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Not only is Ma Kālī the darkness, but she eradicates darkness as well. She gives the disease and removes it. This is one of the great paradoxes of the fierce Tantric goddesses: they are the quality that they also heal. We walk towards her, and this, in order to be free of it. Kālī shows us the way to freedom. She is fierce, in many of her forms, and yet she also offers peace, truth, goodness, and beauty. All of these qualities are hers as well, and thus also available to us as her devotees.

Can you feel how her darkness and fierceness might also be peace, truth, goodness, and beauty? What is this paradox that Ma Kālī inhabits as her primordial nature? Part of the beauty of the liturgy of Ma Kālī’s hundred names is that many of the names apparently contradict each other.

Coming into relationship with this contradictory nature of Ma Kālī (and thus all reality) allows us to practice into understanding how all aspects of existence are her. From here, we can begin to feel how our personal existence, just as it is, is her grace, her living embodiment. This is the mystery lived in full embodiment.

— In Praise of Adya Kali, Aditi Devi

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A few days ago, I asked Kali Ma to show me a blue sari as a confirmation if I was going to reach the goals I set for myself soon. At first, my eyes were peeled, scouring to see anything closely related to it. But I eventually gave up, and went about my day as necessary.

The next morning, I received a video of a mother dressing her cat in a blue sari, made from the cloth of her daughter's outfit.

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Kali ma from a temple in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Feelings tonight

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and is your shame helpful? is it inspiring goodness and change? or is it keeping you frozen in time unable to move on and be everything you have expanded to be?

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Respect feminine rage

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Working with Ma Kali is so magical because I could be demotivated with carrying out a task or a healthy habit and complain that "I don't want to do it" and immediately get slammed with thoughts of "no, I'm going to" and the energy to carry out what must be done. What a blessing to experience her presence in and influence on my life!

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Kali coming by Debadeep Ghosh, Bengal

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Kali by S.M Pandit, 1956

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Death 💀

🖤 Death is the greatest teacher,

Meditate upon death.

🖤 Everything dies,

Nothing lasts forever.

Everyone will die,

Including yourself.

🖤 But only the body dies,

The soul is eternal.

Therefore do not fear death.

🖤 Death is liberation,

It is the wakening of the soul,

And the end of the dream.

🖤 Death is freedom from the suffering of samsara,

Release from the pain and strife of life.

Death is the doorway to Nirvana.

🖤 For those souls not yet aware of their true nature even death is impermanent.

Those who die are born again,

Just as those who are born will die.

🖤 Mediate on death,

Appreciate it’s true meaning,

Understand it’s consequences.

🖤 Appreciate what you have while you still have it,

Make the most of each precious moment,

Understand what is really important and what isn’t.

🖤 This life is like a dream or mirage.

Everything we think we have done or not done,

Everything we think we have or don’t have,

It’s all a dream.

🖤 In this world we are travellers passing through,

This world is not our home.

Nothing here to be irate about,

Let it be and let it go.

🖤 Eventually Mother Death takes us home,

But first she offers us wisdom.

🖤 All the sages agree,

Liberation is (spirituality) dying before death,

Being dead to this world,

In it but not part of it.

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Kali Deep Dive

A/N: Indian mythology is incredibly complex and I can’t begin to untangle the intricate web in one single post. Hinduism and it’s various traditions are still vastly practiced by many people. For ease of understanding, common words and concepts will be linked to their definition or description throughout the post.

Who is Kali?

Also referred to as “Kalika”, Kali is a major Indian goddess who is heavily associated with time, change, creation, death, and destruction. Her name, Kali ( काली ), comes from the Sanskrit meaning “she who is dark” or “she who is black”. 

She is worshiped in many different traditions of Shakta and Tantric Hindu sects, Buddhist sects, as well as by others individually.

