The worship of a mother goddess as the source of life and fertility has prehistoric roots, but the transformation of that deity into a Great goddess of cosmic powers was achieved with the composition of the Devi Mahatmya (Glory of the goddess), a text of the fifth to sixth century, when worship of the female principle took on dramatic new dimensions. The goddess is not only the mysterious source of life, she is the very soil, all-creating and all consuming.

Kali makes her 'official' debut in the Devi-Mahatmya, where she is said to have emanated from the brow of Goddess Durga (slayer of demons) during one of the battles between the divine and anti-divine forces. Etymologically Durga's name means "Beyond Reach". She is thus an echo of the woman warrior's fierce virginal autonomy. In this context Kali is considered the 'forceful' form of the great goddess Durga.

Kali is represented as a Black woman with four arms; in one hand she has a sword, in another the head of the demon she has slain, with the other two she is encouraging her worshippers. For earrings she has two dead bodies and wears a necklace of skulls ; her only clothing is a girdle made of dead men's hands, and her tongue protrudes from her mouth. Her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are besmeared with blood. She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the breast of her husband.

Kali's fierce appearances have been the subject of extensive descriptions in several earlier and modern works. Though her fierce form is filled with awe- inspiring symbols, their real meaning is not what it first appears- they have equivocal significance:

Kali's blackness symbolizes her all-embracing, comprehensive nature, because black is the color in which all other colors merge; black absorbs and dissolves them. 'Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her' (Mahanirvana Tantra). Or black is said to represent the total absence of color, again signifying the nature of Kali as ultimate reality. This in Sanskrit is named as nirguna (beyond all quality and form). Either way, Kali's black color symbolizes her transcendence of all form.

A devotee poet says:

"Is Kali, my Divine Mother, of a black complexion?
She appears black because She is viewed from a distance;
but when intimately known She is no longer so.
The sky appears blue at a distance, but look at it close by
and you will find that it has no colour.
The water of the ocean looks blue at a distance,
but when you go near and take it in your hand,
you find that it is colourless."

... Ramakrishna Paramhansa (1836-86)

Kali's nudity has a similar meaning. In many instances she is described as garbed in space or sky clad. In her absolute, primordial nakedness she is free from all covering of illusion. She is Nature (Prakriti in Sanskrit), stripped of 'clothes'. It symbolizes that she is completely beyond name and form, completely beyond the illusory effects of maya (false consciousness). Her nudity is said to represent totally illumined consciousness, unaffected by maya. Kali is the bright fire of truth, which cannot be hidden by the clothes of ignorance. Such truth simply burns them away.

She is full-breasted; her motherhood is a ceaseless creation. Her disheveled hair forms a curtain of illusion, the fabric of space - time which organizes matter out of the chaotic sea of quantum-foam. Her garland of fifty human heads, each representing one of the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, symbolizes the repository of knowledge and wisdom. She wears a girdle of severed human hands- hands that are the principal instruments of work and so signify the action of karma. Thus the binding effects of this karma have been overcome, severed, as it were, by devotion to Kali. She has blessed the devotee by cutting him free from the cycle of karma. Her white teeth are symbolic of purity (Sans. Sattva), and her lolling tongue which is red dramatically depicts the fact that she consumes all things and denotes the act of tasting or enjoying what society regards as forbidden, i.e. her indiscriminate enjoyment of all the world's "flavors".

Kali's four arms represent the complete circle of creation and destruction, which is contained within her. She represents the inherent creative and destructive rhythms of the cosmos. Her right hands, making the mudras of "fear not" and conferring boons, represent the creative aspect of Kali, while the left hands, holding a bloodied sword and a severed head represent her destructive aspect. The bloodied sword and severed head symbolize the destruction of ignorance and the dawning of knowledge. The sword is the sword of knowledge, that cuts the knots of ignorance and destroys false consciousness (the severed head). Kali opens the gates of freedom with this sword, having cut the eight bonds that bind human beings. Finally her three eyes represent the sun, moon, and fire, with which she is able to observe the three modes of time: past, present and future. This attribute is also the origin of the name Kali, which is the feminine form of 'Kala', the Sanskrit term for Time.

Another symbolic but controversial aspect of Kali is her proximity to the cremation ground:

O Kali, Thou art fond of cremation grounds;
so I have turned my heart into one
That thou, a resident of cremation grounds,
may dance there unceasingly.
O Mother! I have no other fond desire in my heart;
fire of a funeral pyre is burning there;
O Mother! I have preserved the ashes of dead bodies all around
that Thou may come.
O Mother! Keeping Shiva, conqueror of Death, under Thy feet,
Come, dancing to the tune of music;
Prasada waits With his eyes closed

... Ramprasad (1718-75)

Kali's dwelling place, the cremation ground denotes a place where the five elements (Sanskrit: pancha mahabhuta) are dissolved. Kali dwells where dissolution takes place. In terms of devotion and worship, this denotes the dissolving of attachments, anger, lust, and other binding emotions, feelings, and ideas. The heart of the devotee is where this burning takes place, and it is in the heart that Kali dwells. The devotee makes her image in his heart and under her influence burns away all limitations and ignorance in the cremation fires. This inner cremation fire in the heart is the fire of knowledge, (Sanskrit: gyanagni), which Kali bestows.

