Understanding Kali

In my last post we saw how the classification of the females depended upon their measurement against the social periphery or the “Lakshman Rekha”.  We saw how the society called the fearless, strong and self-willed women as Kali. However, do we even know who is Kali? 

Many or all from the region of Bengal and North-East India have worshipped Kali and have known her for ages. Almost every region of India has known Kali in different forms and in different descript. Most of us though know Kali for being a naked goddess instilling fear in the hearts of those who do wrong. Kali is the ultimate power of destruction, destroying every last bit of attachment and thus marks a new beginning. Known for her endless powers and a fearful form, Kali is thus more popular in the Tantric approach of Hinduism. 

I shall try my level best in understanding her and describing her for you and myself. 

Kali’s form needs no description, as we all must have seen her as a dark skinned, blood thirsty, naked goddess with unbound hair and tongue sticking out, holding a head in one hand and a trident in another. Kali in this form represents a totality of nature and complements Gauri in her form of a Goddess. Together Kali and Gauri represent the material aspect of nature – wild, untamed (Kali) and domesticated, tamed (Gauri).  The completeness of circle as a creator, sustainer and destroyer, Kali and Gauri depict the spiritual aspect of nature. Notice the parallels from the Shiva and Vishnu devotees. The devotees of Kali and Gauri together are known as Shaktas as they worship the “Shakti” – the female power that dominates the trinity. 

In some of the most observed forms of Kali, certain distinguishing features are noted as follows – 

• Outstretched tongue – In one of the prominent stories, Shiva and Vishnu requested Kali’s help in fighting a demon named “Rakta Bija”. The demon had a boon that every drop of his blood that touches the earth will spring up as his clone. Kali not only defeated the demon, but stretched her tongue to drink his blood till the last drop. This is why in many parts of the country, sacrificial offerings are made to the goddess and her tongue is smeared with the blood from the sacrifice.

• Dark complexion – The name “Kali” represents black or darkness. Kali is associated with everything black – her hair, her skin, her priests wear black, she is worshipped on the new moon “black” nights and is worshipped in the company of black cats. The black Kali is known as Shamshaana Kali and is enshrined in crematoria. Artists often render a blue or purple version of Kali. The blue or purple Kali are actually BhadraKali and DakshinaKali who are worshipped in the households and community temples.

• Unbound hair – Kali’s unbridled, unbound hair depict her challenging the social norm. the social norms suggest a virgin and a married woman to keep her hairs tied and neatly bridled. At the same time, the society shaves off the head of a widow. In such a society, unbound hair represents independence and defiance. Remember Draupadi untying her hair in defiance of Kuru kingdom and vowing to tie her hair only when washed with Dushasan’s blood. 

• Garland of heads, gridles of arms – Kali is seen to be wearing a garland made of human heads – invariably featuring moustaches and virility on them. According to scriptures, there once was a demon that had a boon that id his head falls on ground, the entire world shall explode into flames. Thus the goddess protects the world by hearing his head on her neck. However, in a different context, these are men who have sacrificed themselves to her or the worldly ties seeking the complete truth with her blessing. The gridles of arms around the waist is an artistic representation, which is not seen, in early scriptures. This is also considered as Kali cutting down the corpses of her believers, thus liberating them from the cycle of rebirth. 

• Nakedness – Kali’s nakedness is another form of social defiance and suggests how she depicts the unlimited powers that cannot be bound by the codes of the society. She lives in the forest where nakedness has no meaning. Covering of the nakedness is considered a form of domestication. Draupadi’s disrobing is also considered as an act of defying the social code and thus invoking the bloodthirsty goddess. 

• Body – While the Puranic and Tantic scriptures differ in their description of Kali, the differences come from how they view the goddess. The Puranic scriptures instill fear through Kali while Tantric scriptures consider her gentleness through her beautiful body.

• Four hands – Kali also has four hands similar to most of the gods and goddesses in the Hindu mythology. Depending on the scripture and the form being worshipped, the four hands may hold a variety of weapons - scimitar, sickle, scythe, sword, axe, trident or whip. In one of her hands, she holds a freshly cut male head and the other hand holds a cup to collect all the dripping blood. The cup is usually cranium of a skull. In the household version of Kali, her hands take the postures of Abhay Mudra or Varada Mudra associated with protection and blessing. Kali is never seen to hold anything associated with fertility. Devi or Gauri serv that purpose.

• Posture – Kali is seen to be walking from the south and comes to a freeze when she steps on Shiva. Kali is seen to have put her left foot on Shiva. Left is considered to be feminine instincts and right is considered as the male logic. Thus, Shiva restricts Kali’s urge to be wild and free. Narratives tell us that this is to safeguard culture. Kali after killing the demons is wild and untamed. She is so fearful and looses all control until Shiva intervenes.

• Surroundings – Kali is always seen amidst death and decay – battlegrounds and cremation grounds. Battlegrounds see the collapse of the social structure and the violence inside the men. The cremation ground shows the victory of nature over the human instincts.

• Companions – Kali’s male companions include Virabhadra or the eight bhairavas who are the fierce manifestations of Shiva himself. Kali’s female companions include hags (dakinis), witches (yoginis), mothers (matrikas) and virgins (kumaris). Cats are considered sacred in Kali scriptures. In line with her subduing the male ego, Kali rides a male cat – the lion. Kali is also seen as riding a bull-elephant symbolizing domestication of the male ego.  Kali also rides dogs as they symbolize death and are considered inauspicious. Kali is also associated with snakes for them being symbols of renewal.