Kurukulla, Kurukullā: 10 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Shaktism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Kurukulla means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला) refers to one of the nine Nityās (Yoginīs particularly concerned with Kāma), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Kulanityā is the first and Vajreśvarī is the second. The third is the Nityā Tvaritā and the fourth is Kurukullā. The goddess Lalitā is the fifth and the sixth is called Bheruṇḍā. The seventh is Nīlapatākā and the eighth is Kāmamaṅgalā. The goddess Vyomavyāpinī, who bestows accomplishment, is the ninth. O Lord of the gods, once known Tripurā, on (her) red lotus seat by means of the liturgy of the Nine Nityās recollect (her) liturgy (krama)”.

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: The Yoginis of Narasimha Vyuha

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला) refers to one of the various Nṛsiṃha Yoginīs or Śaktis created for the purpose of pacifying the Rudraśaktis.—Accordingly, [...] Rudra meditated on Mahānṛsiṃha. Pleased with Rudra’s prayers, Narasiṃha created four Vyūhaśaktis [Vāgīśvarī, Mahāmāyā, Bhagamālinī and Atibhadrakālī=Śuṣkarevatī]. The Lord created a group of Nṛsiṃha Yoginīs [viz., Kurukullā] to accompany the three main Śaktis. All of them, under the command of Śuṣkarēvatī, attacked the Rudraśaktis, subdued them and pacified them to attain benevolence.

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beings

1) Kurukulla (कुरुकुल्ल) is the name of a Śrāvaka mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Kurukulla).

2) Kurukulla (कुरुकुल्ल) (part the three great and lesser red ones) refers to one of the “Fourteen Golden Dharmas” (of Lupa/Luipa) (Tibetan klu pa'i gser chos bcu bzhi) as well as one of the “Thirteen Golden Dharmas” (of the Tsar-system Lamdré) (Tibetan: tshar lugs kyi lam 'bras gser chos bcu gsum). They represent Tantric practioners that were transmitted to the Sakya lineage from India and Nepal.

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला) refers to one of the various (female) emanations of Amitābha having their Sādhana described in the 5th-century Sādhanamālā (a collection of sādhana texts that contain detailed instructions for rituals).—Kurukullā is said to confer success in the Tantric rite of Vaśīkaraṇa or the rite of enchanting men, women, ministers, even kings. [...] The mantra of Kurukullā is “Oṃ Kurukulle Hūṃ Hrīḥ Svāhā”. When this mantra is muttered ten thousand times, all men are bewitched. Thirty thousand times would prove sufficient to subdue a minister, but the subjugation of a king requires no less than a lakh. Kurukullā can even confer on her devotees the power of subduing all ministers and kings.

There are various Sādhanas for different forms of Kurukullā described in the Sādhanamālā:

Śukla-kurukullā (two-armed, white colour),
Tārodbhava-kurukullā (four-armed, red colour),
Uḍḍiyāna-kurukullā (four-armed, red colour),
Aṣṭabhuja-kurukullā (eight-armed, red colour),
Māyājālakrama-kurukullā (six-armed, red colour).

Kurukullā as an emanation of Amitābha of red colour generally assumes the red colour, but when two-armed, she has, according to the Sadhānamālā the white colour. [...] Strictly speaking, only those deities can be called Tārās to whom the mantra: “oṃ tārā tuttāre ture svāhā” is assigned. [...] From the colour of the different Tārās it will be possible to refer them [viz., Kurukullā] to their respective Kulas or families presided over by the five Dhyāni Buddhas. [...] There are not many Red Tārās in the Sadhānamālā, Kurukullā being the only one belonging to the red variety. As she bears the image of Amitābha on the crown, she inherits from him as his emanation, her red complexion.

Source: Wisdom Experience: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdré Tradition

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला) (Sanskrit; in Tibetan: ku ru ku lle) refers to one of the “Greater Red Trilogy” (dmar chen skor gsum) which form part of the “Thirteen Golden Dharmas” (Tibetan: gser chos bcu gsum) of the Sakya tradition.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला) refers to a “well-known deity in Buddhist tantra”, according to the Kurukullāstavana (dealing with early teachers, Gods or Goddesses), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—Kurukullā is a well-known deity in Buddhist tantra and attempts were made to introduce her in the Jain pantheon in the middle ages according to u.p. Shah, Jaina-Rūpa-Maṇḍana, 1987, p. 64. The end closes with a colophon phrase stating that this was the composition of Vādidevasūri. The editor quotes a Sanskrit story from a manuscript of the Upadeśasaptatikā by Somadharmagaṇi that was got to be printed by the Ātmasabhā. Kurukullā appeared one night and defeated a Yogi who had been oppressing people with snakes.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kurukulla (कुरुकुल्ल).—(-parvata) , name of a mountain: Sādhanamālā 343.11 etc.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kurukullā (कुरुकुल्ला):—f. ([from] ru-kulyā, ‘belonging to the Kuru race’ ?), Name of a Buddh. deity.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kurukulla in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 13 books and stories containing Kurukulla, Kurukullā; (plurals include: Kurukullas, Kurukullās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Figure 121-122 - Emanations of Amitābha: Kurukullā

Figure 192 - Emanations of Ratnasambhava: Prasannatārā (Prasanna Tārā)

Figure 161-164 - Emanations of Vairocana: Cundā

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Plate II - Kurukullā < [Plates]

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Emanations of Amitabha < [Chapter 5]

Uddiyana Pitha (in Tantric Buddhism) < [Chapter 2]

Minor Votive Stupas at Ratnagiri < [Chapter 4]

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The Goddess Vārāhī (Introduction)

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