The image of a recumbent Shiva lying under the feet of Kali represents Shiva as the passive potential of creation and Kali as his Shakti. The generic term Shakti denotes the Universal feminine creative principle and the energizing force behind all male divinity including Shiva. Shakti is known by the general name Devi, from the root 'div', meaning to shine. She is the Shining One, who is given different names in different places and in different appearances, as the symbol of the life-giving powers of the Universe. It is she that powers him. This Shakti is expressed as the i in Shiva's name. Without this i, Shiva becomes Shva, which in Sanskrit means a corpse. Thus suggesting that without his Shakti, Shiva is powerless or inert.

Kali is a particularly appropriate image for conveying the idea of the world as the play of the gods. The spontaneous, effortless, dizzying creativity of the divine reflex is conveyed in her wild appearance. Insofar as kali is identified with the phenomenal world, she presents a picture of that world that underlies its ephemeral and unpredictable nature. In her mad dancing, disheveled hair, and eerie howl there is made present the hint of a world reeling, careening out of control. The world is created and destroyed in Kali's wild dancing, and the truth of redemption lies in man's awareness that he is invited to take part in that dance, to yield to the frenzied beat of the Mother's dance of life and death.

O Kali, my Mother full of Bliss! Enchantress of the almighty Shiva!
In Thy delirious joy Thou dancest, clapping Thy hands together!
Thou art the Mover of all that move, and we are but Thy helpless toys

...Ramakrishna Paramhans

Kali and her attendants dance to rhythms pounded out by Shiva (Lord of destruction) and his animal-headed attendants who dwell in the Himalayas. Associated with chaos and uncontrollable destruction, Kali's own retinue brandishes swords and holds aloft skull cups from which they drink the blood that intoxicates them. Kali, like Shiva, has a third eye, but in all other respects the two are distinguished from one another. In contrast to Shiva's sweet expression, plump body, and ash white complexion, dark kali's emaciated limbs, angular gestures, and fierce grimace convey a wild intensity. Her loose hair, skull garland, and tiger wrap whip around her body as she stomps and claps to the rhythm of the dance.

Many stories describe Kali's dance with Shiva as one that "threatens to destroy the world" by its savage power. Art historian Stella Kramrisch has noted that the image of kali dancing with Shiva follows closely the myth of the demon Daruka. When Shiva asks his wife Parvati to destroy this demon, she enters Shiva's body and transforms herself from the poison that is stored in his throat. She emerges from Shiva as Kali, ferocious in appearance, and with the help of her flesh eating retinue attacks and defeats the demon. Kali however became so intoxicated by the blood lust of battle that her aroused fury and wild hunger threatened to destroy the whole world. She continued her ferocious rampage until Shiva manifested himself as an infant and lay crying in the midst of the corpse-strewn field. Kali, deceived by Shiva's power of illusion, became calm as she suckled the baby. When evening approached, Shiva performed the dance of creation (tandava) to please the goddess. Delighted with the dance, Kali and her attendants joined in.

This terrific and poignant imagery starkly reveals the nature of Kali as the Divine Mother. Ramaprasad expresses his feelings thus:

Behold my Mother playing with Shiva,
lost in an ecstasy of joy!
Drunk with a draught of celestial wine,
She reels, and yet does not fall.
Erect She stands on Shiva's bosom,
and the earth Trembles under Her tread;
She and Her Lord are mad with frenzy,
casting Aside all fear and shame.

... Ramprasad (1718-75)

Kali's human and maternal qualities continue to define the goddess for most of her devotees to this day. In human relationships, the love between mother and child is usually considered the purest and strongest. In the same way, the love between the Mother Goddess and her human children is considered the closest and tenderest relationship with divinity. Accordingly, Kali's devotees form a particularly intimate and loving bond with her. But the devotee never forgets Kali's demonic, frightening aspects. He does not distort Kali's nature and the truths she reveals; he does not refuse to meditate on her terrifying features. He mentions these repeatedly in his songs but is never put off or repelled by them. Kali may be frightening, the mad, forgetful mistress of a world spinning out of control, but she is, after all, the Mother of all. As such, she must be accepted by her children- accepted in wonder and awe, perhaps, but accepted nevertheless. The poet in an intimate and lighter tone addresses the Mother thus:

O Kali! Why dost Thou roam about nude?
Art Thou not ashamed, Mother!
Garb and ornaments Thou hast none;
yet Thou Pridest in being King's daughter.
O Mother! Is it a virtue of Thy family that Thou
Placest thy feet on Thy husband?
Thou art nude; Thy husband is nude; you both roam cremation grounds.
O Mother! We are all ashamed of you; do put on thy garb.
Thou hast cast away Thy necklace of jewels, Mother,
And worn a garland of human heads.
Prasada says, "Mother! Thy fierce beauty has frightened
Thy nude consort.

