Kaula

Kaula

Kaula Island, also called Kaula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped offshore islet in the Hawaiian Islands.-Geography:It is located west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on Niihau, and about west of Honolulu. The island is actually the very top of a volcanic tuff cone that rests on top of a larger,...

 is a Tantrik

Tantra

Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....

 tradition of Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

. It is a Culture and rich tradition of Sanatana

Sanatana

Sanatana was one of the Four Kumaras or Catursana, the manasputras of Brahma from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, like the Bhagavata Purana others being Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanatkumara....

  Culture of Vedic

Vedic

Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...

 way of life. Almost all Royal Families of Kerala (including Noble, elite, Royal clans) of Kerala were Kaulas, as they performed Tamasa Pooja. Malayala Kshatriya

Malayala Kshatriya

The Samanta Kshatriya are the topmost subdivision of the Malayala Kshatriya Community in Kerala, India. The Samanta Kshatriyas make up a part of the erstwhile royal families of the Hindu Kingdoms and princely states that existed in Kerala until the creation of the Indian Republic...

 and Samantha Kshatriya Families in Kerala once used the Powerful Tantrik methods for acquiring wealth, glory and victory to their families and kingdom. Kaula has its roots from Kashmir

Kashmir

Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...

, Kashmir Shaivism

Kashmir Shaivism

Among the various Hindu philosophies, Kashmir Shaivism is a school of Śaivism consisting of Trika and its philosophical articulation Pratyabhijña...

,although having numerous regional variations like, Kapalika

Kapalika

In Hindu culture, Kapalika means bearer of the skull-bowl, and refers to Lord Bhairava taking the kapala vow. As penance for cutting off one of the heads of Brahma, Lord Bhairava became Bhikshatana, an outcast and a beggar...

, Kaul, Kaula

Kaula

Kaula Island, also called Kaula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped offshore islet in the Hawaiian Islands.-Geography:It is located west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on Niihau, and about west of Honolulu. The island is actually the very top of a volcanic tuff cone that rests on top of a larger,...

, Madhyama (Kerala School) etc.

The Organization stands for the unification and association of all Kaulas of the World, Head Quarted at Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 State of Union Republic Government Territory of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It also stands and understands Samaya Tantra, Mishra Tantra and its variations. Temples of Kerala State of India like Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple

Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple

Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...

, Valayanad, Nedemel, Kaliam velli, Kollam Bhishari kavu and Mookambika

Mookambika

The Mookambika Devi Temple of Kollur, dedicated to Mookambika Devi, is one of the most prominent shrines for people in the state of Karnataka and Kerala, India. Located at a distance of 147 km from Mangalore in the picturesque surroundings presented by the banks of the river Sauparnika and...

Temple of Karnataka state of India is following this tradition of Kerala School of Tantra (Kaula).

History of Kaulas

Kaulas  have a long history since Paleolithic

Paleolithic

The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...

 age, and as carbon-dated to approximately 20,000 BCE, since the arrival of Female Deity. Thousands of female statuettes dated as early as c. 5500 BCE have been recovered at Mehrgarh, one of the most important Neolithic sites in world archaeology.
Through centuries of Shaktism

Shaktism

Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...

 tradition, Kaulas have grown as a strong sect all over India and abroad.

Relationship with Shaktism

Introduction of Shaktism
Shaktism

Shaktism

Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...

  is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead. It is, along with Shaivism and Vaisnavism, one of the three primary schools of Hinduism.

The Schools are divided into two

Kali Kula : Practicing Tantrik Deities

Shree Kula : Practicing Principal Deities

Shaketheyam as a tradition of Old Kerala Noble Families

Division of Kaula Systems

• Kerala ( Kaula and Samaya traditions of Saktism in Kerala)
• Gowda ( East Indian Kaula in Bengal and Assam)
• Kashmir (North Indian Kaula)

Kerala School of Kaula

In Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 State of India, we have presently two types of traditions.

• Uthamam
• Madhyamam

Uthamam

(Practicing Kali in the form of Shree or Principal deities of Bhadra Kali Shree form (Bhadra Kali in its Satvika / non- Fierce form)

Text : Based on Jnanarnava Tantra (Tantrik Book)

Practicing "Shree" bija

Bija

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Sanskrit term बीज bīja , literally seed, is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of things and cognate with bindu....

 / Shree as the form of Kali

Kali

' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...

 (Taking Durga form of Devi Kali as Principal Deity and its variations). Known as "Samaya

Samaya

The samaya , is a set of vows or precepts given to initiates of an esoteric Vajrayana Buddhist order as part of the abhiṣeka ceremony that creates a bond between the guru and disciple.According Keown, et al., Samaya may be defined as:*A particular system of teaching or...

