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Kali Hindu Goddess

According to its etymological derivation, Kali means "the one who is black" or "the one who is death" in Hinduism. The name is taken from Sanskrit. The Sanskritic traditions progressively absorbed and modified, if not completely tamed, the deities of the village, tribal, and mountain civilizations of South Asia, giving rise to Kali, goddess of time, doomsday, and death, also known as the dark goddess.

Like the beginnings of most supernatural beings, Kali's narrative is probably steeped in tribal tradition that dates back to the dawn of humans. The Atharva Veda, a compilation of hymns and mantras that was written between 1200 BCE and 1000 BCE, is where the term Kali first occurs.

Kali hindu goddess is one of seven furious black tongues that belong to Agni, the god of fire, and not a deity. By the time Kali first appears in the Devimahatmya about 600 CE as a goddess of the battlefield who personifies Durga's anger, it would be another 400 years.

The Devi Mahatmya is where she first makes a significant appearance in Sanskrit literature. In addition to this, kali hindu goddess is frequently linked to sensuality, violence, and, ironically, maternal love in certain later traditions, according to her iconography, worship, and mythology.

Kali, Parvati and Shiva

While kali hindu goddess, the deity of mortality, manifests in diverse forms across South Asia and beyond, a prevailing depiction portrays her as either black or blue. Often depicted partially or completely unclothed, she exhibits numerous arms, adorned with a skirt or belt crafted from human arms. Additionally, her distinctive appearance encompasses a necklace composed of severed heads, while one of her hands grasps a severed head. This portrayal encapsulates the essence of Kali's awe-inspiring imagery, which continues to captivate the imagination of viewers worldwide.

Kali, the formidable goddess, is often witnessed atop the deity Shiva, gracefully standing or dancing. Beneath her, Shiva lies on his back. Numerous depictions showcase her extended tongue, a symbolic gesture interpreted as both astonishment and humiliation upon realizing she treads upon her own spouse. However, Kali's association with a protruding tongue traces back to ancient Sanskrit scriptures, specifically the Brahmanas. Therein, the mythical entity known as the Long Tongue, devourer of offerings, serves as a precursor to kali hindu goddess.

The phrase "seed sown by blood" derives from the Devi Mahatmya, which vividly portrays Kali's emergence from the wrath of the goddess Durga. Her purpose? To vanquish the malevolent Raktabija, a monstrous being. Each drop of Raktabija's blood, upon touching the ground, spawns a new demon, thus perpetuating the battle's chaos. In her role as the goddess of devastation, Kali, with deftness and precision, intercepts the blood before it soils the earth.

Additionally, legends suggest that Kali's manifestation occurred when the goddess Parvati shed her dark complexion. This transformation birthed Kali, the embodiment of time, also recognized as Kaushika, the timeless sheath. Consequently, Parvati assumed the form of Gauri, the fair one, distinct from her alter ego, Kali.

Vedas, Tantra and Time

Discover the profound intertwining of Kali, the revered Hindu goddess, with the ancient practice of Tantra. While firmly rooted in the traditional Vedic culture, Kali has embraced a parallel relationship with Tantra, breathing new life into her wild and tribal origins. Tantric teachings, like a treasure trove of mystical tales and folklore, authentically preserve the essence of this primal goddess.

One of her evocative names, "Force of Time," unveils a fascinating perspective. Kali hindu goddess, the embodiment of time itself, transcends the boundaries of space and time, existing beyond the fabric of our known universe. She witnessed the genesis of cosmos before it even took form and will endure long after its ultimate dissolution. Kali, unbound by the limited concepts of color, light, or the dichotomy of good and evil, represents the very essence of Mother Nature.

Primal and creative, kali hindu goddess nurtures and consumes with equal fervor, embodying the duality of existence. She is the personification of primordial energy, fierce yet loving, embodying the benevolence of the Divine Mother. Adored by millions of devoted Hindus, she is revered as Kali Ma, Mother Kali, or the Divine Mother, radiating her boundless compassion.

In the realm of Tantric meditation, practitioners find themselves compelled to confront life's exquisite beauty in tandem with the undeniable truth of mortality. Kali's dual nature serves as a catalyst, pushing them to embrace both the joys of existence and the inevitability of death. It is within this profound synthesis that her transformative power emerges, inviting seekers to explore the depths of human experience and awaken to life's extraordinary tapestry.

Followers

The worship of Kali, goddess of primaeval creativity, was not always so peaceful. In India, a cult organization known as the Thuggee—whose name derives from the Hindu word for deceit—operated indiscriminately from the 14th through the 19th centuries.

Thuggee membership was an inherited cult that was passed down from father to son, while outsiders, especially criminals, may be recruited if deemed worthy or could become a victim if not. The organization is thought to have had thousands of members at its height, and during the course of its 600-year existence, its members are thought to have killed somewhere between 500,000 and 2 million people. Thuggees regarded themselves Kali's offspring, produced from her sweat, and proudly traced their lineage to Kali's conflict with Raktabija.

The Thuggee thought they were carrying out Kali's sacred job, but they had no qualms about robbing people because they were pandering to Kali's most ferocious qualities and her need for bloodshed, devastation, and human sacrifice. After the British took major action in the middle of the 19th century, the cult vanished completely.

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