... Ramaprasad

The soul that worships becomes always a little child: the soul that becomes a child finds God oftenest as mother. In a meditation before the Blessed Sacrament, some pen has written the exquisite assurance: "My child, you need not know much in order to please Me. Only Love Me dearly. Speak to me, as you would talk to your mother, if she had taken you in her arms."

Kali's boon is won when man confronts or accepts her and the realities she dramatically conveys to him. The image of Kali, in a variety of ways, teaches man that pain, sorrow, decay, death, and destruction are not to be overcome or conquered by denying them or explaining them away. Pain and sorrow are woven into the texture of man's life so thoroughly that to deny them is ultimately futile. For man to realize the fullness of his being, for man to exploit his potential as a human being, he must finally accept this dimension of existence. Kali's boon is freedom, the freedom of the child to revel in the moment, and it is won only after confrontation or acceptance of death. To ignore death, to pretend that one is physically immortal, to pretend that one's ego is the center of things, is to provoke Kali's mocking laughter. To confront or accept death, on the contrary, is to realize a mode of being that can delight and revel in the play of the gods. To accept one's mortality is to be able to let go, to be able to sing, dance, and shout. Kali is Mother to her devotees not because she protects them from the way things really are but because she reveals to them their mortality and thus releases them to act fully and freely, releases them from the incredible, binding web of "adult" pretense, practicality, and rationality.

I don't believe in Original Sin.
So none of your arguments impress me.
But you believe what you want to, and let the Hindus believe what they want to, and the Muslims ditto.
But don't any of you try to stuff your beliefs down my throat - or any one else's for that matter.
In my opinion all religon is nonsense; and organised religion is often very dangerous.
- Albert (arfadollar@ukf.net)

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need deevotees whom are bhagt of maa kali,need mantras
- sanjay

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this is rubbish talk...warning not to call kali goddess.yes,this is true that spirits are companions of kali goddess.But,these spirits are companions,not enemies of kali,no power on earth can do harm to you,if goddess kali does not will so.Mother is always a mother,a loving and caring mother,kali is known to get a break through if you are under some evil spell.This is totally misleading story of surviving car accident just because you chanted name of mother!MOTHER IS MOTHER,AND MY KALI MA IS ALSO LOVING MOTHER,SHE CAN DO NO HARM TO THOSE WHO LOVE HER AND RECITE HER NAME,AMEN
- PUNEET

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Firstly you have the right to believe in Christ and We have the right to believe in Khali Ma. Do not denounce my religion or anyones as I have not denounce yours or anyone else's. A fool is a person who believe's that there is no other religion other than his. Chrst is not the only God. Although I believe he is the son of god. He died for our Sin's and yes I do not say he did not. But dont you think he has parents. One more thing they dont have to be Christians as Christianity is a religion formed by the followers of Christ not Christ or his parents.
- Duran Naidu

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Thank you Nitin.

I am astounded by the dogma in the comments.
- Gorthaur

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There is a name that is more powerful than any, there is a deity that is more all-pervading, loving and powerful than ANY other.

His name is Jesus Christ. I want to begin by telling you a true story. One day I was walking in a wood and I saw a man urinating in the grass. I came over and told him to stop doing this dreadful act. He pulled out a knife a stabbed me in the breast. As I lay there bleeding profusely and praying for the Lord to save me, he pulled my knickers off and ran away with them. I never saw that pair of knickers ever again.

I thought I was going to DIE, I thought that I was done for and my life was over. Then, I called upon the Lord Jesus to spare my life and make me a new person. A bright, white light shone around me and in the distance I could make out the figure of Christ with his arms outstretched welcoming me into his holy family. I felt warm, safe and secure, bathed in Jesus' baptismal and abundant light of goodness. Purity and love. BLISS.

An old woman ran over to see if I was OK. She called for help and some paramedics arrived. She got in the ambulance van with me and nestled my aching head in her lap and whispered prayers over my nearly lifeless body. I was saved that day. Jesus spared my life for a reason.

TO PREACH HIS HOLY GOSPEL AND CONVERT OTHERS TO THE TRUE RELIGION OF CHRIST.

Dear Jesus,
I ask that you show the people of this world that you are the way, the truth and the life and no-one comes to the Father except by YOU. I ask you to bless your children and give them the gift of the holy spirit in their lives, let them turn away from demonolatry, sorcery, violence and murder and be born again as disciples of Christ Jesus.

O Lord God, stretch out thy hand and punish those who slander your name and will not keep your holy covenant, for your word is law and your bible is a fabulous, inspiring read actually (The Good News Bible: Waterstones, £10.99) and I hope and pray that many sinners and demonolaters will be saved by it's message of truth and divine love,
In Jesus' name, AMEN.

