The Kāpālika tradition is a radical, non-Puranic form of medieval Indian Shaivite Tantra (4th–8th century CE) focused on worshipping Shiva as Bhairava. Known as “skull-men,” practitioners performed extreme rituals in cremation grounds to transcend mortality. It is associated with Shava sadhana (corpse rituals) and is considered a precursor to later Tantric traditions like Kanphata.