Questions tagged [kali]

Kali is the ferocious form of Durga, created to slay a demon called Mahishasura. She got the name Mahishasuramardhini for this. She is black in appearance and wears a garland of skulls.

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Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct?

I personally believe that a mother would never ask someone to kill her own children; moreover she would ask to kill the wrong and the negative things within each individual. I have been told in my ...
mano's user avatar
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20 votes
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In which scriptures can we find the original stories of the Mahavidyas?

The Dash Mahavidyas are an enigmatic group of goddesses worshiped majorly in the Tantrik disciplines but except Kali, the origins of most are unclear. In which scriptures can we find more about the ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
16 votes
9 answers
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Why is goddess Kali shown topless?

We've often seen in many photos that Goddess Kali is topless or half-nude. What is the meaning of this image? Is this image questioning Hinduism's morality level?
Kiran RS's user avatar
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How did Tripura Sundari come into existence?

As Wikipedia says: Tripurāsundarī (त्रिपुरा सुंदरी - "Beautiful (Goddess) of the Three Worlds") or Mahā-Tripurasundarī ("Great Beautiful (Goddess) of the Three Worlds"), also called Ṣhoḍaśhi ("...
Pinakin's user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
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What is the story of "Kali Maa"?

Will anyone please tell me the origin of Kali Maa? What is the relation between Shiva and Parvati?
Vivek Doshi's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
6k views

What is the relation between Dash Mahavidyas and Dashavatar?

Various Tantrik texts like Mundamala Tantra and Todal Tantra mention the Dash Mahavidyas in respect to the Dashavatar. For example in Todal Tantra CHapter 10 we find the following declaration: "...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
11k views

Why do we see Lord Shiva under the feet of Mother Kali?

Shiva doesn't exist without Shakthi. Shiva and shakthi are one. I recently visited a temple of Mother Kali. I was purplexed to see lord shiva in a smiling face is under the feet of angry Mother Kali. ...
sriinnu's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is Goddess Kali ever represented in the form of a child?

We know that Goddess Parvati is worshiped in her child or Kumari form and in north India Kanya-pujan is done at the end of Navratri as a symbolic offering to the goddess. To some extent the ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
227 views

Are there more than one origins of Ma Kali?

There are multiple stories related to the origin of Goddess Mahakali: The Rudra Samhita 2.53 of the Shiva Mahapuran mentions that when Nandi informed Shiva about Sati's death, he became very furious. ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
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Can mantra siddhi once gained be lost due to some reasons?

A Sadhaka gains full mastery over a particular Mantra after obtaining it from a Guru and doing the japa as prescribed. This process is often called "Mantra Sadhana" or "Mantra Puruscharana".Now the ...
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Who is Ratri devi? Is she same or different from Devi Kaali?

Here is Ratri Suktam from Rig Veda CXXVII 1.WITH all her eyes the Goddess Night looks forth approaching many a spot: She hath put all her glories on. 2 Immortal. she hath filled the waste, ...
Karmanya Nanda's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
696 views

How are the Dakinis associated with Kali

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayan_(witch) The above Wikipedia article mentions "Dakinis have been described in medieval Hindu texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma Purana, Markandeya ...
Shashaank's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
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Why do Bengalis celebrate Kali Puja during Diwali?

I don't know why, during Diwali, the Bengalis celebrate Kali Puja? Why don't they worship Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha?
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7 votes
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Chamunda mantra chanting benefits

What are the benefits of chanting the Chamunda mantra aim hrim klim .... whether this can be used as a protector mantra from evil effects or give response to those who do bad things?
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What is the connection between Kali and Kaliyug?

What is the connection between Kali and Kaliyug? Kaalii is the goddess that takes the darkness away (Kali) but which scripture does it come from? And is there an explanation of the close connection of ...
Arunachala Karthik's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
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Why householders are advised not to worship fierce forms of Kali?

Why are householders advised not to venerate fierce forms of Kali? I was told by those who follow the shakti tradition that householders should not honor the angry forms of Kali. Why is this?
user11845's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
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Why Divine Mother's (Kali) tongue is out of mouth?

Why always it is seen Maa Kali's tongue out side from mouth ?
J.S.R's user avatar
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7 votes
0 answers
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What scripture descibes the story of Goddess Kalikrishna?

