Kali element is foremost among all the incarnations of Adya Shakti, eternal power of Lord Vishnu
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| The Black Goddess, Maha Kali |
Maha-Kali, First in Dus Mahavidya
'Maha-Kal' (God of the cause of Death) is the Vairabh of Goddess Kali, identified as 'Lord Krishna' of Vishnu's Twenty-four incarnations and belong from Aggressive or 'Ugra' category.
Maha Kali, first in Dus Mahavidya
She is among the first, prime and superior in Dus-Mahavidyas (ten forms of great wisdom knowledge) and all in the Universe. She is wife of Maha-Kal (God of aspect of death or reason of death), an furious incarnation of Lord Shiva. The word Kali arises from "Kal" in Sanskrit, meaning "time". Sometimes, she is also referred to as the Goddess of death . Incarnate of different soft and furious rectification of her are these Dus-Mahavidya and all are females spread all over the world. All the power of the Devi is able to give an extreme perfection of knowledge. In sight of philosophy Kali element is the foremost. According to Brihad-Nil Tantra (a Tantric text-book, dedicated to Goddess Tara), Red and Black are the two aspects of her, in red she is known as "Shre Sundari" (a name of Goddess Tripur-Sundari, who is the most beautiful in three worlds and with red color) and in Black "Dakshina" (she is black in color and resides in south direction). Thus, according to this property of complexion, she differs. She plays the central role in ten Maha-Vidyas (10 great ways of wisdom or knowledge). Kali recognized as Adhya-Shakti (primal and prominent power), Mahamaya (she who Emerson with Lord Vishnu's meditate slept, and do the work or destruction) in Tantric rituals.According to "Kali Stotra" in Hindu Mythology, physical appearance of Goddess Kali is described as
She is in a state of eternal bliss playing on the bosom of Lord Shiva, in the terrifying surrounding of Samshan (cremation ground). She is black in color because it is the seed stage of all colors and it represents Tamo Guna (Properties of Destruction), she got birth from darkness when there was nothing, not even the Universe, as she got the name "Kali or Black". She appears cool and appealing as the light of million moons reflect on her. Her teeth are terrible and the tongue lashes out of her widely opened mouth, lustrous like a dark cloud, decorated with serpents, she is going to ghastly eat everything, even Kal (time). But she is also the benign mother conferring boon on all by raising her arm in Varada Mudra (hand gesture of boon). She is endowed with three eyes, representing Trikala (enriched with three dimensions of time), and four hands; she wears a garland of freshly cut fifty-one demon heads, which hangs down till her knees and blood flows from these, the foxes and her Yoginis (female Yogi or her friends as spirits) around her get drunk on this flowing blood. Her ghastly spread or disheveled hair, garland of freshly cut demon heads in her lower left hand, Bilbo in her upper left hand-everything creates an uncanny look about her. Through her lower right hand, she makes a sign of granting favors. She wears a pair of earrings made of infant dead body, a garland of cut hands worn around her waist protects her hon-our. She puts her right foot upon Lord Shiva's chest, who lies down beneath her. Blood spills all around her along with piles of dead bodies of demons killed by her,and she appears to be truly terrifying and as huge as a mountain. She is the embodiment of sakti (power), budhi (knowledge), ridhi (wealth) and sidhi (accomplishment). She also worship in Buddhism. |
| Appearance of Kali in Buddhism |
There are Numerous distinctions of Goddess Kali, But the eight distinctions are main :
1. Chinta Mani Kali, चिंता मणि काली.
2. Sparsh Mani Kali, स्पर्श मणि काली.
3. Santatiprada Kali, संतति प्रदा काली.
4. Siddhi Kali, सिद्धि काली.
5. Dakshina Kali, दक्षिणा काली.
6. Kamkala Kali, कामकला काली.
7. Hans Kali, हंस काली.
8. Guhya Kali, गुह्य काली.
In addition to these, She is also known as the name of :
1. Bhadra Kali, भद्र काली.
2. Shamshan Kali, शमशान काली.
3. Maha-Kali, महा काली.
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Origin myth of Maha Kali
According to Durga Saptasati (a mythological text books dedicated to incarnation of Shakti describing about the help by her towards gods when they prayer her to get rid to their different types critical distress and how she fight with demons and kills) which is a part of Markandaye Puran (name of the religious text-book written by Markandaye Sage or Rishi), once, disconcerted by the tyranny of Demons, named Sumbha and Nishumbha (both were brothers), all the gods went to the Himalayas and praised Devi Adhya-Shakti. Then, a lady named Kaushiki revealed out of Shiva's wife Gauri or Parvati. As, Kaushiki differed from Gauri or Parvati, she became dark black and was known as Kali.In mythology, Goddess Durga (another name of Adya-Shakti, as she had killed the demon Durgamasur) defeated the demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha along with their allies. Prior to that, she had also defeated the demons Chanda and Munda. Both of them invited Durga to fight a battle with them. When she came to attack both the demons, she grew furious with anger and her face turned black. Goddess Kali appeared from her forehead with a devastatingly terrible appearance to help Goddess Durga. Both of them fought bravely with the demons and their thousands of allies. In that battle, a demon named Raktabeej also took part. He had the power to clone himself in thousands instantly wherever a drop of his blood fell in the battleground. So, whenever Goddess Durga struck him with any weapon, his blood droplets fell and he rebuilt himself. Accordingly, the battlefield was engulfed with his duplicates as strong as himself. Then, Goddess Kali was summoned by Durga and was told to seize the blood droplets of Raktabeej inside her gaping mouth. Kali lashed out her tongue from her mouth, stretched it wide and thus the blood fell in her mouth only. As a result, he could not clone himself anymore and the battlefield was freed from any more clones. Finally he was killed by Goddess 'Kali'.
