The Kapalikas and Kalamukhas: Two Lost Saivite Sects

The Kapalikas and Kalamukhas delves into the mysterious histories and practices of the Kapalikas and Kalamukhas, two Śaivite sects that thrived in medieval India before fading into obscurity. Often misunderstood and depicted through the critical lenses of their adversaries or incomplete inscriptions, these sects provide a window into the diversity of Hindu religious traditions. The Kapalikas, known for their extreme asceticism and transgressive rituals centered on the Mahavrata (Great Vow),...