Wanted to respond to your mail early - but was held up.
Let me take up kaapalikaas to begin with.
The original saiva sect seems to have had several versions or variations. The present day saiva marga is an amalgamation of many such things. Few of the sects and beliefs have vanished - for good or bad.
Dr.R.Nagasamy has written a book about this sect I believe - can't exactly recall the title - may be Bhairava worship and so on.
Apart from Kaapalika and kaalamukha one more sect that has flourished in chola times is Laguleesa paasupatha maarga.
Almost all of these sects seem to have originated in the pallava period itself - they are quite old.
Kaalamukha was a relatively acceptable version in the eyes of common people and the kodumbaloor irukku velir family patronized a lot.
Coming to kaapalikas, they were the extremists in the whole group. Living in mayaanams, eating in skull, doing all black magic separated them from common public. Origins of kaapalika could be traced back to north and they were sometimes called "bhairava yogis". IN siruthondanaayanar puraanam, shiva comes in the form of bhairava yogi asking for child meat. So, eating human flesh may have been a practice as well - I am not so sure here.
I have not yet come across a good book that details all this - so I do not have much to speak in this reg. Others with better knowledge can illuminate.
Mr. Gokul thanks for your mail & content, The " Bhiragi" ( Bharava yogi ) style is still a prevailing fact, I could witness them during Kumbhamela's, specially Haridwar mela.
The medical experts still claim them as " Mentally disordered" and in my view this is a " style of synchronizing with Extremely influencing source (God)".
So, my question is
Are Kapalikaas mainly the followers of Shiva or followers of any god or the gods their kingdom doesn��t follow (distressed followers) ? Are they mainly believer in human scarifies? The mentally imbalanced with cannibal syndrome. Etc.,etc., (god & religion are supportive / stimulant for their intension).
With all these factors, I look forward this discussion to go ahead��
Pl avoid carrying the contents of previous mail - it increases the size of each posting. Thanks
> > Are Kapalikaas mainly the followers of Shiva or followers of any god or the gods their kingdom doesn't follow (distressed followers) ?
Followers of shiva. Followers of saktha cult - certian sects - have also involved themselves in human sacrifice. The concept of "sacrifice" is still there - but it has been transformed.
> Are they mainly believer in human scarifies?
I don't think so. Also, I don't think all kaapalikas believed only in human sacrifice. It was not their main driver certainly.
> The mentally imbalanced with cannibal syndrome. Etc.,etc., (god & religion are supportive / stimulant for their intension).
As I mentioned I am not a well informed person on this topic. Learned scholars can answer