Goddess Kali is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. She took this form to kill demons, Chanda and Munda. She is the chief deity of Shaktism, a Hindu sect that believes her to be the Supreme God. Her worship is mainly popular in West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha in India. She is the goddess of death, time, and doomsday. She is the first of the 10 Mahavidyas.
Meaning of the word Kali:
The word Kali is derived from “Kaala,” which means time or death. Therefore, Kali means “the goddess of time or death”.
Other Names of Goddess Kali:
1. Kalika.
2. Kaushiki.
3. Chandika.
4. Shakambhari.
5. Jagaddhatri.
6. Gandhari.
Iconography:
Generally, Goddess Kali is depicted as having four arms, but some images show her as having many arms, legs, and heads. She holds a scimitar, a head of a demon, and a pot to collect blood in three of her four hands, and her one hand is empty. She is dark/blue with her red tongue stuck out. Her hair is disheveled. Her right foot is placed on the chest of Lord Shiva. She wears a skull garland around her neck and a skirt made of the hands of the demons around her waist.
Origin of Goddess Kali:
In the Vedas:
Although there is no mention of Goddess Kali in the Vedas, many scholars believe that the Ratri Suktam in the Rig Veda (Mandala 10/Hymn 127), which is dedicated to Goddess Ratri, is the source of her origin.
In the Puranas:
Kalika Purana is one of the eighteen minor Puranas, which is dedicated to Goddess Kali. She is mentioned in many other Puranas and Tantric texts.
The Story of Goddess Kali:
When Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura, Asuras fled to Patala Loka. Then, the demon Shumbha became the king and swore vengeance against the gods. Soon Shumbha and Nishumbha defeated the gods and drove them out of heaven.
The scared gods went to Mount Himavat and prayed to Goddess Durga for help. Then Goddess Ambika, a form of Goddess Parvati, appeared before them. She looked extremely beautiful. When the demons Chanda and Munda saw her, they informed Shumbha about her beauty. Shumbha decided to make her his queen and sent a marriage proposal to her. Goddess Ambika told them that she would marry only the strongest person in the universe, and Shubha had to defeat her if he wished to marry her.
Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda to fight with her. Seeing them, Goddess Ambika got angry, and Goddess Kali was born from her forehead. She killed Chanda and Munda and all other demons. Goddess Ambika was very happy with her and named her Chamunda as she killed Chanda and Munda.
Raktabija:
After their death, another demon named Raktabija came to fight with Goddess Ambika. He had gotten a boon from Lord Brahma that whenever a drop of his blood would fall on the ground, another Raktabija would be sprung from it, who would be equally powerful as he was. When Goddess Ambika wounded him, thousands of Raktabija sprang from the drops of his blood.
At this point, Goddess Kali joined the battle. She devoured all duplicate Raktabija. Then, she cut the head of Raktabija and collected his blood in a vessel, and drank it. Thus, Raktabija was slain by Goddess Kali.
Why is Lord Shiva Lying below the Feet of Kali?
Even after killing Raktabija and the entire army of demons, Goddess Kali did not calm down and continued to annihilate nature. If she had continued like that, the world would have ended. Therefore, the gods requested Lord Shiva to calm her down.
Accepting their request, Lord Shiva laid himself on her path. Unaware of that, Goddess Kali put her right foot on the chest of Lord Shiva, but soon she realized her mistake because Lord Shiva was her husband. Out of embarrassment, she stuck out and bit her tongue, and calmed down. Therefore, she is generally depicted as standing on Lord Shiva with her tongue stuck out.
Ramkrishna Paramhans and Goddess Kali:
Ramkrishna Paramhans was a staunch devotee of Goddess Kali. Many Hindus believe that she used to talk with him and used to come to his home whenever he called her. She had also appeared before his disciple, Swami Vivekananda, and blessed him.
Different Forms of Goddess Kali:
Raksha Kali, Bhadra Kali, Guhya Kali, Adya Kali, Chintamani Kali, Sparshamani Kali, Santati Kali, Siddhi Kali, Dakshina Kali, Smashana Kali, Adharvana Bhadra Kali, Kamakala Kali, Hamsa Kali, Shyama Kali, Samhara Kali, Vamakali, Mahakali, Bhima Kali, and Kalankarshini Kali.
Festivals:
Kali Puja:
Kali Puja is a famous Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Kali. It falls in the Kartik month according to the Hindu calendar. It started in the 18th century in West Bengal. Devotees establish her clay sculptures in their homes and pandals and worship her by offering food and sweets. In Tantric rites, animal sacrifice is also made. In West Bengal and Odisha, Goddess Kali is worshipped instead of Goddess Lakshmi on Diwali.
Mantras:
1. Kreem.
2. Om Kreem Kali.
3. Om Kring Kalikaye Namah.
4. Om Sri Maha Kalikayi Namah.
5. Om Klim Kalika-Yei Namah.
6. Om Hrim Shreem Klim Adya Kalika Param Eshwari Swaha.
7. Kring Kring Kring Hing Kring Dakshine Kalike
Kring Kring Kring Hring Hring Hung Hung Swah.
8. Om Maha Kalyai, Ca Vidmahe Smasana Vasinyai,
Ca Dhimahi Tanno Kali Prachodayat
9. Om Kali, Kali! Om Kali, Kali!
Namostute, namostute, namo!
Namostute, namostute, namo!
10. Ananda Ma Ananda Ma Kali
Ananda Ma Ananda Ma Kali
Ananda Ma Ananda Ma Kali
Om Kali Ma!
11. Om karala-badanam ghoram mukta-kEshim chatur-bhuryam.
kalikam dakshinam dibyam munda-mala bibhushitam
sadya-chinna shira kharga bama-dordha karambujam
abhayam baradan-chaiba dakshina-dardha panikam
12. Om khargang chakra-gadeshu-chapa-parighan shulang bhushundIng shirah shankhang sanda-dhatIng karistri-nayanAng sarbanga-bhushabritam. nIlashma-dyutimasya pada-dashakang sebe maha kalikang yamastou-chhaite harou kamalajye hantung madhung kaitavam.
13. Om Jayanti Mangala Kali, Bhadrakali Kapalini Durga Kshama Shiva Dhatri Swaha Swadha Namoastute.
Famous Kali Temples:
1. Chamunda Devi Temple in Himachal Pradesh.
2. Kalighat Mandir in Kolkata.
3. Kripamayi Kali Temple in West Bengal.
4. Dakshineshwar Kali Temple in West Bengal.
5. Sree Bhadrakali Temple is located at Kollemcode Village in Tamil Nadu.
6. Kalka Devi Temple in New Delhi.