Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c15.55

v2.c15.55

The Kāpālikas appear to be also an ancient but an extremist sect of Śaivas. They have rites and ceremonies which are more revolting than those of the Kāḷāmukhas. About the various Śaiva sects Rāmānuja says:—" The Sūtras now declare that, for the same reasons, the doctrine of Paśupati also has to be disregarded. The adherents of this view belong to the four classes—Kāpālas, Kāḷāmukhas, Pāśupatas and Śaivas. All of them hold fanciful theories of Reality which are in conflict with the Vēda, and invent various means for attaining happiness in this life and the next. They maintain the general material and the operative cause to be distinct, and the latter cause to be constituted by Paśupati. They further hold the wearing of the six *mudrā* badges and the like to be means to accomplish the highest end of man.