Kula (Skt., ‘family’).
1. The family lineage and home in Hinduism, of importance (along with jāti and gotra, the original ancestor) in determining the exact position of a person in society.

2. Tantric school originating in the Bhairava-Kālī cults and Kāpālika cremation-ground (śmaśāna) dwellers. The aim of Kula practice, which involved consuming scatological substances and corpse-flesh, was possession (aveśa) by a female deity to achieve perfection (siddhi). These forces were also manifested in human form as yoginīs. Kula practice still continues in certain parts of India.

kula See bananas.