The Sanskrit term Kapālīśa can be transliterated into English as Kapalisa or Kapalisha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

Kapālīśa (कपालीश):—Last of the eleven emanations of Rudra (ekādaśa-rudra), according to the Aṃśumadbhedāgama and the Śilparatna. The images of this aspects of Śiva should have three eyes, four arms, jaṭāmakuṭas and be of white colour. It should be draped also in white clothes and be standing erect (samabhaṅga) on a padmapīṭha. It should be adorned with all ornaments and with garlands composed of all flowers and it should keep their front right hand in the abhaya and the front left hand in the varada poses, while it should carry in the back right hand the paraśu and in the back left hand the mṛga.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shaktism)

Kapālīśa (कपालीश) or Kapālīśatantra refers to one of the thirty-three Dakṣiṇatantras, belonging to the Śāktāgama (or Śāktatantra) division of the Āgama tradition. The Śāktāgamas represent the wisdom imparted by Devī to Īśvara and convey the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation. According to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana, the Śāktatantras are divided into to four parts, the Kapālīśa-tantra belonging to the Dakṣiṇa class.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Kapālīśa (कपालीश) is the name of a Gaṇa-chief who participated in Vīrabhadra’s campaign against Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.33. Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“O Nārada, listen to the numerical strength of the most important and courageous of those groups. [...] Kapālīśa with five crores and the Sandāraka group. with six crores; Koṭikuṇḍa with crores of crores. [...] Thus at the bidding of Śiva, the heroic Vīrabhadra went ahead followed by crores and crores, thousands and thousands, hundreds and hundreds of Gaṇas [viz., Kapālīśa]”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: Vajrayogini

Kapālīśa (कपालीश) is another name for Īśāna: protector deity of the north-eastern cremation ground.—The northeast (aiśānī) is associated with Śiva, hence Īśāna also appears as Nīlalohita (Guhyasamayasādhanamālā 34), a synonym of Śiva in epic and Purāṇic tales, and Kapālīśa (Śmaśānavidhi 12). He is described as white, carrying a trident (śūlī), mounted on a bull, and wearing a tiger-skin.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Kapalishabhairava, Kapalisharman, Kapalishasthalamahatmya, Kapalishatantra.

Full-text: Kapalishatantra, Ishana, Jalamata, Nilalohita, Drava, Amrita, Payoshni, Plavani, Santa, Kotikunda, Sukritalaya, Vyapini, Varuni, Sandaraka, Matricakra, Rudra.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Kapalisha, Kapālīśa, Kapalisa; (plurals include: Kapalishas, Kapālīśas, Kapalisas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 89 - Greatness of Kapālīśvara (Kapālin-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 26 - The Marriage of Hara and Gaurī Celebrated < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]

Chapter 69 - The Assembly of Sixty-eight Holy Spots < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]

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The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)

Chapter 33 - The March of Vīrabhadra < [Section 2.2 - Rudra-saṃhitā (2): Satī-khaṇḍa]

Chapter 30 - The Kāmya rites of the followers of Śiva < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]

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The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)

Chapter 103 - The glory of Śakti (pārvatī-vivāha) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

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