22*2 SKETCH OF THE 



publicly avow.* They worship Devi, the Sakti of Siva, but all the god- 

 desses, as Lakshmi, Saraswati, the Mdtris, the Ndyilms, the Yoginis, and 

 even the fiend-like Ddkinis and Sdkinis, are admitted to a share of 

 homage. With them, as well as with the preceding sect, Siva is also an 

 object of veneration, especially in the form of Bhairava, with which 

 modification of the deity it is the object of the worshipper to identify 

 himself, f 



The worship of the Vdmdcharis is derived from a portion of the 

 Tantras: it resolves itself into various subjects, apparently into different 

 sects, of which that of the Kaula, or Kulina, is declared to be pre-eminent. £ 



* The following verse is from the Sydma Rahasya— 



" Inwardly Sdktas, outwardly Saivas, or in society nominally Vaishnavas, the Kaulas assum- 

 ing various forms, traverse the earth." 



I am Bhairava, I am the omniscient, endowed with qualities. Having thus meditated, let the 

 devotee proceed to the Kula worship.— Sydma Rahasya. 



" The Vedas are pre-eminent over all works, the Vaishnava sect excels the Vedas, the Saiva 

 sect is preferable to that of Vishnu, and the right hand Sakta to that of Siva — the left hand is 

 better than the right hand division, and the Siddhdnta is better still — the Kaula is better than the 

 Siddhdnta, and there is none better than it." — Kuldrnava. The words Kaula and Kulina are both 

 derivatives from Kula, family; and the latter is especially applied to imply of good, or high family: 

 these terms have been adopted to signify, that those who follow this doctrine are not only of one, 

 but of an exalted race. 