Kali is most often depicted as blue and multi-armed depending on her form—of which she has a few and these forms will vary by tradition. While she is often depicted as blue, she is described in text as having black or dark skin. She is most often depicted as either half or fully naked. She sports a skirt made of arms and a garland made of heads. Kali is often seen wielding a severed head as well as a sword. She is also seen commonly holding various weapons or a shield.

Origin

Kali’s origin story is different depending on who you ask. She is most often seen as an aspect or distinct form of Devi in some traditions, though others see her as a deity in her own right.

One myth says that Kali emerged from Durga. In another tradition she is said to have been created when Parvati shed her dark skin. Some say she is an avatar of Parvati.

Another myth says that Parvati mixed with some poison in Shiva’s throat and emerged as Kali.

In yet another myth Kali is said to be an amalgamation created by either all of the gods or just Parvati for the purpose of defeating the demon Raktabija.

Partners or Lovers

Shiva (consort)

Children

No children mentioned.

Epithets

While Kali goes by many names due to the diversity in her worship, here are some that I’ve found. Some of these names are shared with other goddesses.

Kaushika - The Sheath

'The force of time'

'She who is time'

'She who devours time'

'She who is the Mother of time'

'She who is black time’

Kali Mata - The dark mother

Divine Mother

देवी (Dēvī) - The goddess

अंबा (Ambā) - The mother goddess

महिषासुरमार्दिनी (Mahiṣāsuramardinī) - The slayer of Mahishasura

ब्लैक देवी (Black goddess) - Kali is often depicted with dark blue skin.

श्यामा (Śyāmā) - The dark one

कट्टरा (Kattrā) - The fierce one

बीमला (Bimalā) - The pure one

नीला (Nīlā) - The blue one

चामुण्डा (Chāmuṇḍā) - The skull wielder

इन्दिरा (Indirā) - Powerful, mighty

रूद्रा (Rudrā) - Associated with the fearsome Shiva

ब्रह्माणी (Brahmāṇī) - Associated with the creator Brahma

चन्द्रबती (Candramatī) - Associated with moon

सुन्दरी (Sundarī) - Beautiful

भीमा (Bhīmā) - Terrible

मा काली (Mā Kālī) - Mother Kali

Forms

Unlike usual deep dives, we will have a section introducing you to a few of Kali’s most common forms. These are different from epithets so I decided to give them their own section. The amount of forms Kali has will also depend on tradition. The most common number of forms across traditions tend to be 8, 12, or 21.

Mahakali - “The Great Kali”

Dakshina Kali - A more benevolent and motherly form of Kali.

Samhara Kali

Bhadra Kali

Adya Kali

Chintamani Kali

Sparshamani Kali

Santati Kali

Siddhi Kali

Rakta Kali

Shyama Kali

Kalasankarshini Kali

Smashana Kali

Adharvana Bhadra Kali

Kamakala Kali

Guhya Kali

Hamsa Kali

Sarvamangala

Karpurakali

Bhavatarini

Chinnamasta

Vandurukāli

Chaturbhuja Kali

Krishna Kali

Notes

She is considered the ultimate brahman—or ultimate reality—in some Shakta and Tantric traditions of Hinduism.

In art, Kali is often depicted as standing on her consort, the god Shiva, who is prostrated beneath her. The mythology behind this varies, as do the symbolic explanations of the pose.

She is also seen often with her tongue out, the symbolism of this also varies but common interpretations are as follows: it could symbolize shame and that she lacks just that. Her tongue may symbolize that she is all-consuming.

Her tongue sticking out is a staple feature of Kali.

Despite her brutal depictions, she is seen as a mother goddess in her own right. Some of her forms are more gentle, but still depict her with her tongue out to show that she cannot be tamed.

Kali is considered often to be of a more wild nature, one that does not abide by societal standards. She is thought by some to be the ultimate reality, and all things begin and end with her.

Modern solo or pagan worshippers follow and worship Kali as a goddess that helps with self transformation. One who liberates her followers from ego.

Kali is also worshiped in some sects of Buddhism.