You see, God will forgive you, if you truly repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. This is the truth, I swear it! Come now, Let us pray to the Lord together for peace, strength and justice and let us worship his holy name in love, truth and eternal obedience.................................

O Lord, your kindness to me shall be repaid, I shall convert many sinners to your religion and promise that my loins shall never know the sinful erect member of man as I am a Bride of Christ and dedicate my body only to him. My chasteness and virginal purity is the symbol of my dedication to the Lord, I gladly offer it to the King of Kings as my devoted sacrifice. Hallelujah!
- Princess Sybilla of Jerusalem

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kali is a powerful name, and also abeautiful name. Just as a powerful person has to be carefull how they use their power,a beautiful person must understand beauty can be so much more powerful than strenth.A loud shout wont stop a storm; but beauty might.
- les (lespopely@hotmail.co.uk)

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That was very beautifully said.
- Juanafe

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I agree with Stefanie. Beleif is a beautiful thing and should not be used to hurt or offend anyone else. Everyone would be much happier if we could accept one another's beleifs.

I really did enjoy the article, I find Kali a very intresting figure, and I wanted to find more out about her. This was quite informational. I loved the bit about the symbols.

But I think if the concept of Hinduisim (or any other relegion) offends you, perhaps your time would be better spent not reading up on it. It might be better for your peace of mind.
- Nix

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hi. umm i read this article on mother kali and i found it very interesting and really inspiring. Then i read all of the comments (well most of the comments, there were alot of them) and it kinda mad me mad and sad at what some of the people here hav posted. i understand that a person can totally and completely believe in their religion, and want others to believe as well. But that gives you no right to dismiss what others believe as wrong and tell them that if they dont believe in jesus ( or watever other religion ) that the will be going to hell or won't be saved. whoever or whatever god is do u think that he/she/they would condemn someone simply for worshipping him in a different way. that wouldn't be a very god like thing to do would it....
p.s. the article was awesome im interested in finding out more about hinduism and other religions and gods.
- Stefanie

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ok i've read the article and all of the posts now and the only thing i hav to say is that u guys are really hilarious. (not the article the posts) god is god and will accepts us for whatever or however we believe.
- stefanie

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I think it was nice, and well organized.

Its astounding how people can turn remarking on an article into a religious feud. All relegion is truth for those who beleive in it. Telling people that they're worshipping devils and they'll burn is very unkind. And telling people who have found something to beleive in that they are being manupulated is equally so. If you cannot keep your religious attacks to yourself, scream into a pillow. Pray. Light a candle. Whatever calms you down.

So if we can stop flinging religious insults, and giving sly hints about other people being on the wrong path. Acceptance is better. Tch, and some can be very rude. I thought Jesus was all about acceptance. I think he must have been a great man. But so was Budda. So were many people. The world has male and female aspects. This is simple balance. Look at this balance how you want, but don't force anyone else. They have their own eyes.

Get over it. Move on. Nice article.
- Nix

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Oh the powerful mother-goddess Kali, Queen of darkness, death and gore.
She is a powerful figure and one must be cautious when invoking her name.
It was not so long ago when a young lady posted a terrifying story about her and her college friends dabbling with something she called a Hymn to Kali. Her and her friends were involved in a shocking car accident in which several were injured quite badly.

Kali is mistress of death and destruction, do not call upon this dark aspect of Devi unless absolutely necessary. To speak her name out loud summons devastating forces of the underworld, dark and violent spirits are her companions.

Devi/Shakti is a benevolent goddess also, so try a gentler form such as Parvati. Try another goddess altogether like the beautiful Lakshmi or wise Saraswati. Avoid Kali unless you know what you are doing, if you need a darker and more aggressive form of the goddess to blast people and problems from your path, then try the goddess Durga, she is almighty and awesome to behold. Her power is limitless and her anger terrible.

The power of Kali to cause chaos in the world and in the lives of others is well-documented. Avoid invoking this avenging goddess, or you will get BURNED by the experience. I warn you.
- Princess Caitana of Mumbai

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dear jesus,
please protect me from your followers.

ps. joy is an idiot.
pps. but it is amusing to think of joy searching the web for satan and posting blogs.
ppps.can't we all just embrace the nameless divine?
- poop

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please meditate

silence

God is beyond human understanding

All religions are true
they speak of different aspect of the

One Reality
Onewithout a second


you cannot know yourself
the Subject cannot be objectified
never

it all started with the I...
who am I?
Egoless silence

That (Self) is ultimately formless

be joyful be blissfull be graceful

just be
but unfortunately this natural state has been lost
and it has been replaced with all this hogwash

just be as Heart

are you born?

you are not divided from That

if you are born you have to die

we are all one



- bal

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pranams to the lotus feet of the divine mother Kali
pranams to the lotus feet of Lord Jesus
pranams to the lotus feet of Lord Buddha
pranams to the One withouth a second
the Source of all
- bal (shyam76@hotmail.com)

