Wednesday, 27 February 2019

The Consequence of Forgetting One's Kula Devata

  ''Staying away from worshiping Kula devata is like keeping a vessel with a hole. Nothing will stay on the vessel with a hole.

Likewise, no good thing will dawn on the person who does not worship his Kula devata.”

- Kāñcī Periyavā

At least 95 % of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia do not know their Kula Devata.

Today, Kula Deivam means nothing more than another SunTv aired Masala serial

A gentleman came from Paṭṭukōṭṭai for Śrī Mahā Periyavā’s darśana.

“I bought a new car. From the time I got it, there have been many accidents. I sought the advice of astrologers and performed a number of expiatory rites. Nothing has helped.”

Periyavā was silent for a while. Then he asked the gentleman a question,

“Is there a village called Kanyakūṛicci near your town?”

The gentleman was taken aback.

Kāñcī Periyavā

“There is a Mahāmāyā temple there… a very powerful deity. Send fifty rupees for abhiṣeka to be performed to the Ambāḷ (Goddess) there. Have the words, ‘In the Protection of Kanyakūṛicci Amman,’ painted on the front side of your car.”

The gentleman was dumbfounded. Recovering himself, he said, “Kanyakūṛicci Amman is the deity worshiped by our family. My father and mother would visit that temple every year. They would have abhiṣeka performed for the deity. The children in our family would be tonsured there. Somehow, in the course of time, we have forgotten all this. Now it is my good fortune that Periyavā has reminded me.”

There were no further mishaps in that car. After all, it was Mahāmāyā who was protecting the vehicle.

Hope this little narrative triggered some neuronal impulse there.

A kula-devatā is a deity who has a high affinity to your bloodline. The deity's grace or energy runs in the genetic line for generations. One has to follow the kula-devatā of his/her paternal side.



The Y-Chromosome unwinds her helix 

Only males inherit the Y-chromosome. This genetic information is passed through the males of each generation. The Y-chromosome, therefore, acts like a storage device of one's paternal ancestry.

The kula-devatā runs within a genetic line. Relating it to the Y-chromosome, one’s kula-devatā is determined by the deity worshiped on the paternal side. So, your kula-devatā would be the one worshiped by your father.

Thus, your kula-devatā is sitting there latently within you—conferring help and grace that may not be very obvious at times.

Unfortunately, most Indians in Malaysia are unaware of their kula-devatā’s identity. Something known as the ‘adoption phenomenon’ has caused great confusion in this nation.

The 'adoption phenomenon - adopting a Kula Devata' :

https://www.mayiliragu.com/2018/12/adopting-kula-deivam-upcoming-trend.html

To put it simply, people in Malaysia are confusing their iṣṭa-devatā with their kula-devatā. There was a time when people simply concluded that their iṣṭa-devatā was their kula-devatā—e.g., “My kula-devatā is Gaṇeśa.”

Some decades ago, awareness began to surface that a kula-devatā should be a physically intense deity. Consequently, people dropped Gaṇeśa and started identifying Munīśvara or Maḍura Vīra as their kula-devatā.


                    Pic: Munīśvara at my Alma Mater, AIMST University

Reason?

Simply because their grandparents were ardent devotees of a Muni or Vīra. It became natural back then to construct a shrine for a Muni, Vīra, or Māriamma in an estate. Over time, their favorite Muni and Vīra started becoming their kula-devatā.

This is why, should you enquire with 10 people out there, 8 will vaguely point to a Muni or Vīra as their kula-devatā.

Do you know your Kula-Devatā?

8/10 response: "Yes. Madura Vīra" (with sheer confidence).

Imagine 8 non-consanguineous families sharing the same kula-devatā as they claim—it simply doesn’t make sense. That defeats the very purpose of a kula-devatā. A kula-devatā is supposed to be unique to your gotra or genetic line.

Your kula-devatā would have a unique identity and name. Vague names like just "Munīśvara" or "Vīra" don’t qualify. They should at least have a prefix or suffix to it (e.g., at least "Noṇḍi Vīra" instead of a crude "Vīra").

