In another story, Kali is summoned by a group of criminals who decide to sacrifice a human to her image in order to gain her favour. They unwisely choose a young Brahmin monk of upstanding character, however his saintliness shines so brightly that her statue is scorched in his presence. She manifests but proceeds to horribly kill her erstwhile worshipers by decapitating them and drinking their blood. Here, Kali demonstrates her refusal to be controlled by those who think they understand her and her triumph over the attributes of ignorance and evil, as well as the absolute impartiality of her nature.
While Kali was well integrated into the Vedic, or orthodox, Hindu tradition from the first, she also developed a parallel relationship with Tantra. Tantric teachings are a collection of ancient magical stories and folk practices that exist alongside the Vedic tradition, and could be considered to hold to the wild tribal origins of Kali more faithfully than the Vedic.
In this aspect she is considered to stand outside of the constraints of space-time and have no permanent qualities; she existed before the universe was created and will continue to exist after the universe ends. Limitations of the physical world such as colour, light, good and bad do not apply to Kali. She is a symbol of Mother Nature herself — primordial, creative, nurturing and devouring in turn, but ultimately loving and benevolent. In this aspect of goodness she is referred to as Kali Ma, Mother Kali, or Divine Mother, and many millions of Hindus revere and worship her in this form.
It is worth noting that Shiva, in his role of destroyer of worlds, also stands outside the boundaries of the physical universe and is well complimented by his association with Kali. From the 14 th century to the 19 th century, a cult group called the Thuggee from the Hindu word to deceive was operating at will in India. A hereditary sect, Thuggee membership was passed from father to son, although outsiders, particularly criminals, could be recruited if found worthy — or might end up as victim if not.
During its peak, the group is believed to have had thousands of followers and during the years of its operation its members are estimated to have killed anywhere between , and 2 million people. Thuggees proudly traced their origin to the battle of Kali against Raktabija, and considered themselves her children, created from her sweat.
The British finally wiped out the Thuggees in the mid 19 th century, and the cult of religious stranglers ceased to exist except in myth and folklore. A groups of Thuggees strangling a traveller on a highway in India in the early 19th century. One member of the group is gripping the traveller's feet, another his hands, while a third member is tightening the ligature around his neck.
Anonymous Indian artist. Made for Capt. Picture credit: Frances Pritchett's web site, Columbia University. It is difficult to discover any concrete information about this group of women — their name, the extent to which they practiced in India, whether they were associated with the Thuggee cult, and whether they died out or continue to exist within the many Tantric sects extant today.
Here Kali is shown in her post 17th century, rehabilitated form: beautiful of face and body, blue skinned rather than black, her right foot forward to indicate the correct spiritual path, with her right hands displaying the gestures of fearlessness and blessing and her left holding the sword and severed head. Author Surendra Nath Khar. In part because of her dread characteristics and habit of acting unpredictably, at least to those who tried to control her, devotion came late in the game to Kali — even devout Hindus were wary of her wrath.
However in the seventeenth century Kali received a makeover from the Tantric Bengali poets in northwest India. No longer a terrifying red-eyed crone, she began to be depicted as voluptuous, motherly, young and beautiful, with a gentle smile, attractive ornaments and pleasing blue complexion.
While she continued to brandish weaponry and severed heads, two of her right hands now made soothing gestures - the mudras of fearlessness and blessing. Today, her image reflects her duality. Kali is depicted in the act of killing but smiles engagingly.
Her protruding red tongue signals both modesty a Bengali tradition and her thirst for blood. Her dishevelled hair hints at unrestrained blood lust and alternatively the metaphysical mystery of death that encircles life. Her three eyes represent omniscience, her voluptuous breasts both sexual lust and nurturance.
Her nakedness simultaneously represents carnality and purity. Her necklace of severed heads and girdle of severed arms signifies her killing rage but are also tantric metaphors for creative power and severance from the bonds of karma and accumulated deeds.
Even her stance is imbued with dual meaning. While her right hands are generally associated with positive gestures, her left hands hold weaponry — depending on the number of arms she is portrayed as having, a bloodied sword or trident, a freshly severed head and a skull cup to catch the blood.
However, even these are symbols of greater purpose. The sword symbolises higher knowledge, the head the human ego that must be severed in order to exit from the cycle of life and rebirth.
In the 20 th and 21 st centuries, many western feminist scholars have adopted Kali as a mascot of female empowerment, or have politicised her as a symbol of the supposed former matriarchal golden age that came before our present state of patriarchal control and decline.
New Age Tantric practitioners adapt her obvious sexual manifestations as a therapeutic tool, while Hollywood employs her as a convenient symbol of malevolence. But Kali, the true Kali, will continue to defy all attempts to tame and domesticate her, as she has since the beginning of time. Would the real Kali please stand up. Kali can be depicted in various aspects, both as a terrible force for violence and retribution, and as a loving protective chaste figure.
Photo credit: Kashgar. Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained, Secret Societies: the Thuggee. Accessed 4 th June Gordon, Sarah , The Cannibal Monks of Varanasi. Daily Mail. Accessed 6 th June Hixon , L Excerpt accessed 4 th June Kinsley, David R University of California Press. McDermott, Rachel Fell Oxford University Press. Nelson, David The Many Faces of Kali. Urban, Hugh In McDermott, Rachel Fell. Berkeley: University of California Press published We welcome your comments at ideas.
By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy. Skip to navigation Skip to content. Discover Membership. Editions Quartz. More from Quartz About Quartz. Follow Quartz. These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. From our Series. A new generation of women is bringing a new set of priorities and expectations to the workplace—and changing business for the better. By Annalisa Merelli Senior reporter. Published January 8, Last updated on September 28, That is because of the associations we make with tantric practices and other aspects attributed to Kali death, destruction, cremation grounds, sacrifices..
Kali is the quintessential embodiment of shakti, female power. She emerges as an independent goddess around BCE and evolves as a controversial character: she is a scary, bloodthirsty embodiment of destruction, and the ultimate protector against evil. After a long battle with Lord Vishnu when the two demons were undefeated Mahakali took the form of Mahamaya to enchant the two asuras.
When Madhu and Kaitabha were enchanted by Mahakali, Vishnu killed them. Invoking a sacrificial fire, Goddess Sati sacrificed herself. The total number of body pieces were 52, and they fell on 52 different places. Website optional. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Contents 1 How is Kali related to Shiva? Written by Jenna Khan. Previous Post. Next Post.
0コメント