Since Kali is seen as a protector while also having a destructive side, this may suggest her role as a necessary destruction needed for self transformation. She eradicates fear and offers liberation and knowledge.

The first use of “Kali” as a proper name was in the Kathaka Grihya-Sutra.

I’ve also seen her referred to as the mother of language.

Kali is also considered an embodiment of shakti, feminine energy and creativity. 

Mahakali is the first of the ten mahavidyas.

Modern Deity Work

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Hematite, Obsidian, smoky quartz

Herbs/Plants

Red hibiscus, lotus

Animals

Lion

Holy Days

Kali Puja

Offerings

Rice

Lentils

Sweets

Songs

Poetry

Honey

Flowers

Acts of Devotion

Practice yoga—like really practice it. Learn its history and how it is as spiritual as it is physical, if not more so.

Fight for and protect the innocent. This could be as simple as donating to a good cause but protesting and advocating are great ways to emulate Kali.

Empower and respect women from all walks of life. From what I’ve read she is a protector of all but showing her that you hold women in the same respect as anyone else would be good.

Learn about the culture and religions she originates from. This is especially important. When getting to know someone you get to know their background and where they came from, the same should go for deities.

Create a shrine or altar—in general create a space to place offerings and to venerate her.

Learn traditional mantras for Kali.

Pray to her.

Dance for her.

Resources and Further Reading

Kali and her Tongue - Times of India

Kali - Wikipedia

Kali’s Names - A Quora Answer

Goddess Kali - Pujayagna

Ma Kali - Hindu American

Kali (Goddess) - Britannica

Kali - World History Encyclopedia

The Forms of Kali - The Jaipur Dialogues

The Goddess of Shakti - Maa Kali - eastindiastory

Rachel Fell McDermott, “The Western Kali” in Devi: Goddesses of India

Jeffrey Kripal, “Kali’s Tongue and Ramakrishna: Biting the Tongue of the Tantric Tradition,” History of Religions 34, no.2, November, 1994.

Kinsley’s “Tara, Chinnamasta and the Mahavidyas”, pp.161-177 in Hindu Goddesses.

Katherine A. Harper, “Seven Hindu Goddesses of Spiritual Transformation: The Iconography of the Saptamatrikas,” Studies in Women and Religion Vol. 28, The Edwin Mellen Press, 1989.

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I love Ma Kali, she is incredible. I am in awe of her power and mystery. Though she seems terrifying she brings peace and liberation to her followers. She is time itself, the very fabric of existence.

Her garland of heads represent the 52 letters of the sanskrit alphabet. The decapitated head represents someone liberated from their ego. That's why his expression is blissful. Her skirt of arms represents how all action is under her control.

She steps on Shiva, her husband, as she is the paint on his canvas. She is the wave in his ocean. You cannot separate them more than you can separate the heat of a flame from fire.

There's so much symbolism, I love learning about more. I love Mother's infinite ways.

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someday, life will feel like more than just surviving the day

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Sometimes it is your fault.. Sometimes you don’t listen well enough, you’re selfish, you’re rude and you aren’t always right. Sometimes you fucked it up and tbh that’s okay. It happens, learn from it, apologize and keep it moving. Just because you fucked up doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. Don’t dwell on it

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𝐉𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐈. With this digital offering, I pay my respects to the cosmic timekeeper and harbinger of change, the supreme mother and source of creation, the relentless warrior and destroyer of evil. Fierce and unyielding like the tides of the ocean or the flames of a wildfire, Ma Kali stands as a symbol of truth and liberation, teaching us to be unapologetically ourselves.

Furthermore, she is the mentor who fortifies us to face the challenges that lie ahead in our path, as well as the friend who comforts us when we feel burdened by our obstacles. No matter when, where, and through what, Ma Kali is always willing to share her strength to those who are open to receiving it. Always.

With her, I feel protected, stronger, and more at peace. And for that I am thankful beyond measure. I hope I can continue to cultivate this friendship between us, between disciple and Devi. It has already meant so much to me.

Praise be to Ma Kali!