If you have been told to worship Munīśvara or Vīra as your kula-devatā, please be doubtful and conduct a thorough check.

When the diaspora crossed the seas to Malaya, most elders chose not to pass down their ancestral history in India. Frankly, how many of you are aware of your ancestral village in India?

Losing touch with your ancestral village is equivalent to losing touch with your kula-devatā.

Confusing Kula-Devatā with Kāval Dēivam (Guardian Deities)

A kula-devatā is not necessarily a guardian deity. While it is common for Hindus to revere a guardian deity (kāval dēivam) such as Karuppaṉ or Mutthappan as their kula-devatā, this is not a strict requirement. Any deity can serve as a kula-devatā by assuming a form that is intense and impactful in the physical realm. For example, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the kula-devatā for many Hindus. Similarly, particular forms of Skanda and Nārāyaṇa are also worshiped as kula-devatās.

Kula-Devatās Are Not Demigods

Avoid demeaning any deity by labeling them as a "demigod." This term, rooted in Greek mythology, refers to beings born from the union of a god and a mortal—a concept that does not align with Hindu philosophy. In the Hindu worldview, everything is a manifestation of the divine.

Approach your kula-devatā with reverence, not inferiority. The state of enlightenment is ONE, regardless of the specific manifestation.


What happens when you lose touch with your Kula Devata?

Your kula-devatā is like your first line of defense—much like your skin. This deity has been intimately connected with all your forefathers, akin to being their very breath. While this analogy is expressive, the reality of forgetting your kula-devatā carries profound consequences.

When you lose connection with your kula-devatā, you begin to accumulate doṣas (imbalances or faults) and karma related to your pitṛs (forefathers/ancestry). It is important not to confuse doṣa or karma with a curse or sin. A kula-devatā does not curse you. Instead, think of these doṣas as blockages or potholes in your spiritual and material journey.

To give an analogy: A pipeline may become clogged over time due to sediments (like unresolved ancestral energies), slowing the flow of water (your life energy). While the water still flows, the pressure reduces, and blockages begin to impact the system. The doṣa isn't a punishment; it’s simply the result of a disruption in the natural flow.

This is analogous to disconnecting from your kula-devatā. Over time, the doṣas manifest in the material realm as difficulties such as:

  • Challenges in retaining wealth,
  • Health disorders,
  • Frequent motor vehicle accidents,
  • Fertility issues, and
  • Disturbances caused by unappeased deceased family members.

Forgetting your kula-devatā doesn’t sever your connection completely, but it creates vulnerabilities that can affect your life in significant ways.


How many of your Chinese friends struggle with wealth issues or other societal burdens? Now, take a look at their mode of worship. They place significant emphasis on ancestral worship, don’t they? That should ring a bell.

Think about it—haven’t we all heard remarks like:

  • Sadaiyan ellām paṉṟān... nallā-tāṉ irukān
  • Sadaiyanukku eṉṉa koṟṟai?

In Malaysia, neglecting ancestral connections and spiritual traditions is a major factor behind societal burdens. From a mystical perspective, the reasons are quite apparent. Countless families have reported miraculous changes in their lives after rediscovering and venerating their forgotten kula-devatā. The story shared at the beginning of this article is a perfect example.

If only more Malaysians took the effort to identify their kula-devatā and offer the necessary veneration, we as a community could overcome many of the obstacles holding us back.



You may struggle as much as you like, but without honoring your kula-devatā, it is akin to swimming against the current.

Indian culture is renowned for recognizing the blessings of parents as sacred and indispensable. Now, consider this: where would we place a deity who has been in oneness with your forefathers for thousands of generations?

If neglecting your parents is deemed a grave offense, what would you call neglecting your kula-devatā, who has tirelessly protected and conferred grace upon your lineage for ages? Make the comparison, and you’ll realize the consequences are equally heavy, if not greater.

Start identifying your kula-devatā and begin offering the reverence they deserve. It is never difficult to trace a deity who figuratively resides within your DNA.

However, be cautious. If your parents have pointed to a Muni or Vīra as your kula-devatā, approach the matter with scrutiny. Take responsibility for exploring your ancestral history—this effort is not just for your benefit but also for the well-being of your progeny.