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in my experience of kali...is that she is just as great a being as jesus is is...i have found her to transform my life and has given me great love support and healing of that which is not truth within..i find kali is a bout love just as i understand jesus is..
its the human need to be right and wrong that distorts the messages of these great beings..which is about love..
which is believe is central to all religions..
lov
satyaloka
- satyaloka

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It's not the Christians who claim that Jesus is the only way to heaven, it was JESUS HIMSELF who said it in no uncertain terms. Some people like to lump Jesus in with all the false gods and prophets, but Jesus (according to his own teachings!) would not appreciate it. Here's what Jesus REALLY did say to Thomas, recorded in the gospel of John: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" ! That's pretty clear to me that "The Way" really is THE WAY!
Jesus also said this, recorded in Luke 12: 4, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him".
In this bible verse Jesus is clearly saying that God has the right to judge all of us and we should seriously respect Him and His authority. But Jesus provided grace and forgiveness for all of us (The Way) by dying on that cross and rising again to defeat death once and for all! Yeh...take that Kali! Praise Jesus!
- Joy

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Speaking of Jesus' victory over death, here's another wonderful God breathed writing from the apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord JESUS CHRIST.


- Joy

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To Peter Carlino,
As you preach your doctrine of fear, realise that one of the many reasons why we who praise Kali do so is because part of what She is about, from what I have seen, is the *overcoming* of fear.

You might also say that Christ's victory on the Cross means that all cause for fear has been removed. If that is the case, of what are you still so visibly afraid? Even more, why are you so tireless in your efforts to pass said fear on to us?

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand." John 10:28

If your faith is strong, then be strong in it. Many of us refuse to continue to be part of a religion of hate, fear, and judgement...and I am not talking about the Bible itself here at all; I am talking about how Christians such as yourself behave. If you truly are Christian, then as you condemn that which you do not understand, call people fools, and threaten them with hell fire, it is fitting for Christ's own words to be used in reprimand of you.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Matthew 7:16-20

If you were truly assured of your salvation in your own heart, you would be fearless. You would not, from a position of your own fear and misery, feel a need to attack and condemn others. I draw courage both from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, *and* from the sublime power that has been known by all of those who have been in the presence of Mother Kali. I do not care personally who says the two faiths are incompatible...I see and feel the Divine in both. Even if, hypothetically it was true that Kali was a demoness, (which I can most emphatically tell you it is *not*) it is written that all of us who believe in Him are saved by Jesus' work on the Cross, once and *forever.* Thus I have nothing to fear from demons.

You can keep your fear. I will continue to praise both He, Jesus, who died that the entire world may live without fear of death, (not merely one small group) and She, Mother Kali, who is always with me, and who has been with me during some of the darkest hours of my life, though at times I did not recognise Her. I do however thank you...you have finally caused me to realise that, as his own beliefs echoed more of the words of the Bible, Ramakrishna was right. True love really does drive out all fear.

I echo your own praise of Jesus Christ, but I add to it my own continual confession of love for my Mother. Answerer of prayer, Protectress, remover of fear and illusion, and slayer of the ego.

JAI MA KALI!
- Petrus

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Jamal...woah, awesome! We're not just having love of Kali being condemned as demon worship by Christians, but we've had a visit from Islam as well! I have to ask...later on, if we give Kali a break, can we watch a cage match between you and the Christians where you both condemn each other to Hell? ;-)

Question for you though.

1) Allah is an all-powerful being.
2) Allah thinks demon worship sucks.

If both of these are true, then how, logically, is demon worship able to take place at all? If demon worship makes Allah upset, and He's all-powerful, I would have thought He'd be able to come up with a fairly cool preventative measure of some kind for ensuring that demon worship never occurs in the first place.

I know this might go back to the old free will thing...but another point. Couldn't Allah keep the demons chained up to prevent people from being able to make the choice to worship them without therefore interfering with said people's free will?
- Petrus

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I hear you, Glacier.
Without going into how I was initially drawn to Kali exactly, I was reading a pagan forum a while back which basically said that unless you're an ethnic Indian, you have no right to attempt any kind of interaction with Kali whatsoever.

Given that I'm a white boy myself, (English ancestrally on one side, Scottish on the other) that convinced me to forget about Kali again for the better part of a year.

However, I eventually came to a realisation. I didn't want to "steal" Kali. I wasn't going to be try to be evangelical, so the real ethnic Indian Hindus didn't/don't need to worry about me spreading misinformation about Her, either.

The only thing I wanted to do is love Her. I wanted to focus on Her images, I wanted to read other people's praise of Her, and add to it with my own; I wanted to close my eyes and feel the living, breathing paradox of Her primal terror, majesty, and overwhelming love towering over me.

It's like it says at the Kali Mandir site; the description there of Kali Puja mentioned that even people who were Christian for the rest of their lives came to worship Mother at the new Moon. Part of me honestly doesn't understand how the fundamentalist Christians posting here can write such horrible things. How is it that you are not drawn as irresistably, as inexorably as I and so many other people are, to Mother? How is it that you are able to resist the urge to love Her?

