Kuladevata

Kula-dèvatā (transl. clan-deity), also known as Kuladeva or Kuladevi is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism, who is often the object of one’s devotion (bhakti) inorder to coax the god for favours, and to have the god as a watch over one’s family and children from probable misfortune. This is distinct from Ishta-devata (personal tutelar) and village deities.

In practice

The word Kuladevata is derived from two words: Kula, meaning clan and Devata, meaning deity. Thus, it can be said that Kuladevatas are deities which are worshiped by particular clans. The deity can be a male, female, animal or even an object, like a holy stone. 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 worshiped in several sects of Hinduism and Jainism. In the state of Maharashtra, the Kuladevatas are mainly manifestations of Shiva or Shakti such as Khandoba or Bhavani, respectively. In the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, these deities are generally, the various manifestations of Parvati, the wife of Shiva. She is worshiped by different names by different clans. The Indian King Cobra (Nag) is also a famous Kuladevata. It is known by several names, such as, Nagadevata and Nagabaapji and is worshiped by several Hindu, Jain and Kshatriya clans. Some Kshatriya clans also claim themselves to be “Nagavanshi” or Descendants of the Naga.

In Southern India, Balaji of Tirupati is one of the main Kuladevatas.

In Kerala, amongst the Nair community, each tharavadu (ancestral family house) has a Kula Devata – often, the devi form of Bhadra, besides Para Devatas of ancestors in tharavadu temples. However, each branch of the family and members also worship Ishta-Devata depending upon village deities and choices.

In Andhra Pradesh, Goddess Vasavi Kanyakaparameshwari is the Kuladevi for the Arya Vysya community.

In Tamil Nadu, Goddess Kamakshi, Goddess Renukamba and Lord Murugan are family deities among many others, for many Brahmin Iyersand also to Maravar And Vellalars. Goddess Bhadrakali is the tutelary deity of Nadars. Majority of the Nadar Settlements will have a temple for Goddess Bhadrakali. Goddess Angalaparameshwari for majority of chettiars and vellalars. Lord Narashima for Brahmin Iyengars and also to Naidu. Worship of Kuladevta is very much prominent amongst the Brahmins and Kshatriyas of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, that are the Konkani Saraswats, Daivajnas and Konkani Kharvis. Most of the Kuladevata temples are found in Goa, Shantadurga, Mahalakshmi, Nagesh, Mangesh, Ramnath to name a few. Kuladevatas play a very pious role in the Saraswat Brahmins, Daivajna Brahmins and Konkani Kharvis, it can even supplant the role of the Istadevata.

Bengal

• Kali
• Durga
• Shiva
• Parvati
• Jagadhatri
• Narayana
• Krishna
• Gandheshwari
• Damodar
• Shridhar
• Raghuvir
• Lakshmi-Narayan/Lakshmi-Janardan
• Raghunathji
• Gopinathji/Madhusudana/Madanmohana
• Radha-Govinda/Radhan Krishna/Radha-Madhava
• Shitala
• Hara-Parvati/Hara-Gauri
• Mahalakshmi
• Baal Gopal
• Chandi
• Chaitanya mahaprabhu
• Mansa

Maharashtra

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Kuladevata worshipped in Maharashtra include:

• Ambabai-Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur
• Mahalakshmi of Dahanu, Palghar
• Tulja Bhavani of Tuljapur
• Charbhuja Dist. Rajsamand
• Ekvira of Karla Caves
• Jyotiba
• Jaganmata/Parvati/Durga of Toppo, Baghwar and Kachhapa (West Orissa Origin) Community
• Khandoba of Jejuri
• Jyotiba of Kolhapur
• Khandoba of Pal
• Kedar Janani of Tise, near Kolad, Maharashtra
• Laxmi-Narasimha
• Mahadeva of Toppo and Baghwar Community
• Mandhradevi of Wai
• Renuka of Mahur
• Vasavi Matha of Penugonda Kshetram
• Mothi Devi of Khamgaon Buldhana, Vidarbha
• Vyadeshwar of Guhagar
• Yamai of Aundh
• Yogeshwari of Ambejogai
• Manudevi of Adgaon
• Shakatambika of Gautam Gotra
• Shri-Laxmi-Pallinaath of Ratnagiri Pali