" tradition (opposing Kaula System). Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala are popular in this field. Most of the Temple deities called 'Bhadra Kali', and 'Durga

Durga

For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...

' from are worshiped in this system.

Madhyamam

(Practicing Kali in the form of Tantrik Deities (at ites extreme Fierce form)

Text : Based on Kularnava Tantra (Tantrik Book) – Maha Nirvahana Tantra

Practicing "Hreem" bija

Bija

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Sanskrit term बीज bīja , literally seed, is used as a metaphor for the origin or cause of things and cognate with bindu....

/ Hreem – Shreem – Kreem – Soum -as its Prim Form (Tantric deities). Moossad or Mootheth Brahmin

Brahmin

Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...

 of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, Adikal

Adikal

Adikal is a sub-caste of Ambalavasi Nairs in Kodungallur, Kerala. Women in this caste are known as Adisyaar or as Adiyamma. In Travancore they are known as Adishens or Aadichan Nairs. Aadichans were counted as Nair until the Travancore Census of 1891...

 Brahmins,
Pidathiri and Nairs of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 as well as Hegde

Hegde

Hegde also spelled Heggade is a surname or family name which has its origins in the Indian state of Karnataka.The word "Hegde" is derived from the words "hegg" and "gad" ; thus, it means "head of the fort". During the period of the Vijayanagara Empire, the warriors who used to protect a fort were...

 and Adiga Brahmin of Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

 at Mookambika Devi Temple

Temple

A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...

 of Kollur

Kollur

Kolluru is a tiny hamlet situated about from Kundapur Town, about away from Mangalore City in Karnataka state in the southern part of India...

 follows this System.

Texts Followed in Kaula System of Kerala

• Kularnava Tantra
• Maha Nirvahana Tantra
• Sakthi Tantra
• Tantra manchiri

Texts Followed in Samaya (Shree) system of Kerala

• Jnanarnava Tantra

Texts Followed in Mishra (Adi Sankara Acharya – mixture of Kaula and Samaya System.

• Kularnava Tantra
• Soundarya Lahari

Organization of Kaulas

Organization structure

The Orgaznization is headed by 5 member Council known as "Kaula Kshthra Mandalam". The apex body is the controlling and Governing council for all activities undertaking under Kaulas. The organization is now forming a Joint Trust for preserving the Tantrik values among temples and Kaula Families.

Grass root level public programs are also in planning.

Division of organization

1. Division 1

• Moola Mandala
• Sub Mandala
• Hridaya Mandala
• Kula Mandala
• Sahasra Mandala

1. Division 2

National Divisions

1. Division 3

Sectoral Divisions,
RSR Divisions,
Core Group Joint Consortium

Religious status

Temples following Kaula tradition

Shree Valayanad Devi Temple

Valayanad Devi Temple

- Temple History :Valayanad Devi temple dedicated to Bhagavathy, is situated in Valayanad on Mankavu Govindapuram route in the city of Calicut. The temple which faces the North has four gopurams. Valayanad Bhagavathi is the family deity of the Zamorin Swaroompam, who ruled Kozhikode in the medieval...

 of Calicut, Kerala, India

Shree Mookambika

Mookambika

The Mookambika Devi Temple of Kollur, dedicated to Mookambika Devi, is one of the most prominent shrines for people in the state of Karnataka and Kerala, India. Located at a distance of 147 km from Mangalore in the picturesque surroundings presented by the banks of the river Sauparnika and...

 Devi Temple, Kerala, India

Shree Thirumadamkunnu Devi Temple, Kerala, India

Shree Kaliyam Valli Devi Temple, Vadakara, Kerala, India

Shree Nademel Bhagavathi Temple, Payyoli, Kerala, India

Shree Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple, Kodungallur, Kerala, India

See also

• Shaktism
  Shaktism
  Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...
  
  
• Kaula
  Kaula
  Kaula Island, also called Kaula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped offshore islet in the Hawaiian Islands.-Geography:It is located west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on Niihau, and about west of Honolulu. The island is actually the very top of a volcanic tuff cone that rests on top of a larger,...
  
  
• Mookambika
  Mookambika
  The Mookambika Devi Temple of Kollur, dedicated to Mookambika Devi, is one of the most prominent shrines for people in the state of Karnataka and Kerala, India. Located at a distance of 147 km from Mangalore in the picturesque surroundings presented by the banks of the river Sauparnika and...
  
   Temple
• Shaiva Sidhantha
• Vedas
  Vedas
  The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
  
  
• Tantrism
• Hinduism
  Hinduism
  Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
  
  
• Nair
  Nair
  Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
  
  
• List of Nairs
• Samaya Tantra
• Mishra Tantra