I don't feel any need to Westernise Kali or make Her into something She isn't; I fell in love with Her purely based on what has been recorded by Indians themselves.
- Petrus

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Hello to all. All the close minded people posting on this site (not just those being reffered to as "fundies") really should stop and think about everything you are saying. Regardless of what country you are from, what religious affiliation you make if any, and how you live your life...every human being is allowed to embrace everything that life has to offer without being condemned for their thoughts and emotions, as hypocritical as I may sound. Many times we as humans get so wrapped up in proving each other right and wrong we forget the beautiful things that both unite and separate us creating identity in itself. Poke fun at me for being 16 years old, or for me being American, or for me being female, mulatto, Christian, a realist or a humanist but the truth of the matter is...everything I said was nothing but truth. Usher in acceptance of differences and similarities and you usher in Enlightenment, Nirvana, Salvation...what ever "it" is to you. The true level of elevation is found in what is known to be true. And if I lost you in any of that, you have some ways to go before you can start helping others. Love to all, even to those who despise me for what I am or will be.

-Roxalyn; MICHIGAN, USA

P.S. To the point of this review...well informed. I'd like to see more references and clearer dictation of Kali's physical figure, although discrepincies in art and historical descriptions are boud to show.
- Roxalyn

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Hi you condem this comment n recomend some other work (Dancing Shadows by Aoumiel) who dont know what hunduism is all about? I think u guys should stop reading the crap which from some self made guru who just here to make a buck on hinduism ......hunduism if for not making money. so stop the bs n playin.... Ji mata
- Raj

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Peter,

Just who the HELL do you think you are? "Condemning" others in the name of a god who taught, "Judge not." You have no authority to condemn others, nor does your Lord "convict" you to disobey His commandments so flagrantly. Did God make Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Pagans, Witches, et alia, or only Christians? Please learn something useful about the faith you profess before you "condemn" others who know more about your faith than you ever will. As a Christian, you are a fraud, a "Christianoid."

And remember, "Convictions make convicts."

In the name of Eris, the merciful, the compassionate, the heart of love, I rebuke you.

Adastra,
The Wizzard of Jacksonville
- Adastra

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hey lola, u r so wrong about everything. ist of all christ did not exist in human form. his name derived from christo in greek. christo derived from the hindu blue coloured god KRISHNA.do ur homework before u open ur smelly mouth. who in the world can be borned to a virgin mother. find me one virgin mother in this world now and i'll convert to christianity this very second. virgin mary never was in human form . she is the goddess kanyakumari from south of india. u see any resemblance in the name now, u punk? KANYAKUMARI IS A VIRGIN GODDESS LONGLONG TIME AGO THAN UR VIRGIN MARY. u don't a shit abouit hinduism and u brag about christianity that came only 2000 years ago. ur bible is no match to our vedas which are more older by thousand of years. ur christianity also copied many things from jews. even the jews were from afghanistan which was my motherland INDIA today.
- hahaha

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when you have time, and want to learn more, read Dancing Shadows by Aoumiel. It will add to your store of historical information about your religion.
- Carol

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The question of why Kali appears to trample on her husband, Shiva, inspired a possible explanation which I have not seen mentioned here. Possibly the symbolism implied is simply that she stands on Shiva as the foundation of the universe and of her own existence. The pose thus honors the ground of all being instead of being an insult.

Om kring, Kalikaya namah Om,
Hring, kring kring, Kalilkaya namah Om.

With love,

Bob, aka Adastra,
The Wizzard of Jacksonville
- Adastra

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Wow, so much hate and invective spewed forth in the name of religion. And in the name of non-existent ethnic purity. The divine is where you find it, not in what some one tells you. Call it what you will, the universe exists and is both living and dead, creative and destructive, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. Truth is where you find it, not in the words of humans no matter how it is claimed to be divine revelation. "Prophets and messiahs have pointed to the door, but no one had the guts to leave the temple" - Pete Townsend (a Brit!)
- Neil Obstat

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Anyway, being a student of Hinduism, I found this article to be a good introduction to the nature of Kali. It would have been nice if her pre-Vedic Dravidian existence had been discussed and her co-opting by the Vedic Aryan priesthood (as well as the other Hindu goddesses) - a process similar to the co-opting of pre-Christian deities as saints into Christianity.
- Neil Obstat

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I'm fascinated by Hindu philosophy.So much wisdom.I study all religion and philosophy and choose to remain open to all possibilities.I spend my evenings finding parallels between them all.Seems like the best thing to do.I keep my Bhagavad Gita and Dhammapada next to my Koran and Holy Bible.Live a little Lola and think outside the lines.
- Marty

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This article is well written, I would prefer a little more scholasticism, perhaps citing ref's and such.

