Who Is Kali?
Kali is one of the most popular and visually striking of the Hindu gods. The goddess of time and change, Kali is often depicted with ten arms, holding a sword and standing over the god Shiva.
Other People Are Reading
-
Visual Representation
-
Kali is often painted either blue or black, with red eyes and a long, hanging tongue. Her body is often decorated with severed limbs and the heads of her enemies.
Durga
-
One of the most famous stories of Kali was how she helped Durga stop the demon Raktabija, whose blood produced duplicates of itself. Kali stopped Raktabija by drinking its blood and eating its duplicates.
-
Shiva
-
In another story, which is often depicted in art, Kali is so crazed with blood lust by a battle that she overlooks the body of her lover Shiva. She eventually hears his cries, which calm her down.
Worship
-
Kali is worshiped in many ways. She has increasingly been seen as a mother goddess by New Age spiritualists. She is also sacred in the Bengali culture.
Mahavidya
-
Kali is one of the 10 Mahavidya, or aspects of the Divine Mother goddess, in Hinduism. Kali is considered the supreme aspect of this Mother goddess.
-
References
- Photo Credit diosa kali image by Diorgi from Fotolia.com
