A ''kuladevata'' (), also known as a ''kuladaivaṃ'' (), is an ancestral

tutelary deity A tutelary (; also tutelar) is a deity or a Nature spirit, spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concept ...

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

and

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...

. Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (''

bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

''), and is coaxed to watch over one's

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

(''kula''),

gotra In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotr ...

, family, and children from misfortune. This is distinct from an '' ishta-devata'' (personal tutelar) and a

grāmadevatā A gramadevata () is the tutelary deity of a given locality in Hinduism, primarily worshipped in the villages of India. Of diverse origins, gramadevatas are regarded to protect the inhabitants of their villages from bandits, epidemics, and natur ...

(village deities). A male deity is called a ''kuladeva'' and female deity ''kuladevi'' (sometimes spelled ''kuldev'' and ''kuldevi'' respectively).

Etymology

The word ''kuladevata'' is derived from two words: ''kula'', meaning

, and ''devata'', meaning

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...

, referring to the ancestral deities that are worshipped by particular clans.

Veneration

Kuladaivams of the

Shaiva Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. It is the second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million Hindus, found widely across South Asia (predominantly in ...

tradition are often considered to be forms of

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

and

Parvati Parvati (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, pɑɾʋət̪iː/), also known as Uma (, , IPA: Sanskrit phonology, /ʊmɑː/) and Gauri (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, gə͡ʊɾiː/), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the Devi, ...

, while those of the

Vaishnava Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, '' Mahavishnu''. It is one of the major Hindu denominations along wit ...

tradition are often regarded to be forms of

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

and

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

. 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 Western India is a loosely defined region of India consisting of western states of India, Republic of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs (India), Ministry of Home Affairs in its Western Zonal Council Administrative divisions of India, Adminis ...

, 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:

Northern India

Himachal Pradesh

* Kamrunag devta * Murai Mata

Uttar Pradesh

Some of the Primary Kuladevatas of

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

include: *

Durga Durga (, ) 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 combating evils and demonic ...

Kali Kali (; , ), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, primarily associated with time, death and destruction. Kali is also connected with transcendental knowledge and is the first of the ten Mahavidyas, a group of goddesses who p ...

Bhairava Bhairava (, ), or Kāla Bhairava, is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva.Kramrisch, Stella (1994). ''The Presence of Śiva''. Princeton, NJ: P ...

Hanuman Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotio ...

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

Shitala Shitala (, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ) , also spelled as Sheetala, śītalā and Seetla, is a Hindu goddess venerated primarily in North India. She is regarded to be an incarnation of the goddess Parvati. She is b ...

* Gogaji * Kalwa Pawan * Lalita Masani * Shyam Baba * Sabal Singh Bawri * Kesarmal Bawri * Nathia Chowki * Pittar (Ancestors) * Brahm Baba

Southern India

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

and

Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...

include: *

Venkateswara Venkateswara (, ), also known as Venkatachalapati, Venkata, Balaji and Srinivasa, is a Hindu deity, described as a form or avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the presiding deity of Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati. Hi ...

* Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshvari *

Narasimha Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...

* Mallanna, also known as

Khandoba Khandoba (IAST: Khaṇḍobā), also known as Martanda Bhairava and Malhari, is a Hindu deity worshiped generally as a manifestation of Shiva mainly in the Deccan Plateau of India, especially in the state of Maharashtra and North Karnataka. He ...

* Nimishamba Beluru Chennakeshava Temple WLM 2022 India 16

Karnataka

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

include: * Chennakeshava * Virupaksha *

* Renuka

Tulu Nadu

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Tulu Nadu Tulu Nadu, or Tulunad, is a region and Proposed states and union territories of India, proposed state on the southwestern coast of India. The Tulu people, known as 'Tuluva' (pl. 'Tuluver') are speakers of Tulu language, Tulu, a Dravidian langu ...

include: * Naga/Naga Bermeru * Panjurli *

Mahakali Mahakali () is the Hindu goddess of time and death in the goddess-centric tradition of Shaktism. She is also known as the supreme being in various tantras and Puranas. Similar to Kali, Mahakali is a fierce goddess associated with universal po ...

* Lakkesiri * Jumadi * Guliga

Kerala

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...

include: * Padmanabhaswamy * Guruvayurappan *

Bhadrakali Bhadrakali (IAST: Bhadrakālī; ) is an important goddess, mainly worshiped by Hindus, and is a form of Kali. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti or Durga, the supreme mother who protects the good, known ...

* Rakteswari * Vettakkorumakan * Narayani * Lakshmi-Narayana *

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

Ayyappan Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between S ...

* Navadurga *

Damodara Vatasseri Damodara Nambudiri was an astronomer-mathematician of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics who flourished during the fifteenth century CE. He was a son of Paramesvara (1360–1425) who developed the ''drigganita'' system of a ...