Jai Sri Kali-Ma
Jai Jai Shakti Jai

- Thet

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Kali - enfold me in the four-handed caress of death
Walk with me through halls of incensed oblivion
Knowing full well none escape thy pavilion
Be it thy mouth to take my last breath
- trent colquhoun

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Even tho I am an atheist, i love reading about gods and fairies and angels and most of all Art that represents these myths. My opinion is people should be good because they want to be good, not because they think heaven or god or whatever rewards them for this, because im eyes your being false, and if your gods are a wise as they are will see your only doing this to go your "heaven". Grazy i tell you. Grazy.

I think this site is beautifull and very informative.

Thank you for the great peace on Kali
- Jaco Aucamp

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I've read the article and everyone's postings with interest.
It is good to see God represented in a female aspect, in fact I believe that the only reason that God is mainly represented in male terms in the Bible is to differentiate God from the female 'fertility' Gods that have been worshipped from an early age. I don't see how we can put a gender on God, I think that God transcends gender and that once we start genderising (can I say that) God, we're seeing God in our image instead of it's image.
I share the concerns of some who've posted with regards to finding the 'truth' but I wish they would just sit back and look at how rude what they're saying seems - I understand their passion though, I mean, if you believe that someone is going to hell, you're going to want to stop that at all costs aren't you?
I personally am concerned about the warlike symbolism in Sikhism as it doesn't fit in with my personal experience of a loving God - of course I believe in justice.... but mercy, love and joy are what God means to me.
- Becks

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If people dont like to know about Indian art, then why do you come to this site and scribble bad words?
- Hema

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Hey lola, guess what... HINDUS DON'T BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE! OH NO! WHAT R U GONNA DO! AHHH! "O Jesus please help the poor hindu savages. amen!" lol. you make christianity and Jesus into a joke, it's people like you who distort the message of Christ to fit your own sick dogmas! lol... ur a joke... leave my religion and my Mother Kali alone.... its none of your business who i, or anyone else, worship.
- Hail Mother Kali

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I was delighted to read about the rich symbolism of what Kali holds in Her hands, which is not immediately obvious to a Western mind. For anyone interested in knowing more true symbolism about God our Mother -- try his site: www.mother-god.com. It's very inspiring!
- Mary

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Mary, thats a lovely site you posted about darling, many thanks for sharing it with us. May the path of your will always rise with you.
- AlannahBabalon156

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Oh ho ho ho, what a laugh, lola's back in town!

Look nobody is taking anything away from your religion Lola but when fundies like you come onto other religious websites telling us all the usual crud about "my god is the truth" you actually say more about your own weaknesses than whatever your religion has to offer, and lets be quite frank Lola, you gotta lotta weaknesses to prop up with your insistence on swallowing wholesale fundamentalist dogma.

No one gives a shit about what you think of other religions haven't you grasped that yet? :-)
- AlannahBabalon156

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This article is a true example of how the enemy uses, fancy words to entice those who cannnot think for themselves.
My God is the one who does not make junk, he allows us free will, and it is us as human beings who allow the enemy to come in and make us into junk.
It says in Genesis 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth. But the bible does not say how much time was in between the first verse and the second. And Jesus was the son of God, sent to the earth to be fully God and Fully Man. Yes he was born 2000 years ago, but God was around long before that. In the old testament their is about 5000 years that are recorded.
I am not saying your religion is false, but if you had actually read the bible you will see that you can tell a cult and false Gods, by reading the truth.
I am sorry I admitt I have never sat down and read all of what the Hindu religion has to offer.
So I will pray a prayer that will release you, from whoever hurt you, to make you feel the way you do.
God I cast off any evil thing that would come against these people and their minds. I pray that you are the God that passes all understanding, and you have created us to serve you. I pray that you will open the eyes of these people, that they would see that you have always been in their lives. God Forgives you all and I know you will not believe me and you will probably take and bash my name around like so many others on this site.
But one thing is for sure I love my Jesus and the Holy Trinity that is God, Holy Spirit, and Jesus.
You can condemn me all you want, but at least if you are insulting me, you are not insulting someone else.
God Bless

- Lola

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Peter Carlino, why do you worry that people who sell their souls to Beelzebub would "burn"? Surely Satan would not harm an accomplice, a person led astray by a "demon". Please remember that Satan led Adam and Eve to discover good and evil. You apparently owe your sense of morality to Satan, so have some respect for people's legitimate use of internet space and wholly unholy sale of soul. It would seem to me that a soul would be a fair price for knowlege of good and evil.
- E. Ajami

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Wise words E Ajami, not particularly about selling one's soul (not even someone as left hand path as myself believes in that concept), but about good and evil............as humans with every piece of knowledge within us, we are all gods. The biggest fallacy that humans believe is that they're pawns in some cosmic game when they dont realise that they could be kings. Mother Kali don't like weaklings, the ones who bow and scrape before others, her mighty strength is our strength, and each and everyone of us has a birthright to be our own gods and goddesses, to be masters of our own destiny and to help others realise their own godhood within themselves.
- AlannahBabalon156

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Look!

