10 Misunderstood Things about Goddess Kali

This post sheds light on 10 Misunderstood things about Goddess Kali.

In Hinduism, Kali is regarded as the most fearsome Goddess. She is a mysterious goddess of death and destruction.

Kali is also regarded as the Divine Mother and hailed as Adi Shakti or Adi Parashakti. In fact, Kali’s very name is the feminine form of Kala, an epithet of Lord Shiva. So, Kali is the Shakti of Shiva and her consort.

Misunderstood Things about Goddess Kali

Kali’s origin can be traced back to the Atharva Veda, a collection of hymns and mantras published around 1200 BCE. She also appears in Devimahatmya (around 600 CE), wherein she is portrayed as personifying Durga’s wrath.

Her appearance is terrible. She is black in color and naked. She carries a skeletal, frightening crone and khatvanga. Her tongue is red and dropping out.

She is portrayed with an angry disposition. She has three eyes and disheveled hair. Her nakedness is the representation of carnality and purity.

Kali wears a garland of severed heads and a girdle of severed arms. She holds a trident and a freshly severed head with a skull cup to catch the blood.

All of her symbols are for a greater purpose. For example, the trident or sword symbolizes higher knowledge. The human head represents the ego that must be severed to become free from the cycle of life and death.

As per the Linga Purana, Lord Shiva asks his wife Parvati to kill the Daruka demon, which only a female can kill. Parvati merges with Shiva and reappears as Kali to do the needful.

She becomes uncontrollable and is only calmed when Shiva intervenes. According to many scholars, “it is never Kali who tames Shiva, but Shiva who must calm Kali.”

According to Devi Mahatmya, Kali was involved in one legendary battle against the demon Raktabija, whose every drop of blood would become a deadly fighting clone. However, Kali got better of him by draining his blood before it touched the ground.

Kali is also associated with Tantric traditions in Hinduism. She is the foremost Goddess in Das Mahavidyas. Moreover, Kali is beyond time and space.

No physical limitations of this world apply to Kali. She existed before this Universe was created and will continue to exist even when this Universe will end.

So, Kali is beyond life and death. In fact, as the destroyer of worlds, Lord Shiva is well complemented by his association with Kali.

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Now, here’s some mind-bobbling information on Kali so that you can know the truth about her.

10 Misunderstood Things about Maa Kali

Herein, we have shared ten misunderstood things about Maa Kali.

Let’s begin:

Misconception #1: Kali is a ‘Mythological’ Character

According to the Puranas, everything is made out of energy. Even Quantum Physics has validated this theory.

This energy that we call Shakti exists in the form of electromagnetic vibrations in this Universe, which is regarded as Goddess Kali’s energy.

Maa Kali is beyond time and space. She existed when this Universe was not created and will continue to exist when this Universe ends.

Misconception #2: Kali is always blood-curdling fearsome

Goddess Kali is the divine mother who took this fearsome form to protect her innocent children out of love. In fact, Kali adopted this frightening form to kill the demon Raktabija because it was the only way.

Moreover, she is a deeply affectionate and sensitive mother who is always worried about her children.

Seekers like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa realized the motherly nature of Maa Kali and attained enlightenment.

Whether Kali looks fearsome or beautiful depends on how you look at her.

Misconception #3: Kali Maa drank the blood of Raktabija

The reality is that Goddess Kali never drank the blood of Raktabija. According to Devi Mahatmya, it was Goddess Chamunda who drank the blood of Raktabija. Goddess Kali is not a killing machine.

Misconception #4: Maa Kali is naked because she is shameless

Goddess Kali is “Digambari.” She appears naked because she is the Supreme Brahman in this Universe and cannot be covered by clothes.

Misconception #5: Goddess Kali has to be pleased by weird rituals

Goddess Kali does not need anything from her children. Whatever you offer should be out of love. Maa Kali does not require elaborate and weird rituals. She gets pleased by merely offering red flowers.

She desires the happy lives of her children. She does not expect any weird things from us. Let’s give you an example. Seeker Ramakrishna (Guru of Swami Vivekananda) pleased Goddess Kali with his immense devotion and love.

Misconception #6: Goddess Kali had appeared from the third eye of Goddess Durga

The reality is that Durga is the incarnation of Goddess Kali. It was Devi Chamunda who came out from her third eye.

Misconception #7: Maa Kali destroys everything

Maa Kali is recognized as the “Divine Mother.” She loves her children. She killed the demons because they were causing the destruction of the whole planet. In fact, we are safe today because she had destroyed the demons. Maa Kali stands for love, life, and hope.

Misconception #8: Kali is synonymous with Black Magic

Goddess Kali does not ask for any rules or rituals. She loves her children and easily answers their prayers. Although Goddess Kali’s energy can be easily accessed by humans, she has no role in Black Magic. It is only the people who have malicious intentions that have defamed her name.

Misconception #9: Maa Kali stepped on Mahadeva

The reality is that Maa Kali keeps her foot on Shava Roop Mahadeva and sits on Mahakaal.

Misconception #10: Maha Kali is more powerful than Kali

The reality is that Mahakali is the incarnation of Maa Kali. Maha Kali is Anga Vidya, while Maa Kali is the foremost Goddess in Tantric Mahavidyas.

Well, that’s all in this post on misunderstood things about Goddess Kali. We hope that you would have found this post useful and informative. Thanks for visiting.

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