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Kapalika

February 18, 2023

For the 2013 Malayalam film, see Kapalika (film). For the 1973 Malayalam film, see Kaapalika.

The Kāpālika tradition was a Tantric, non-Puranic form of Shaivism which originated in Medieval India between the 7th and 8th century CE.[1][2][3][4][5] The word is derived from the Sanskrit term kapāla, meaning "skull", and kāpālika means the "skull-men".[1][2][3][4][5]

The Kāpālika tradition and its offshoots in Shaivism

History

Main article: Shaivism
 
In Vajrayana Buddhism, the symbol of the skull-topped trident (khaṭvāṅga) is said to be inspired by its association with the Kāpālikas.[6] Pictured here is an ivory khaṭvāṅga, 15th century Chinese art, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Kāpālikas were an extinct sect of Shaivite ascetics devoted to the Hindu god Shiva dating back to the 8th century CE, which traditionally carried a skull-topped trident (khaṭvāṅga) and an empty human skull as a begging bowl.[1][2][3][4][5] Other attributes associated with Kāpālikas were that they revered the fierce Bhairava form of Shiva by emulating his behavior and characteristics,[1][2][3][4] smeared their body with ashes from the cremation grounds,[1][2][3][4][5] wore their hair long and matted,[1][2][3][4][5] and engaged in transgressive rituals such as sexual intercourse with lower-class women, human sacrifices, consumption of meat and alcoholic beverages, and offerings involving orgiastic sexuality and sexual fluids.[1][2][3][4][5]

According to David Lorenzen, there is a paucity of primary sources on the Kāpālikas, and historical information about them is available from fictional works and other traditions who disparage them.[1][2] Various Indian texts claim that the Kāpālikas drank liquor freely, both for ritual and as a matter of habit.[1] The Chinese pilgrim to India in the 7th century CE, Hsuan Tsang, in his memoir on what is now Northwestern Pakistan, wrote about Buddhists living with naked ascetics who covered themselves with ashes and wore bone wreathes on their heads, but Hsuan Tsang does not call them Kāpālikas or any particular name. Historians of Indian religions and scholars of Hindu studies have interpreted these ascetics variously as Kāpālikas, Digambara Jains, and Pashupatas.[1]

The Kāpālikas were more of a monastic order, states Lorenzen, and not a sect with a textual doctrine.[1] The Kāpālika tradition gave rise to the Kulamārga, a subsect of Tantric Shaivism which preserves some of the distinctive features of the Kāpālika tradition.[7] Some of the Kāpālika Shaiva practices are found in Vajrayana Buddhism, and scholars disagree on who influenced whom.[8] Today, the Kāpālika tradition survives within its Shaivite offshoots: the Aghori order, Kaula, and Trika traditions.[2]

Literature

Dyczkowski (1988: p. 26) holds that Hāla's Prakrit literature poem, the Gaha Sattasai, is one of the first extant literary references to an early Indian Kāpālika ascetic:

One of the earliest references to a Kāpālika is found in Hāla's Prakrit poem, the Gāthāsaptaśati (third to fifth century A.D.) in a verse in which the poet describes a young female Kāpālikā who besmears herself with ashes from the funeral pyre of her lover. Varāhamihira (c500-575) refer more than once to the Kāpālikas thus clearly establishing their existence in the sixth century. Indeed, from this time onwards references to Kāpālika ascetics become fairly commonplace in Sanskrit ...[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lorenzen, David N. (2020) [1972]. "Chapter I: Four Śaivite Sects". The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas: Two Lost Śaivite Sects. Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies (1st ed.). Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp. XI–XIII, 1–16. doi:10.1525/9780520324947-003. ISBN 9780520324947. OCLC 1224279234.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barrett, Ronald L. (2008). "Introduction". Aghor Medicine: Pollution, Death, and Healing in Northern India (1st ed.). Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press. pp. 1–28. ISBN 9780520941014. LCCN 2007007627.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Urban, Hugh B. (2007) [2003]. "India's Darkest Heart: Tantra in the Literary Imagination". Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics, and Power in the Study of Religion (1st ed.). Berkeley and Delhi: University of California Press/Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 106–133. doi:10.1525/california/9780520230620.003.0004. ISBN 9780520236561. JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt1pp4mm.9.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g James G. Lochtefeld (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 1. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Gavin Flood (2008). The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 212–213. ISBN 978-0-470-99868-7.
  6. ^ Beer, Robert (2003). The handbook of Tibetan Buddhist symbols. Serindia Publications. p. 102. ISBN 1-932476-03-2. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  7. ^ Sanderson, Alexis. "The Śaiva Literature." 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Journal of Indological Studies (Kyoto), Nos. 24 & 25 (2012–2013), 2014, pp.4-5, 11, 57.
  8. ^ Ronald Davidson (2002), Indian Esoteric Buddhism, Columbia University Press. pages 202-218
  9. ^ Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. (1988). The canon of the Śaivāgama and The Kubjikā Tantras of the western Kaula tradition. SUNY series in Kashmir Śaivism. SUNY Press. ISBN 0-88706-494-9, ISBN 978-0-88706-494-4 Source: [1] (accessed: Thursday February 4, 2010)