And for heaven’s sake, stop choosing your kula-devatā based on your nakṣatra. If it were an astrological matter, we wouldn’t call them kula-devatās in the first place.


FAKE

ALSO READ : 

57 comments:

  1. Living a life full of problems & Mysteries

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My father's side doesn't know their kula deivam. My mother's side know their kula deivam whom for the females in that family (my mother and materal grandmother) were Goddess Kali which I absolutely adore and Lord Mutthappan. I had worship and loved Kali as my own mother and started praying to Mutthappan. I have seen Her many times in dreams and once in real life around 6.00a.m. in the morning of the 7th day of Navarathri. But how should I learn who is my kula deivam because without my kula deivam's blessing, my life won't be stable.

      Delete
  2. my father pray to mathurai veeran.That means is he my kula theivam.I am against slaughter.I prefer to worship without slaughter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am 97 % sure Madurai Veeran isn't your kula deivam.He can be very intimate to your family,He may confer immense blessings etc - but IF I am right and if He isn't your kula deivam, you gotta find your actual kula deivam.

      As said in the article,do not just assume your kula deivam from what your parents worship.Ishta Devata is different from Kula Devata.

      No Kula Deivam will have a vague 'Madurai Veeran' as identity.

      Delete
    2. Kula deivam is only guardian god is it?? Can Murugan or Sivan be Kula deivam??

      Delete
    3. Any deity who can be manifested in a form that is intense in the physical plane.

      Even is Shiva or Muruga becomes your kula devata, they would be in a form that is specific - with a specific identity and specific name

      You can't just say ' shiva' vaguely

      Delete
    4. True that. For us it is Pechiamman in Vellalore near Coimbatore. It is Parvathy only with Shiva, Ganesha and Murugan sanctums in the temple complex but she is known as Pechiamman.

      Delete
  3. Please give us idea on how to find our kula devata? Thank you...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have come across many youtube links for that but I cannot guarantee any of it as authentic.

      I have seen families where the deivam has refused to let its identity transparent - as the deity was forgotten for many generations together.

      Delete
  4. thank you brother vinnith, the write-up is an eye opener !
    will try to seek help from the above posted contact

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks man... This is what I have been trying to tell people all this while...

    ReplyDelete
  6. U r right bro... shit.. now i remember.. when i was small my mom said perumal is our kula deivam.. then it changed to nagamma.. i feel so helpless now.. and the problems u mentioned are so in my family... no matter how much we struggle we cannot make the ends meet...

    ReplyDelete
  7. how to get know our kula deivam sir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. best way would be to go back to your ancestral village

      Delete
  8. If you are an agnihotri, you can make regular ahutis to your kula devata via Aum Kuladevatabhyo Namah Swaha as preliminary offerings..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi vinnith sir..i just came across your blog and it was very very informative and the best part is that this is one created by a Malaysian.sir i have a question and i really do hope and pray that you can give me an answer.my question is,does praying to ones kula deivams would also help to pacify or please our recently passed away relatives or family members.an answer from you would be much appreciated sir.thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes.In fact , dishonoring your Kula Devata will give a lot of hindrance to the dead.

      Delete
  10. Dear vinnith sir..thank you so much for answering and guiding.thank you again sir.really hope to read more of your articles sir,for its very very informative.thank you again dear sir.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi sir should I pray to my father’s side kuladeivam or husband side kuladeivam sir because both side kuladeivam I don’t know sir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sutharthan is partially right, you should worship the kula devata of your father's & husband

      Delete
  12. Hi sir should I pray to my father’s side kuladeivam or husband side kuladeivam sir because both side kuladeivam I don’t know sir

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi sir should I pray to my father’s side kuladeivam or husband side kuladeivam sir because both side kuladeivam I don’t know sir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. both..but make sure you know the kula devata

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  14. Hello,sir.My parents are from pattukottai and I have been living in Singapore since young.My kula deivam is "veeranar".I know that for sure.I just would like to know if "veeranar" and "Madurai veeran" are the same.Do you have any information about this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How do you know it for sure ? No offence but logically, one would naturally know the history of their kula devata.

