Kuladevata

A kuladevata (कुलदेवता), also known as a kuladaivaṃ (குலதெய்வம்), is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.

Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (bhakti), and is coaxed to watch over one's clan (kula), gotra, family, and children from misfortune. This is distinct from an ishta-devata (personal tutelar) and a grāmadevatā (village deities).

Male kuladevatas are sometimes referred to as a kuladeva, while their female counterparts are called a kuladevi.

Etymology
The word kuladevata is derived from two words: kula, meaning clan, and devata, meaning deity, referring to the ancestral deities that are worshipped by particular clans.

Veneration
The deity can be represented in a male or a female human, an animal, or even an object, like a holy stone. It is believed that rituals done at a kuladeva/kuladevi temple benefits all those genetically connected with the one performing the ritual. Kuladaivams of the Shaiva tradition are often considered to be forms of Shiva and Parvati, while those of the Vaishnava tradition are often regarded to be forms of Vishnu and Lakshmi. 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 worshipped in several sects of Hinduism and Jainism.

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, 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:

Nepal
The kuldevata (Nepali: Kuldeuta कुलदेउता) in many hilly Nepalese families are often local deities worshipped by the people before the arrival of Hinduism in the region. For those of Khas descent, this is often the 12 Masto gods or one of the 9 Durga Bhawanis, which include:


 * Bawira Masto
 * Dare Masto
 * Kamal Masto
 * Leudi Masto
 * Rumal Masto
 * Channa Masto
 * Winayak Masto
 * Khapar Masto
 * Kala Shree Masto

Punjab

 * Gogaji
 * Maa Sharda Devi

Uttar Pradesh
Some of the Primary Kuladevatas of Uttar Pradesh include:
 * Shiva
 * Durga
 * Kali
 * Bhairava
 * Hanuman
 * Krishna
 * Shitala
 * Gogaji
 * Kalwa Pawan
 * Lalita Masani
 * Shyam Baba
 * Sabal Singh Bawri
 * Kesarmal Bawri
 * Nathia Chowki
 * Pittar (Ancestors)
 * Brahm Baba

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana include:
 * Venkateswara
 * Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshvari
 * Narasimha
 * Mallanna, also known as Khandoba
 * Nimishamba

Karnataka
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Karnataka include:


 * Chennakeshava
 * Virupaksha
 * Narasimha
 * Renuka

Tulu Nadu
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tulu Nadu include:
 * Naga/Naga Bermeru
 * Panjurli
 * Mahakali
 * Lakkesiri
 * Jumadi
 * Guliga

Kerala
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Kerala include:


 * Padmanabhaswamy
 * Guruvayurappan
 * Bhadrakali
 * Rakteswari
 * Vettakkorumakan
 * Narayani
 * Lakshmi-Narayana
 * Narasimha
 * Ganesha
 * Ayyappan
 * Navadurga
 * Damodara
 * Shasta

Tamil Nadu
Some of the primary kuladevatas of Tamil Nadu include:
 * Annanmar Thangal
 * Shastha
 * Kurathiamman
 * Kamakshi
 * Angalamman
 * Kala Bhairavar
 * Narasimha
 * Bhadrakali
 * Kallalagar
 * Mariamman
 * Thillai Kali
 * Karuppu Sami
 * Veeramaathi Amman
 * Kodaiyalappan
 * Pavadairayan
 * Renukamba
 * Pachchaiamman
 * Peradachiyamman
 * Periyandichiyamman
 * Marudhaiyan
 * Madurai Veeran
 * Muneeshvarar
 * Maada saamy
 * Thalavai Nalla Maada saamy
 * Ayyanar
 * Murugan
 * Veerabhadrar
 * Periandavar
 * Sudalaimadan
 * Nondi Veeran
 * Kateri Amman
 * Sapta Kanni
 * Sankara Narayana

Maharashtra
The kuladevatas worshipped in Maharashtra include:
 * Ambabai, also called Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur
 * Vajreshwari
 * Tulja Bhavani
 * Virabhadra of Mukhed.
 * Ekvira at Karla
 * Khandoba of Jejuri
 * Jyotiba near Kolhapur
 * Khandoba of Pali
 * Lakshmi-Narasimha of Nira Narsingpur
 * Mandhradevi near Wai
 * Renuka of Mahur
 * Vasavi Mata
 * Vyadeshwar
 * Yamai of Aundh
 * Yogeshwari of Ambejogai
 * Venkateswara of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh
 * Saptashrungi of Vani, Nashik
 * Mahalakshmi of Ganoja, Bhatkuli, (Amravati)
 * Chandrala Parameshwari of Sannati

Konkan
The kuladevatas venerated in the Konkan region include:


 * Aryadurga
 * Bhagavati
 * Chamundeshwari
 * Damodar
 * Devaki-Krishna
 * Gajantalakshmi
 * Ekvira
 * Jaganmata
 * Kamakshi
 * Mallikarjuna
 * Maha Ganapathi Mahammaya
 * Mahalakshmi
 * Mahalasa
 * Mahamaya
 * Mahamaya Kalika
 * Mangeshi
 * Nageshi
 * Kali
 * Waghjai
 * Lakshmi-Narasimha
 * Navadurga
 * Ramnath
 * Ravalnath
 * Saptakoteshwar
 * Shantadurga
 * Sharwani Vetal
 * Vijayadurga
 * Vimleshwar
 * Vetala
 * Rameshwar
 * Mauli
 * Venkataraman

Gujarat and Rajasthan
The kuladevatas worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan include:
 * Arasuri Ambaji
 * Momai Mata
 * Ashapura Mata
 * Baba Mohan Rama
 * Baba Ramdevji
 * Suswani Mata
 * Bhadrakali
 * Bhagwati Maa
 * Bhatiji Maharaj
 * Brahmani Mata
 * Chamunda Mata
 * Dada Jasraj
 * Eklingji
 * Dev Narain
 * Gajanan Mata
 * Gogaji
 * Vitthalanatha
 * Harkor
 * Harsidhhi Mata
 * Hinglaj Mata
 * Jeen Mata
 * Mahakali Mata
 * Mahalakshmi Mata
 * Manasa Devi
 * Meldi Maa
 * Modheswari
 * Nagnechiya Maa
 * Pabuji
 * Rana Jashraj
 * Sachiya Mata
 * Sati Mata
 * Tanot Mata
 * Tulja Bhavani
 * Vachra Dada
 * Varahi Mata
 * Veer Teja
 * Vindhya
 * Umiya Mata

Eastern India
Bihar

In Bihar, the following deities are worshipped as kuladevatas:


 * Kamakhya
 * Banni mata
 * Durga mata
 * Mahamaya
 * maha Kali
 * Maha Lakshmi
 * Maha sarswati
 * Kumari Mata
 * sokha baba
 * Narsinh baba
 * Hanuman Ji
 * Batuk bhairav
 * Karuveer baba
 * Goraiya baba
 * Parmesri mata

Bengal
In Bengal, the following deities are venerated as kuladevatas:


 * Kali
 * Durga
 * Shiva
 * Parvati
 * Jagadhatri
 * Narayana
 * Krishna
 * Lakshmi-Narayana
 * Shitala
 * Chandi
 * Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
 * Manasa

Sri Lanka
The following is a list of kuladevatas venerated in Sri Lanka:
 * Nayinai Nagapoosani
 * Nallur Murugan