According to this website, there is a place in Bengal where Goddess Kaali is worshiped as Lord Krishna and Her name is KaliKrishna. It says, once Radha was caught by Her husband when She was with Lord ...
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6 votes
2 answers
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What is the story of Goddess Kali fighting with Ravana?

There is a story of Goddess Kali fighting with Ravana. What are the details of this encounter between the two?
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1 answer
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Why are buffaloes sacrificed during Maa Kali's Puja?

First of all, this isn't meant to hurt anyone's sentiment. In which scripture, is the ritual mentioned? Secondly, is it allowed to take the meat in the form of prasad? Why or why not? [1] Edit (4/...
Severus Snape's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

About Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Kaali Maa

Did anywhere history record that, Kaali maa appeared in front of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa? Whats the significance of the picture,image we see in net, where Kaali Maa appeared before Paramahamsa. is it ...
DasAD's user avatar
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1 answer
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Who is Kali Purusa ? Where did he come from ? How could he reign over a complete yuga of 4,32,000 years?

It is known from SB that Kali Purusa has come as soon as lord krishna departed the earth. As soon as he came he was beating the holy cow. After he was defeated by maharaja parikshit he begged for his ...
Satya Sai Kiran Kumar's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
271 views

who is Goddess TArA

Who is Goddess TArA. Though I heard about HER as one of the Dasa mahavidyas, whats the significance of HER moolamantra and dhyana and upasana as far as our materialistic life is concerned. Also,I ...
samolpp2's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Is Maa Kali, Devi Durga, Maa Parvati, Maa Jagadhatri all are same? [duplicate]

Is Maa Kali, Devi Durga ,Maa Parvati, Maa Jagadhatri all are same?
Gopal Biswas's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
418 views

Why is Goddess Kali's depiction so scary? Do we get less scared of her image as we shed our ego?

I was wondering why Goddess Kali's image is so scary. She is said to be a mother that is compassionate and loving to her children.
Ria's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
185 views

Hindu Symbolism Of Kali Maa Earrings

Kali Maa’s earrings are dead bodies of babies, like this is from Exotic India book excerpt description : “her ornaments are a garland or necklace of severed human heads, girdle of severed human arms, ...
veganenvironmentalist's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
854 views

Relation between Chamunda and Kali

Would like to know relation between Chamunda and Kali In one of my previous posts, @Rickross mentioned Kali having /holding kapala whereas Chamunda doesn't hold Kapala. However, when I talked to ...
samolpp2's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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What is the difference between Dakshina Kali and Guhya Kali?

What is the difference between Dakshina Kali and Guhya Kali as per the Tantric Scriptures? Did Goddess Kali assume the Guhya Kali form to slay any demon? One image of Guhya-Kali from one famous ...
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5 votes
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Complete and correct version of Siddha Kunjika Stotra

Can anyone please help with the complete and correct version of Siddha Kunjika stotra from Rudrayamala Tantra. In famous publications like Geeta press, complete version is not given. This is the ...
Ram's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Do any Hindu scriptures condemn magick? Is the practice of magick by Wiccans using Hindu deities legitimate?

Witchcraft has been one of the most controversial issues in the West. Abrahamic religions such as Judaism, Christianity & Islam consider it a sin against God but what does Hinduism say about it? ...
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4 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is meat offered to Goddess Kali only for restricting the sense gratification of meat-eaters as Srila Prabhupada claims?

The following are quotes of Srila Prabhupada regarding Vedic animal sacrifices: Lecture on BG 7.16 -- Bombay, April 7, 1971: Prabhupāda: There are tāmasika-purāṇas where it is recommended that ...
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4 votes
1 answer
706 views

How did Lord Shiva create Veerbhadra and Mahakali

How and why did Shiva create Veerbhadra and MahaKali. Who were the nine Durgas accompanying MahaKali?
WiredTheories's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
721 views

Could someone perhaps direct me to info regarding Smashan Kali & Guhya Kali?

