Kalamukha
Encyclopedia
Kalamukha or Kālāmukha refers to a member of a medieval Shaivite
sect noted for its asceticism. Scholars have commonly been associated the Kalamukhas with the Kāpālika
s, or skull-bearers, another group of ascetics who undertook ascetic practices common to both Buddhist
and Hindu
Tantra
. Like the Kapalikas, the Kalamukhas are often described as employing disturbing imagery of death and even cannibalism in their rituals. More recent scholarship on the Kalamukhas suggests they may not have had as much in common with the Kapalikas as has typically been thought; while the Kapalikas embraced horrific imagery, the Kalamukhas seem to have been a less extreme, favouring instead a temple-based approach.
A tribe named Kalamukha also finds description in Mahabharata during Sahadeva's conquest in Saurashtra. The text describes the tribe as a cross between human beings and Rakshasas.
Shaivism
Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...
sect noted for its asceticism. Scholars have commonly been associated the Kalamukhas with the Kāpālika
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...
s, or skull-bearers, another group of ascetics who undertook ascetic practices common to both Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
Tantra
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 ....
. Like the Kapalikas, the Kalamukhas are often described as employing disturbing imagery of death and even cannibalism in their rituals. More recent scholarship on the Kalamukhas suggests they may not have had as much in common with the Kapalikas as has typically been thought; while the Kapalikas embraced horrific imagery, the Kalamukhas seem to have been a less extreme, favouring instead a temple-based approach.
A tribe named Kalamukha also finds description in Mahabharata during Sahadeva's conquest in Saurashtra. The text describes the tribe as a cross between human beings and Rakshasas.