Friday, May 8, 2015

THE KAPALIKAS ( SAIVISM )

  Kapalikas

  Members of a powerful Saiva sect, the Kapalikas, were named as such because they were using a kapala or human skull, as their begging bowl. They were also wearing a garland of human skulls. They were quite active and powerful during the period 7th century on-wards for about 500 years in Srishaila (Andhra Pradesh) and some parts of Tamil Nadu like KaƱcipuram, Tiruvotriyur, Melpadi and Kodumbalur. Worship of Bhairava and Candi, drinking wine, eating human flesh and ash, arming themselves with a mace and promiscuous sex were common among the members of the sect.  According to a work called Sabara-tantra 24 teachers, starting with Adinatha and ending with Malayarjuna, have been mentioned. They were fiercely anti- Vaishnava.

No comments:

Post a Comment