Hindu religion comprises a variety of colorful gods and goddesses, including Kali, one of the most powerful spiritual allies. Those who fear her may not comprehend the nature of her intentions or her methods of initiating change.
Kali in the Hindu Pantheon
The head trinity within the Hindu pantheon includes Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Kali is described as one of Shiva's consorts, or divine life partner and friend. In contrast to Shiva's whitened body from the ashes of cremation, Kali is usually associated with the concept of the Dark Mother or blackness and portrayed with bluish skin tone.
In Tantric tradition, Kali is considered one of the ten fierce Tantric goddesses. Furthermore, as Shiva's wife, she is the embodiment of divine energy or Shakti.
Classic Depictions of Kali
In Kali iconography, the Hindu goddess is frequently illustrated wearing a garland of skulls around her neck and having four arms. The four upper limbs carry a sword, a trident, a severed head dripping blood, and a skull cup catching the blood.
The Mahakali form depicts Kali as having ten heads, ten arms, and ten legs. Each of the arms carries a different object, symbolic of the power of other Hindu gods and goddesses and usually signified by an identifying weapon or ritual item.
Kali as the Goddess of Time and Change
Despite the connections with death and destruction, Kali is worshiped by believers as a positive goddess of time and change. Author Doreen Virtue claims, "Kali is the ultimate get-things-done goddess...she'll push you beyond your comfort zone to reach the heights of your potential."
As a spiritual support, Kali can be invoked to help others understand the natural cycles of birth and death. She acts as a guide to help those in need to remember that change is necessary, and from endings come new beginnings.
Kali as Creator and Destroyer
In her most famous myth, Kali is summoned by the goddess Durga in an effort to help destroy Raktabija, a demon that produces clones of himself. Kali defeats the demon and his duplicates by rolling out her tongue to capture droplets of blood before they reached the ground, the method by which the replica demons manifest. She ultimately sucks the blood from Raktabija's body and wins the battle.
Symbolically, Kali characterizes destruction or letting go of the past to make room for a more purposeful present and future. She stands for the concept of Mother Nature as not only a potent, destructive force but also a force that cleanses away the old to allow room for new, fertile ground.
Mother Goddess Kali Ma
In another myth, Kali is dancing on the battlegrounds after an encounter with demons. She is portrayed in an out-of-control frenzy, and drunk on the blood of her slain victims.
To stabilize the world and to calm Kali, Shiva is sent out on the battlefield as a crying infant. Kali hears his distress and comforts him by picking him up, kissing his head, and breastfeeding him. Hinduism reveres this maternal aspect of Kali while the Western world often fears her violent form.
Kali is an ambivalent deity among the Hindu goddesses. Powerful as a destructive force against the ego self and inner demons, she also liberates souls to begin more spiritual life journeys and is recognized as a healing divine mother.
Sources:
- Virtue, D. (2004). Guidebook for the Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards. California: Hay House.
- Crystal, Ellie. 'K' Words: Karma, Katrina, Kali. Retrieved from CrystaLinks.com on 19 June 2009.
- Wikipedia. Kali. Retrieved from Wikipedia.org on 19 June 2009.
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