Kula

views updated Jun 08 2018

Kula (Skt., ‘family’).
1. The family lineage and home in Hinduism, of importance (along with jāti and gotra, the original ancestor) in determining the exact position of a person in society.

2. Tantric school originating in the Bhairava-Kālī cults and Kāpālika cremation-ground (śmaśāna) dwellers. The aim of Kula practice, which involved consuming scatological substances and corpse-flesh, was possession (aveśa) by a female deity to achieve perfection (siddhi). These forces were also manifested in human form as yoginīs. Kula practice still continues in certain parts of India.

kula

views updated May 29 2018

kula See bananas.

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