Kali: The Goddess of Tantras

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Mahakali (Shakti of Shiva) embodying the power of towering strength and force, has extreme intensity of divine violence, which nothing can resist. When she moves into action, nothing can stand before her. To all the agents and champions of falsehood like Asuras (demons, evil doers), she displays the warrior spirit of manifesting divine that thrives on battle (Durga and Kali). She also stretches her hand to succour, for she too is a mother behind her wrath, there is the deep love, which is intent on the greatest progress of the seeker (Parwati-Durga). Mahakali brings intensity wherever she manifests, and she is the motivating force for the victory of the Divine. The Vedas have enunciated the identity of Shiva and Shakti. Both have been described as one and the same: one without the other is a non-entity. Shiva is the form of knowledge and aesthetics and Shakti is the form of action and power. Without action knowledge is useless-a corpse and that is why Kali standing on the chest of Shiva is worshipped. This book deals with all aspects of Kali-be it as the goddess, as Mahakali, in Saktism, in trantricism and in all different aspects, which an interested reader shall find fascinating. The book is small, as compared to the vast mythology, exploits and episodes of goddess Kali, but brings out all the essential knowledge about the great Goddess.

In Hinduism, there are three major and equally important Gods or embodiments of the Absolute (Brahma) Visnu, Siva and Devi(Divine mother), each of whom (except Brahma) is the centre of a separate devotional cult. A devout Hindu worships either of the three (Visnu, Siva and Devi) as a personal God. Devi, the great Goddess has probably been worshipped in one form or another since the time of Saraswati Indus culture (7500 B.C.) and perhaps even earlier. She has an ambiguous nature and appears in many forms. In her benevolent aspects she is the great mother, a Goddess of abundance, fertility and childbirth; in her terrific or destructive forms, she is the valiant demon fighter Durga and the blood thirsty, all destroying Kali. The Goddess's devotees regard her as the embodiment of universal energy; she is believed to be the potency that dwells in each of the male Gods and the spark that arouses them to action. Devi enjoys wide devotion all over India; but she has a particularly large following in Eastern India, in the state of West Bengal. Wherever the Bengali's reside, they establish a Kali Badi, a temple where the image of the Goddess Kali is installed. The Divine mother (Bhagwati) in her various forms energizes the whole universe. Every one is attached to mother; the father is the nourisher but the mother is the life. The mother is the source of the desire to live and the life is protected by the divine mother, who preserves it in three main different forms, according to Durga saptshati. One is Goddess Lakshmi, another is Saraswati and the third is Goddess Kali, the three consorts or Saktis of the Trinity of Gods Visnu, Brahma and Mahesh (Siva). In Hinduism, there are three major and equally important Gods or embodiments of the Absolute (Brahma) Visnu, Siva and Devi(Divine mother), each of whom (except Brahma) is the centre of a separate devotional cult. A devout Hindu worships either of the three (Visnu, Siva and Devi) as a personal God. Devi, the great Goddess has probably been worshipped in one form or another since the time of Saraswati Indus culture (7500 B.C.) and perhaps even earlier. She has an ambiguous nature and appears in many forms. In her benevolent aspects she is the great mother, a Goddess of abundance, fertility and childbirth; in her terrific or destructive forms, she is the valiant demon fighter Durga and the blood thirsty, all destroying Kali. The Goddess's devotees regard her as the embodiment of universal energy; she is believed to be the potency that dwells in each of the male Gods and the spark that arouses them to action. Devi enjoys wide devotion all over India; but she has a particularly large following in Eastern India, in the state of West Bengal. Wherever the Bengali's reside, they establish a Kali Badi, a temple where the image of the Goddess Kali is installed. The Divine mother (Bhagwati) in her various forms energizes the whole universe. Every one is attached to mother; the father is the nourisher but the mother is the life. The mother is the source of the desire to live and the life is protected by the divine mother, who preserves it in three main different forms, according to Durga saptshati. One is Goddess Lakshmi, another is Saraswati and the third is Goddess Kali, the three consorts or Saktis of the Trinity of Gods Visnu, Brahma and Mahesh (Siva). Kali represents the eternal mother principle in nature. She is traditionally pictured as a four armed female standing on the recumbent form of God Siva the infinite, because the activities of nature or the phenomenal world spring from the latent spirit. The four arms symbolise cardinal attributes two beneficent, two destructive, the essential duality of matter or creation. Kali is worshipped by all Gods. She is Swaha (Ashes) as well as Swadha (religious). She is the preserver, as well as the destroyer. Her name Kali is due to a legend that once while Siva and Parvati were sitting in a romantic mood on mount Kailasa; in an amorous way, Siva called Golden Parvati as Kali. Parvati felt insulted, but silently said that this very Kali will come to the help of the Gods in fights with the demons (asuras); and then I shall acquire this name as Kali. If so happened that when the demon Raktbeeja came to the battle field, one drop of blood fallen from his body, produced thousands of demons, thereby increasing the strength of the demon army. The Gods were perplexed; then the divine mother invoked Kali, requesting her to destroy the demons, but with contention, such a rare quality of good and bad, benevolent and malevolent, cannot exist simultaneously. Kali is destructive (Swaha) while she is in the world, but in the heavens, she is benevolent. Ten Mahavidyas and Shodhtopchar are her boons, Gauri (Parvati), Brahmi, Raudri, Varahi, Vaisnavi, Shiva Varuni, Kaveri, Narsinhi and vasvi are said to be her forms. Thus kali has perfection in animo (denonation) Mahima (exaltation) Garima (dignity), Ladhima (acuteness), Prapati (overlord), Prakamaye (Valour), ieshtav (adoration) and Vashitav (subjection). On Ashtmi (eighth day) of the navratras, these eight Siddhis become Mahagauri's and Siddhatri on the ninth day. Regarding these mysterious perfections, the Goddess says that Brahma, Visnu and Mahesh are triple virtued. Brahma is the Lord of Rajogun (Luxuriousness), Visnu of Satvagun. (Righteousness) and Siva (Rudra) of Tamogun. Brahma is fatty, Visnu is subtle and causative bodied is Rudra, but in addition to these personifide bodies, there is the fourth, which is Kali's, and which is normal shaped in person (samyaawastha). Kali says "Over this Parbrahma, who is Niraakar, that is also mine, Nirgun (without attributes) and Sagun (all comprehensive) both are my forms and are illusionary. Brahma, Visnu and Rudra (Siva) have been created by me and are inspired by me in the performance of their functions". Kali, Mahakali or Maheshwari is the Sakti of the God Siva; but what is Sakti, we shall describe it in the next chapter.

