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Kali - the Eternal Night
"Kali Kali Mahakali Kalike Papanasini
Khadgahaste Mundahaste Kali Kali Namostu Te"
Kali is regarded as one of the fiercest deities in
Hinduism. The word Kali arises from the Sanskrit
word "Kaal", which means time. This is also why
Goddess Kali is sometimes referred as the
Goddess of Death. In actuality, though, Kali is
the slayer of the ego in a person.
A study of the Goddess reveals that she only
killed evil demons, who caused much turbulence
in the world. Kali is not in any way associated
with Yama, the Hindu God of Death.
Interestingly, Goddess Kali is also considered
mother by her devotees - and is one of the few
Goddesses who are celibate, who renounced the
whole world.
Physical attributes
Kali is shown with four arms. In two hands, she
hold a sword and a freshly severed head,
representing the fierce battle in which she
destroyed the demon Raktabija. The other two
hands bless her devotees, granting them
liberation in this life and in the next.
Kali wears a garland of 52 skulls and a skirt of
dismembered arms because the ego comes out of identification with the body. Her black
or dark blue skin represents the womb from which all creation springs forth and into
which all of creation will ultimately return. She is the pure, un-manifested energy, the
Adishakti.
Goddess Kali is depicted placing one foot on Lord Shiva, who is pure formless awareness
Sat-Chit-Ananda. Here, Kali represents "form" eternally supported by pure awareness.
Kali and Shiva
Kali and Shiva are considered to inhabit cremation grounds. The cremation grounds imply
the temporary nature of the body, as against the permanence of the soul. Devotees
actually visit these areas in order to pray to the deity to destroy the ego.
Maa Kali, the Merciful One
Kali is also the most merciful one, as she provides moksha or salvation to her children.
Both Kali and Shiva are the destroyers of evil and unreal. It is believed that Kali will
appear as wrathful to the egoistical ones. But for people who are truly spiritually inclined,
Maa Kali will appear as a protective, benevolent and affectionate figure.
Khadgahaste Mundahaste Kali Kali Namostu Te"
Kali is regarded as one of the fiercest deities in
Hinduism. The word Kali arises from the Sanskrit
word "Kaal", which means time. This is also why
Goddess Kali is sometimes referred as the
Goddess of Death. In actuality, though, Kali is
the slayer of the ego in a person.
A study of the Goddess reveals that she only
killed evil demons, who caused much turbulence
in the world. Kali is not in any way associated
with Yama, the Hindu God of Death.
Interestingly, Goddess Kali is also considered
mother by her devotees - and is one of the few
Goddesses who are celibate, who renounced the
whole world.
Physical attributes
Kali is shown with four arms. In two hands, she
hold a sword and a freshly severed head,
representing the fierce battle in which she
destroyed the demon Raktabija. The other two
hands bless her devotees, granting them
liberation in this life and in the next.
Kali wears a garland of 52 skulls and a skirt of
dismembered arms because the ego comes out of identification with the body. Her black
or dark blue skin represents the womb from which all creation springs forth and into
which all of creation will ultimately return. She is the pure, un-manifested energy, the
Adishakti.
Goddess Kali is depicted placing one foot on Lord Shiva, who is pure formless awareness
Sat-Chit-Ananda. Here, Kali represents "form" eternally supported by pure awareness.
Kali and Shiva
Kali and Shiva are considered to inhabit cremation grounds. The cremation grounds imply
the temporary nature of the body, as against the permanence of the soul. Devotees
actually visit these areas in order to pray to the deity to destroy the ego.
Maa Kali, the Merciful One
Kali is also the most merciful one, as she provides moksha or salvation to her children.
Both Kali and Shiva are the destroyers of evil and unreal. It is believed that Kali will
appear as wrathful to the egoistical ones. But for people who are truly spiritually inclined,
Maa Kali will appear as a protective, benevolent and affectionate figure.
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