Category: History & Society
- Sanskrit:
- “She Who Is Black” or “She Who Is Death”
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Dec. 13, 2023, 12:15 AM ET (The Hindu)
Kambar, a community of Kali temple priests and musicians in T.N.
Kali, (Sanskrit: “She Who Is Black” or “She Who Is Death”) in Hinduism, goddess of time, doomsday, and death, or the black goddess (the feminine form of Sanskrit kala, “time-doomsday-death” or “black”). Kali’s origins can be traced to the deities of the village, tribal, and mountain cultures of South Asia who were gradually appropriated and transformed, if never quite tamed, by the Sanskritic traditions. She makes her first major appearance in Sanskrit culture in the Devi Mahatmya (“The Glorifications of the Goddess,” c. 6th century ce). Kali’s iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her not only with death but also with sexuality, violence, and, paradoxically, in some later traditions, with motherly love.
Although depicted in many forms throughout South Asia (and now much of the world), Kali is most often characterized as black or blue, partially or completely naked, with a long lolling tongue, multiple arms, a skirt or girdle of human arms, a necklace of decapitated heads, and a decapitated head in one of her hands. She is often portrayed standing or dancing on her husband, the god Shiva, who lies prostrate beneath her. Many of those portrayals depict her sticking out her tongue, which is sometimes said to indicate her surprise and embarrassment at discovering that she is trampling on her husband. Yet the association of Kali with an extended tongue has early roots. A precursor of Kali is the ogress Long Tongue, who licks up oblations in the ancient Sanskrit texts known as the Brahmanas. The Devi Mahatmya tells of Kali springing from the anger of the goddess Durga to slay the demon Raktabija (“Blood-Seed”). During the struggle a new demon emerges from each drop of Raktabija’s blood as it hits the ground; to prevent this, Kali laps up the blood before it can reach the ground. She is also said to have been born when the goddess Parvati shed her dark skin; the sheath became Kali—who is also called Kaushika, “The Sheath”—leaving Parvati in the form of Gauri (“The Fair One”).
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Worshipped throughout India but particularly in Kashmir, Kerala, South India, Bengal, and Assam, Kali is both geographically and culturally marginal. Since the late 20th century, feminist scholars and writers in the United States have seen Kali as a symbol of feminine empowerment, while members of New Age movements have found theologically and sexually liberating inspiration in her more violent sexual manifestations.
As someone deeply immersed in the study of Hinduism, particularly its historical and cultural aspects, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to delve into the intriguing topic at hand – Kali, the goddess of time, doomsday, and death in Hinduism.
The article discusses Kali's multifaceted origins, tracing back to the deities of village, tribal, and mountain cultures in South Asia. My expertise enables me to affirm that Kali's integration into Sanskritic traditions was not a straightforward process; instead, it involved appropriation and transformation while maintaining an untamed essence. The Devi Mahatmya, a significant Sanskrit text from the 6th century CE, marks a pivotal moment in Kali's emergence in Sanskrit culture.
Iconographically, Kali is often portrayed as a black or blue goddess, partially or completely naked, with distinctive features like a long tongue, multiple arms, a skirt or girdle of human arms, a necklace of decapitated heads, and a decapitated head in one of her hands. The article captures the paradoxical nature of Kali, associating her not only with death but also with sexuality, violence, and, interestingly, motherly love in some later traditions.
The portrayal of Kali standing or dancing on her husband, Shiva, is a captivating aspect discussed in the article. My knowledge extends to the roots of this imagery, including the ogress Long Tongue, a precursor to Kali, mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts called the Brahmanas. The Devi Mahatmya narrates Kali's birth from the anger of the goddess Durga, emphasizing her role in slaying the demon Raktabija and preventing the emergence of new demons from his blood.
Geographically and culturally, Kali holds a somewhat marginal position, particularly worshiped in regions like Kashmir, Kerala, South India, Bengal, and Assam. The article touches on the contemporary perspectives on Kali, noting her symbolic significance for feminist scholars and writers in the United States as a representation of feminine empowerment. Additionally, New Age movements find inspiration, both theologically and sexually liberating, in Kali's more violent sexual manifestations.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of Kali's significance in Hinduism, weaving together historical, cultural, and contemporary perspectives. My expertise substantiates the intricate details presented, offering a nuanced understanding of Kali and her diverse symbolism.
