Kapalikas

The Kapalikas were a non-Puranic, Tantric sect of Shaivism that originated in medieval India, known for their skull imagery and association with the deity Bhairava. They are described as skull-bearers, with the term “Kapalika” derived from the Sanskrit word “kapala” meaning skull. Their practices included meditating in cremation grounds, performing rituals involving human remains, and seeking to transcend mortality through extreme asceticism.

The Kapalikas emerged between the 4th and 8th centuries CE and were prominent from the 8th to 13th centuries.
Key Practices:
- Skull Symbolism: They carried and used skulls, particularly as bowls for food, and wore skull ornaments.
- Bhairava Worship: They worshipped Shiva in his fearsome form as Bhairava.
- Cremation Grounds: Kapalikas often meditated and performed rituals in cremation grounds.
- Extreme Asceticism: They engaged in practices like the Mahavrata (Great Vow) penance, which involved living in a forest hut, bathing frequently, begging for alms, sleeping on grass, and carrying the skull of a slain Brahmin for twelve years, according to the Visnu-smrti.
- Possible Human Sacrifice: While some sources mention the possibility of human sacrifice, this is debated, according to Britannica.
Literary Depictions: They are often portrayed negatively in literature, depicted as savage and power-hungry, though some texts offer more sympathetic portrayals.
Influence: The Kapalikas influenced later Tantric Shaiva traditions like the Kulamarga, and some of their practices are also found in Vajrayana Buddhism, according to Bharatpedia
Modern Relevance: The Kapalika tradition, in its original form, is considered extinct, but some of its elements are preserved in Shaivite offshoots like the Aghori, Kaula, and Trika traditions.