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| Kali | |
|---|---|
Mother Goddess; Goddess of Time, Death, Violence, Sexuality, Female empowerment, and Motherly Love | |
| Member of the Ten Mahavidyas | |
 Kali by Raja Ravi Varma | |
| Affiliation | Shakti, Mahadevi, Durga, Parvati, Mahakali, Mahavidyas |
| Abode | Cremation grounds (but varies by interpretation), Manidvipa |
| Mantra |
|
| Weapon | Scimitar, Trishula (Trident) |
| Day | Tuesday and Friday |
| Mount | Canids |
| Texts | Devi-Bhagavata Purana, Devi Mahatmya, Kalika Purana, Shakta Upanishads, Tantras |
| Gender | Female |
| Festivals | Kali Puja, Navaratri |
| Consort | Shiva |
| Part of a series on |
| Shaktism |
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Kali (/ˈkɑːliː/; Sanskrit: काली, IAST: Kālī), also called Kalika, is a major goddess in Hinduism, associated with time, death, violence, sexuality, female empowerment, and motherly love.[1] Kali is the first of the ten Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition.[2]
Kali appears in numerous stories, with her most renowned role being when she sprang from goddess Durga’s fury to defeat the demon Raktabija. The goddess is stated to destroy evil in order to defend the innocent. Over time, Kali has been worshipped by devotional movements and Tàntric sects variously as the Divine Mother, Mother of the Universe, Principal energy (Adi Shakti).[3][4][5]
Shakta and Tantric sects additionally worship Kali as the ultimate reality or Brahman.[5] She is also seen as the divine protector and the one who bestows moksha, (liberation).[3] Worshipped throughout South Asia but particularly in Nepal, South India, Bengal, and Assam; Kali is a central figure in Goddess-centric traditions of Hinduism as well as in Shaivism.[1][6]
- ^ a b "Kali". Encyclopædia Britannica. 31 July 2024.
- ^ "The Significance of Dus Mahavidya". The Times Of India. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ a b Hawley, John Stratton; Wulff, Donna Marie (1982). Sri Ramakrishna: The Spiritual Glow. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 152.
- ^ Harding, Elizabeth U. (1993). Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar. Nicolas Hays. ISBN 978-8120814509.
- ^ a b McDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press.
- ^ "Dakshin Kali Khadgamala Stotra: A Hymn to the Fierce and Compassionate Goddess from Rudrayamal Tantra - Aghori Stories". aghoristories.com. Retrieved 6 May 2024.