvambhar Mishra) was a 15th-century Indian saint who is considered to be the combined avatar of Radha and Krishna by his disciples and various scriptures. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishn ...

* Manasa

Bihar

The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in

Bihar Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West ...

: * Sokha Baba * Goraiya Baba * Bandi Mata * Karikh Baba * Salhesh Baba

Sri Lanka

The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

: * Nayinai Nagapoosani * Nallur Murugan

References

{{Hindu deities and texts, state=collapsed Hindu deities Tutelary deities