Kaula - Texts

Texts

Kashmiri School of Kaula

While Kaula is primarily an oral tradition and does not place a high value on the creation of texts, there are some texts associated with the tradition. Muller-Ortega, following Pandey, summarizes the literature of the Kashmiri school as follows:

  • Siddha-yogeśvarī-mata-tantra
  • Rudra-yāmala-tantra
  • Kulārṇava-tantra
  • Jñānārṇava
  • Nityā-ṣoḍaśika-arṇava
  • Svacchanda-tantra
  • Netra-tantra
  • Tantrarāja-tantra
  • Kālīkula

Kerala School of Kaula

In Kerala State of India, we have presently two types of traditions.

  1. Practicing "Shree" bija / Shree as the form of Kali

(Taking Durga form of Devi Kali as Principle Deity and its variations). Known as "Samaya" tradition (opposing Kaula System). Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala are popular in this field. Most of the Temple deities called 'Bhadrakaali', and 'Durga' from are worshiped in this system.

  1. Practicing "Hreem" bija/ Hreem - Shreem - Kreem - Kloum - Soum -as its Prim Form (Tantric deities). Moossad or Mootheth Brahmin of Kerala and Nairs of Kerala follows this System.

Texts Followed in Kaula System of Kerala

  1. Kularnava Tantra
  2. Maha Nirvahana Tantra
  3. Sakthi Tantra
  4. Tantra manchiri

Texts Followed in Samaya (Shree) system of Kerala

  1. Jnanarnava Tantra

Texts Followed in Mishra (Adi Sankara Acharya - mixture of Kaula and Samaya System.

Gaudiya School of Kaula In Gauda desha(Present West Bengal and Bangladesh) the Kali and Shakti worship is done as per Kaula tradition. Many Brahmin families are there who are Kaula themselves and do practises as per Kaulachara. The area of Assam is renowned for its Kaula traditions similar to Gauda Land.

The texts followed are almost same as other two school, some other protocols are followed which are handed over by spiritual teacher to the desciple as secret. The areas of Mithila and Nepal too follow similar Kaula Tradition.

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