      There are many kula devatas who are referred to as veeranar. They are not madurai veeran

      Delete
    2. I know that my kuladeivam is "veeranar" because we do poojai at india every year at our temple and I have alot of relatives who come for the poojai.We go for the poojai once in a while.The problem is that there are so many gods which have veeran behind their name which makes even the natives confused.Many people just assume he is madurai veeran.I could not find any information on google too.Anyways do you have any book recommendations about "Kaaval deivangal" or village dieties in general?I would appreciate it.

      Delete
    3. Veeranar is a general term used for any warrior. Not all veerans refer to Madurai Veeran

      Delete
    4. Thank you sir.How do you know so much information about these kind of village dities?Are there any books that you get information from?I would like to know more about these gods too sir.I have been following your blog for a while now and I really apreciate your effort to write about these lesser known yet powerful tamil gods.Thank you.

      Delete
    5. folk tradition has no book to it.Just through experience and a state of oneness

      Delete
  15. Hi, I recently get to know about Pydathalli (some people call it as Paidamma) is our koladeivam. Is there any temple in Malaysia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bro, any idea regarding location of temple? Or about Pydathalli?

      Delete
  16. Namaskaram,

    Thank you so much for reminding the importance of Kula Devata. My Kula devata is Lord Narasimha Swamy. I neglected in between to worship Him daily but I do now. I did not know the significance of Kula devata and how it plays out till now.
    Gratittude & Pranam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As said earlier , your kula devata cannot be just ' nrsimha".. it must be specific to a form and temple.. if not, that is not your Kula Devata

      Delete
  17. Hi Vanakam,
    after checking with my grandfather side from India, identified my Kulla/Kaval Deivam is "Athalli Karuthan" just wanted to know if you know any info about that? and also would like to know more detail about "Nondi Munni / Nondi Veeran" if you able to help me. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My advice would be - never use google to find out about our folk deities because the tradition itself is not really 'script based'.Go back to your ancestral village and enquire the elders.This is because the kula devata is not universally known.Your kula devata is quite specific to your village.

      Delete
    2. Hi Vinnith, Thank you so much for response. Yes! after went to my grandfather side ancestral at India identified my kula devata temple name is "Athalli Vanne Thayee" at Trichy. Just wanted to know IF you known anything about this Kula devata. and i'm quite interested about "Nondi Muni / Nondi Veeran" just incase you know about this kula devata as well.

      Delete
    3. I have just heard about them,nothing else.

      Delete
  18. Dear Vinnith, i am belgian born but have strong indications of a past life as a Hindu adherent. My parents are Belgian too. Belgian meaning for generations our ancestors were Belgians, not immigrated from elsewhere.


    I have had spiritual experiences that made me realize to worship ancestors and that i have some strong connection to an unknown hindu guru (past life). Unfortunately i have not met my guru in this life. My parents arent spiritual at all in the sense of adhering to a religion though they show faint hints of Hindu ways in some of their habits and thoughts.
    How could a person like me possibly find his kula devata?

    Nobody in my family is Hindu or spirtual.. i seem to bare the sole spiritual responsibility in my whole line.

    Can a sage/baba/(sat)guru or any highly evolved being (through meditative knowingness) tell?

    I cant seem to find out on my own and have little to no support , was hoping you maybe could point me in a direction. If not i fully understand.

    Cheers

    Steven

    ReplyDelete
  19. Vinnith ! You are a gem ! Haha thank you so much , i actually sit in on his satsangs when my time zone allows and the thought never occured to me.

    Thanks again for taking the time , i will let you know the answer here if you dont mind so readers may share in my joy :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sir, my mother in law told me that our kuladevtha is Lord Rama. Is this information sufficient?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Is there any Kathavarayan god temple in malaysia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Update: There is a shilpa of Kathavarayar in Jalan Baru Munishwara temple, Perai. But he is not in a consecrated form.