At the end of the Aeon, when the world entered the ekarnava or submerged state, lord Vishnu slept on the bed of Sesh-Nag (chief among the Snakes) in Shir-Sagar (Ocean). From the scum of the ear of lord Vishnu two huge monsters named Madhu and Kaithav (Name of the Demons) took form. They grew violent against Devtas or Gods, and finally both of them went to eat lord Brahma (the God of Creation). He got afraid and called Vishnu for escape but he continued with his sleep. Then he prayed to Adya-Shakti to rescue him, as a result of which, a dark black lady named Kali, who was very terrifying and dangerous came out of lord Vishnu's body to rescue lord Brahma.
Physical appearance of Goddess kali
Kali, Shiva is laying under Goddess as dead body. In temporal way, she is seated on the corpse or dead body. But in here there is a esoteric mystery resides, 'Shava' or dead body is the part of Shiva and "Chaitanya" or consciousness is the part of Shakti and both are incomplete with each other. When the power of consciousness is present in the body, it's being alive otherwise its dead. She symbolized as the power of consciousness as soul, due to she seated on corpse, everyone is alive.She also resides in Cremation ground or in Shamshan, as she called as Shamshan Vasi. Every human being has the capability to think and to decide what is wrong and what is correct. Existence of Knowledge, i.e. Wisdom, isolates human being from all other living beings in the Universe. When a human being is not able to balance his emotions of feelings, it becomes weak and he is not able to justify what is right or wrong. As a result five types of weakness or Vikar is generated within the personality or feelings of human beings. These are: Lust or Kaama, Krodh or Rage, Lobh or Greed, Moh or Attachment, Ahankar or Ego.
A person is able to burn these five human weaknesses, with great knowledge or wisdom that rises from our heart. A heart is the place where these five human weaknesses are burnt, so the heart is called as Shamshan or Cremation place. Consequently, Adhya-Kali is happily ready to reside in a person's heart, if he can burn all these weakness or vikar and lighten a lamp of knowledge in his heart. Every burning place where the visible or visible elements are brunt is the residing place of Kali.
According to Mahanirvan Tantra
तव रूपः महाकालो जगत्संहरकारकः । महासंसारसमये कालः सर्वं ग्रासस्यति । ।
कलनात् सर्वभूतानां महाकालः प्रकीर्तितः । महाकालस्य कालनात् त्वमाद्या कलिका परा । ।
कालसंकलनात् काली सर्वेषादिरूपिणी । कालत्वादादिभूतत्वादाध्याकाली गीयते । ।
Kaal or Maha-Kaal, who destroyed the world or the cause of the destruction, is an aspect of you. At the time of universal dissolution, Maha-Kaal ate everything from this Universe. Due to he ate every element in Universe, he got the name Maha-Kaal. Because of you have ability to ate Mahakaal, you got the name Maha-Kali. As you are at the time of creation and destruction, you are well kwon as Adhya kali.
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| She devouring Kal (Time) called Maha-Kali |
More about Goddess Maha Kali
According to Kalika Puran (A mythological text book related to Goddess Maha-Kali), once all the gods (there are around 33 variations of gods in Hindu religion) went to Matang Muni's Ashram in the Himalayas and praised the Adhya-Shakti (Primordial Power) or Mahamaya. Being praised by all the gods, Adhya-Shakti was pleased and became curious about whom were they offering their praise. At that moment, a black giant mountain-like divine lady revealed out of her body and replied that they were praising her. Because of her dark complexion, she came to be known as Kali.According to Durga Saptasati (a mythological text books dedicated to incarnation of Shakti describing about the help by her towards gods when they prayer her to get rid to their different types critical distress and how she fight with demons and kills) which is a part of Markandaye Puran (name of the religious text-book written by Markandaye Sage or Rishi), once, disconcerted by the tyranny of Demons, named Sumbha and Nishumbha (both were brothers), all the gods went to the Himalayas and praised Devi Adya-Shakti. Then, a lady named Kaushiki revealed out of Shiva's wife Gauri or Parvati. As, Kaushiki differed from Gauri or Parvati, she became dark black and was known as Kali.
