The Indian goddess Kali is considered to be a symbol of destruction and eternal life, her horrendous appearance for many centuries instilled fear on the gentiles. Residents of India resorted to her protection in hard times, bringing bloody sacrifices, but in fact the goddess Kali is the protector of motherhood, helps to change karma , which is beyond the power of other gods.
Goddess of Cali's death
"Kali" translates as "black", it is called the angry configuration of Parvati and the destroying part of the god Shiva. In the Indian religion, Kali is considered a liberator who protects those who worship her, she personifies several elements at once: water, fire, etheric and terrestrial. The Indian goddess Kali controls the life of a person from conception and before leaving for the next world, and therefore is revered especially.
Kali is also called the substance of the goddess Durga, even three eyes Kali have several interpretations:
- 3 forces: create, preserve and destroy;
- 3 times: past, present and future;
- 3 lights: Sun, Moon and lightning.
Goddess Kali - the legend
There is an interesting legend about the origin of the black goddess. Once the evil demon Mahisha seized power, and to recover it, the gods recreated the best warrior who united the power of Vishnu, the flame of Shiva and the power of Indra. Her breath created the army, which also destroyed the demons, only the multi-handed goddess Kali killed thousands and took the head off to the main enemy - the demon Mahisha.
The cult of the goddess Kali
Most of all, Kali is revered in Bengal, where its main temple of Kalighat is located. The second most revered temple of Kali is in Dakshineshwar. The cult of this goddess was dominant from the 12th to the 19th century, when a secret society of tugs operated in the country. Their worship of the goddess Kali exceeded all boundaries, tugs brought bloody sacrifices to her intercessor.
At the present time, admirers of Kali visit its temples, in early September, celebrates the feast of the black goddess. For those who worship Kali in our time, there are such rituals:
- reading prayers;
- exchange cups of wine and sacred water;
- a red dot between the eyebrows in honor of Kali;
- gift to the goddess - scarlet flowers and lighted candles;
- exchange of sacrificial offerings.
The Goddess Kali - Sacrifice
According to Indian beliefs, the black goddess Kali is the wife of Shiva, who in the pantheon is the third most important deity in India. Her altar should always be covered with drops of blood, in ancient times there was even a special clan that found people for the victims of the multi-armed goddess. There is evidence that human sacrifices lasted until the beginning of the 20th century.
At the present time in the temple, the Dakshinkali continue to follow the traditions of their ancestors, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which are considered the days of Kali, they sacrifice animals. Look at this spectacle comes hundreds of tourists. Priests utter special mantras that give the opportunity to the sacrificial rooster to return to another life in human form.
The symbol of the goddess Kali
The appearance of the wife of Shiva causes fear, she is a symbol of the ruler of time. The bloody goddess Kali has absorbed many terrible features, each of which has its own meaning:
- black skin color indicates an enlightened state of consciousness;
- beads of 50 people - a chain of incarnations;
- the belt of human hands outlines the influence of karma, which can be changed if faithfully serve the goddess;
- white teeth - a symbol of purity;
- 4 hands - the ring of creation and destruction, the side of the world.
Hands on the right side are blessed for creativity, and those on the left that hold the severed head and sword are a sign of destruction. According to the Vedic religion, these attributes are also important. The head shows that in the power of the goddess Kali to destroy the false consciousness, and the sword opens the gates of freedom, freeing from the bonds that restrain each person.
The goddess Kali and the god Shiva
One of the most common images: the goddess Kali, trampling on her husband - the god Shiva. Hindus interpret such an image as the superiority of the spiritual world over the physical world. The goddess is also called the Shiva of Shiva, which has several meanings:
- influence, strength;
- the energy of the deity;
- the feminine principle of creation.
The second name of Kali-Davi is "shine," the goddess is also called Shining. Shakti is reflected in the name of her husband, without her this deity turns into a "seam", in Sanskrit - a corpse. Even the appearance of Kali researchers give a different interpretation:
- Raging dance Kali presents the concept of peace as a playfulness of the gods.
- Razhohmachennye hair and grin hints at the transience of being.
- The crazy dance of the black goddess proves: material does not matter.
- By the dance, the goddess of the destruction of Kali helps to realize that people are mortal and should become free from fear of dying , only then the goddess will accept them.