Further reading

February 18, 2023
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For the 2013 Malayalam film see Kapalika film For the 1973 Malayalam film see Kaapalika The Kapalika tradition was a Tantric non Puranic form of Shaivism which originated in Medieval India between the 7th and 8th century CE 1 2 3 4 5 The word is derived from the Sanskrit term kapala meaning skull and kapalika means the skull men 1 2 3 4 5 The Kapalika tradition and its offshoots in Shaivism Contents 1 History 2 Literature 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingHistory EditMain article Shaivism In Vajrayana Buddhism the symbol of the skull topped trident khaṭvaṅga is said to be inspired by its association with the Kapalikas 6 Pictured here is an ivory khaṭvaṅga 15th century Chinese art Metropolitan Museum of Art The Kapalikas were an extinct sect of Shaivite ascetics devoted to the Hindu god Shiva dating back to the 8th century CE which traditionally carried a skull topped trident khaṭvaṅga and an empty human skull as a begging bowl 1 2 3 4 5 Other attributes associated with Kapalikas were that they revered the fierce Bhairava form of Shiva by emulating his behavior and characteristics 1 2 3 4 smeared their body with ashes from the cremation grounds 1 2 3 4 5 wore their hair long and matted 1 2 3 4 5 and engaged in transgressive rituals such as sexual intercourse with lower class women human sacrifices consumption of meat and alcoholic beverages and offerings involving orgiastic sexuality and sexual fluids 1 2 3 4 5 According to David Lorenzen there is a paucity of primary sources on the Kapalikas and historical information about them is available from fictional works and other traditions who disparage them 1 2 Various Indian texts claim that the Kapalikas drank liquor freely both for ritual and as a matter of habit 1 The Chinese pilgrim to India in the 7th century CE Hsuan Tsang in his memoir on what is now Northwestern Pakistan wrote about Buddhists living with naked ascetics who covered themselves with ashes and wore bone wreathes on their heads but Hsuan Tsang does not call them Kapalikas or any particular name Historians of Indian religions and scholars of Hindu studies have interpreted these ascetics variously as Kapalikas Digambara Jains and Pashupatas 1 The Kapalikas were more of a monastic order states Lorenzen and not a sect with a textual doctrine 1 The Kapalika tradition gave rise to the Kulamarga a subsect of Tantric Shaivism which preserves some of the distinctive features of the Kapalika tradition 7 Some of the Kapalika Shaiva practices are found in Vajrayana Buddhism and scholars disagree on who influenced whom 8 Today the Kapalika tradition survives within its Shaivite offshoots the Aghori order Kaula and Trika traditions 2 Literature EditDyczkowski 1988 p 26 holds that Hala s Prakrit literature poem the Gaha Sattasai is one of the first extant literary references to an early Indian Kapalika ascetic One of the earliest references to a Kapalika is found in Hala s Prakrit poem the Gathasaptasati third to fifth century A D in a verse in which the poet describes a young female Kapalika who besmears herself with ashes from the funeral pyre of her lover Varahamihira c500 575 refer more than once to the Kapalikas thus clearly establishing their existence in the sixth century Indeed from this time onwards references to Kapalika ascetics become fairly commonplace in Sanskrit 9 See also EditAghori Kashmir Shaivism Kaula Mahasiddha Mattavilasa Prahasana Pashupata Shaivism VajrayanaReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Lorenzen David N 2020 1972 Chapter I Four Saivite Sects The Kapalikas and Kalamukhas Two Lost Saivite Sects Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies 1st ed Berkeley and Los Angeles University of California Press pp XI XIII 1 16 doi 10 1525 9780520324947 003 ISBN 9780520324947 OCLC 1224279234 a b c d e f g h i Barrett Ronald L 2008 Introduction Aghor Medicine Pollution Death and Healing in Northern India 1st ed Berkeley Los Angeles and London University of California Press pp 1 28 ISBN 9780520941014 LCCN 2007007627 a b c d e f g Urban Hugh B 2007 2003 India s Darkest Heart Tantra in the Literary Imagination Tantra Sex Secrecy Politics and Power in the Study of Religion 1st ed Berkeley and Delhi University of California Press Motilal Banarsidass pp 106 133 doi 10 1525 california 9780520230620 003 0004 ISBN 9780520236561 JSTOR 10 1525 j ctt1pp4mm 9 a b c d e f g James G Lochtefeld 2001 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume 1 The Rosen Publishing Group p 349 ISBN 978 0 8239 3179 8 a b c d e f Gavin Flood 2008 The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism John Wiley amp Sons pp 212 213 ISBN 978 0 470 99868 7 Beer Robert 2003 The handbook of Tibetan Buddhist symbols Serindia Publications p 102 ISBN 1 932476 03 2 Retrieved 3 February 2010 Sanderson Alexis The Saiva Literature Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Journal of Indological Studies Kyoto Nos 24 amp 25 2012 2013 2014 pp 4 5 11 57 Ronald Davidson 2002 Indian Esoteric Buddhism Columbia University Press pages 202 218 Dyczkowski Mark S G 1988 The canon of the Saivagama and The Kubjika Tantras of the western Kaula tradition SUNY series in Kashmir Saivism SUNY Press ISBN 0 88706 494 9 ISBN 978 0 88706 494 4 Source 1 accessed Thursday February 4 2010 Further reading EditDictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0 500 51088 1 by Anna L Dallapiccola London Thames amp Hudson 2002 Kapalikas and Kalamukhas Two Lost Saivite Sects ISBN 0 520 01842 7 by David N Lorenzen Berkeley University of California Press 1972 Mattavilasaprahasana by Mani Madhava Chakyar Ankalaparamecuvari a goddess of Tamilnadu her myths and cult ISBN 3 515 04702 6 by Eveline Meyer Stuttgart Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden GMBH 1986 The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism by Gavin Flood 2003 Malden Blackwell Indian Esoteric Buddhism by Ronald Davidson 2002 Columbia University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kapalika amp oldid 1122896446, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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