At the end of the Aeon, when the world entered the ekarnava or submerged state, lord Vishnu slept on the bed of Sesh-Nag (chief among the Snakes) in Shir-Sagar (Ocean). From the scum of the ear of lord Vishnu two huge monsters named Madhu and Kaithav (Name of the Demons) took form. They grew violent against Devtas or Gods, and finally both of them went to eat lord Brahma (the God of Creation). He got afraid and called Vishnu for escape but he continued with his sleep. Then he prayed to Adya-Shakti to rescue him, as a result of which, a dark black lady named Kali, who was very terrifying and dangerous came out of lord Vishnu's body to rescue lord Brahma.
According to Agni and Garuda Puran (Text book dedicated to god Fire and Vulture with Human figure) "Kali" invokes success in war and to get victory over enemies. Having an awful physical appearance, with her lean body, poisonous teeth, loud laughter, her dancing like a female in utter madness, her residing in a cremation ground with ghosts and spirits, wearing a garland of chopped demons heads and makes her stand out among the other fierce gods and Goddesses. She does so in order to crush or get victory over enemy.
She is worshiped mostly in the eastern parts of India. She is worshiped by some sects in Hindu religion like, tribes, warriors, people belonging to lower castes, Chandals or Domes (those who burn dead bodies in Cremation ground or "Shamshan"). She is mostly popular among the Dacoits. In older days, prior to going for a robbery, the bandits first worshiped Goddess Kali to seek her blessings. They also had a special place or temple, where they worshiped her daily, as she was their principal deity and on special occasions like new moon day of Hindu calendar month Kartik on the night of Deepavali (a festival of Hindus). According to Skand Puran (A holy text dedicated to Skand or Kartik "son of Lord Shiva and Parvati"), creation of this entire Universe began on this day of Amavasya (new moon day). So in Hinduism we celebrate the new year on the day after the Kartik Amavasya. In the Eastern part of India her another image is known as "Shamshan Kali" (one who stays in cremation ground).Her temple can be found in every burial place and she is worshiped observing all the rituals.
The eighth day of the waning phase of the lunar cycle (Krishna Asthami) in the month of Margashirsha is termed as Kalashtami. On this auspicious day, Goddess Kali is usually worshiped with great enthusiasm. It is said that the legendary Goddess Kali, who is also one of the forms of Goddess Durga, is offered prayer on this day. But, according to the tantric rituals, the worship of Goddess Dakshina Kali or Adhya Kali is performed on Kartik Amavasya (no-moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik); the devotees belonging to the Shakti or Shaiva community worship the Goddess Kali on this day in her various forms, while the devotees of the Vaishnava community perform the worship of Goddess Mahalaxmi, the giver of wealth, on this day.
Significance of certain terms associated with Goddess Kaali:
Resident of the burial ground : A god who is vindictive as well as destroyer in nature, and who resides primarily in a burial ground. In actuality, shamsan or burial ground is one such place where cremation of dead bodies take place. But from a philosophical point of view, the cremation ground is the place where the Pancha Mahabhuta gets merged with the Cid-Brahman. These five Mahabhutas or elements, namely, the sky, earth, water, wind and fire are the reason behind the creation of any and every living thing of this universe, our physical existence is composed entirely of these elements, and hence, at the end, these elements find their own place in their respective philosophies. The gods and Goddesses, who are associated with the Tamasi guna (of passionate attitude) always prefer to reside in the cremation grounds. There is one more significant reason for which the Goddesses like Kali, Tara, Bhairavi and others make cremation grounds their place of residence. This is because philosophically, cremation ground symbolises the soul or spirit, which is free from any kind of deformation. Human beings are often under the influence of several kinds of deformities, such as, lust, anger, temptation, phantasm, jealousy, selfishness, etc. Hence, the Goddess resides in such places where all such negative aspects of human beings are completely burnt and brought down to ashes. According to popular belief, our soul or heart is that place where such negativity are diminished to fruitless attributes. In this way, Goddess Kali settles down in the purified heart of her devotees.Pyre : A raised platform made up of wooden sticks, arranged in order to burn a dead body, is known as a pyre. A true devotee should always keep the flame of knowledge burning in his heart, so that he can keep the darkness of ignorance at bay.
The pew of the Goddess : The Goddess makes the body of Lord Shiva as her seating position. Upon her taking position only, consciousness can be induced in a dead soul. Without power, Lord Shiva is nothing more than an unconscious dead body. It is only by the grace of the Goddess that a dead body is enlivened.
Balawatnsa : Goddess Kali wears the dead bodies of young boys as her jewelries of the ear. In this way, the Goddess keeps her devotees very close to her. It is the most powerful of all types of worship to attain the grace of Goddess in the form of a young child.
Karalvadana or Ghor-rupa : Goddess Kali appears to be of very dark complexion. Her image creates a feeling of terror among the common people. But the true devotee, in whose heart the Goddess resides, has no reason to be terrified by the devastating appearance of the Goddess, as even the Yama, the king of death, is also afraid of nearing the Goddess, and hence, no harm could ever be caused to the devotee.
Pinpayodhara : The Goddess possesses full, firm and round bosoms, which symbolises the fact that she nourishes the living beings of the all the three parts of the universe, namely, heaven, earth and Hades. She feeds her devotees with her breast milk and showers her blessings upon them.
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