Kali Maa, as we fondly call her, we know we’ve heard about her, we know she’s a force to reckon with but what’s the one thing that draws you in about her? What is it that makes her so much different than other Goddesses?
It’s her depiction, her pose.
As per the legends, Kali was created from Ambika’s brow when a battle was upon her and since then many interpretations of her pose have emerged.
1. Tantric Kali
In Tantric myths, ‘the Goddess’ is a common way of referring to none other than Kali. According to Tantra, Kali depicts Shakti or female empowerment. According to this theory, Shiva is engaging with Kali in a form of sexual intercourse better known as Purushayita or Viparitarati. In this form, Kali is on top, taking the lead, a depiction of her supremacy. It’s indicative of the belief that female energy has the power to create, sustain and dissolve the universe while male energy is passive and static. The sexual union of Kali (Shakti) and Shiva shows that ultimately both these energies are one.
2. Puranic Interpretations
According to the Puranas, Shiva had to choose one form of Parvati out of her 10 avatars and he said he liked Kali the most. A form of her he appreciated because she has no ornamentation on her, no fancy clothes, no transparent barriers, it’s her human form that’s as raw as it gets. It’s just her and her unclogged emotions. Parvati on hearing such kind words took the form of Kali, Shiva lay at her feet and asked her to keep her feet on his heart and have this place forever.
3. Dancing Kali
It’s a legend that Kali destroyed Raktabija in battle by swallowing his blood. However what’s lesser known is that she followed it up with a dance of victory so fierce that no one could stop her. All the Lokas began to tremble under the impact of her dance. So Shiva decided to put a stop to this dance of death and lay down on the ground, allowing himself to be trampled upon by Kali, at the same time absorbing the shock of the dance into himself. When Kali realized she was trampling her husband, she bit her tongue with guilt.
4. Mother Kali
Another legend in which Shiva tries to calm Kali. She has defeated a demon and is intoxicated by the demon’s blood. In order to stop Kali from this destructive fury, Shiva takes the form of a newborn child and cries at the battlefield. Kali calms down and picks up the infant, only to start breast feeding him. This shed a maternal light on Kali and makes her immortal in Hindu mythology.
5. Smashan Kali
If Kali has her left foot forward on Shiva and holds the sword in her right hand then she is known as ‘Smashan Kali’. In this form Kali advocates the spiritual discipline practice in a cremation ground. It is believed that practising appropriate discipline at a cremation ground can bring you success.
Power to Kali.
Is there any other interpretation we’ve missed, let us know in the comments below!