09/10/2025
Maa Kali is the first Mahavidya who is the ultimate form of Brahman, "Devourer of Time". She is the Devi of Time, Change, Creation, Destruction & Power.
She is the ultimate manifestation of Shakti. She is the mother of the naive who destroys the evil to protect them.
She is also seen as the divine protector and the one who bestows moksha or liberation.
Kālī is the feminine form of "Time" or "the fullness of time". The name Kali means Kala or force of Time. The dark appearance of Kali represents the darkness from which everything was born.
She is the slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda and was named Chamunda Kali. She defeated Raktabija, who had the ability to produce duplicates of himself with every drop of his blood that reaches the ground. Kali ended him by consuming his and his duplicates’ blood.
Shumbha and Nishumbha were got defeated by her. Kali annihilated Kolasura and Ghorasura too.
Kali is often shown standing with her right foot on Shiva’s chest, extending her tongue. Once Kali was out of control on the battlefield and was about to destroy the entire Universe.
Shiva pacified her by laying down under her foot.
Due to the embarrassment over the sudden realization that she has stepped on her companion’s chest, she protruded her tongue in order to convey the emotion of lajja or modesty.
Kali never tames Shiva but Shiva must calm Kali.
Despite of Kali’s origins in Battle, she is not always thought of as the Devi of Dark and Destruction. She is referred to as a great loving Mother by evolving into a full-fledged symbol of Mother nature in her Creative, Nurturing & Devouring aspects.
Classic depictions of Kali share several features, as follows:
Bhima Kali, Dakshina Kali, Mahakali, Samhara Kali (Vama Kali), Chamunda Kali, Raksha Kali, Guhya Kali, Adya Kali, Chintamani Kali, Sparshamani Kali, Santati Kali, Siddhi Kali, Bhadra Kali, Samshana Kali.
Kali has other forms too which include:
Adharvana Bhadra Kali, Kamakala Kali, Hamsa Kali, Shyama Kali and Kalasankarshini Kali.
She is also the Principal Devi of the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata (Kalikata/Kalikshetra)