* Shasta

Tamil Nadu

Some of the primary kuladevatas of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

include: * Annanmar Thangal * Azhiya Ilangai Amman * Shastha * Kurathiamman * Ellamman *

Kamakshi Tripura Sundari (Sanskrit: त्रिपुरसुन्दरी, IAST: Tripura Sundarī), also known as Lalita, Shodashi, Kamakshi, and Rajarajeshvari, is a Hindu goddess, revered primarily within the Shaktism tradition and recognized as o ...

* Angalamman * Kala Bhairavar * Narasimha *

* Kallalagar *

Mariamman Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman (), is a Hindu Dravidian folk religion List of rain deities, goddess of weather, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season ...

* Thillai Kali * Karuppu Sami * Veeramaathi Amman * Kodaiyalappan * Pavadairayan * Renukamba * Pachchaiamman * Draupadi Amman * Peradachiyamman * Periyandichiyamman * Marudhaiyan *

Madurai Veeran Madurai Veeran, also known as Veeran, is a Tamil Hindu folk deity popular in southern Tamil Nadu, India. His name literally means, "warrior of Madurai". Legend According to the ''Maduraiveeraswamikathai'' text, Veeran was born to aristocr ...

* Muneeshvarar * Maada saamy * Thalavai Nalla Maada saamy *

Ayyanar Aiyanar (, ) is a Village deities of South India, Tamil folk deity venerated in South India and Sri Lanka. His worship is prevalent amongst rural Tamils, Tamil people. Some studies suggest that Ayyanar may have also been worshipped in Southeast ...

Murugan Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...

* Veerabhadrar * Periandavar * Sudalaimadan * Nondi Veeran *

Kateri Amman Kateri Amman (), also abbreviated to Kateri Maa, is a Devi, Hindu goddess venerated primarily within the traditions of the Dravidian folk religion, which is generally classified under Saivism. Kateri Amman is regarded a fierce and protective f ...

* Sapta Kanni * Sankara Narayana * Selliamman / Sellandiamman

Western India

Maharashtra

The kuladevatas worshipped in

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

include: * Ambabai, also called Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur * Vajreshwari * Tulja Bhavani *

Virabhadra Virabhadra (), also rendered Veerabhadra, Veerabathira, and Veerabathiran, is a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva. He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self- ...

of Mukhed. *

Ekvira Ekvira (also spelled as Ekveera) is a Hindu goddess, regarded to be a form of the goddess Renuka. She is the kuladevi of the Koli people and also of the people belonging to the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu community. Every year Kolis pay respe ...

at Karla *

Jejuri Jejuri (Marathi pronunciation: ͡ʒed͡zuɾiː is a city and a municipal council in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. Khandoba Mandir is an important Hindu temple to the Hindu Lord Khandoba, one of the most visited tirtha (holy pla ...

* Jyotiba near Kolhapur *Khandoba of

Pali Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...

* Lakshmi-Narasimha of

Nira Narsingpur Nira Narsingpur is a village in Indapur taluka of Pune district, Maharashtra, India. The confluence of rivers Bhima and Nira River, Nira is behind the Shri Laxmi Narsimha Temple. The temple is situated on Pune side of the Pune-Solapur district ...

* Mandhradevi near Wai * Renuka of Mahur * Vasavi Mata * Vyadeshwar * Yamai of Aundh * Yogeshwari of Ambejogai *

Tirupati Tirupati () is a city in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Andhra Pradesh and serves as the administrative headquarters of Tirupati district. It is known for its significant religious and cultural heritage, being home to th ...

in Andhra Pradesh * Saptashrungi of Vani, Nashik *Mahalakshmi of Ganoja, Bhatkuli (

Amravati Amravati (/Marathi phonology, əmᵊɾɑʋᵊt̪iː/) is a city in Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region. It is the ninth largest city in Maharashtra, India & second largest city in the Vidarbha region in terms of population. It is the ...

) *Chandrala Parameshwari of Sannati

Konkan

The kuladevatas venerated in the

Konkan The Konkan is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, bound by the river Daman Ganga at Damaon in the north, to Anjediva Island next to Karwar town in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau to the eas ...

region include: *Aryadurga *

Bhagavati Bhagavatī (Devanagari: भगवती, IAST: Bhagavatī), is an Indian epithet of Sanskrit origin, used as an honorific title for goddesses in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, it is primarily used to address the goddesses Sarasvati, Laks ...

* Chamundeshwari * Damodar *

Devaki Devaki (Sanskrit: देवकी, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''Devakī'') is a character in Hindu texts, Hindu literature, most noted for being the mother of the god Krishna. She is one of the seven daughters of ...

* Gajantalakshmi *

Jaganmata Jaganmata (), also rendered as Lokamata, is primarily an epithet of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, the supreme goddess of Vaishnavism. It is also used in Hindu literature to address other goddesses, such as Saraswati, Parvati and Durga. Literature ...