I'm looking for scriptural info about Guhya Kali and Smashan Kali with translations if possible (Yogini Tantra and the like.) As in what the Tantra background/stories are for these forms of Kali, and ...
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4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Importance of Kleem bija mantra in Kali Kula and Vaishnava Sect

Any acharyas here, please elaborate the Importance of Kleem bija mantra in Kali Kula and Vaishnava Sect. There are many Gopala mantras with "Kleem" beeja involved. At the sametime, ...
SaMolWT's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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Why did Adi Parashakti not came back to her original form after taking birth in form of Shiva's wife Parvati?

Why did Goddess Adi Parashakti not return to her original form when she took the form of Lord Shiva's wife Goddess Parvati? What happens to her?
Goltu's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
745 views

BamaKhepa/Tarapith & Different Types of Bhakti

Reading about different Shakta saints/mystics,  Trailanga Svami, NigamAnand ParamHans & Bamakhepa at Tarapith, trained by Swami Kailashpati, and I came across these descriptions below. In addition ...
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4 votes
1 answer
178 views

What is the description and attribute of Maa Kali?

It is well known fact that Ramakrishna Paramahams saw and talked with mother Kali. She use to pamper him like a child and sometimes he use to feed prasadam to her. I suspect, if we are lucky enough to ...
Ubi.B's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
570 views

Why is the idol of a lizard kept in front of the Divine Mother at Dakshineswar?

As the enclosed image shows, there is an idol of a golden lizard (svarna-godhika) to the left of Mother Bhavatarini at Dakshineswar. What is the scriptural reason of this idol of lizard?
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4 votes
0 answers
157 views

What's the relation between Chhinnamasta and Kali?

What's the relation between Chhinnamasta and Kali ?
Jagadam's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
840 views

What is the reason of this two Shivas under Kali?

In some images we see two Shivas under Goddess Kali and in some images She stand on a single Shiva. What is the scriptural reference of the two Shivas ?
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4 votes
0 answers
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What is the basis of this image of Goddess Kali?

The dhyana-mantra of Dakshina-Kali quoted in Tantra-saara says that She is holding Kharga in Her upper left hand, chinna-munda in lower left hand, abhaya-mudra in upper right hand and vara mudra in ...
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4 votes
1 answer
119 views

Is it mentioned to not keep the following idol without offerings?

I heard from several people to not keep the idle of maa kali anywhere if we are not providing any offerings. And if we keep the idol then it will harm the surroundings. Is it true? Does it have any ...
hanugm's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
504 views

Do devotees of the goddess Tara sit on six-month old babies?

One of the most famous incarnations of Durga is the goddess Kali. As I discuss in this answer, she was created by Durga's incarnation Ambika in order to defeat the demons Chanda and Munda, which is ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple?

What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple of 20 km from each other?
RamGauri's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
312 views

Is Raktavija's fight with Shiva ever mentioned in any scripture?

I have always heard about Raktavija and his fight with Durga and Kali and how he is annihilated. But during my visit to Elephanta caves, a tourist guide was telling a different version of story by ...
Ankit Sharma's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Is true Goddess Kali killed two demons named Kolasura and Ghorasura?

In Wikipedia, I have read Goddess Kali killed two demons named Kolasura and Ghorasura. But, Is it true Goddess Kali killed Kolasura and Ghorasura? What was the story?
Boovanaes's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
159 views

What is the symbolic meaning of Goddess Kali's garland and girdle?

Long back, I read in a Bengali article that her garland of skulls represents 51 Sanskrit alphabets. Together it represents the visible universe, which is nothing but a collection of names and forms (...
Amritendu Mukhopadhyay's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

A question about blood sacrificial acts in Hinduism

I am a Hindu who is a devotee Sain Sacho Satram Das (my Satguru) whose faith is fairly strong but has a fair amount of questions about Hinduism. I believe that I will get answers to all of them on ...
Pardeep Kumar's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
949 views

Was Devi Sarada an avatar of Goddess Jagadamba/Durga?

Many people had told me that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's wife Devi Sarada was an avatar of Goddess Jagadamba/Durga. Is this true?
Goltu's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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Is there an explicit mention of a curse by Damayanti on Kali in the given excerpt from the Mahabharata?

Considered the following excerpt from Mahabharatha. And Nala upon becoming acquainted with the science of dice, Kali came out of his body, incessantly vomiting from his mouth the virulent poison of ...
hanugm's user avatar
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