There is obviously a reason that God "created" all these religions. Just think about it; each religion/Dogma/sect has a different viewpoint of the same truth. It is he who made these unique groups of people that are binded by a religion in order to accept the love of God. It is because, he wants everybody to know about spirituality, by his deep compassion. BUT at the same time he doesn't want everyone to "realize" (very different from just "to know") the truth as it would stagnate the whole world and then he has to recreate everything from scratch. That is why people are just beating around the bush and not really getting anywhere. Only a selected few will ever come anywhere nearer by his grace alone.

As for people who think that they know everything about God just because their religion has more convincing TO THEM, then here's the thing: DO YOU THINK THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF OF THE ALL-LOVING GOD CAN BE DESCRIBED COMPLETELY BY JUST A BOOK OR JUST BY SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS. Read the scriptures, the human mind requires it, but the human mind is indeed limited to comprehend the vastness of God. It is only possible when God himself wants you to know about him.

Britain indeed rocks. And I have respect for it (they still have the best rock bands! They still beat our American ones by any standard). But they have been culture-killers in the past; if you see the history of British India.
- Taradas

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And by God, I also mean his divine motherly aspect......Goddess Kali.
- Taradas

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For all the Christians:

All this Judgment-day concept in the Bible can ALSO be applied to ones own life. In the Vedic religion, the human individual is considered as the microcosm of the actual macrocosm (the world/ universe). After death of this microcosm (the human body), it has to face judgment day and review each and every action that has made its mark. This will determine its fate.

You cannot treat Jesus as your back-up when you still commit sins knowingly or unknowingly. "I believe in Jesus, so I will be saved". All this "belief" is just not easy. Only if you surrender completely to Jesus so will you ever be saved. And to surrender completely means NOT JUDGING OTHER children of God. It is ok to be a little fanatic to your beliefs because that forces you to stick with "the God you accept" and you stop hopping around but you should not develop so much fanaticism that you start attacking anybody that is different from you. What will God think if you start disliking his own creation?
- Taradas

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Britain is a very multi-cultural country now and the slightest suggestion that only one religion or culture is 'right' or 'correct' is deeply, deeply hurtful and offensive.

The wonderful thing about Britain is how much diversity we have here and how much tolerance and respect there is for people of different creeds, races and beliefs.

We must value diversity and individuality above all other things. To say anything else to the contrary is to the detriment of equal rights, human rights, tolerance and fairness.

Please let us stop this religious hatred and bigotry and try to see the goodness in everyone and every religion and faith.

I have faith in the ability of the British people to be able to do this. To tolerate and see the best in others. Let us British set the example to the rest of the world by welcoming people to our country and treating them all with respect and their religions too.

I have the greatest respect fir Christians and their religion and I believe that it is only a small, narrow-minded minority of fundamentalists that would criticise and deny others the right to freedom of belief and freedom to practise whatever religion they wish.

God Save Britain and the British people!
- Mark Crawford

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All religions are created equal and they are simply different ways of worshipping the divine and being spiritual.

I hate religious arrogance that some people have that they declare their religion to be the only one, and accuse others of being sinners for not following it.

Not even Jesus himself forced others to accept his beliefs, what right have you to do so? You cannot force others to do something that they do not wish to do. Peter, you are a very dogmatic person who is so wrapped up in his beliefs that he cannot see the light.

I think you should apologise for your words and refrain from making those disgraceful remarks EVER again.
You have no right to run another persons life for them and no right to dictate what others should believe in or not as the case may be.

I am very disappointed with your behaviour and expected more maturity from someone your age. I dislike your bullying tone and your fundamentalist beliefs. Get off this site and do not post again, unless your post is something constructive and relevant to the topic in question.


NERYS.
- Nerys Jones

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That's right Anupam M-
- Christina Borghia

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Anupam M:

How dare you say a thing like that. Order others to reject organised religion and in doing so, reject the Lord Jesus.

That is sinful and deceptive talk. No there is not TRUTH in every religion. There is only one truth, one Lord-Jesus Christ, the only and begotten son of God.

If you reject him in this life, he will have no mercy on you at Judgement Day-he will reject you and Kali will not save you. She is nothing but a fallen angel from Hell, a demon who leads people astray. A devil-goddess of the netherworld.

Christina, you fool. You agree with Anupam? Are you crazy? Do you wish to burn in the Devil's fire?

That's right Anupam-do it- sell your soul to Beelzebub because you refuse to open yourself to the truth of God and his heavenly kingdom. You are a grave sinner and what you preach on this site is wrong.............................................

Jesus is Lord! Praise him, Priase him, pray for your wretched soul. Renounce your sins and accept the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Put your strength in Christ-only he will protect you.


In the name of Christian love and compassion, in the name of God. The Lord convicts me to condemn you out of godly anger and righteousness-you will burn in Hell unless you repent your sins.

You are a very great fool, Anupam M
- Peter Carlino

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