Yāmala

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Yāmala (Skt., ‘pair’).
1. The goal of the sādhaka's spiritual practice (sādhana) conceived as the union of Śiva and Śakti.

2. An old group of texts in Tantrism such as the Brahma-yāmala, Rudra-yāmala, and Jayadratha-yāmala. These are Śaiva texts with Bhairava as the central deity but with strong Śākta tendencies. Dating from the 6th to the 9th cents. CE, they are a source of Śaiva and Kaula developments in Kashmir (see KASHMIR ŚAIVISM).