Konkan

Konkani people worship following deities as their Kuladevatas, most of the temples are located in Goa. Some of the deities were shifted to other places in Konkan by the devotees during the Goa Inquisition. Some of them are listed below:

• Aryadurga
• Bhagavati
• Chamundeshwari
• Damodar
• Devaki Krishna
• Gajantalakshmi
• Jaganmata (Maa Durga’s avatar)
• Kamakshi
• Mallikarjuna
• Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya
• Mahalakshmi
• Mahalasa
• Mahamaya
• Mahamaya Kalika
• Mangeshi
• Nageshi
• Kali
• Waghjai
• Laxmi-Narasimha
• Navadurga
• Ramnath
• Ravalnath
• Santeri
• Saptakoteshwar
• Shantadurga
• Sharwani Vetal
• Vijayadurga
• Vimleshwar
• Vetal
• Rameshwar
• Mauli

Gujarat and Rajasthan

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Kuladevata worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan include:

• Arbuda Mata(mount abu-rajasthan)-Kuldevi of Chaudhari Anjana Patel.

–>In Gujarat,main Temples located at mehsana & village-

• Semoj Mata- Khatana Rabari
• Momai Mata- kuldevi of subclans of Rajgor brahmins, rajputs, kshatriya and merchant communities.
• Kunjal Mata – Kuldevi of Pareeks
• Ashapura Mata – Jadeja Kuldevi
• Baba Ramdevji
• Suswani Mata- Kuldevi of Dugar,Surana and Sankhala Gotras
• Susmad Mata – Kuldevi of Kabra. Temple in Kuchera (कुचेरा) – a village in Mundwa tahsil in Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
• Bhadrakali – Hanumangarh
• Bhavar Mata – Chhoti Sadri
• Bhatiji Maharaj
• Bigga Ji –
• Brahmani Mata
• Chamunda Mata
• Chorwadi Zund Bhavani Mata Virji Vora, Kikani
• Dada Jasraj – by Saraswat Brahim Lohana, Bhanushali and others
• Daryalal – by Lohana Sindhi
• Dev Narain – Gurjar
• Gajanan mata – khangar
• Gogaji – Chauhan
• Gusainji
• Harkor – Kuldevi of Lohana and Bhanushali
• Harsidhhi Mata
• Hinglaj Mata
• Jeen Mata
• Kalsariya Dada – Kalsar, Gujarat
• Khodiyar Mata leva Patel, Bharwad, Rabari Keway Mata in KINSARIYA MARWAD kuldevi of Dahiya Rajput and Rathore
• Maha Kali Mata
• Mahalakshmi Mata – Shrimali Brahmin, Vanik, Soni
• Mansa Devi – Churu
• Modheswari – Modh
• Nagnechiya Maa – Rathore Kuldevi
• Pabuji
• Rana Jashraj – Kuldevata of Lohana and Bhanushali

Randhal Maa- kuldevi of HAPANI’s and many others

• Sakrai Mata – In Sikar, Rajasthan
• Shakti Mata – Zala Kuldevi, Makwana – in Patdi – Dhama, Gujarat
• Siriyal Mata – Savla Kuldevi, Bhisra – in Kutch, Gujarat
• Sachiya Mata
• Bapu Bhalara Bapa -Kuldev of Palan family Lohana, Panchavda, Dist. Rajkot, Gujarat
• Renuka mata(mother of god Parshuram) – kuldevi of mourya(Rajput-nimad-MP)now in someplaces of Gujarat
• Satsariya Bapa of Dhasa (Nag-dev)
• Tulja Bhawani
• Umiya Mata kadava patel, Brahman
• Vachra Dada – Solanki and others.
• Veer Teja – In Kharnal in Nagaur district in Rajasthan
• Vindhya-Vasini Mata
• Shree Sindhvi Sikoter Mataji At Jamnagar “Gujrati Lohana Kataria Pariwar” Kuldevi
• Shree MastRam Baba Ji At Khansurjapur Bharatpur khainwar pariwar
• Shakatambika of Gautam Gotra

Tamil Nadu

• Sree Sastha
• Kurathiamman
• Angalamman
• Bhadrakali
• Lord Pavadairayan
• Renukamba at Padaiveedu
• Pachchaiamman
• Madurai Veeran
• Muneeswaran
• Ayyanar
• Murugan
• Periandavar
• Sudalaimadan
• Nondi Veeran