About the Authors Prof. (Dr.) Chitralekha Singh Dr. Chitralekha Singh is an academician who has indepth study of not only of Art in which she is the first D Lit woman in the world, but also in Mythology and theology, which is an allied basis for ART and CULTURE. She is a writer of National/International importance and has published many books and contributed research papers to different journals. She has a brilliant career and MA First Class, Ph D and D Litt in Drawing & Painting. She is an educationist of 5 teaching experience as Lecturer to HOD & Directors, Deans, Director General even after retirement till today with the experience of total 55 years journey of life, a social worker, a charming conversationalist and a research guide. 100 Scholars have been awarded PhD & 215 M Phil under her supervision. She has a personal library CHITRALIPT with more than a thousand books on History, Culture, Religion & Fine Arts. She is a memorable mimic strict disciplinarian, being a unique combination of civils & military being a captian in NCC and the holder of Defence Secretary's Commendation Card In addition to her books on art which 'Painting on Śiva in Indian Art' is a classic on Art & Mythology she has published illustrated books 'Hindu Goddesses, Hinduism, Ganesa, Drawings of Rajasthan, Encyclopedia History of Indian Art (5 Volumes) Elementary History of Indian Art, 1008 names of Siva the Art of Japan, the Great Religion of the world, Saraswati, Hindu Festivals Fairs & Fast. Hindu Manners Custom & Ceremony, Ganga the Goddess the holy river, Captain Speaks. Hanuman, Durga, Kali the Goddess, Jainism. Aesthetics, Art Critical History, In Hindi she has written on Chini Chitrakala, Kala, Kala Shiksha, Kala Shikshan, 'Kala Shikshan, Shikshakavam Shikshatri Bhartiya Chitrakala Mein Siva, Chiya-Chitra Yatra, Purush aur Prakriti, Jainwad, Shikha main Naatak avam Kala, Adhunik Bhartiya Samkaleen Kala, Shiksha main Kala avam Saundarya, Bhartiya

Prem Nath Shri Prem Nath with an academic career in Science Medecine, Law and Studies in History & Religion, is a prolific reader and a writer, a co-author of the books Hindu Goddesses, Hinduism, and Ganesa. His approach to the topic is scientific, authenticated and based on historical facts. He is aregular contributor to research journals on different aspects of History & Civilization.