      Delete
  22. As much as I know, it took me a wonderous journey to finally discover my Kula Deivam. I was having financial issues, my father was suffering from psoriasis( skin problem due to auto immune abnormality) and many years ago I was practicing Buddhism. But revelation began to take place when you question yourself from within to get the true answer. I always had encounters with snakes and the snakes I see in my dream will come to reality. The more i question about my origin, why i was born here, why do I encounter snakes, why my father is suffering this disease? All these questions slowly was being answered and I found out that my father's family is affected by Snake Godess curse and I have witnessed every death that took place in my father's family, out of 8 siblings only my father and his 2 sisters are still alive. I began seeking on what to do, at first I thought my kula deivam was Nagamadevi, and I earnestly prayed - chanted the Nagama gayatri Mantra and went to Nagama temples to seek forgiveness and to takeaway the curse from my family. Within a month, my father's skin became normal and he started eating normal food and became much healthier. That moment I thanked and continue to seek guidance and protection from Nagama, then one day, out of the blue I was led to this temple via online about Nagasai Dwarakamai temple in batu caves, then I made a wish that I would get an opportunity to visit there to get more answers, fortunately, my cousin sister called up that week and invited to batu caves temple as she wants to bald her daughter's head and do prayer and she asked me, as I was the "Mama" to do the honor's. I was happy to do and it gave me the opportunity to go to the Nagasai Baba temple after finishing in bt caves. We manage to go to the temple- but it was closed, so I told myself, at least i know where the temple is and will come next time. As I walked out, someone came out of that door and started calling- the caretaker was an OKU person- he opened up the temple and let us pray. He told us that he was fast asleep but he felt like someone tapped his hand and woke him up- that's when he came out and saw us. He was so happy to see us and told us Babaji is the one who woke him up and to let us in. I had goosebump when this happened. I earnestly prayed and seek babaji guidance- that is where i saw Shirdi Baba with 5 headed snake on his head and also had Nagamadevi on the other side. I seek for blessings and to further wanted to know the reason I was lead to that temple. 2 weeks after that I went to Penang for an occasion and it was my father's home state. I met his younger sister, who is the only one knows the family history, I sat and talked with her for hours then that is where I found out our family origin from which part of TamilNadu and who was our Kula Deivam. I was extremely satisfied in discovering the truth and now have begun slowly in worshipping my KulaDeivam. So, finding your kuladeivam must start from within oneself- that will lead to the ultimate truth and have the opportunity to lead the correct path in our life. Its a DNA strand that has become inactive, but now I have activate it. Om Sri Rama Jayam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right about psoriasis, it is an autoimmune disorder where your body's immune response gets overactivated and they start attacking your own tissue. Reason- UNKNOWN ! No one knows how an autoimmune response gets triggered. But perhaps we have the answer looking at the mystical dimension.
      Also, deities don't curse. Nagamma doesn't curse.. It is the consequence of your negligence. Remember that your Kula Devata is in oneness with your genetical line. Negligence of Kula Devata is like neglecting your own self. And that is synonymous to attacking your own self- which is exactly what happens in psoriasis...

      Delete
    2. I totally agree mr. Vinnith, it is our negligence- so now, I am much happier and the inner self can in-tune with my higher self and connect to my Kula Deivam. Tq

      Delete
  23. I am a Telugu from Tamilnadu, India. My ancestors escaped to Tamilnadu from Andhra during Islamic invasions, but somehow our Kula Devata 'Nagamma' is in a small village near Dharapuram, Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu. My grandparents used to live in a different village, and they have been regular visitors to this temple and share a great bond with other people who visit this Kula devata temple, most of them are Telugus like us, some are tamils of different Jatis.

    Just wondering how is it possible that our families who migrated many many generations ago has kula deivam temple in Tamilnadu who they have been honouring for generations?

    ReplyDelete
  24. hi , i don't know my dad's side kula deivam - but i know my mother's side kula deivam. can i worship my mother's side kula deivam? i have lost contact with my dad's side people after his demise. kind of helpless to get any contacts. kindly advise. thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can worship any deity you want, but without the paternal Kula Devata, 0 compromise. You have to take the effort to get the details.

      Delete