History

The first known mention of Maha Kali (or simply Kali) appears in the “Devi Mahatmya”, a Hindu text dating to around the 5th–6th century CE. This text is part of the “Markandeya Purana” and describes Kali as a fierce and powerful manifestation of the goddess Durga (or Parvati) in her battle against demonic forces.

However, Kali’s roots may extend further back into pre-Vedic or early Vedic traditions. Some scholars believe she evolved from older, indigenous mother goddesses associated with destruction, time, and transformation. The “Rigveda” (circa 1500 BCE) mentions a dark, destructive force in the form of the goddess Ratri (night), which some theorize could be an early conceptual link to Kali.

Kali’s name itself means “the black one” or “the force of time” and suggests she embodies primordial chaos, the end of cycles, and the fierce aspect of the divine feminine.

Over time, her worship evolved, becoming prominent in Tantric traditions and Bhakti movements, especially in Bengal.

MahāKālī

MahāKālī is the Hindu goddess of Universal Power, Life, Liberation, Sensuality, Violence, Destruction, Time, Death and Rebirth and is the central goddess’ of Shaktism. Her name means “the Great Kali” and She is thought to be the greater form of Kali and the feminine equivalent and or equal to to the “ultimate reality” of Brahman.

The word Kali is derived from Kala which means darkness and time and is often equated to death.

She is known as the embodiment of divine female power, Shakti and the manifestation of Parvati.

Her masculine counterpart is Bhairava the god of consciousness and Shiva.

She is often depicted with four arms and with blue or black skin which has been described as [b]like that of outer space but “without star light”. Her mouth filled with sharp fangs , her tongue, long and blood soaked from the daemons she has slain and drank from. Often her figure is shown adorned with the body parts of her many demon prey. Most notably, in some depictions, she wears a garland of 108 daemon heads which is represented in the 108 beads of the Japa Mala; a type of Hindu rosary used for the repetition of mantras.

In other depictions, the number is 50; the number of letters in the Sanskrit alphabet.

The 10 Mahavidyas MahāKālī

In some instances she is shown having ten heads, thirty flaming eyes, ten arms and legs. Here she is known as the 10 Mahavidyas Mahakali (the Ten Hindu Tantric goddesses’ of Great Wisdom : Kali, Tara, Tripura, Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari , Bhairavi , Chhinnamasta , Dhumavati , Bagalamukhi , Matangi and Kamala).

It could be said that she is the female counterpart of Brahman or quite literally, the Hindu equivalent of the darker aspects of Mother Nature itself.

Correspondents

Element: Fire

Animals: Tigers & Lions

Incense: Jasmine & Dragons Blood

Planets: Saturn, Mars, the Sun, the Moon.

Herb: Hibiscus Flower (it is believed that the petals of the flower can emit Devine consciousness) and Narcissus for creative visions.

Stones: Black Tourmaline, Smokey Quartz and Garnet.

MahāKālī Yantra

It is said that this Yantra is extremely powerful and protects one from the influences of black Magick and harmful spirits.

Sources: The Devi Mahatmya- Markandeya Purana, The Rigveda, Goddess Gift, Britannia, Wikipedia, main art by Ai