The aspect of the Great Mother, Mahadevi, which
grants life and feeds
mankind, has its counterpart in the manifestation of Kali (the Black One).
She is one of the ten Mahavidyas, Tantric shaktis who are
manifestations of
the goddess Mahakali.
Kali is the force which governs and stops time
(kala). Everything comes from
her, and she devours everything. She is the embodiment of the force of
destruction, divine wisdom which puts an end to all illusion.
Kali is depicted with a dark blue or even black
color. This is the color of
the earth, which also creates life through destruction. Plants die and
become the nutrients for new plants, seeds are exhausted by the new
life
which is generated by them. Although there are depictions of Kali as a
maternal goddess, she may also be depicted as an old woman, made
emaciated
and bony by the constant bearing and feeding of life. She has an
insatiable
hunger for life and devours everything in her way. She often has tusks
or
puts out her tongue, which is dripping with the blood of her victims.
She is
adorned with skulls. As Shiva's wife, she subjugates him completely,
and
popular representations such as this, show her dancing on his body.
Reference:
Jansen, Eva Rudy. The Book
of Hindu Imagery: The Gods and Their Symbols:
Holland, 1998.
Of Related Interest:
Mother Goddess as Kali - The Feminine Force in Indian
Art (Article)
Kali The Mother (Book)
Kali (Silver Pendant)
Kali in the Birth-Giving Posture (Miniature
Painting on Paper)
Goddess Kali (Folk Painting from Orissa)
Kali the Terrible (Folk Painting from Bihar)
The Goddess Kali (Batik Painting On Cotton)
Shyama-Kali Yantra (Tantra Painting)
Jai Mata Di (Prayer Shawl)