* Mallikarjuna * Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya *

Mahalakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

Mahalasa Mhalsa (Marathi: म्हाळसा IAST: Mhāḷasā), also spelled as Mhalasa or Mahalasa, महालसा is a Hindu goddess. Mhalsa is worshipped as the consort of the folk god Khandoba, a form of the god Shiva. In this tradition, she i ...

* Mahamaya * Mahamaya Kalika * Mangeshi * Nageshi *

* Waghjai * Lakshmi-Narasimha * Navadurga * Ramnath * Ravalnath * Saptakoteshwar * Shantadurga * Sharwani Vetal * Vijayadurga * Vimleshwar * Vetala * Rameshwar *Mauli * Venkataraman

Gujarat and Rajasthan

The kuladevatas worshipped in

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, 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 List of states and union territories ...

and

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

include: * Arasuri Ambaji * Ashapura Mata * Baba Mohan Rama * Baba Ramdevji * Suswani Mata * Momai Mata *

* Bhagwati Maa * Bhatiji Maharaj * Brahmani Mata *

Chamunda Chamunda (, ), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu mother goddess, Mahadevi and is one of the seven Matrikas.Wangu p.72 She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or ...

Mata * Dada Jasraj * Eklingji *

Devnarayan Devnarayan is a folk deity from Rajasthan, India. He was an incarnation of Vishnu and he is worshipped mostly in Rajasthan and north-western Madhya Pradesh. According to tradition, he was born to Sri Savai Bhoj and Sadu mata on the seventh day ...

* Gajanan Mata * Gogaji *

Vitthalanatha Vitthala-natha or Vitthalanath (Devanagari: विट्ठलनाथ, IAST: Viṭṭhalanātha; 10 December 1515 – 10 February 1586), popularly known as Gusainji, was an Indian philosopher. He was the younger son of Vallabha, who founded ...

* Harkor * Harsidhhi Mata * Hinglaj Mata *

Jeen Mata Jeen Mata is a village located in the Sikar district of Rajasthan, India. It is famous for the ancient and revered Jeen Mata Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Jeen Mata, believed to be a form of the Shakti deity. The village is approxima ...

* Kaila Devi * Mahakali Mata * Mahalakshmi Mata * Manasa Devi * Meldi Maa * Modheswari * Nagnechiya Maa *

Pabuji Pabuji is a Folk religion, folk-deity of Rajasthan in India. Pabuji is worshiped in historical region of Rajputana. The Narrative of Pabuji The narrative of Pabuji is sung by the Bhopa poet-singers of Nayak (caste), Nayak community is based a ...

* Rana Jashraj * Sachiya Mata * Sati Mata * Tanot Mata * Tulja Bhavani * Vachra Dada *

Varahi Varahi (, IAST:) is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion who bears the head of a sow. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini. Varahi is more commonly v ...

Mata *

Veer Teja Veer Tejaji (29 January 1074 - 28 August 1103) “ ''As per historians, he was born on Friday, Magha Shukla 14 samvat 1130 (29 January 1074)''. also known as Tejaji Maharaj, or simply Tejaji, was a great warrior, social reformer, cow protector ...

* Vindhya * Umiya Mata

Eastern India / Nepal (Terai Belt, Southern Nepal)

Bihar In

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

, the following deities are worshipped as kuladevatas: Bihar, Bihar Rajya Ke Kayastha Jati Shree Chitragupta Ji Ke Vanshaj Asthanaa Kayastha Ki Kuldevi Banni Mata Aur Durga Mata Hai Aur Kuldevta Shiv Ji Aur Hanuman Ji Hai Banni Mata Saat Behen Hai Aur saato behen Main Sabse Badi Banni Mata Hai Banni Mata Swyam Maha Kali Hai Inko Banni Parmeshwari Aur Banni Maha Kali Aur Kai Jagah Banni Sati Ke Naam Se Bhi Jana Jata Hai * Banni Mata * Durga, Durga Mata * Kali, Maha Kali * Maha Lakshmi * Saraswati, Maha Sarswati * Sokha Baba * Shiv Ji * Hanuman Ji * Batuk Bhairav * Goraiya Baba

Bengal

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas: *

* Jagadhatri *

Narayana Narayana (, ) is one of the forms and epithets of Vishnu. In this form, the deity is depicted in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, symbolising the masculine principle and associated with his role of creation. He is also known as Pu ...

* Lakshmi-Narayana *

Chandi Chandi (, ) or Chandika () is a Hindu deity. Chandika is a form of goddess Durga. She shares similarities with the Goddess Chamunda, not only in name but also in attributes and iconography. Due to these similarities, some consider them to ...

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; ), born Vishvambhara Mishra () (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindus, Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bha ...

* Manasa

Sri Lanka

The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

: * Nayinai Nagapoosani * Nallur Murugan * Keerimalai Naguleswaram Temple * Thirukketheeswaram * Thirukonamalai KonEesar Temple

References

External links

Kamrunag devta, Mandi Himachal PradeshMurai Mata, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh
{{Hindu deities and texts, state=collapsed Hindu deities Tutelary deities